The Most Underrated Rom-Coms Of The 2010s

Writer/director Richard Curtis skillfully mixes romantic comedy elements with science fiction. Sometimes genre mixes fail; other times, they succeed.

InAbout TimeTim (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers at age 21 he can travel through time. He uses this power to find his love, Mary (Rachel McAdams). Audiences expecting a standard rom-com might find the focus on father-son dynamics surprising. Francesca Steele of The Independent puts it:The Independentputs it:

Tim’s relationship with his father forms the film's core. Their shared sci-fi secret strengthens it, but difficult events test it. This film leans more toward family drama than rom-com. Curtis lets these family bonds shine, and the film finds its form.

Amy Adams and Matthew Goode share much chemistry and charm. The premise may seem strange, but it holds appeal.Leap YearAnna (Adams) plans to visit Ireland on leap day to propose to her boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott). An old Irish tradition allows men to accept a leap day proposal. A handsome Dublin innkeeper (Goode) disrupts her plans.

CriticsCritics found the movie relied on clichés, but audiences liked it more. The screwball plot and rich settings help.

The Big SickThe Big Sick is not typical underrated fare; it earned an Academy Award nomination.received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.However, the film did not get a wide release, and its box office takes were modest.The Big SickThese modest takes are a shame. The Big Sick is one of the most critically acclaimed rom-coms of the 2010s.The Big Sickone of the mostThe Big Sick was critically acclaimed.Kumail Nanjiani wrote the script with his wife Emily Gordon, making this film better.

The complicated love between Kumail (Nanjiani) and Emily (Zoe Kazan) has heavy drama. The story loosely follows Nanjiani's real romance with the woman he eventually married.The Big SickKumail first faces his strict Pakistani family, who strongly object to his relationship with a non-Pakistani woman. Their strong influence causes the couple to break up. Then, Emily becomes very ill and needs a medically induced coma, leaving Kumail in a difficult, funny situation.

Could Ally (Anna Faris) have dated "the one" and missed that he was her Prince Charming? She seeks out all her exes to find what she missed, with help from her caddish neighbor Colin (Chris Evans).

You see the movie's result far away. The true appeal of What's Your Number? lies in this.What's Your Number?Faris, a gifted comedic actress, excels in scenes needing silly accents or physical comedy. MCU fans will like seeing Evans in a calmer role. The film avoids being a box office hit.The film avoids being a box office hit.Still, watch it.

This rom-com formula appears again: Two good friends plan a summer of wedding events while platonically coupling up. Eventually, Ben (Jack Quaid) and Alice (Maya Erskine) discover they have real romantic feelings. What makes it work?Plus OneThis underrated gem is really funny. The one-liners land well, and the jokes never miss. The ending might come, but the journey to it is a hilarious ride.

Plus OneThe film got overlooked because of its limited release.It had a limited release.Hulu picked up the film in the summer of 2019.

The story of two old friends hooks up one night and starts a 'friends with benefits' relationship without commitment. There may not be new plot points.No Strings AttachedThis contrasts with the very similar.Friends With BenefitsThe film does not always benefit from that comparison. However, leads Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher create much chemistry for the movie.New GirlCreator Elizabeth Meriwether packs the script with laughs. Comedic favorites like Greta Gerwig, Jake Johnson, Mindy Kaling, and Guy Branum appear in even the smallest roles.

This is not a revolutionary rom-com, but if you seek one withlines [that] leap and fizz," look here.

Rom-coms usually focus on young adults finding soulmates as they explore their world. Nicole Holofcener'sEnough SaidThis film shows two divorced people seeking romance. It skips typical rom-com clichés and tells an honest story anyone can live.

Beyond the basic setup, though,Enough SaidThe leads stand out. James Gandolfini plays Albert, a charming man so sweet it's hard to believe he also played Tony Soprano. Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays his foil Eva, using her great comedic timing and acting skills. The film feels more touching because it is Gandolfini'slast lead role.

Juliet, NakedThis adapts Nick Hornby's novel. It focuses on the author's favorite elements: music, family, and the real, sometimes boring, sometimes exciting feelings of falling for someone. Annie (Rose Byrne) and Duncan (Chris O'Dowd) are happy together, but the spark is gone. Duncan becomes obsessed with a faded, reclusive rock star named Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke). Then Tucker emails Annie unexpectedly, and things get messy.

The three leads and the writing make this film enjoyable. It deals with missed chances and regret as much as second chances and redemption. Geoffrey Macnab of "The Independent" notes that the film still plays like an upbeat rom-com, pulling out all the humor and optimism from such a weak setup. Despite the sad topic, it remains charming and well observed.The IndependentThe film plays like an upbeat rom-com, squeezing humor and optimism from an unpromising premise. It is charming and well observed, even with its downbeat subject matter.

Ah yes, themanic pixie dream girl: This character is the whimsical, idealistic version of a (usually male) character's every wish and desire, helping them improve their lives. This trope sparked much debate and review over the decade. Screenwriter and star Zoe Kazan tackles this head-on inRuby Sparks.

Struggling novelist Calvin (Paul Dano) starts writing about his perfect woman. Then, his fictional Ruby Sparks (Kazan) appears in Calvin's life. What starts like a dream turns into a complicated, often painful look at the unrealistic expectations women often face in relationships. This is not a light film, which explains why it did not get more attentionRuby Sparks released..

Self-discovery appears in rom-coms, but it is rarely the movie's main focus.How to Be Single, however, the story of twenty-something Alice (Dakota Johnson) focuses only on guiding her toward self-satisfaction, not finding a romantic partner.

The film begins traditionally: Alice breaks up with her long-time boyfriend and moves to New York City, causing some raunchy situations. It was a critical flop, but audiences liked the movie's "funny and realistic" tone.received a critical flop.Audiences liked the movie's "funny and realistic" tone.

Natalie (Rebel Wilson), feeling low self-esteem and pessimism, dislikes everything about old romantic comedies.Isn't It Romantic.Natalie gets mugged and loses consciousness. Upon waking, Natalie becomes the star of her own romantic comedy.

Audiences seemed reluctant.to embraceIsn't It Romantic's meta deconstruction of the genre's conventions, though critics were more positive. Hannah Chambers ofCosmopolitannoted that some of the film's messages about loving yourself "[fall] flat," but said "there are so many charming, carefully-crafted laughs that make it worth an hour and 28 minutes of your time."

Reese Witherspoon is the undisputed queen of the rom-com genre.Home Againshines because of her performance. She plays Alice, a 40-year-old separated woman with two daughters seeking a fresh start. She moves into her late father's home and rents out her garden house to three twenty-somethings—one of them, Harry (Pico Alexander), falls for her.

Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardiannotes, "It’s very silly but very watchable; you’d have to be very puritan to take exception."

Gillian Robespierre and Jenny Slate make the rom-com conventions seem modern and fresh.Obvious Child appears on The New York Times list of the Most Underrated Rom-Coms Of The 2010s.Slate plays Donna, a comedian who performs bravely on stage but stays guarded in real life. After getting pregnant, Donna must reevaluate her life, becoming vulnerable with a new love interest, Jake Lacy.

The small film got a bad review.It had a limited release.Viewers missed this film the first time. Those who saw it enjoyed it. Critics praised Donna's characterization and Robespierre's script; A.O. Scott of the New York Times noted:New York Timesnoting:

Donna’s situation could invite ugly, trivializing humor or pious pathos.Obvious ChildThe film could become either silly or earnest. It stays funny and serious without trying too hard to be one or the other; it tries to be honest.

Celeste and Jesse ForeverThis film twists the traditional rom-com. It focuses on the breakup of high school sweethearts, Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg. They married young; by age 30, Celeste and Jesse are separate. Celeste is a driven professional; Jesse is a slacker.

The premise felt too dark for rom-com fans. The movie did not become a blockbuster during its limited run.Celeste and Jesse Forever had a limited run.However, critics praised Celeste and Jesse Forever.the film's realism and the leads' performances.

Mary (Debra Winger) and Michael (Tracy Letts) have been married long. They near divorce. Both cheat and love other people. The rom-com formula shifts when Mary and Michael suddenly fall back in love. They start cheating on their former partners.

Marriage and lifelong commitment present complex issues.The LoversRafer Guzmán of Newsday tells Michael and Mary's story humorously and realistically.NewsdayRafer Guzmán praised the film's tone juggling:

The LoversThe film often feels like light farce. Michael and Mary accidentally cuddle in sleep, then wake up in shared horror. Other times, it hits hard. Michael is a merciless liar; his girlfriend’s tears appear often. When their son, Joel (Tyler Ross), visits, the film's silliness turns to the bitter tone of an Albee play.

Writer-director Jacobs (Momma’s Man) may not know how to feel about the characters he created.Momma’s ManThey remain real. Like many, they are complicated, contradictory, and perhaps unknowable even to themselves.