Reel Corner - April 2025

April 2025 Issue
Reel Corner by Donne Paine

Love & Laughter
Romantic Comedies:
The Genre that Keeps Us Dreaming

For all the readers of The Reel Corner who may have been feeling the pinch of rising egg prices and the weight of everyday stress, a good dose of comic relief could be just what the doctor ordered. Comedy, much like music or cologne, is a deeply personal choice, but during this season of renewal, as we bid farewell to winter, welcome the beauty of spring, and draw closer to wedding season, it is the perfect time to indulge in some light-hearted entertainment that to do your heart good. Out of the many comedy genres, The Reel Corner’s choice are romantic comedies. Here are a few I recommend:



You Are Cordially Invited
Reese Witherspoon, Will Ferrell, Leanne Morgan | Directed by Nicholas Stoller
A woman planning her sister’s wedding and the father of a bride-to-be discover their destination weddings at a remote Southern resort have been double booked. When both parties share the same venue… chaos ensues. This Netflix film has the Southern charm of a remote Palmetto Bluff, and I could not help but wonder what our Palmetto Bluff staff would do if such an occurrence happened there. The film is fun except for the overuse of expletive language.

In the classic Rom-Com category,
want to revisit one—or all—of the following:

The Proposal
Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White | Directed by Anne Fletcher
When a demanding New York editor faces deportation, she forces her assistant to marry her in return for a promotion. However, when she visits his Alaskan hometown her attitude changes. This film is worth revisiting if for no other reason than to see Betty White again.

The Birdcage—In remembrance of Gene Hackman
Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest | Directed by Mike Nichols
A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen partner agree to put up a false straight front so their son can introduce them to his fiancée’s right wing conservative parents. The film showcases the acting range of Gene Hackman, who had the ability to portray a diverse array of characters, from villains to sympathetic protagonists. His comedic timing in The Birdcage can’t be matched.

Runaway Bride
Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Joan Cusack | Directed by Garry Marshall
For his latest column in USA Today, Ike Graham (Gere) writes about Maggie (Roberts), who has left all of her fiancés standing at the altar. This is Roberts and Gere at their best.

27 Dresses
Katherine Heigl, James Marsden | Directed by Anne Fletcher
After serving as a bridesmaid 27 times, a young woman wrestles with standing by her sister’s side, as her sibling marries the man she’s been secretly in love with. The fashion in this film is worth seeing.

The Wedding Planner
Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey | Director Adam Shankman
Mary Fiore (Lopez) is San Francisco’s most successful wedding planner—a supplier of glamour and romance. She is ambitious, hardworking, well-organized, and knows exactly what to do and say to make a wedding a spectacular event. But when she falls for a handsome doctor, her busy, yet complicated life is turned upside down—he is the groom in the biggest wedding of her career! I absolutely loved this film.

Looking for a little raunchier comedic wedding genre try:

Bridesmaids
Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy | Directed by Paul Feig
Competition escalates between the maid of honor and a bridesmaid over who is the bride’s best friend. The escapades threaten to upend the life of an out-of-work pastry chef. Enjoy hilarious, laugh-out-loud scenes!

The Hangover
Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha | Directed by Todd Phillips
Three buddies wake up from a bachelor party in Las Vegas with no memory of the previous night, and the bachelor is missing. They must make their way around the city to find their friend in time for his wedding.

Are you ready to cozy up with your favorite snacks and a glass of something, and let these films transport you away from the crazy noise of today to a world where love conquers all and laughter is the best medicine. Happy watching!

Sources: www.imdb.com

Donne Paine, film enthusiast, once lived around the corner from the Orson Wells Theater in Cambridge, Massachu-setts, where her strong interest in films, especially independent ones, began. Supporter of the arts, especially films, she has traveled to local and national film festivals including Sundance, Toronto and Tribeca. There is nothing like seeing a film on the big screen. She encourages film goers to support Hilton Head local theaters, Park Plaza Theater and Northridge. To support her habit of frequent movie going, Donne is a vaccine medicine nurse consultant and also the author of 4 Interview Pillars available on Amazon. See you at the movies!