As Cupid’s arrow draws nearer this Valentine’s Day, Sacred Heart University is preparing for a celebration brimming with love, laughter, candy, and flowers. Embracing the spirit of the holiday, students and faculty are eagerly anticipating the upcoming festivities by planning to take part in the long-lasting tradition of watching romantic comedies.
Senior Jessica Waldron shared her affection for romantic comedies, even if her favorite falls outside the typical Valentine’s Day fare. “Although it’s a Christmas movie, ‘The Holiday’ is definitely my go-to rom-com,” said Waldron. “It’s such a feel-good film with a great cast including Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Kate Winslet, and more.”
While Waldron leans towards more contemporary rom-coms, Dr. Sara Ross, a film professor in the School of Communication, Media, and the Arts, prefers the classics. “I’m going to say it’s a three-way tie between ‘It Happened One Night,’ ‘Ball of Fire,’ and ‘The Lady Eve,’” said Ross. “These films are witty, boisterous entries in one of my favorite genres, created by writers and directors at the top of their games. I can watch them repeatedly and still be entertained every time. Above all, I adore them for their feisty female characters, portrayed by two brilliant
comedians, Claudette Colbert and Barbara Stanwyck, who consistently steal the show.”
While Waldron enjoys the modern charm of “The Holiday,” Ross finds solace in the timeless allure of classic rom coms from the 1930s and 40s. Their difference preferences reflect the diverse tastes within the SHU community, where the appreciation for romantic comedies spans generations and genres.
Junior Courtney Churchill also prefers the more contemporary rom-coms.
“My favorite rom-com is ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ because I love the irony of the plot,” said Churchill. “Both characters Andie Anderson and Ben Berry do not know that each other have something up their sleeve to prove something to different parties. Andie, a columnist wants to write a piece of how to lose a guy in 10 days, hence the title, and Ben thinks he can make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days, however their plans backfire and they end up falling in love which is what makes it ironic and comical. Also, Kate Hudson stars in this movie and who doesn’t love her.”
With each person in the SHU community having their own favorite rom com, the campus is sure to be alive with love and laughter this Valentine’s Day.
