popcornBy Mandy Major
From breakups to makeups and all the affairs in between, love is a bumpy road indeed. So it's even better to watch it unfold onscreen, where passion and calamity perpetually collide, but happy endings are guaranteed. In honor of Valentine's Day, we've pulled together our 10 favorite flicks (some campy, others classic) that celebrate romance. When you're curled up with your sweetheart, these melodramas are sure to entertain-especially when paired with a delicious dinner that's made to match. Photo by iStockphoto; all other photos by Everett Collection
Even the most cynical souls won't be able to resist this high-stakes love affair between engaged Loretta (Cher), a widow in her late 30s, and the brother of her new fiancé, Ronny (Nicolas Cage). Dig into the drama with this hearty slow-cooked lasagna-a dish Loretta's Italian family would be proud of. Bellissima! Photo by Everett Collection
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Get ready for one roller coaster of a love story in this alternative tale that pits Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) on the quest to answer an enduring question: Is the joy of having loved worth the pain of a breakup? Pay homage to the seaside hamlet of Montauk, where the couple met, with this rustic fish dish.
Romancing the Stone and Sautéed Beef, Onions and French Fries (Lomo Saltado)
Romance writer Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) isn't one to be easily swept off her feet. Thankfully, brash Jack Colton (Michael Douglas) is there to try-and fail-when the two become stuck in the Colombian rainforest. But as mayhem ensues, so does their affection for each other. Delight in their witty banter and escapades while munching on this hearty South American-style dish.
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Garden State and a Ham & Coleslaw Hero
Heavily medicated and estranged from his family since his youth, 20-something Andrew (Zach Braff) flies back home to New Jersey to attend his mother's funeral. There, he puts down the pills and emerges from the fog to uncover the world around him, which includes the zany-yet-endearing Sam (Natalie Portman). Add to the Jerseyness of your night by munching on this lean hero packed with ham and veggies.
Love & Basketball and Spiced Pork with Black-Eyed Pea Salsa
Since the age of 11, Monica (Sanaa Lathan) has loved two things: basketball and Quincy (Omar Epps). But as the years go by, bigger and bigger obstacles get in the way of her two passions. Not one to be deterred, Monica's fierce nature serves her well in her quest to rise above the fray. Pair this film with a chili-rubbed pork loin, and this is one fiery combination not to be missed!
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Chungking Express and Sweet & Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry
Think foreign films aren't for you? Watch this one from director Wong Kar-Wai before you sideline the genre for good. Filmed in beautiful, expressive vignettes, the story follows two Hong Kong police officers as they forge through the wreckage of breakups in search of connection and new love. You'll enjoy the wry humor all the more with this zippy stir-fry dish that's ready in 15 minutes flat.
Sense and Sensibility and Slow Cooker Smoky Split Pea Soup
Cash-poor after their father's death, Elinor (Emma Thompson) and Marianne Dashwood (Kate Winslet) find that their eligibility for marriage hangs by a thread in this movie version of the Jane Austen classic. But that doesn't stop Marianne from throwing herself into the arms of caddish Willoughby (Greg Wise)-despite the interest of the reputable and wealthy Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman). Brandon's patience ultimately pays off, however, just like yours will with this smoky slow-cooked soup.
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Splash and Cod & Asparagus with Tomato Vinaigrette
Only director Ron Howard could make a love story between a man and mermaid work-and also make it one of the funniest and sweetest stories of '80s mainstream cinema! Dive into this flavorful dish featuring flaky, lean cod as you relish the romance between free-wheeling Madison (Daryl Hannah) and neurotic-but-lovable Allen (Tom Hanks).
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and Pierogis & Cabbage
You don't have to be a teenager to adore this story of two high schoolers finding sarcastic solace in each other during an epic night out with friends in New York City. In between ping-ponging around lower Manhattan, Nick (Michael Cera) and Norah (Kat Dennings) stop for Russian food at Veselka in the East Village. It's only fitting, then, to nosh on your own plate of pierogis as you watch their budding romance bloom.
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Letters to Juliet and Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower & Red Onions
Writer Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is overjoyed to be in Verona, Italy, with her chef fiancé-until she realizes he'd rather check out food shops than spend downtime with her. Left alone, she discovers "the secretaries of Juliet," a group of women who answer lovelorn letters penned to Shakespeare's Juliet. With a bowl of this robust pasta in tow, watch as one note puts Sophie's world into a rose-colored tailspin.
Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.
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