movies

9 women share the problematic rom-com they'll never stop watching.

There's nothing quite like curling up on the couch and watching a good rom-com. It's like getting a big hug from the telly.

But as we all know Hollywood is not without its faults and for some of our fave romantic comedies, they have not, er, aged well. It's safe to say that while we have progressed as a society, some of the movies that once offered us great comfort are now stuck in the zeitgeist of some kinda problematic thinking from the time they were released.

But alas, we all have our dirty little secrets and we admit that there are a few films that we can't help but keep watching despite this. In light of the announcement that a new Bridget Jones' Diary movie was in the works, hosts of The Spill Laura Brodnik and Charlie Begg opened up about a bunch of rom-coms that haven't aged well... but we still love to watch anyway.

She's All That (1999)

Rachel Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze Jr. in She's All That. Image: Miramax.

"Freddie Prinze Jr's character is the hot guy at school, the popular guy and he makes a bet with Paul Walker's character that he can turn any girl into prom queen. They pick the ultimate nerd, which is Rachel Leigh Cook, who is just wearing glasses and overalls and when she takes them off she's beautiful. So much about that movie is problematic." - Laura.

Love Don't Cost A Thing (2003)

Christina Milian and Nick Cannon in Love Don't Cost A Thing. Image: Warner Brothers.

"It’s problematic now mainly because of Nick Cannon." - Nicolle

Never Been Kissed (1999)

Drew Barrymore and Michael Vartan in Never Been Kissed. Image 20th Century Studios.

"Weird that Michael Vartan’s character develops feelings for Drew Barrymore when she poses as a student but gets weirded out when he finds out she's actually an adult woman" - Megan.

The Ugly Truth (2009)

 Katherine Heigl orgasm scene on the movie, The Ugly Truth. Image: Netflix.

"She (Katherine Hiegl's character Abby) is meant to be playing a smart and successful woman and he (Gerard Butler's character Mike) mansplains everything to her. And it's quite bloody sexist." - Charlie

Pretty Woman (1990)

Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Image: Walt Disney Studios.

"I first watched Pretty Woman when I was probably too young so a lot of the context was lost on me. Now rewatching it as an adult I find Richard Gere's rich 'knight in shining armour' character highly problematic. The way the plot suggested that Julia Roberts' job as a sex worker was something she needed to be saved from doesn't sit great with me these days. Shame because really, I do still love this film." - Lisa

Clueless (1995)

Paul Rudd and Alicia Silverstone in Clueless. Image: Paramount Pictures.

"He’s her step brother. I know they’re not related, but it’s weird." - Sumi

My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Dermot Mulroney in My Best Friend's Wedding. Image: Sony Pictures.

"She's trying to break up a wedding to steal the groom - classy!" - Tahli

Shallow Hal (2001)

Gwyneth Paltrow in Shallow Hal. Image: 20th Century Fox.

"Apparently Ivy Snitzer (the actress who played the bigger body double) went on to have serious depression and eating disorders after filming." - Christie

Love Actually (2003)

Love Actually. Image: Universal Pictures.

"Pretty much every storyline in Love Actually is problematic." - Hannah

Feature Image: Paramount Pictures.


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Top Comments

simple simon 8 months ago 1 upvotes
Clueless
"He’s her step brother. I know they’re not related, but it’s weird." 
What was weird about their relationship?
laurenella 8 months ago 1 upvotes
@simple simon THEY END UP A COUPLE!!!
jocoj 8 months ago 1 upvotes
but her dad was hardly even married to his mother and that was like 5 years ago 😜

and re the comment in the article, for Pretty Woman I do maintain that she rescued him right back!
simple simon 8 months ago
@laurenella wow. I don't remember that. Thanks. 

suz m 8 months ago
You’ve got mail - both lead characters are in relationships 
Sleepless in Seattle - female lead character is engaged