A Lover Girl's Guide To: What to Watch on Valentine's Day

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Happy Valentine’s Day, lovelies—or almost Valentine’s Day—depending on when you read this. Today is a day to love, love thy self, love thy best friends, love thy partner, love thy life. I am celebrating the ‘for the girls’ version of Valentine's Day this year, Galentine’s Day, because for yet another year, the only love letter arriving in my mailbox will be signed Love, Mommy, and not Love, My Man. But thank goodness for my girls, my mom included, right? 

After an early dinner with my buddies, simultaneously dedicated to preaching to each other that we can buy ourselves flowers while complaining about buying ourselves flowers, we will part for the night, and a solo movie date will end my evening. But obviously, I cannot watch just any movie. The movie must embody my Valentine’s Day; balancing the beauty of friendship with a quest for romance. To help you and I find the grand finale of our day, I curated a list of films and television series for different lovers on Valentine’s Day—or any day you want to feel the love. 

For the Lover Who Has a Pinterest Board Dedicated to Their Future Wedding

Admittedly, this girl is me. My sisters and I have had countless dinner table conversations about our ‘big days,’ from our venues to our dresses, and we have touched on every detail. Weddings, although firmly rooted in adulthood, thinking about my wedding will always make me feel giddy like a little girl. However, little me did not think about the people beyond the altar, like my future in-laws, and the possibility of them not living up to the angels I imagined them to be. So, here are some movies sure to speak to your inner-bride, fairytales and realities combined: Jumping the Broom and Father of the Bride 

For the Lover Who Is Listening to SZA’s “Kill Bill” on Repeat

If revenge is on your mind this Valentine’s Day, and all you can think about is the love that was and no longer is, I suggest you watch these movies to game-plan the best strategy to give them a taste of their medicine. The Other Woman and The First Wives Club are a testament to teamwork making the dream work. I also recommend Legally Blonde to remind you that you do not always have to go low to make a statement. Sometimes, you can go to law school. Before acting on your emotions, ask yourself, “Would you rather be in jail than alone?”

For the Lover Who’s World Is Alright When Their Girls Are Alright

“My girlfriends, there through thick and thin.” The Girlfriends' theme song sums it up: good friends ride for you; they are the ones consistent amid inconsistency. I believe that the reason friend breakups are more heart-wrenching than real breakups is because your heart loses a home. Girlfriends, Insecure, Sex Lives of College Girls and Harlem revolve around tight-knit friend groups. When their friendships are at peace, so are their lives. 

For the Lover Who Took Themselves on a Solo Date Under the Stars

“What would you tell an insecure Barbie?” asked Asia Milia Ware, fashion and beauty writer for The Cut; Issa Rae responds, “Just suck it up because all Barbies are perfect, so now get it together and just look around.” You are perfect, and all you need is yourself. Even Barbieunderstood that she needed to love herself before she could become ‘boyfriend-girlfriend’ with Ken. It is only fitting to pop on your pink pajamas and ponder what you were made for. 

For the Lover Who Is Denying Their Feelings for Their Friend

If you like them, just be honest with yourself. The sooner you share your feelings with them, the less collateral damage. Take The Best Man, specifically Jordan and Harper's relationship: Their failure to admit their love for one another ultimately ruined Harper's marriage with Robyn. Sorry for the spoiler, but there is a lesson to be learned here—don’t let this be you. Lucky for you, there are lots of movies that romanticize the friends-to-lovers trajectory: When Harry Met Sally, Brown Sugar and The Best Man.

For the Lover Who Resonates with Snoh Aalegra’s “Find Someone Like You.”

This one is for the lover girl who’s actually in love. This Valentine’s Day, you have someone to share it with, so there is no need for a solo movie date. Cozy up on the couch and turn on Love Jones or The Photograph. The pure love stories in these films will have you asking, “How can we make this last forever?” 

Strike Out, 

Madison Brown

Editor: Grace Maneein

Athens