{"id":77033,"date":"2026-02-11T10:07:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T17:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=77033"},"modified":"2026-02-11T12:47:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T19:47:38","slug":"favorite-rom-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/favorite-rom-com\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s\u00a0your favorite\u00a0rom-com? And why is it \u2018The Holiday\u2019?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Valentine\u2019s Day approaching, we asked the NAU community:\u00a0What\u2019s\u00a0your favorite romantic comedy? And you\u00a0did not disappoint. If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0looking for a romantic evening, a good laugh, a new\u00a0favorite\u00a0or a blast from the past (not Brendan Fraser\u2019s best, but how can he outdo \u201cGeorge of the Jungle\u201d?), check out our list. Is your\u00a0favorite\u00a0on\u00a0here?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Brad Mihalik<\/span><\/b>, deputy\u00a0police\u00a0chief, NAUPD<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFools Rush In!\u201d\u00a0I am a big Matthew Perry fan, and this movie has just been one that I go back to from time to time. Feel-good\u00a0flick set in Vegas!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFools Rush In\u201d is currently streaming on Pluto TV\u00a0and\u00a0Amazon Prime Video.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jessie Finch<\/span><\/b>, chair, Department of Sociology<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can I have a three-way tie between \u201cClueless,\u201d \u201cFools Rush In\u201d and \u201cNotting Hill\u201d?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cClueless\u201d is currently streaming on\u00a0Pluto TV,\u00a0Paramount+, The Roku Channel\u00a0and Amazon Prime Video. \u201cNotting Hill\u201d is streaming on Peacock and\u00a0Amazon Prime Video.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alex Fischer<\/span><\/b>, communications manager, College of\u00a0Health\u00a0and Human Services<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSleepless in Seattle\u201d\u00a0or\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019ve Got Mail\u201d\u00a0ALWAYS!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSleepless in Seattle\u201d is currently streaming\u00a0on Pluto TV\u00a0and\u00a0Amazon Prime Video. \u201cYou\u2019ve Got Mail\u201d is streaming on Netflix.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kim Hensley Owens<\/span><\/b>, professor of English<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Harry Met Sally.\u201d This is my all-time favorite rom-com, and I watch it every year. Harry and Sally meet as they carpool together from college to their new lives in New York. Over the years, they become friends, then decidedly not friends, before figuring\u00a0out\u00a0they’re\u00a0in love with one another on a fateful New Year’s Eve. I absolutely love the\u00a0people-who-meet-and-hate-each-other become people-who-fall-in-love-and-live-happily-ever-after thing here.\u00a0It’s\u00a0adorable,\u00a0and the writing is impeccable (Thanks, Nora Ephron). The film hits harder now that I know director Rob Reiner changed the original ending to the one we know and love because he fell in love while this movie was being made. I know the entire movie by heart, which will help me out if\u00a0I’m\u00a0ever imprisoned and need to\u00a0entertain\u00a0myself inside my head.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Harry Met Sally\u201d is currently streaming on\u00a0Hulu and Disney+.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Erin Stam,<\/span><\/b>\u00a0director, University Transit Services<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I really like \u201cWhile You Were Sleeping,\u201d especially around the Christmas holidays.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0particularly fond of the older actors and the characters they\u00a0portray,\u00a0especially Grandma,\u00a0who was also the mom in Mary Poppins.\u202f\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0more than love for one person\u2014it\u2019s\u00a0about the love of family <3.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile You Were Sleeping\u201d is currently streaming on Tubi\u00a0and\u00a0Disney+.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alysa Ojeda<\/span><\/b>, director of advancement communications<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople We Meet on Vacation,\u201d which just came out in January. If you\u00a0swooned\u00a0over Meg Ryan movies and are looking for a new-age, fresh take on the classics, then \u201cPeople We Meet on Vacation\u201d is for you. It combines college friendship, traveling and some eclectic fashion choices in an adaptation of Emily Henry\u2019s New York Times best-selling romance novel. Starring hunk Tom Blyth as Alex and the adorable Emily Bader as Poppy, these two take you to some beautiful locations as they reminisce on past trips and work through challenges to reignite their friendship in hopes of\u00a0leading to\u00a0more.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople We Meet on Vacation\u201d\u00a0is currently streaming on Netflix.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ali Applin<\/span><\/b>, director of community relations<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I know\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0not technically a rom-com, but \u201cThis Is 40\u201d still feels like one of my favorites because it shows what a relationship is\u00a0actually\u00a0like, not\u00a0just the flirty, polished lead-up where everything is cute and effortless. It\u2019s messy and\u00a0loud\u00a0and painfully honest in the best way. The arguments are cringey, the parenting chaos is real, and the jokes hit so close to home you almost feel called out, but\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0what makes it so funny.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tyler Conlon<\/span><\/b>, community program coordinator of Upward Bound<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLove, Simon.\u201d This coming-of-age\u00a0rom-com follows Simon Spier, a high school senior whose anonymous\u00a0email\u00a0romance with a classmate sparks a journey toward honesty,\u00a0connection\u00a0and self-acceptance. I love this movie because I was\u00a0in the midst of\u00a0my own coming-out journey when I first saw it, and it moved me so much that I used the film as an icebreaker to come out to my own family.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a beautiful reminder that messages of love in\u00a0rom-coms\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0just for couples\u2014they can also be life-changing for queer people discovering who they are and who they might one day love.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLove, Simon\u201d is currently streaming on\u00a0Hulu.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Carsen Jones<\/span><\/b>, technical training analyst, ITS<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Oof, picking just one is so hard! But I\u00a0have to\u00a0go with \u201cBridesmaids.\u201d No matter how many times\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0seen it, I laugh every single time. The cast is such a hilarious ensemble of some of my favorite\u00a0actors, and\u00a0it does\u00a0a great job\u00a0touching on the messy intersection of friendship and romance. Balancing a new romantic relationship while still showing up as a good friend is tricky and so important, and this movie nails that in the funniest way possible.\u00a05\/5\u00a0stars in my book!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBridesmaids\u201d is currently streaming on\u00a0Hulu,\u00a0The Roku Channel and Amazon Prime Video.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rebecca\u00a0Cirzan<\/span><\/b>, director of the Early Learning and Development Center<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cZoolander.\u201d OK,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0not exactly a\u00a0rom-com, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0my favorite movie! Ridiculousness is at its finest with this movie featuring Ben Stiller, Owen\u00a0Wilson\u00a0and Will Ferrell. We all know the pain of being \u201ctoo good-looking.\u201d Derek Zoolander navigates the hardships of being a male fashion model who wants to be taken seriously. Matilda, played by Christine Taylor, helps Derek overturn a plot to kill the prime minister while learning about his true inner beauty. I love the escape to something so unreal and silly. The one-liners are timeless.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cZoolander\u201d is currently streaming on\u00a0Pluto TV, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel and Peacock.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dawn Clifford<\/span><\/b>, professor of health sciences<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSixteen Candles.\u201d This is an \u201880s classic, filled with\u00a0happy endings\u00a0and memorable characters.\u00a0Growing up, I\u00a0knew every line and I tried to find my Jake Ryan.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSixteen Candles\u201d is currently streaming on\u00a0Paramount+,\u00a0Hulu\u00a0and The Roku Channel.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adi Schaeffer<\/span><\/b>, events manager, Institute for Human\u00a0Development<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of my earliest and longtime favorites is a movie called\u00a0\u201cButterflies are Free.\u201d\u00a0Starring Goldie Hawn as the love interest, the movie\u2019s lead man is blind.\u00a0As an IHD staff member working to ensure inclusion for people with disabilities, the movie\u2019s uplifting message and themes dealing with\u00a0concerns\u00a0about what is realistic and possible in this\u00a0largely sighted\u00a0world have always touched\u00a0me.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tina\u00a0Chaseley<\/span><\/b>, assistant professor of literacy and reading\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEnough Said.\u201d This movie, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini, follows middle-aged characters navigating new relationships while dealing with their own baggage and insecurities.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0warm and real.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Salvador Lopez<\/span><\/b>, assistant director of Leadership and\u00a0Engagement<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My favorite\u00a0rom-com\u00a0is\u00a0\u201cCrazy Rich\u00a0Asians.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCrazy Rich Asians\u201d is currently streaming on HBO and Peacock.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>And finally, our team\u2019s picks:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Jill Kimball<\/span><\/b>, communications manager<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c10 Things I Hate About You.\u201d\u00a0For those who\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0choose between a historical fairytale and a modern comedy, try this updated take on the original\u00a0rom-com: Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cThe\u00a0Taming of the Shrew.\u201d Julia Stiles plays high schooler Kat Stratford, a misunderstood feminist who gets unwittingly caught up in a scheme cooked up by bad boy Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger, RIP) and two nerds who are desperate for the cool crowd\u2019s approval. Even if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0not interested in the plot,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0love Stiles\u2019 savage one-liners and the\u00a0swoonworthy\u00a0views from Padua High School, which looks like a Renaissance castle by the bay.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c10 Things I\u00a0Hate About You\u201d is currently\u00a0streaming\u00a0on\u00a0Hulu and Disney+.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Heidi Toth<\/span><\/b>, director of communications<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As an \u201880s baby, I grew up in the golden age of\u00a0rom-coms and y\u2019all, there are just so many! But after much consideration,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0going with \u201cThe Princess Diaries 2.\u201d\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0Anne Hathaway as Princess Mia at her big-hearted, clumsy best.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0Chris Pine at his dreamiest. Who\u00a0among us\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want to learn how to shoot a flaming arrow from\u00a0him? Then,\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0the side\u00a0romance of Queen Clarice (the incomparable Julie Andrews, who is perfection) and Hector Elizondo as Joseph (sometimes Joe, never Joey).\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0a perfect movie. I have no notes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Princess Diaries 2\u201d is currently streaming\u00a0on Disney+.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Carly Banks,<\/span><\/b>\u00a0assistant director of communications<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a\u00a0rom-com enthusiast, picking one was\u00a0nearly impossible. But it all came down to three things:\u00a0watchability,\u00a0characters\/storyline and quotability. And the movie that takes the cake\u00a0in\u00a0all three categories is,\u00a0hands down, “The Holiday.” No matter the time of year, this instant classic can\u00a0be\u00a0watched\u00a0over and over again, providing all the feel-good, laugh-out-loud moments that every\u00a0rom-com should. The all-star cast is so lovable (Helloooooo, Big Dollop!), and with half the movie taking place in England (where Cary Grant is from\u00a0), it allows us to live vicariously through the characters in a way that everyone can enjoy. Plus, who\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0dreamed\u00a0of house-swapping abroad? The soundtrack, meet-cutes and quotable one-liners make it stand out above the rest, because at the end of the day, who\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0need a little corny in their life?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe Holiday\u201d is currently streaming on\u00a0Tubi.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mariana Laas<\/span><\/b>,\u00a0assistant manager of communications<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Such a hard question. I went through a mental list of movies, and I am going with \u201cFrench Kiss,\u201d a 1995 rom-com starting Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline with locations in Paris and all over the French countryside. Need I say more? The story is about a woman named Kate, whose fianc\u00e9 leaves her to marry a French woman he met on a business trip to Paris. Kate believes that if she can talk to him in person, he will change his mind and stay with her. She flies to Paris determined to win him back, and on the way there, she meets Luc, a man who promises to help her win her love back. However, Luc has other motives in mind; he smuggled a stolen necklace and a vine from a vineyard to the France inside Kate\u2019s bag and is trying to get them back.\u00a0\u00a0Together, they have a very funny adventure and learn that sometimes what you think you want is not what will make you happy. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Top image created by ChatGPT.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With Valentine\u2019s Day approaching, we asked the NAU community:\u00a0What\u2019s\u00a0your favorite romantic comedy? And you\u00a0did not disappoint. If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0looking for a romantic evening, a good laugh, a new\u00a0favorite\u00a0or a blast from the past (not Brendan Fraser\u2019s best, but how can he outdo \u201cGeorge of the Jungle\u201d?), check out our list. Is your\u00a0favorite\u00a0on\u00a0here?\u00a0 Brad Mihalik, deputy\u00a0police\u00a0chief, NAUPD\u00a0 \u201cFools…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":77034,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editors"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77033"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77033\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}