Love every day

Hello Dear Reader and Happy Valentine’s Day! Unless you’ve found this article beforehand or are maybe coming to it long after, in which case Happy Love Every Day! Between you and me, I feel like that should really be our goal anyway; not just on the one day a year designated by greeting card companies and florists. Of course, I’m all for doubling up that love on that day if you wish.  Who doesn’t love chocolates in heart-shaped boxes and dinner reservations? It’s just, as a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, I believe you should be putting love into every day, to those around you for sure and most importantly to yourself! It does a heart good to focus on love, that’s for certain, and for me that’s always included the movies! Now, I know it’s getting harder and harder to come by on the big screen. These days, the majority of films that find their way into theatres are more apt to include dystopian landscapes and super powers than they are tender moments and heart-string-pulling plot lines. That’s precisely the reason I’ve compiled the perfect collection of movies to celebrate the sweetest side of love. Oh sure, there’ll be some kind of kerfuffles that aim to keep the two hearts from connecting – what’s a good story without a smidge of conflict to keep it interesting – but rest assured when it’s all said and done you’ll see love will prevail. And I’ve included a little something for everyone from classics to contemporary, perfect pairings, opposites attracting and second chances no one saw coming. Oh, it’s a heartfelt collection alright – so let’s get to it.

Starting with an ever so sweet romcom that made its way into theatres two decades ago – long before the lead actress and actor achieved superstar status. Now he’s an Academy Award Winner and Best Selling Author, and she’s a mega award-winning, platinum selling record artist, clothing designer, beauty company magnate, film exec. and full fledged box office draw to boot. Back in 2001, however, when Matthew McConaughey played Dr. Steve Edison and Jennifer Lopez took on the title role of THE WEDDING PLANNER, it’s amazing to note they were not the studio’s first choice for leads. In fact, Brendan Fraser of THE MUMMY fame and Sarah Michelle Gellar aka BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER were both cast and both dropped out because of scheduling conflicts. So just like in the movie – fate took a hand, and the on-screen chemistry between McConaughey and Lopez took over in this full-on old-fashioned romantic comedy about love, destiny and other events you just can’t plan for. As for the storyline (without giving too much away) Mary Fiore, one of San Francisco’s best wedding planners, has her life saved by a dashing stranger who she falls for in a heartbeat, only to discover he’s engaged to her biggest client. The story features a wonderful cast of supporting characters, plenty of plot twists and turns, some truly swoon-worthy scenes and lots of laughs along the way to an ending that was simply destined to be. The soundtrack is filled with plenty of lovely tunes including the world record setting song that rolls over the closing credits courtesy of the star herself – “Love Don’t Cost A Thing”. Always with her eye on awesome, Ms. Lopez launched her second studio album simultaneously with the release of the movie and blew the doors off both the box office and the billboard charts – making JLo the first woman to have a number one album and number one film in the same week. THE WEDDING PLANNER is available to buy/rent on Prime Video.

“Alright, alright, alright” (see what I did there), let’s keep this Love Every Day collection of heartwarming flicks clicking along to the most awarded romantic comedy on the list.  And while it was Jessica Lange who took home the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Actress in the film, you’d be hard pressed to find a more formidable female on-screen presence than that of Dustin Hoffman as Dorothy Micheals. That blockbuster of a romcom of course is TOOTSIE in which both Lange and Hoffman play actors. She’s Julie Nichols who’s already a star on the popular daytime (fictional) soap opera, Southwest General. He’s Michael Dorsey, an out-of-work actor who, after a series of deflating auditions, dawns a wig, a ton of make-up, some serious control top hose and other important under-garments to audition for the role of hospital administrator Emily Kimberly. And wouldn’t you know it – he finally lands a job on TV. As you might imagine tremendous comedy ensues, both on the set of the soap and off-camera, with Michael’s crazy roommate Jeff played by Bill Murray and his long-suffering girlfriend Sandy played by the late great Teri Garr. While Michael did plan on making money from his part on the soap, he never imagined he’d fall in love with his co-star. A co-star who, you guessed it, only knows him as a rather matronly woman. I won’t tell you how it ends, but I will tell you it’s an absolutely phenomenal film, complete with an Oscar-nominated original soundtrack song that went all the way to number one on the AC charts back in 1982 – “It Might Be You” by Stephen Bishop. It’s worth noting that Hollywood legendary Sydney Pollack not only directed the film, but co-starred as Dustin Hoffman’s agent in the movie. His performance, along with the entire cast, was start to finish flawless, funny and moving. It’s no wonder TOOTSIE landed in the #2 slot on the American Film Institute’s 100 years 100 Laughs list. TOOTSIE is available to stream on STARZ.

I’m going to need you to bear with me for a second when I tell you the title of the next one, but not before we roll it back to a kinder gentler time. Back to 1995 when the leader of the free world was Andrew Shepherd. Oh sure, in real life it was Bill Clinton who held the title, but in the Aaron Sorkin written, Rob Reiner directed romantic comedy THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, it was Michael Douglas who took on the title role with tremendous charm and fantastic finesse. The elevator pitch goes like this “A widowed U.S. President running for reelection and an environmental lobbyist fall in love. It’s all above-board, but politics is perception, and sparks fly anyway.” And boy do they ever. Annette Bening plays the lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade, who’s just moved to Washington on a mission amidst President Shepherd’s bid for reelection. Sorkin’s gift for weaving wonderful stories within the White House is second to none. The blend of incredible characters and witty dialogue is spectacular and the love between Sydney and the President is motion picture perfection. Reiner turned to his go to composer Marc Shaiman to brilliantly score the film which includes a heart-stirring arrangement of a classic overture from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1951 musical THE KING AND I. The song is “I Have Dreamed” and plays as the couple take to the dance floor on their first date, which just happens to be during a black tie state dinner. Just imagine… how romantic.

THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT marks the second time the incomparable Aaron Sorkin and the late great legend Rob Reiner would work together, having the 1992 smash A FEW GOOD MEN to their combined credit. This was the third time Reiner worked with Marc Shaiman for his film scores, with a grand total of 20 projects as a director/composer team at the time of Reiner’s untimely passing late 2025. This seems like the perfect time to mention they first joined forces for my favourite romantic comedy of all time – after being introduced by their mutual friend and the film’s star Billy Crystal. Now before you check my previous features, I’ll admit I have included WHEN HARRY MET SALLY before – but come on! This feature’s here to salute Valentine’s Day and Love Every Day, so please, I implore you – let there be love for WHEN HARRY MET SALLY and naturally all the phenomenal music featured on its Grammy-winning soundtrack. Fall in love with it for yourself as it’s available to purchase on Prime Video.

While all the movies in our Love Every Day collection fall under the same ‘Romantic Comedy’ umbrella, the characters in each story vary greatly. While love is the common thread for all our on-screen couples, the tapestry they weave on their way to a happy ending can really come at it from all directions. Such is the case in the plot presented by our next feature THE PROPOSAL. Dreamy Ryan Reynolds stars as Andrew Paxton, a beleaguered but determined-to-please assistant to beyond-demanding publishing executive Margaret Tate played by the always sensational Sandra Bullock. Things go sideways for Margaret when her work visa is set to expire and in an effort to avoid deportation she forces poor Andrew to marry her. Things go south for Andrew when the couple flies north to visit his family in Alaska. That’s where the comedy continues and the real love story begins. I adore this movie and I’m over the moon for its supporting cast that includes Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen and Betty White. Everyone plays their part to perfection and the screenplay by Peter Chiarelli is funny for sure, but it’s the tender moments between Bullock and Reynolds that really get me in this movie. The ones that move you to tears and then, just before it gets too serious, have you laughing again in spite of yourself. Case in point, the scene where Margaret tells Andrew about her life before they met in an effort to prepare for their immigration interview. Some little known facts, some interesting details and some really sad memories. It’s the first time the two really let their ‘assistant’ and ‘boss’ animosity levels drop and we see the exact moment this comedy turns romantic. Not so romantic, however, is the song they sing right after that moment – the certified platinum single “It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock. You just have to see it to believe for yourself. You can find THE PROPOSAL streaming on STARZ.

Now if this is the first time you’ve read a feature of mine, you should know I fiercely frown on SPOILERS, but it’s not giving anything away to note, for much of movie history, the traditional romantic comedy typically resolves with the leads wrapped in each others arms, or at the very least caught up in each other’s gaze. Every now and again, however, there’s a movie that ticks all the romcom boxes without the text book ‘happily ever after’ ending. I mention that only so that you’ll know where we’re heading with our next two movies, both of which were written and directed by the one and only James L. Brooks. And here’s the thing – Brooks believes the best kind of comedy reflects real life, so he’s always making sure the heart-swelling high notes are balanced by a healthy heaping of the heart-breaking lows. Need I remind you of his Oscar-winning smash TERMS OF ENDEARMENT?! Well anyway, in his 2004 film SPANGLISH he brings another perfectly balanced mix of emotions movie to the big screen and then some. The film stars popular Spanish actress Paz Vega as Flor. a single mother who immigrates to America from Mexico with the hopes of making a better life for her young daughter. Flor finds work with a the family of celebrated chef John Klaski, played by Adam Sandler, and his neurotic and needy wife Deborah played by Tea Leoni. First let me say, the cast is fantastic, the plot is warm and funny, messy and marvellous and everything you want in a romcom. Secondly, never let it be said that Adam Sandler isn’t an incredible actor. Oh sure, he’s a riot in HAPPY GILMORE and all those other slapstick flicks, but in SPANGLISH he’s truly flawless, and truth be told, he’s very easy to fall in love with. In fact, that’s where Brooks finds the hook for his signature heartbreak where Jack and Flor are concerned.I won’t tell you anymore. I’ll only say that when it’s all set to Hans Zimmer’s oh so romantic score – you best have a firm grip on those tissues my friend. Oh how I love SPANGLISH and I hope you do too. It’s available to stream on CRAVE.

On to another James L. Brooks film favourite of mine. One that hit theatres all the way back in 1987 and starred Holly Hunter as Jane Craig, a brilliantly gifted news producer; Albert Brooks as incredibly talented reporter Aaron Altman; and William Hurt, who plays the camera-worthy wanna-be-anchor Tom Grunick. In BROADCAST NEWS, we learn pretty quickly that Tom’s low IQ is the kind of thing that would typically turn Jane off, but instead his lovely looks have her heart racing. Meanwhile, poor Aaron who’s longing to be the one Jane loves,gets lumped in the friend category. So yeah, it’s your basic love triangle scenario, but throw in a non-stop newsroom, with massive layoffs on the line and things get even trickier. The writing is very smart, the performances are extraordinary and having worked in a newsroom myself, I can tell you not much has changed. The technology has for sure, but that organ-shifting pressure lives on, especially on the ‘live broadcast’ side of things. Oscar-winning composer Bill Conti does the score, but my favourite musical moment of movie takes place during a special live breaking news report, as Aaron’s turn on the motown classic “Midnight Train to Georgia” is really one for the ‘record’ books. Just watch and you’ll see – it’s a riot! You can stream/download BROADCAST NEWS now on Prime Video.

Next up on the Love Every Day movie list is Nancy Meyer’s 2023 smart, charming and oh-so-romantic comedy SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE. Jack Nicholson stars as perennial bachelor Harry Sandborn, who heads for the Hamptons for the weekend with his much younger girlfriend Marin played by Amanda Peet. Showing his age, Harry suffers a heart attack forcing him to hunker down and recuperate with Marin’s mother Erica Barry played by the late great Diane Keaton. Keanu Reeves takes on the role of young doctor Julian, who to tends to Harry and falls for Erica. Meanwhile Erica falls for Harry, and Harry maybe falls for Erica?! Well, suffice it to say the story is spectacular stuff indeed. When it came to shooting the scenes with Erica and Harry, writer/director Nancy Meyers said she created a ‘wall of sound.’ Basically, an on-set soundtrack if you will, that would play in the background and set the tone in scenes where they were acting alone with no dialogue. With Paris playing such a key role in the story (no spoilers) much of that ‘wall of sound’ music was French, plenty which made its way from on-set to the on-screen soundtrack. Songs like “Je Cherche un Homme”, “La Vie en Rose” and “C’est si bon”.

I adore SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE. Have I watched it a million times? Maybe. Will I watch it a million more? You bet. It ticks every single romantic comedy box and honestly gives a person hope. Hope that, no matter how old you might be, love can find you any time in life, and in a lot of cases, at a time when you least expect it. SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE is streaming on Prime Video.

Now I’m always amazed when someone can act in and direct a film, but as you’ll hear on the DVD commentary for this next heartwarming romcom, you’d know that with a story this close to her heart, Bonnie Hunt wouldn’t have it any other way. Bonnie co-wrote the screenplay for RETURN TO ME with her longtime creative partner and equally hilarious actor friend Don Lake, who also has a funny role in the film. Just hearing them recount how the movie was made – there’s no denying something magic was afoot. The film stars David Duchovny as architect Bob Ruland, whose life changes in an instant one night when his loving wife is killed in a car crash. Minnie Driver plays Grace Briggs, a young woman on the wait list for a heart transplant, whose life changes in an instant one night when she receives a healthy heart. Look I’m here to tell ya – you’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll fall in love with this movie! And don’t get me started on the supporting cast of screen legends that includes the righteous Robert Logia and the incomparable Carroll O’Connor. This movie plays like a classic from days gone by when stories were sweet, and family was family, and love was true blue beautiful. Only fitting then that the soundtrack be filled with the greatest kind of swinging standards from the likes of Frank Sinatra, the Jackie Gleason orchestra and Mr. Dean Martin. In fact the title track features Dean’s original vocals as released on his record back in 1961 with an all new musical arrangement produced by Nicholas Pike and filmmaker Bonnie Hunt behind them. This new version allowed Bonnie to weave the music throughout the film just like a tailored score. Oh it’s beyond lovely. RETURN TO ME is streaming now on TUBI.

I’ll confess I’m over the moon for Dean Martin’s music, but that’s not only reason I love the final film in our Love Every Day collection of romcoms. Yes, it’s Dean’s signature song “That’s Amore” we hear play over the opening credits to Norman Jewison’s 1987 Academy Award Winning masterpiece MOONSTRUCK, but that’s just a smidge of what makes this love story one for the ages. The film follows Loretta Castorini, an Italian-American bookkeeper from Brooklyn who falls in love the fiery brother of the boring man she’s agreed to marry. I’m simplifying for time, but I’m here to tell ya, this movie has everything and more – including a stellar cast with award-winning performances. Cher won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Loretta, Olympia Dukakis won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Loretta’s mother Rose, and John Patrick Shanley took home the hardware for Best Original Screenplay. The film also received nominations for Best Picture, and Best Direction as well as a best supporting actor nod for venerable Vincent Gardenia who played Cosmo Castorini. And here’s a fun fact, to this day whenever there’s a gigantic moon in the sky I say – “It’s Cosmo’s moon!” And since I believe this thing called love is linked ever so delicately with destiny I’ll leave you with the story Cher tells on the DVD commentary ~ how she wanted Nicolas Cage to play Ronny Cammareri so much that when the studio refused to hire him, she threatened to quit. Guess we know who won that round since it’s Nick Cage’s face that gets slapped twice as Cher yells “Snap out of it!” and it was his powerful portrayal of Ronny that catapulted Cage into the movie star stratosphere. You’ve just gotta love that! MOONSTRUCK is streaming now on CRAVE.

Here’s to a Happy Valentine’s Day and a happy Love Every Day Dear Reader ~ until next time! xosb