Unforgettable moments in romantic comedies combine elements of love (or thwarted love) with humor in a scene that touches the viewer’s emotions.
Favorite Romantic Movie Scene From When Harry Met Sally
In his book (with attached DVD), Now Showing: Unforgettable Moments from the Movies (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2003), Joe Garner compiles lists of special scenes from various genre films, including romantic comedies. As the ultimate unforgettable romantic comedy moment, he cites the restaurant scene in When Harry Met Sally (1989) where Sally (Meg Ryan) simulates sexual satisfaction for Harry (Billy Crystal) in front of a crowd of diners. According to the book, the outrageous scene required several takes before Ryan felt comfortable with the public display.
More Romantic Comedy Movie Moments
Garner also lists five additional romantic comedy unforgettable moments: The Philadelphia Story ([1940] three suitors courting a bride-to-be hours before her wedding); Pillow Talk ([1959] split screens depict witty telephone conversations filled with innuendo); Annie Hall ([1977] a scene where real feelings are revealed through subtitles); Pretty Woman ([1990] the perfect fairy tale ending); and My Big Fat Greek Wedding ([2002] a non-Greek suitor is coached to meet his prospective in-laws by learning a phrase in Greek – only he’s saying something different from what he intends).
Citing all unforgettable moments from romantic comedies would be impossible (and in most cases completely subjective), but for the sake of romantic movie lovers everywhere, a few additional selections from recent years need to be added to this list.
Moonstruck (1987)
- A widow (Cher) tries to convince her fiancé’s younger brother (Nicolas Cage) that they have no future together. With a sharp slap to the face, she tells him, “Snap out of it.”
The Princess Bride (1987)
- A young woman (Robin Wright) realizes that when her servant (Cary Elwes) says, “As you wish,” it means that he loves her.
Roxanne (1987)
- A man (Steve Martin) accepts a challenge to create snappy comebacks regarding his over-sized nose to impress the woman he loves (Daryl Hannah).
Say Anything (1989)
- A rejected teenaged suitor (John Cusack) blares Peter Gabriel’s song “In Your Eyes” from his boom box in the street.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
- A man (Tom Cruise) and his devoted employee (Renee Zellwegger) witness a couple communicating their love with sign language on an elevator ride.
There’s Something About Mary (1998)
- This gross-out romantic comedy had such an impact on modern cinema that two separate moments must be included. When Ted (Ben Stiller) finally gets a first date with Mary (Cameron Diaz), he encounters painful zipper problems. Year’s later, on his second date with Mary, he endures an embarrassing episode with “hair gel.”
Spider-Man (2001)
- A disguised superhero (Tobey Maguire) kisses his would-be girlfriend (Kirsten Dunst) upside down in the rain.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
- An overweight woman (Renee Zellweger) trying her hand at broadcast journalism slides down a fire pole with disastrous results for all the television viewers to see.
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Leslie C. Halpern - Leslie C. Halpern, Romantic Films/Comedies Topic Editor, authored Passionate About Their Work, Reel Romance, & Dreams on Film.
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