Looking for a little love? Or maybe something to do on a date night? Check out this list of romantic comedies hitting theaters throughout 2011 (listed in order of release):
Also of Interest: 2012's Romantic Comedies / Top 10 Comedies of 2011 / Top 10 Romantic Comedies
1. 'No Strings Attached'
© Paramount Pictures
Starring: Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher
The Plot: Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) are life-long friends who almost ruin everything by having sex one morning. In order to protect their friendship, they make a pact to keep their relationship strictly “no strings attached.” "No strings" means no jealousy, no expectations, no fighting, no flowers, no baby voices. It means they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, in whatever public place they want, as long as they don't fall in love. The question becomes- who's going to fall first? And can their friendship survive?
Release Date: January 21, 2011
The Plot: Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) are life-long friends who almost ruin everything by having sex one morning. In order to protect their friendship, they make a pact to keep their relationship strictly “no strings attached.” "No strings" means no jealousy, no expectations, no fighting, no flowers, no baby voices. It means they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, in whatever public place they want, as long as they don't fall in love. The question becomes- who's going to fall first? And can their friendship survive?
Release Date: January 21, 2011
2. 'From Prada to Nada'
© Lionsgate Films
Starring: Camilla Belle, Alexa Vega, and Wilmer Valderrama
The Plot: A fish-out-of-water story of two spoiled sisters: Nora (Camilla Belle), a law student, and Mary (Alexa Vega), an undergrad party girl, living with their father in a luxurious mansion in Beverly Hills. Mary has become so “90210” she refuses to admit she is of Mexican descent. When dad suddenly passes away, their posh lives are turned upside down. They discover they have been left penniless and are forced to move into their estranged aunt Aurelia’s (Adriana Barraza) modest but lively home in the Latino-centric Boyle Heights neighborhood of East LA. They are terrified to leave their world of privilege; neither Nora nor Mary speak Spanish or have ever had to take on actual responsibility. The girls gradually adapt to their new environment; their BMW and Prius are traded for the public bus and a used car. As they embrace the culture that for so long they refused to accept, they both discover romance, the true meaning of family, and they learn that the life of PRADA actually means NADA without love, family and community.
Release Date: January 28, 2011
The Plot: A fish-out-of-water story of two spoiled sisters: Nora (Camilla Belle), a law student, and Mary (Alexa Vega), an undergrad party girl, living with their father in a luxurious mansion in Beverly Hills. Mary has become so “90210” she refuses to admit she is of Mexican descent. When dad suddenly passes away, their posh lives are turned upside down. They discover they have been left penniless and are forced to move into their estranged aunt Aurelia’s (Adriana Barraza) modest but lively home in the Latino-centric Boyle Heights neighborhood of East LA. They are terrified to leave their world of privilege; neither Nora nor Mary speak Spanish or have ever had to take on actual responsibility. The girls gradually adapt to their new environment; their BMW and Prius are traded for the public bus and a used car. As they embrace the culture that for so long they refused to accept, they both discover romance, the true meaning of family, and they learn that the life of PRADA actually means NADA without love, family and community.
Release Date: January 28, 2011
3. 'Gnomeo and Juliet'
© Touchstone Pictures
Featuring the Voices Of: James McAvoy and Emily Blunt
The Plot: The greatest love story ever told, starring...garden gnomes? In Gnomeo & Juliet, Shakespeare's revered tale gets a comical, off-the-wall makeover. Directed by Kelly Asbury and showcasing both classic and original songs by Elton John, the film features the voices of James McAvoy and Emily Blunt as Gnomeo and Juliet, who have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and thrilling lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find a happy ending?
Release Date: February 11, 2011
The Plot: The greatest love story ever told, starring...garden gnomes? In Gnomeo & Juliet, Shakespeare's revered tale gets a comical, off-the-wall makeover. Directed by Kelly Asbury and showcasing both classic and original songs by Elton John, the film features the voices of James McAvoy and Emily Blunt as Gnomeo and Juliet, who have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and thrilling lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find a happy ending?
Release Date: February 11, 2011
4. 'Just Go With It'
© Columbia Pictures
Starring: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, and Nicole Kidman
The Plot: In Just Go With It, a plastic surgeon, romancing a much younger schoolteacher, enlists his loyal assistant to pretend to be his soon to be ex-wife, in order to cover up a careless lie. When more lies backfire, the assistant's kids become involved, and everyone heads off for a weekend in Hawaii that will change all their lives.
Release Date: February 11, 2011
The Plot: In Just Go With It, a plastic surgeon, romancing a much younger schoolteacher, enlists his loyal assistant to pretend to be his soon to be ex-wife, in order to cover up a careless lie. When more lies backfire, the assistant's kids become involved, and everyone heads off for a weekend in Hawaii that will change all their lives.
Release Date: February 11, 2011
5. 'Midnight in Paris'
© Sony Pictures Classics
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Adrien Brody, and Owen Wilson
The Plot: Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy that follows a family traveling to the city for business. The party includes a young engaged couple that has their lives transformed throughout the journey. The film celebrates a young man's great love for Paris, and simultaneously explores the illusion people have that a life different from their own is better.
Release Date: May 20, 2011
The Plot: Midnight in Paris is a romantic comedy that follows a family traveling to the city for business. The party includes a young engaged couple that has their lives transformed throughout the journey. The film celebrates a young man's great love for Paris, and simultaneously explores the illusion people have that a life different from their own is better.
Release Date: May 20, 2011
6. 'Monte Carlo'
© 20th Century Fox
Starring: Selena Gomez, Cory Monteith and Leighton Meester
The Plot: Based on the Jules Bass book Headhunters published in 2001, Monte Carlo finds Selena Gomez playing a teen named Grace who's mistaken for a socialite while on a trip to Paris. Flying off to Monte Carlo for a charity ball and auction, Grace and her friends find themselves involved in the search for a million dollar necklace that goes missing.
Release Date: July 1, 2011
The Plot: Based on the Jules Bass book Headhunters published in 2001, Monte Carlo finds Selena Gomez playing a teen named Grace who's mistaken for a socialite while on a trip to Paris. Flying off to Monte Carlo for a charity ball and auction, Grace and her friends find themselves involved in the search for a million dollar necklace that goes missing.
Release Date: July 1, 2011
7. 'Zookeeper'
© Columbia Pictures
Starring: Kevin James, Rosario Dawson and Adam Sandler
The Plot: In Zookeeper, Kevin James plays Griffin Keyes, a kind-hearted zookeeper who is convinced the only way to get a girl in his life is to quit his job. The zoo animals, in a panic, decide to break their time-honored rule of not talking to humans and teach Griffin the ways of the wild so he can find a mate and stay at the zoo.
Release Date: July 8, 2011
The Plot: In Zookeeper, Kevin James plays Griffin Keyes, a kind-hearted zookeeper who is convinced the only way to get a girl in his life is to quit his job. The zoo animals, in a panic, decide to break their time-honored rule of not talking to humans and teach Griffin the ways of the wild so he can find a mate and stay at the zoo.
Release Date: July 8, 2011
8. 'Friends with Benefits'
© Screen Gems
Starring: Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake
The Plot: Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis) think it's going to be easy to add the simple act of sex to their friendship, despite what Hollywood romantic comedies would have them believe. They soon discover however that getting physical really does always lead to complications.
Release Date: July 22, 2011
The Plot: Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis) think it's going to be easy to add the simple act of sex to their friendship, despite what Hollywood romantic comedies would have them believe. They soon discover however that getting physical really does always lead to complications.
Release Date: July 22, 2011
9. 'Crazy, Stupid, Love'
© Warner Bros Pictures
Starring: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and Julianne Moore
The Plot: At fortysomething, straight-laced Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is living the dream - good job, nice house, great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart. But when Cal learns that his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his "perfect" life quickly unravels. Worse, in today's single world, Cal, who hasn't dated in decades, stands out as the epitome of un-smooth. Now spending his free evenings sulking alone at a local bar, the hapless Cal is taken on as wingman and protege to handsome, thirtysomething player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling).
In an effort to help Cal get over his wife and start living his life, Jacob opens Cal's eyes to the many options before him: flirty women, manly drinks and a sense of style that can't be found at Supercuts or The Gap. Cal and Emily aren't the only ones looking for love in what might be all the wrong places: Cal's 13-year-old son, Robbie, is crazy about his 17-year-old babysitter, Jessica, who harbors a crush on Cal. And despite Cal's makeover and his many new conquests, the one thing that can't be made over is his heart, which seems to keep leading him back to where he began.
Release Date: July 29, 2011
The Plot: At fortysomething, straight-laced Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is living the dream - good job, nice house, great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart. But when Cal learns that his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his "perfect" life quickly unravels. Worse, in today's single world, Cal, who hasn't dated in decades, stands out as the epitome of un-smooth. Now spending his free evenings sulking alone at a local bar, the hapless Cal is taken on as wingman and protege to handsome, thirtysomething player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling).
In an effort to help Cal get over his wife and start living his life, Jacob opens Cal's eyes to the many options before him: flirty women, manly drinks and a sense of style that can't be found at Supercuts or The Gap. Cal and Emily aren't the only ones looking for love in what might be all the wrong places: Cal's 13-year-old son, Robbie, is crazy about his 17-year-old babysitter, Jessica, who harbors a crush on Cal. And despite Cal's makeover and his many new conquests, the one thing that can't be made over is his heart, which seems to keep leading him back to where he began.
Release Date: July 29, 2011
10. 'One Day'
© Focus Features
Starring: Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway
The Plot: Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) meet on the night of their college graduation – July 15th, 1988. She is a working-class girl of principle and ambition who dreams of making the world a better place. He is a wealthy charmer who dreams that the world will be his playground. For the next two decades, every July 15th reveals to us how “Em” and “Dex” are faring, as their friendship ebbs and flows with the passing of the years. Through laughter and romance, heartbreak and exhilaration, they experience the grandeur of life. Somewhere along their journey, these two people realize that what they are searching and hoping for has been there for them all along.
(This one's just barely a romantic comedy - in fact, calling it a rom-com is pushing that definition to its furthest limits)
Release Date: August 19, 2011
The Plot: Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter (Jim Sturgess) meet on the night of their college graduation – July 15th, 1988. She is a working-class girl of principle and ambition who dreams of making the world a better place. He is a wealthy charmer who dreams that the world will be his playground. For the next two decades, every July 15th reveals to us how “Em” and “Dex” are faring, as their friendship ebbs and flows with the passing of the years. Through laughter and romance, heartbreak and exhilaration, they experience the grandeur of life. Somewhere along their journey, these two people realize that what they are searching and hoping for has been there for them all along.
(This one's just barely a romantic comedy - in fact, calling it a rom-com is pushing that definition to its furthest limits)
Release Date: August 19, 2011
11. 'New Year's Eve'
© Warner Bros Pictures
Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Zac Efron, Hilary Swank, and hundreds of others
The Plot: New Year's Eve celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts, in the intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year.
Release Date: December 9, 2011
The Plot: New Year's Eve celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts, in the intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year.
Release Date: December 9, 2011
