By Shelley Wunder-Smith and Randall Smith

Why is it that when a couple plans an evening dans la maison and a guy's significant other suggests a relationship movie starring Meg Ryan, Sandra Bullock, or Julia Roberts—in other words—a “chick flick,” the fellow would rather have his toenails yanked out instead?

Let's stage a little revolution here at Cinekklesia and stop using the pejorative term “chick flick” altogether, especially since we present here five films that couples can enjoy together. Some obviously fall into the romantic comedy category and some do not, but all are about relationships, the province of which has stereotypically belonged to women for centuries. But whether we're laughing at or with each other, if both sexes aren't laughing, then we don't have anything to share—now do we?

	1.	Bridget Jones's Diary (dir. Sharon Maguire, 2001) – To bowdlerize a famous Vincent Price line, “No mere mortal can resist the moronic charm of Mark Darcy's reindeer jumper.” Inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice , this film takes much of its impetus from the following universally acknowledged truth: An available Colin Firth must be in want of a chance to reprise his role as Mr. Darcy. So why would a guy want to watch this film? Add Firth's smug characterization of Mark Darcy to Hugh Grant's role as a smarmy slimeball (no, this is not a documentary), and you have a film that will play to the mal in male humor.
	2.	When Harry Met Sally (dir. Rob Reiner, 1989) – Yes, it's a classic. Billy Crystal turns in one of his best performances as the cynical, lovable Harry. Meg Ryan shows us just how bad women's hair has been over the last three decades, but perms and wings can't keep a good girl down. WHMS lets men and women laugh together while gently mocking the vagaries of contemporary relationships, married and otherwise. Also, note that Pictionary is not a good game for group dates.
	3.	The Wedding Singer (dir. Frank Coraci, 1998)– Turnabout is fair play, guys. This is the chick flick from the guy's perspective: guy gets dumped on his wedding day, and later meets the girl of his dreams, who happens to be already engaged to a leopard-print-jockey-wearing jerk. Eat your heart out, J-Lo. Adam Sandler with a bouffant hairdo, powder-blue tuxedos, a chauffeur wearing “Beat It” duds: You'll laugh; you'll cry; it's better than Cats. Besides, it's got all that great '80s music, like Musical Youth's “Pass the Dutchie” (you know you love it).
	4.	An Ideal Husband (dir. Oliver Parker, 1999) –This film is one only smart guys will want to see—one full of intrigue, roguish gentlemen, whip-smart women, the threat of scandal, and—best of all—Oscar Wilde's dialogue. If banter and repartee are your bread and butter, then prepare to be feted by the prince of persiflage. If your man is characteristically self-centered, then both you and he will find much to relate to in the role of Lord Goring (Rupert Everett). And from him, you both may take away the maxim that “to know oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” But if your guy isn't so selfish? Then he'll watch it with you for your own sake, now won't he?
	5.	Breakfast at Tiffany's (dir. Blake Edwards, 1961) – The movie is bittersweet and more hopeful than the original Capote story on which it's based and features Audrey Hepburn is at her luminous best, which is saying something. George Peppard is everymale, as he experiences the frustration of not understanding woman. Always two steps behind her, he continues to chase—and at the right moment, in her vulnerability, he finds his footing, and steps up to be the man she needs. Hepburn's rendition of “Moon River” in her little garret is heartbreaking.

• BBC's Pride and Prejudice (dir. Simon Langton, 1996; this didn't make the main list only because it was originally a TV miniseries.)
• The Philadelphia Story (dir. George Cukor, 1940; speaking of whip-smart women, how can anyone argue with a movie that has Katherine Hepburn in it, not to mention the dynamic duo of Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart? This film features a great sparking of wits between the trio.)
• Strictly Ballroom (1993; does Baz Luhrmann make chick flicks? Hard to say: rather than occupying a touchy-feely liminal space, he directs emotional tsunamis that sweep up everyone in their path. SB is much like a fairy tale about the ugly duckling with a Hamlet -like subplot, rich in color, music, and, of course, dancing.)