Now whether you love them or hate them, grand speeches declaring one characters love for another are a given in Romcom’s (well really any romance in general). They usually take place after a big fight and a character is leaving or has vowed never to speak to the other again so they really have to wow them when declaring their undying love. So I thought id let you know some of my favourites.
Top 5
You Complete Me – Jerry Maguire
Now starting back in 1996, the romcom drama starring Tom Cruise and Renee Zellweger, follows Tom’s character Jerry as he tries his best to rebuild his ‘empire’ once he looses his job. As the film progresses we see Jerry and Dorothy’s romance blossom but we also see it go through some hardship. Now the particular scene that has got the film on this list is just after our main character achieves everything he’s spent the whole film trying to do so. He goes to celebrate but realises the one person he wants there isn’t. Cue the travel montage across the country, when he finally gets home to Dorothy who has a divorced women’s club over at her house. Jerry Burst in the door stating he’s looking for his wife, the scene progresses as he tells her how much he needs and misses her to a whole crowd and utter the well know phrase “You complete me” she then tells him to shut up and we think its game over until the famous line “You had me at hello.” I like how this scene has gone down in history and isn’t dragged out, its not in a grand public place its more about the words than the gesture.
Number 4
I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy – Notting Hill
Now this is one of the more heartbreaking scenes. Notting Hill starring Hugh Grant as book shop owner William and Julia Roberts as Actress Anna Scott. We follow their relationship, they have a couple of meet cutes and we also see William pretend to be a reporter multiple times to get in contact with Anna. We also learn throughout how difficult Anna’s life can be whether it be keeping her life private from the public and avoiding reporters. This scene takes place in Williams book shop, they have seen each other again after William visits her on set where he hears her dismiss him, he leaves, she arrives at his shop then next day apologising that she didn’t want to discuss her personal life with an indiscreet co star. She then tells him she loves him and wants to start a relationship however he rejects her. We can see Anna’s heart breaking as the words escape his mouth. Adding another thing to the list her fame has ruined for her. She ends the interaction with the famous line and leaves without another word.
Number 3
You want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible – When Harry met Sally
Onto a classic from 1989 starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. We follow the journey of Harry and Sallys relationship starting coincidentally when Harry meets Sally. They don’t hit it off and after their journey in which they’re travelling from Chicago to New York after graduating college they both don’t plan on seeing the other again. The years pass and they have a couple of small interactions and soon a friendship blooms. After an awkward night, and an argument at their mutual friends’ wedding, Sally states she doesn’t think they can continue the friendship. It jumps to New Year, Harry spending it walking around New York alone and Sally at a party in which she decides to leave early, until she is stopped by Harry who declares his love for her. In true character she argues stating he’s just lonely, leading him to list all of the reasons he loves her and ends with the iconic phrase “I came here tonight because when you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” The song auld lang syne playing in the background is a brilliant addition.
Number 2
I Need You – Love and Other Drugs
Our next film is lesser know and I only watched it for the first time a few weeks ago. Love & Other Drugs stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Jamie a pharmaceutical sales representative and Anne Hathaway as Maggie, who meet when Jamie stands in on one of her doctors appointment as she suffers from early onset Parkinson’s disease. After some persuasion Jamie lands a date with Maggie, where they both reveal they are not looking for relationships and start a friends with benefits situation. Some time passes and Jamie states he wants a relationship, Maggie refuses and they have an argument. Two days later, after waiting all night for her at the bus stop in his car, he greets her back. Maggie is touched, and they resume their relationship. As time progresses Jamie become obsessed with trying to find a cure for Maggie’s Parkinson’s. She soon ends things when she realises he can only be with her if their hope for a cure. Some time passes and as Jamie is packing to move, he finds a video camera with footage of Maggie on it, he realises he can’t live without her and rushes to find her, her boss tells him she has gone on another trip to Canada. He flags down the bus and gives on of the best speeches I’ve heard. Its heart melting and still very in character for both of them.
Number 1
Grow old with you – The Wedding Singer
Now onto probably one of my favourite movies of all time. The Wedding Singer. This is the first of the Adam Sandler/ Drew Barrymore romantic comedy trilogy. Sandler plays wedding singer Robbie and Barrymore plays waitress Julia. They meet at a wedding they’re both working at. It’s quickly obvious that Robbie is great at his job, loves what he does and everyone loves him in return. We also learn that they are both set to get married and Robbie promises to sing at Julia’s wedding. Cut to Robbie’s wedding day where he is left at the alter and is heartbroken. Leading him to leave his job. Julia however convinces him to help her plan her wedding which he reluctantly agrees. Soon both secretly develop feelings for the other but in true Romcom style they are kept apart. Cut to Julia and Glen (her horrible fiancé) on a plane headed to Vegas to elope. Robbie turns out to be on the same flight after he finds out her plan and goes to stop her. With help from the other passengers in first class, including Billy Idol he writes a song and performs it for Julia. Now I dare anyone to watch this scene and not burst into a smile, when Julia realises it’s for her and Robbie appears. This I can confidently say is without a doubt the best declaration of love in cinema!
Cinema & Chapters by Peggy 