There’s nothing like a warm laugh or a tender tear that is induced by a good movie. In this dizzying, fast-paced world that we live in, an escape from the stressful grind is a necessity to one’s health and sanity! And what better, easy way than seeing a movie where guys apologize with fresh flowers, good larva-to-butterfly girls prevail over the gorgeous but mean ones, and people figure out ways to get out of the friendzone? On your comfortable bed or the cozy seat of a theater with popcorn on one hand and a can of soda on the other, you’re laughing and crying and just feeling alive again with this latest chick flick. What a huge wave of relief, right?
Here then are the silver screen’s chocolate banana gelato (because it’s like that in some ways!) for us this 2014. It’s been a good year with a parade of good movies and these are the top 20 chick flicks which stood out!
20. Make Your Move
Donny and Aya find themselves falling in love with every step and every beat. But in the harsh world of New York’s underground dance scene, their brothers are archenemies and rivals. Reminiscent of “Romeo and Juliet” and “West Side Story”, this movie remains a strong visual treat despite the criticized plot of a prohibited love. The seemingly cliché storyline and sappy dialogue are redeemed by the excellent cast and breathtaking choreography. K-pop superstar BoA and Dancing with the Stars’ Derek Hough shine with their moves and acting that every dance scene of theirs oozes with burning sexiness, chemistry and flair.
Cast: Derek Hough, BoA, Will Yun Lee
IMdb Rating: 5.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 43%
19. Very Good Girls
Best friends Gerri and Lilly have been good at high school. Too good perhaps by Western liberated cultural standards that they went through it with their hymen still intact. Oh yes, their virginities are safe and secure. But somehow these girls realize they are losers (as influenced by Western liberated cultures maybe?) and make it their priority to give away their virginities pronto. The summer before college they agree to finally losing it but they fall with the same light-haired street artist named David. It’s hard not to imagine that while they’re making small talk out there on the street, these two girls’ minds are busy plotting ways on how to bed him. Gerri is outspoken about her huge crush on David while he on the other hand is pursuing Lily. Lily and David see each other in secret, keeping their rendezvous electric and intense with the sinfulness of it all. How can two almost-sisters deal with this? The friends-since-forever deal with family, work, uncertainty, the sweeping whirl of first love, betrayal and ultimately, the meaning of friendship.
Cast: Dakota Fanning, Elizabeth Olsen, Sterling Jones
IMdb Rating: 6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 14%
18. If I Stay
Mia, her mom and her dad were on the road when a tragic crash took place. Mia finds herself unable to communicate with those around her and soon realizes that she has an out-of-body experience. While her body is in comatose, Mia revisits her memories with her family and with her boyfriend Adam. When it is finally revealed to her that both her parents died, Mia must decide whether to join them on the peaceful other side or continue living on this Earth with the boy she loves. What happens if she stays? And why should she? Is romance a reason good enough for living? With superb acting and an enthralling soundtrack, this movie makes the tissues a necessity.
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Jamie Blackley
IMdb Rating: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 36%
17. They Came Together
It was hate at first sight for Joel and Molly. His candy company seeks to close out her eccentric indie shop. But through it all, ridiculously but inevitably, they fall in love. But halfway through, despite the undeniable funny chemistry, they realize it’s a mistake to be together. This movie may not be for everyone but for those who get it, it’s a messy smart take on romantic comedies. It’s sarcastic. It’s funny. It’s crazy. And yeah, seriously, what’s with that title?
Cast: Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bill Hader
IMdb Rating: 5.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 69%
16. The Other Woman
Dawson and Amanda were high school sweethearts when they were sure what they had was true love. But life kicks in and they were torn asunder. They were young, so said the grownups, surely what they had was just some teenage hormones. Fast forward they meet again at a friend’s funeral and inevitably, despite the 20 years apart, their feelings for each other have never faded. But life, reality and all those sorts threaten to get in between again, and this time, with more fatal repercussions. Based on the tradition of Nicholas Sparks, here comes what some critics describe as another cliché of “kissing-in-the-rain” and “together-again-as-adults” and some others praise as still beautifully heartwarming. Will a first love finally triumph at a second chance?
Cast: James Marsden, Michelle Monaghan, Luke Bracey, Liana Liberato
IMdb Rating: NA
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
14. Sex Tape
After having kids, Jay and Annie almost never had sex anymore. One night, in an attempt to rekindle the romance, they decide to make a—ta da!—a sex tape. But Jay accidentally synchronized the video to the iPads they have given as gifts. The result is a ridiculous, hilarious, crazy odyssey to trace the owners of the iPads and delete the videos personally. They get blackmailed by a neighborhood kid ad their videos get sent to the internet. They make it as far as the headquarters of a porn site to destroy the servers to save their faces. But there’s something else that needs more saving, right? And hopefully they don’t lose track of that! In this light-hearted and comedic look on married life, the couple finally gets some intense action and intimacy more than they dreamed of when they first hit the ‘record button’.
Cast: Jason Segel, Cameron Diaz, Rob Corddry, Ellie Kemper
IMdb Rating: 5.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 18%
13. The Pretty One
Laurel is independent, stylish and independent. There’s no wonder why awkward, wishy-washy-wallflower Audrey worships her red-lipstick-wearing twin sister. Despite them being as identical as two shoes in a perfect pair, Laurel has always been the “pretty one” and Audrey’s just been… well the other sister. But as fate would have it, the boring twin takes the identity of the other when a tragic chance arrives. She finally gets the opportunity to reinvent and free herself from being forever alone and the eternal wallflower fate she was doomed for… but can she? And should she really? It’s like this: if you are in a car about to crash and next to you is the person you idolize and you can only save one, who would it be? Your own self or that other person? This comedic coming-of-age film explores the bittersweet journey to identity and self-love.
Cast: Zoe Kazan, Jake Johnson, Ron Livingston
IMdb Rating: 6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 47%
12. Premature
Rob has his big day started by getting caught ejaculating by his mother. Then here goes his college interview to make it to his parent’s beloved school. And there goes his catty crush Angela. And as if that’s not enough, there goes Rob waking up again being discovered by his mom with a wet spot on his underpants. And there goes his college interview and his high-maintenance, slutty crush Angela… What? Whether it’s de ja vu or psychosis, Rob gets to relive the same day over and over and over and over until he gets it right. From wimpy, Rob goes empowered and maybe ultimately, he grows the spine tackle life more wisely one day at a time.
Cast: Katie Findlay, Alan Tudyk, Craig Roberts, Carlson Young
IMdb Rating: 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 41%
11. Walking on Sunshine
Maddie, known for her flighty relationships finally announces she’s getting married. It’s a cause for celebration right? So her sister Taylor flies and meets her up in a coastal Italian town where the wedding is about to take place. Her groom is Raf—Italian, beautiful and sexy. But as fate and movie plot twists would have it, he is also Taylor’s ex-flame and the love of her life. The groom and the bridesmaid have some feelings rekindled but Taylor is too nice that she’ll break her own heart instead. But true love has to triumph over everything right? Set in belissima Italia and the hits of the ‘80’s, this romantic treat can only feel good and groovy as its title.
Cast: Katie Findlay, Alan Tudyk, Craig Roberts, Carlson Young
IMdb Rating: 5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 26%
10. Magic in the Moonlight
Stanley is an arrogant Englishman who when he is not himself, he is the great Chinese magician Wei Ling Soo. With such unparalleled talent at duplicity, he travels to a family’s mansion at Cote d’Azur, determined to debunk a clairvoyant named Sophie. She turns out to be young, pretty and witty. The family is charmed by her and in spite of himself, Stanley falls head over heels too. He wrestles with his rational mind about the unbelievable accuracy of her visions and the fact that he is smitten by her. With the lead roles played by the dashing Colin Firth and the spunky Emma Stone, what more convincing do you need? And oh, there’s the wonderful period costumes and sets too!
In the tradition of the genius Woody Allen (known for his farces and comedies as much as for his brilliance), can love be more than just a trick we make up to soothe ourselves from our tiresome existence?
Cast: Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Marcia Gay Harden
IMdb Rating: 5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 51%
9. Laggies
Megan might be 28 but she’s forever stuck in adolescence. While her old friends are celebrating their grown up milestones and achievements, nothing much has changed in Megan’s life. She’s still making signs for her father’s company and she is still dating her high school boyfriend. When he finally proposed, she spirally descends into a fit of panic and realizes she has plenty of things to settle with her not-so-mature self. She escapes for a week with a valid excuse her boyfriend and family swallowed… except that in reality she’s just hanging around a bunch of teenagers as she figures out her life.
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Keira Knightley, Sam Rockwell
IMdb Rating: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 62%
8. Wish I Was Here
At 35, struggling actor Aidan Bloom can’t still figure out his life and purpose. He is also a father and a husband but what of it? When his father could no longer pay for the private education of his two sons, he homeschools them himself. In his attempt to teach them about his understanding of life, he surprisingly finds the answers he was searching for since forever. From writer-director Zach Braff comes another existential kaleidoscope that is not too far from his successful Garden State and not too close to it either. “Wish I was Here” holds its own and makes a compelling philosophical conversation on the ups and downs of life.
Cast: Zach Braff, Joey King, Pierce Gagnon
IMdb Rating: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 46%
7. Begin Again
From the writer and director of “Once” comes another musical-drama galore that could set one’s soul singing along. Gretta has a fall out with her long-time songwriting partner and college boyfriend Dave after he betrays her literally and metaphorically. She meets Dan, a music exec who is separated from his wife. Dan talks Gretta into a contract under his label but she initially refuses. They eventually become friends. Dave hopes to reunite with Gretta and they meet again in the lonely cityscape of New York and tries to settle their artistic differences. Gretta, a representation of lost souls and artists everywhere, wrestles with thoughts on music as art, fame, loss, love and life in general.
Cast: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine and James Corden
IMdb Rating: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 82%
6. Happy Christmas
Jenny, 20, is irresponsible and an alcoholic. After a break up, she moves in with her brother Jeff, a young filmmaker; his wife Kelly, an aspiring novelist; and their baby son. The family’s quiet domestic life is shaken by Jenny’s instant inclusion into their lives—she who needs more babysitting than the baby. Parties here, parties there and bottles of liquor everywhere, Jenny seems no where near to wisdom, or at least, some decent sense. Despite the rocky start, Jenny spices things up and surprisingly, shows her bit of wisdom. She rallies Kelly into a reinvention of her life and career and they snuck a chance at what it truly means and takes to be happy.
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber
IMdb Rating: 5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 78%
5. God Help the Girl
Eve escapes from a mental institution and finds herself at Glasgow with a spunky ambition. She comes across James, a lifeguard and hopeful songwriter who though awkward, exhibits brilliance in music. Through him she also befriends Cassie, his guitar tutee. As they become a trio, Eve meets Anton, a haughty, bad boy member of a local band. Eve gives him her demo tape, hoping him to pass it to the radio station but he doesn’t, confessing to her later on that he believes her music is just… lacking. James suddenly feels distant and Eve feels abandoned. Written and directed by Stuart Murdoch from the Scottish band Belle and Sebastian comes an ambitious musical drama film of friendship, dreams and self-redemption.
Cast: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray
IMdb Rating: 6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 70%
4. G. B. F.
Three queen bees are on a serious warfare. The reason? A guy. But it’s not what you think. It’s a gay guy!
Fawcett, queen of the rich and famous; Caprice, queen of the artsy; and ‘Shley, queen of the goody-two-shoes and the religious fight over the newly out-of-the-closet Tanner. Having a G.B.F. or “gay best friend” increases their chances of being prom queen and they are coiffured head over Gucci heels about him… or her. This edgy, teenage comedy has prom, prom queens, cliques and clichés on it but brilliantly touches an honest and sensitive issue in our current society. It explores the feelings and experiences of teenage homosexuals and society’s prejudices and treatment towards them. It can be compared to the humor and cleverness of Juno but it’s entirely fresh and captivating on its own!
Cast: Michael J. Willett, Paul Iacono, Sasha Pieterse
IMdb Rating: 6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 82%
3. What If
Wallace drops out of medical school after discovering that his girlfriend is having an affair with his anatomy teacher. Cynical and miserable, he leans onto being an anti-social. At the urging of his friend Allan, he goes at a party and fortuitously meets Chantry. She’s smart, easygoing and feels like a soul mate. What if love is real? What if a second chance is dawning? What if she’s the one for him? Wallace feels an overwhelming chemistry, a triumph over his cynicism, and so he engages her for the night, walks her home, and—boom—she actually already has a boyfriend. Still, he maintains contact with her and they become close friends—best friends even. What if it’s really the two of them? What now?
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Megan Park, Adam Driver, Mackenzie Davis, Rafe Spall
IMdb Rating: 7/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 69%
2. Love, Rosie
Alex and Rosie have always been together. Alex and Rosie are best friends since five. And maybe that’s all they will ever be: close friends. Come adolescence and they start dating other people. Rosie, who always dreamed of working in a hotel gets impregnated. Alex gets a scholarship to Harvard and moves to Boston. They maintain contact but lead separate lives. But the question of whether they truly belong together still haunts their souls. From the author of “P.S. I Love You” comes this silver screen adaptation of a story of friendship that transcends distance, time and mistakes. Could somebody be right when he said “happiness is marrying your best friend”? Alex and Rosie have always been together. And maybe that’s how they should be forever.
Cast: Lily Collins, Sam Claflin, Christian Cooke
IMdb Rating: NA
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: NA
1. The Fault in Our Stars
Hazel Grace, a young lady with cancer, lungs that suck at being lungs and an eternal portable oxygen tank, was so sure joining the cancer support group was a bad idea but that immediately changed as she meets this cute, mysterious boy by the name of Augustus Waters. Her lost his leg and basketball dreams but cancer is not the only thing they have in common. He befriends her and they unexpectedly hit the bull’s eye of undeniable chemistry. With their dry wit, acidic humor and insightful minds, they venture out into a journey of two everlasting souls in a decaying world filled with love and loss and sorrow and hope and pain that demands to be felt. They fly to beautiful Amsterdam and go back into a reality that will never ever be the same. Their time together might not be long but paradoxically “infinite.” From best-selling author John Green comes this tear-jerking adaptation that drastically increased the sales of tissue papers.
Cast: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern
IMdb Rating: 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 80%
Call the girls! Heat the popcorn! Supply the tissue boxes! This list demands to be seen. Some of these films are serious on being ridiculously, side-achingly funny while others juggle humor and philosophy and gloom. But this we can assure you: these are gems from the many movies released theatrically for this year. By engaging in a one-hour-and-30-min of one of these flicks, hopefully you’ll have enough zest for life to make it to the next weekend sale or the next pay out or the next year… or even to wisdom and your very own eureka moment!
So called because they target mostly female audiences, movie snobs might think chick flicks are immature and shallow. Goodness! But while indeed light-hearted and mostly comedic, these movies are like the not-so-serious looking glass into the reality. While being sarcastically funny or grossly humorous, every now and then they throw nuggets of wisdom on us and while wiping tears from the corners of our eyes, we are nodding with “Hell yeah. That’s life! Let’s stay strong and make it fun!”
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