There’s nothing like a great romantic comedy to make you want to laugh out loud one second and fall in love the next. This genre of film captures life’s most basic desire: love. Films like The Notebook, When Harry Met Sally, and My Best Friends Wedding typically top the list of the greatest romantic comedies of all time. The only problem is that those films, and others like them, are missing one thing: Black people. We all know that representation matters, and its extremely important to see black love in real life and on the silver screen. So where is it? Our generation has only had a few rom-coms with black casts. So while we wait for Hollywood to give us what we want, lets take a look back at some of the greatest romantic comedies where melanin has a starring role.
The Wood
This 1999 film stars Taye Diggs, as a runaway groom with cold feet, and his two friends played by Richard T. Jones and Omar Epps. The guys have been friends since high school and the movie flips back and forth between the present-day and flashbacks of their time as teens. If you haven’t seen The Wood, please point out the rock that you’ve been living under and get far away from it because you’ve missed out. It’s a classic buddy film with a romantic side. The guy gets the girl, and love wins in the end, so get on Netflix and watch it. But don’t blame me if the movie has you wanting to call your high school sweetheart and work things out.
Boomerang
Before Eddie Murphy was Donkey from Shrek or even Professor Klumps in The Nutty Professor, he was kind of a heartthrob, and starred as Marcus in Boomerang. This film follows Marcus, an advertising executive and a ruthless ladies man, as he finds a woman who gives him a dose of his own medicine. Robin Givens, and Halle Berry both play love interests and teach this player a lesson in love. Boomerang tops most lists of romantic comedies for its perfect blend of humor and romance. Although the movie debuted in 1992, it’s still relevant to dating today. Watch this when you want to laugh and think about the getting your life right so that you can call up the one you let get away.
Love and Basketball
Who in their right mind would make a list of throwback romantic comedies and leave out Love and Basketball? Clearly, I’m in my right mind, and here is one of the most iconic 90’s films. 1999 brought us this film. Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps star as Monica and Quincy. Once childhood enemies, the two become lovers while attending college together. Basketball becomes a third member in their relationship and all types of problems start. If you and your love have never played a game of one-on-one basketball for love, then this movie will make you want to. It’s definitely a must watch and classic love story for college students.
The Best Man
Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, and Terrence Howard star in this 1999 film. In today’s times, this movie is what would happen if someone leaked screenshots from your best friend group message and all of your secrets were exposed. The movie basically starred everyone, who was anyone in the 1990’s. It was such a hit that 15 years later they made a sequel and another movie is set for an early 2016 release. If you have a co-ed friend group you are going to relate to this movie. So watch it with your crew and imagine what would happen if all of your college secrets leaked days before your wedding.
Love Jones
Watching this movie always makes me want to sit at a jazz club while a mysterious man recites love poems about me. That’s probably because that’s what happens to Nia Long’s character in the first scene of this film. Love Jones, 1999 shows Larenz Tate’s character and Nia Long as they travel through hipster love in the 90’s. Poetry, photography and all around black consciousness are ever-present themes in this film. If you’ve ever wanted to date an artist with a passion for you and his craft this movie gives you a taste of what it would be like.