Cheesy action-romance movies have a weird pull to them. Add a goofy bag of friends to the mix, and you’re guaranteed to have a ball. The corny one-liners, mixed with logic-defying action sequences, often turn the quietest of friends into impromptu stand-up comics, enjoying a shared basking in a shared sense of stupidity. It’s in such moments that scenes turn into memories and dialogues turn into inside jokes, only existing for the members of the particular group. Here are some films for you to watch with your group of friends that are guaranteed to take your watch party to the next level.
10Ghosted (2023)
Falling in love with a girl only to find out that she’s a secret agent, all within the span of a few dates, is something that can only happen in movies. Gunning on the Gen-Z concept of “ghosting”, director Dexter Fletcher’s film adds a unique spin to a phenomenon that most young people have faced at some point in their lives.Ghostedboasts of a glamorous star cast with the likes of Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, and Adrien Brody, and has no lack of illogical action sequences or corny romantic conjecture.
9Knight and Day (2010)
A classic serving of love in the midst of chaos,Knight and Dayworks predominantly on Tom Cruise’s charm, Cameron Diaz’s grace, and director James Mangold’s abandonment of logic. The film plays on the conventional tropes of a hyper-competent super-spy who’s thrown into the thick of things, murky enough to drown a demigod, let alone a human being. Within such an extensive framework of illogical action sequences, the only thing consistent in the film is top drawer foolery, making it an ideal film to watch with friends.
Related:These Are the Best Tom Cruise Movies, Ranked
8Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith’s vanilla-wedded bliss is shattered when they both find out a dark secret about each other:both of them are elite assassinsworking for rival organizations. Things take a chaotic turn when they are tasked with killing their respective spouses by their organization, causing a cocktail of spicy romantic fissures, punctuated by high-intensity action sequences.
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7Wild at Heart (1990)
David Lynch’s twisted takeon a fairy tale road movie sees Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern star as young lovers Sailor and Lula on the run from Lula’s witch-like mother. Like with most of Lynch’s work, there’s a surreal sense of absurdity throughout the film, overly emphasizing the violent and sexual nature of love. All in all,Wild at Heartis the opposite of a brain-dead action movie and requires a lot of mental investment, while it offers moments of hilarious comic relief along with an abundance of artistic oeuvre.
Related:Here’s Every David Lynch Movie, Ranked: Part One
6Allied (2016)
Alliedis another example of the genre feud between two high level operatives working in the same field. Set against a backdrop of WWII, operatives Max and Marianne, fall in love only to realize a dark secret about their marriage and patriotic loyalties. Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard share brilliant chemistry in the film, which automatically manifests itself in an abundance of sensuality, generously garnished with action sequences. Apparently, the actor’s chemistry seeped into life off-screen,resulting in a confrontationbetween Pitt’s then-partner, Angelina Jolie, and Marion Cottilard.
5Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
For most comic book aficionados,Scott Pilgrim vs. the Worldcomes as nothing short of a bible.Due to it being adapted from a graphic novelof the same name, the entire treatment of the film plays out withhyper-exaggerated visualsand loud over-the-top VFX. If you’re in the mood for a romantic story rooted in a world of loud action garnished with corny dialogues,Scott Pilgrim vs. the Worldshould definitely be on your list.
4First Love (2019)
Takashi Miike’s 2019 film serves as a free for all between the Yakuza, the Chinese mafia, and one sole boxer. The film is a dizzying replica of a visual arcade where bullets fly and heads roll, told with the fast-paced slur of a manic alcoholic.First Lovemakes for perfect party viewing, with numerous plot twists and turns operating on its own footprint of violence and anarchy.
Related:The Best Takashi Miike Movies, Ranked
3Baby Driver (2017)
Baby Driveris one of the most successful marriages between action and romance, giving equal weight to both genres, while not losing on the entertainment quotient. Ansel Elgort plays a Stoic,reserved getaway driverwho wants to escape from his crime-filled job after he falls for a restaurant waitress. The film has ample moments of Edgar Wright’s visually stylistic brilliance, and is generously complimented by watershed performances by John Hamm and Jamie Foxx.
2Fallen Angels (1995)
Wong Kar Wai’sFallen Angelsis a surprise entry in the list. When we think of cheese, Wong Kar Wai’s films are the last thing that comes to mind. But when looked at from a closer angle, that definition is challenged. On the surface level,Fallen Angelsdoes come across as a cheesy film that revolves around a hitman who falls in love with his partner, only to be disappointed and dead towards the end. ButFallen Angelsisn’t the conventional, supermarket kind of cheese, rather it’s a more artistic and gourmet version of it.
1True Romance (1993)
True Romance’splot has Quentin Tarantino’s stylistic extension written all over it. Credited with writing the film along with Roger Avary,True Romancegift wraps Tarantino’s favorite themes, such as sex, drugs, and violence, and presents them in bulk to the audience. The film boasts an all-star cast of the who’s who in Hollywood, and is one heck of a rollercoaster that’s best enjoyed with friends during a watch party.
