Vlad Urena | Correspondent
February is known for many different things, and Valentine’s Day is one of them. Whether you’re single or you’re mingling, you can’t escape love as the fourteenth comes closer. One of the many ways that we celebrate the holiday is through watching different kinds of romantic movies. However, most of the love movies out there depict characters or situations that we can’t always relate to. For that reason, we here at the Nubian wanted to share a list of love movies, not in any particular order, that will keep us all a little cultured.
1. The Best Man (1999)
This classic features a star-studded cast that will never fail to make you laugh. Harper is going to be the best man in Lance’s wedding, but once he arrives in New York, the truths in his yet-to-be-published autobiographical novel are slowly revealed, which puts a strain on all of his relationships. Whether it’s the talks between a group of close friends or the drama that builds up before Lance’s wedding, you’re bound to be glued to your screen waiting to see how things will be resolved
2. Boomerang (1992)
Eddie Murphy stars in this paradigm rom-com as Marcus, a womanizer who knows he’s got game. But when he starts to court his new boss Jaqueline, played by Robin Givens, he soon realizes that he’s not the player, but the one being played.
3. Poetic Justice (1993)
The fact that Janet Jackson and Tupac are the starring actors in this movie should already make you want to watch it. The fact that the poems that Jackson’s character recites were written by Maya Angelou means that you have to watch it. The fact that it inspired the song by Kendrick Lamar means that you should have already watched it.
4. Love Jones (1997)
When poet Darius meets photographer Nina, the two immediately hit it off and develop feelings for each other, despite neither being sure if they want to be in a relationship with each other. This sets up different obstacles between the two, and it brings life into very realistic characters and a believable story.
5. Love and Basketball (1990)
Perhaps the most popular of any film in this list, this movie tells the story of two next door neighbors that are pursuing their dreams of being professional basketball players. In the process, they realize that their love for each other is stronger than their love for basketball.
6. Brown Sugar (2002)
Andre and Sidney are lifelong friends who are both successful as a record executive and a magazine editor in chief, respectively. Aside from sharing successful careers, they’ve shared a love for hip hop since they were kids. Now, however, they have begun to realize that hip hop is not the only thing they love.
7. Just Wright (2010)
Queen Latifah stars in this movie as Leslie, a physical therapist and the biggest basketball fan. It just so happens that her newest client is Scott McKnight, played by Common, a professional basketball player who recently got injured. As the two spend more time together, they both realize that they’re beginning to fall for each other.
8. Beyond the Lights (2014)
Coming from the same director as Love and Basketball, this film tells a fresh story unlike anything else on this list. Noni is an up and coming music star who has already won numerous awards despite not yet having released her debut album. However, the pressure begins to mount and she attempts to commit suicide, but is saved by Kaz, a young police officer who wants to become a politician. Despite everyone telling them to focus on their careers instead of love, they realize that they are finding themselves and what they really want in each other.
9. Tyler Perry’s Why did I Get Married? (2007)
This romantic comedy is also full of stars. Tasha Smith, Janet Jackson, and Jill Scott star alongside Tyler Perry as part of a group of friends, all married, all well off, a nice change for African Americans in cinema. As the friends embark on their yearly getaway, secrets are revealed, relationships are tested, and new love is found.
10. The Best Man Holiday (2013)
If you just couldn’t get enough of the characters, love and drama of “The Best Man,” you’re in luck; Harper and the gang return in this sequel. Amidst growing families and the real life complications of marriage, the friends come together for a reunion 14 years later. You would think that the time has dialed back the drama, but you’d be wrong. There’s drama, there’s love, and there’s heartache. Warning: you will need tissues.
11. How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
Forty year old Stella, played by Angela Bassett, is a single mother and a corporate executive. When a friend convinces her to take a vacation to Jamaica, these parts of her identity don’t seem to matter as much. Especially when Winston Shakespeare shows quite an interest in her. The only problem is he’s 20 years younger. Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg and Regina King bring this movie life, comedy and make us ask, how old is too old for love? If you still need convincing, shirtless Taye Diggs on a beach. ‘Nuff said.
12. Jumping the Broom (2011)
This movie exhibits two very different subcultures within the African American community, and the differences cause young couple Sabrina and Jason some problems. When uptown meets downtown and a family has secrets, it is inevitable that there will be conflict. This film is a perfect mix of romance, comedy and drama. Keep it in mind for your Valentine’s Day date night.
13. Love Don’t Cost a Thing (2003)
In this early 2000s teen romcom, Nick Cannon and Christina Milian take us back to highschool, when the “popular kids” were like gods and the nerds would do anything to be part of the in crowd. Nerdy Alvin, played by Cannon, coerces popular girl Paris to date him, and events spiral out of control. This nostalgic movie is one of the few light hearted, high school dramas with black teens whose only problems consist of their social standing, GPAs and young love. Remember when life was that simple?
Whether you’re a sucker for romantic movies or not, you are bound to find a movie in this list that you will fall for almost as hard as the characters fell for each other.
