Critics didn’t love “A Cinderella Story” (2004) as much as audiences did.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 11%
Summary: While working at her stepmother’s (Jennifer Coolidge) diner, shy Sam (Hilary Duff) forms an anonymous online relationship with the popular boy Austin (Chad Michael Murray) — and hopes to impress him at the school dance.
The divide between the audience and critic scores couldn’t have been clearer for “A Cinderella Story” — sitting at 53% and 11%, respectively.
Although many critics called the film formulaic, they did acknowledge it was a good choice for younger audiences.
“‘A Cinderella Story’ doesn’t break any new ground, but it’s a well-acted little breeze of a film — perfect if you’re a 12-year-old girl,” Richard Roeper wrote in a review for Ebert & Roeper.
Despite being a critical misfire, “Failure To Launch” (2006) has prevailed as a date-night movie staple.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 23%
Summary: Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) makes a living dating men in arrested development, helping them to move on with their lives. However, she meets her toughest case yet when Tripp’s (Matthew McConaughey) parents challenge her to get their son out of the house.
When “Failure to Launch” first hit theaters, critics largely found it more “quirky” than charming — but its legacy as a decent date-night movie has prevailed.
“Once in a while, it’s just nice to have romance and comedy come together in a pleasant surprise,” Jeanne Kaplan wrote in a review for Kaplan vs. Kaplan.
Some critics felt “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” (2004) lacked the original film’s coming-of-age charm.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 26%
Summary: While still adjusting to life as princess of Genovia, Mia (Anne Hathaway) learns that she must marry within 30 days to become queen, leading to complications with one of her top suitors: Nicholas Devereaux (Chris Pine).
At the end of the day, the sequel didn’t score as well with critics as the original. However, viewers seemed satisfied with this addition to the “Princess Diaries” universe.
“Fans of the first ‘Princess Diaries’ will find enough laughs and diamonds in the rough to sustain them,” Winda Benedetti wrote for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Although the film didn’t earn rave reviews, critics adored Reese Witherspoon’s performance in “Sweet Home Alabama” (2002).
Rotten Tomatoes score: 38%
Summary: New York fashion designer Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) must confront her past when she returns to Alabama to finalize her divorce from high school sweetheart Jake (Josh Lucas) — before marrying her fiancé (Patrick Dempsey).
For a fun date-night movie, “Sweet Home Alabama” was a catch. In the eyes of critics, however, the plot seemed to run a bit thin.
“With Witherspoon’s charisma and the infectious efforts of a supporting cast, it’s hard not to like this trifling little stroll down memory lane — but not impossible,” Jonathan R. Perry wrote in a review for the Tyler Morning Telegraph.
Despite calling the film formulaic, critics liked Katherine Heigl’s performance in “27 Dresses” (2008).
Rotten Tomatoes score: 40%
Summary: Jane (Katherine Heigl) is always a bridesmaid, never a bride. But when her sister Tess (Malin Akerman) steals the man she secretly loves, she begins to question her identity as a bridesmaid. All the while, a reporter (James Marsden) tries to convince her that there’s more to life than playing a supporting role for others.
Funny, flirty, and inoffensive, critics predicted “27 Dresses” would have a long shelf life as a familiar favorite.
“Predictable but utterly engaging, ’27 Dresses’ will likely be remembered as the film that made Katherine Heigl an A-list star,” Chris Kaltenbach wrote for the Baltimore Sun.
Even if the story felt a bit predictable, critics couldn’t help but fall for the stars of “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (2003).
Rotten Tomatoes score: 42%
Summary: Advice columnist Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) takes on a new piece about how to get a man to leave you in 10 days. Meanwhile, Ben Berry (McConaughey) gets pulled into a bet that he can make any woman fall in love with him in the same span of time.
Despite some familiar footing in the plotline, critics said that “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” prevailed in the chemistry of its leads.
In a review for Premiere Magazine, Kelly Borgeson wrote that the film “pokes fun at relationship stereotypes in a way that, while not exactly clever, is pretty amusing — due in large part to the talented leads.”
Critics were underwhelmed by “She’s The Man” (2006), but thought Amanda Bynes still stole the show.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 44%
Summary: Viola (Amanda Bynes) is obsessed with soccer, but no one will take her seriously. Seizing a chance to prove others wrong, she disguises herself to steal a slot at her twin brother’s boarding school, only to fall for the handsome Duke (Channing Tatum).
“She’s The Man” was another romantic comedy with a wide disparity between critics and fans, earning an audience score of 79%. However, critics still gave Bynes props for her comedic acting performance.
“‘She’s The Man’ is foremost an excellent showcase for Bynes,” Jeffrey Westhoff wrote for the Northwest Herald.
Despite a mixed reception, “50 First Dates” (2004) stole the hearts of many critics.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 45%
Summary: After a traumatic accident, Lucy’s (Drew Barrymore) short-term memory resets every day. But that doesn’t stop Henry (Adam Sandler) from trying to woo her time and time again.
“50 First Dates” yielded mixed reviews from critics — with some distracted by the “gross-out humor” — but overall, it was one of the more sincere rom-com entries of the 2000s.
“The spark between the stars and a surprisingly thoughtful screenplay ensures that, despite the odd gross-out misstep, this is a sweet, warm, and funny romantic comedy,” Nev Pierce wrote for BBC.com.
The storyline may have been a bit over-the-top, but Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock had great chemistry in “The Proposal” (2009).
Rotten Tomatoes score: 45%
Summary: While facing deportation, Canadian book editor Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) forces her assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) into an engagement of convenience — but then finds she might be falling in love with him.
The over-the-top premise may have been hard for some critics to swallow, but many were pleasantly surprised by the hidden sweetness at the heart of the film.
In a review for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mack Bates called the film “surprisingly charming and smartly executed.”
“Last Holiday” (2006) earned praise for Queen Latifah’s central performance.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 56%
Summary: Shy saleswoman Georgia (Queen Latifah) is thrown for a loop when she’s diagnosed with a terminal illness. As she jets around Europe to cross off items on her bucket list, Georgia finds herself pining for her crush, Sean (LL Cool J).
Like many rom-coms of the 2000s, “Last Holiday” succeeded not by the high craft of its storytelling, but by the likability of its stars.
“It’s the perfect feel-good story blessed by the comedic timing of Queen Latifah and the adorable face of LL Cool J,” Ella Riley-Adams wrote in a 2019 review for Vogue.
Critics loved Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo in “13 Going on 30” (2004).
Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%
Summary: After wishing she was “thirty, flirty, and thriving” on a teary-eyed 13th birthday, Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner) wakes up to find herself magically transformed into a 30-year-old woman. However, she finds life won’t be the same until she can reconnect with her childhood friend Matt (Mark Ruffalo).
Despite plot contrivances, “13 Going on 30” proved so touching that even critics admitted to warming to the sweet premise.
In a review for the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Mark Collette wrote that the film is “sickeningly cute, surprisingly energetic, and alarmingly clever.”
“My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (2002) was sweet and relatable.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 76%
Summary: Toula’s (Nia Vardalos) constantly growing family is overjoyed when she finally gets engaged to Ian (John Corbett), even though he’s not Greek.
Critics knew instantly that “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” would become a rom-com classic.
“It is a romantic comedy in the best classic Hollywood style, albeit one with some sharp writing and genuinely human as well as funny moments,” Andrea Chase wrote for Killer Movie Reviews.
Critics praised Renée Zellweger’s performance in “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (2001).
Rotten Tomatoes score: 79%
Summary: 32-year-old Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) sets several New Year’s resolutions in her diary and slowly realizes that love can unravel even the best-laid plans.
Critics said Zellweger’s central performance grounded the film, making it even more likable than they could have predicted.
In a review for CNN.com, Paul Clinton wrote, “Renée Zellweger is dazzling as the irrepressible star of ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary.'”
“Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008) was called wildly funny and unexpectedly sweet.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%
Summary: After music composer Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) is dumped by his famous girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), he flies to Hawaii to get over her — only to find her vacationing there with her new boyfriend (Russell Brand).
Between the reliability of the dialogue and the chemistry of the lead cast, many critics enjoyed “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”
“Like ‘Knocked Up’ and ‘Superbad’ before it, ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ is a return to the rarest of adult comedies, one with a heart,” Michael A. Smith wrote in a review for Nolan’s Pop Culture.
Critics couldn’t get enough of the sharp humor in “Knocked Up” (2007).
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
Summary: After a one-night stand with slacker Ben Stone (Seth Rogen), hardworking journalist Alison Scott (Heigl) faces an unexpected pregnancy and decides to let him prove he’s capable of fatherhood.
Hailed as hilarious, clever, and surprisingly sincere, “Knocked Up” proved to be one of the most critically acclaimed romantic comedies of the 2000s.
“Ultimately, it’s a refreshing, amusing, and surprisingly touching comedy,” Francesca Rudkin wrote for the New Zealand Herald.
