By Bianca Reyes, Center Spread Editor
There’s nobody that’s immune to bad days. Maybe you got a bad grade on a test that you studied really hard for, or your boss at work was just on your case for the entire day. Luckily, “chick flicks” can help to aid in this distress, and Elle Woods, Bridget Jones, and Cady Heron are available to come to help provide a temporary escape with just the click of a button!
It only feels right to first define what a “chick flick” is exactly. “Chick flick” is a term used to describe a genre of films that are meant to appeal to a female audience. While a synonym for this could be rom-com, not all of the films listed have romance as the focal point of the film. The term, albeit slightly misogynistic, encompasses a genre that simply can’t be described with any other word. Thus, from Disney films to movies more suitable for older audiences, here’s a quick rundown of some of the best “chick flicks” to come out of its golden era: the 2000’s.
Arguably one of the most memorable chick flicks of all time is the movie Mean Girls. A must-see among both older teens and adults, this hilarious movie follows Cady Heron (played by Lindsay Lohan) as she makes the transition from being homeschooled in Africa to moving to public school in the U.S. Whilst learning about the do’s and don’ts of attending public school, she finds herself getting wrapped up in the upper hierarchy of the school, reined by three girls known as “The Plastics”: the all-knowing Gretchen Weiners (Lacey Chabert), the stupidly lovable Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried), and the girl who’s the walking form of all things evil, Regina George (Rachel McAdams). It’s hard to describe the plot without giving too much away, however its Rotten Tomatoes score of 84% should be enough to have anyone whip out their credit cards and rent the movie for $2.99 on YouTube or Amazon Prime Video! (Please note that this movie isn’t meant for younger audiences and has a rating of PG-13; proceed with caution!)
Typically, musicals aren’t that popular of a genre among audiences or Hollywood. However, Mamma Mia appears to be the exception to this rule. (I mean, with Amanda Seyfried and Meryl Streep playing the leads, could anything go wrong?) The musical follows Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) as she attempts to find out who her father is whilst her mother, Donna (Meryl Streep), helps to plan her wedding. There’s only one problem: she can’t narrow down who her father is between three men, Sam Carmichael (Pierce Brosnan), Harry Bright (Colin Firth), and Bill Andersen (Stellan Skårsgard). Jam-packed with Greece landscape and composed solely of songs from the 70’s pop group ABBA, this feel-good movie is sure to make you smile and start humming along to their wonderfully catchy songs. Mamma Mia is available to stream on Peacock and Cinemax with a subscription. Alternatively, you can also rent the movie for $3.99 on YouTube or Amazon Prime Video.
Another defining chick flick of the 2000’s is the ever-famous Legally Blonde, which stars Reese Witherspoon as Elle Woods. Woods, an intelligent and privileged blonde, embarks on a mission for one thing and one thing only: to be Mrs. Warner Huntington III. Warner Huntington (Matthew Davis) has other plans, though, decisively choosing to break up with Woods before heading off to Harvard University after he deemed her unfit to be his bride. This doesn’t stop Elle from following Warner to Harvard and attempting to win him back, though. This comedy is sure to leave you satisfied with its ending and the iconic courtroom scene. Legally Blonde is available to stream on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video (for free, if you have a subscription).
A timeless Disney classic that has remained treasured over the years is The Princess Diaries, starring Anne Hathaway as Mia Thermopolis and Julie Andrews as the grandmother to Mia and the Queen of the fictional European country, Genovia. After the passing of her father, it’s revealed to Mia that she’s next in line for the throne of Genovia. Clarisse then seeks her out in hopes of giving her lessons to better prepare her for her title as Princess of Genovia. Despite being made by Disney, this movie is enjoyable for all ages, and Anne Hathaway does a spectacular job in portraying the dorky and lovable Mia. As one would expect, The Princess Diaries (as well as its sequel) can be streamed on Disney+ with a subscription, or can be rented on other streaming platforms like YouTube for $3.99.
If you’re in the mood for something more festive, the movie Love Actually is perfect for you! Although the holiday season is over, some would argue that Love Actually is one of the best chick flicks no matter the time of year. The movie follows nine different storylines, all intertwined with each other in one way or another, as they navigate the complexities of love during the holiday season in the U.K. The cast is star-studded; from Hugh Grant playing the prime minister to Andrew Lincoln playing the part of the longing man in love with his best friend’s bride, this hilarious rom-com has yet to fail at making anyone smile at the heartwarming storylines. Love Actually can be watched on the streaming service Peacock (with subscription) or can be rented on other streaming platforms like iTunes and YouTube for $3.99. (Please note that this movie is rated R and contains some crude themes, proceed with caution!)
On the more supernatural end of the spectrum is the infamous Twilight saga. (For the time being, let’s ignore the fact that the later sequels were made in the early 2010’s.) Whether you believe that Twilight was one of the best films ever made or that Twilight was one of the worst things to happen to the film industry, it’s undeniable that the cheesy Vampire movie made somewhat of an impact on the 2000’s. The plot follows the main protagonist, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), after she moves from Arizona to the gloomy, bleak, and fictional town of Forks, Indiana. She expects nothing more than to live a boring life, at least until she graduates and can move out of town for college. What she surely doesn’t expect, though, is to fall in love with the school’s resident broody bad boy, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson)—much less does she expect Cullen to be a vampire. With both parties being interested in each other for their own reasons (which are revealed early on in the movie), a love story ensues. Twilight, although cheesy, is strangely addictive and leaves you wondering what happens next after the credits begin rolling at the end of the film. Luckily, the saga is available for free (with a subscription, of course) on Amazon Prime Video!
Regardless of what gender you identify as, all movies listed are great pick-me-ups and pair perfectly with a cozy blanket and a tub of Ben-and-Jerry’s ice cream! Sit back, relax, and allow your problems to be eased away by the cliche and slightly cringey plots that chick flicks are notorious for.
