Those fond of watching the trials and tribulations of on-screen couples should find something to enjoy in this week's one wide release, Couples Retreat. The film, which boasts a pretty solid ensemble comedic cast full of names like Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Kristen Bell, Malin Ackerman and Kristen Davis, follows four couples who embark on a vacation to paradise only to learn that as part of their stay they must take part in mandatory couples counseling.
With four new on-screen couples arriving in theaters this weekend, we thought it'd be fun to single out five of our all-time favorite, modern (post-1980) on-screen couples before asking for your personal picks.
The Forbidden Romance
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing: He was a rough-and-tough dancer from the wrong part of town, and she was an unassuming teen looking for a little summertime adventure. And though it took some time (and a whole lot of dance lessons) for the sparks to fly, eventually her grumpy disapproving dad learned that nobody puts Baby in a corner…and the rest is history.
The Outer Space Romance
Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: Hey, sometimes flying a big spaceship next to a large furry animal that makes obnoxiously loud groans can take its toll on a single dude. But Han Solo plays by his own rules, or so he thought until the day he ran into a cute, feisty princess who just watched her home planet explode. No, it definitely wasn't love at first sight, though after Leia realized her brother was off the market and the only other options were two annoying robots, she quickly shacked up with the one guy she never thought would win over her heart.
The Beyond The Grave Romance
Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in Ghost: Patrick Swayze was the go-to guy for late 80's romances, and after seducing Jennifer Grey on the dance floor, he – along with a young, innocent and emotional Demi Moore – ripped our hearts out and played a game of handball with them during this drama about guiding the one you love from beyond the grave.
The One That Got Away Romance
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in The Notebook: This classic "other side of the tracks" romance found a poor boy and a rich girl falling in love, only to have their relationship ripped to shreds when her parents don't approve of their child dating "beneath" her. Years later they'd meet again, but will the fact that she's engaged to another man stop them from reuniting in the most tear-jerker of ways possible?
The Most Expensive Romance
Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman: Every man tends to spend a little money while going through the process of trying to woo a girl he fancies, though Richard Gere bought the actual lady in this film, which featured Julia Roberts as a prostitute who shacks up with Gere for a week while he's in town on business. A few thousand dollars, a shopping trip on Rodeo Drive and an iconic red dress later and these two would up falling in love the good old fashioned way.
Feel free to drop some of your favorite on-screen couples in the comments below!
