Top 15 GOOD Chick Flicks

I loathe chick flicks. Romantic comedies, the majority of 'em.

Oh, yes, I'm sorry for saying this about an entire genre that's dedicated to telling me that I'm nothing without a handsome man in my life, regardless of how he treats me. A genre that sees me as a dead weight, an ugly waste of space, and a failure of a woman if I don't marry and shit out babies, where my career is considered an afterthought at best, or at worst a hindrance and a major flaw and obstacle that I need to overcome because men don't like women who work and don't have the mythical motherly instinct.

Forget action and horror, it's the romantic comedy that inspires violence in me. If I were to conduct a "Worst Films I've Ever Seen" list, romantic comedies would make up most of it. It truly is one of if not the most sexist type of film out there, made worse when it is specifically aimed at women. It often depicts the worst of gender stereotypes, without even the decency to be genuinely funny. Because when targeting female audiences, make sure they're never challenged! Promote and perpetuate hetero romance and matrimony for them womenfolk who are too independent and secure, and be as patronising as possible since their senses of humour and self-worth are very weak!

It's insulting. No wonder there are so many bad chick flicks. They don't respect their audiences at all. Because the men in charge of Hollywood don't think women are deserving of respect and effort. For some bizarre reason they tend to believe that women don't like anything entertaining.

Romantic dramas bore me 9.5 times out of 10 to boot. Urgh!

However, in a sea of crap you are bound to find little treasures now and then, and that's where this list comes in. These chick flicks are what I consider to be quality entertainment; movies that are challenging, that are not so sexist, and were made with a modicum of effort, and of understanding of what women both want and need. And are funny too if they are supposed to be comedies, or even if they aren't!

I aim to find the positive in the negative. Plus recommend some movies.

Now, before I begin my list, let me make. one. thing. perfectly. doubtlessly. crystal. clear:

Just because a film has a female protagonist, that doesn't automatically make it a chick flick. That is another infuriating sexist issue and assumption that needs to die immediately. It's universally used as a derogatory term, like films with femme leads are somehow inferior to male-led stories. I define "chick flick" as a film that may have a female lead, but is light and feel-good enough, like slice-of-life, that anyone, men and nonbinary people included, can sit and watch, and relax and enjoy. (For the record, 'Titanic' will not be on this list, since I view it as more of a historical drama. Same goes for 'Erin Brockovich' - blame the DVD industry for marketing it as a lighthearted, girly chick flick, all because it stars Julia Roberts) And yes, men can like films of the chick flick category, and it has absolutely nothing to do with their sexual orientation, and there is no shame in it whatsoever. Anyone can enjoy any genre.

For simplicity's sake as well, animated films will not be on the list.

Thank you for reading my public service announcement.

So here we are, my Top 15 GOOD Chick Flicks. Hope you enjoy:





15. Clueless (1995)

One of the earliest, smarter and funnier chick flicks to have gotten so popular as to receive spinoff material, a stage musical, and a planned remake (heaven help us all, just leave cultural milestones be, Hollywood), to this very day. Very loosely based upon Jane Austen's 'Emma', the legacy of  'Clueless' must mean it's done something right. Even though it is materialistic, meandering, a little dated, partly responsible for the valley girl culture and lingo, and full of rich white people problems, 'Clueless' has an undeniable charm to it. A lot of that is due to the star, Alicia Silverstone as Cher, who imbues the spoiled sweet trope brilliantly - she was born to play this part. When Cher is being selfish and self-serving, there is still the sense that she genuinely wants to help people and make them happy. She just might be going about it the wrong way.

Look past the fashion trends, the makeover montages, and the celebration of how great it is to be rich and pretty: 'Clueless' is a teenage girl's coming-of-age story, peppered with her honest and entertaining inner monologue. There is a sweetness, warmth and innocence to the whole thing, and humour that isn't aggressively mean-spirited (except for the "You're a virgin who can't drive!" line, that's shaming and sexist, but at least the person who says it apologises). You've got to see the funny side of a girl who's so superficial that the only traumatic thing about being robbed at gunpoint for her is getting her jacket dirty. It is also one of the first film roles of the utterly gorgeous Paul Rudd, so it has that going for it too.

Another thing to add: Amazingly, there are no mean girls in 'Clueless'! And its LBGTQ representation is surprisingly tasteful and decent for 1995.

Who knew that a chick flick written and directed by a woman would produce worthwhile quality? I know, right!


14. What a Girl Wants (2003)

A guilty pleasure for me, but such a candied one. Basically 'What a Girl Wants' is about Amanda Bynes as the long-lost daughter of UK prime ministerial candidate Colin Firth. Yes, you read that right: the sweet and American as apple pie, mid-2000s teen bopper Amanda Bynes plays the daughter of Colin Firth, who is as British as tea, cones and crumpets. In fact he is so British that even when he is in British films, he always plays the quintessential British guy. But the whole film is still believable, wholesome and charming for a family chick flick, containing marvellous sexual innuendos for a PG rating.

As light as it is, there are cultural and class clashes at play here. It subverts the makeover montage cliche of every chick flick, in that it reveals that outward transformations doesn't always buy girls happiness, especially when trying to be accepted by an elitist society. The main characters are well developed. I love the grandmother, and that Byne's mother isn't dead or away and un-involved, in order to further emphasize and enforce a patriarchal figure who "knows best" into a woman's life. This is typical of many chick flicks.

Plus I have a soft spot for father-and-daughter stories; I get teary-eyed at the ending every time I watch it. A shirtless, rocking Colin Firth moment - to go with the biking Colin Firth moment - also makes the experience worth it.

I don't mind the other cliches, such as the clothing montage, the rival mean girl, and the unnecessary male love interest, because overall 'What a Girl Wants' knows what my heart and mind want out of a fluffy, luxurious, touching movie.


13. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Here is my attempt at diversity for this list. It has nothing to do with taste, bias or anything personal, it's just that some acclaimed romantic comedies with a POC cast, such as 'Girls Trip', contain a crude, OTT sense of humour that doesn't appeal to me. But 'Crazy Rich Asians' is stylish, mature, funny, feel-good, and fantastically directed, containing likeable and interesting characters - for any audience across the globe.

That it took twenty-five years for Hollywood to finally bother with a film with a majority-Asian cast since 'The Joy Luck Club' in 1993, it shows how very little effort at progress it makes. Though I have a feeling that the "Rich" part of the film's title is what attracted the white Hollywood execs the most, and they did originally want white people to be the leads, so, yeah, fuck you Hollywood, you suck.

As well as being a tourist guide for Singapore, 'Crazy Rich Asians' reflects some of the class and cultural barriers between Asian communities. Really, the ultimate message of 'Crazy Rich Asians' is that no matter where you are from, and what race you are, money is money, and rich people are arseholes.

Pretty clever family dynamics, too; 'Crazy Rich Asians' is not merely pretty to look at. It's fun, ritzy, classy entertainment featuring (mostly) Chinese Singaporean actors, and it's the highest-grossest romantic comedy of the decade. So what Hollywood's problem is, I don't know (psst, it's still racist as fuck).


12. Roman Holiday (1953)

Time for a classic. 'Roman Holiday' is Audrey Hepburn's first American film role, and my favourite of hers. It's not just yet another tourist guide and spot: the film is sweet, charismatic, funny and charming. It gave us the "princess who wants more" story decades before Disney got on that pseudo-feminist train. But for its time it was refreshing to see a woman, especially a revered figure akin to a goddess, lash out and loudly declare herself unsatisfied and tired of everything. She is sick of the dreary, uncomfortable, suffocating, monotonous life of royalty. It's an honest and realistic approach - anyone, even a woman of high calibre and who seems to have everything a girl could want, can feel the pressure of having to please everybody all the time. No one is perfect, and they are human.

'Roman Holiday' is about a princess, Audrey Hepburn's Ann, sneaking around and going on a break, a real holiday; she feels free and happy for the first time in her life, though it won't last long. For another thing that makes this film quite unusual from other romantic comedies is that it doesn't have a happy ending, not a conventional one at any rate. Life goes on, and responsibilities and roles need to be fulfilled. But self-care, breathing room and different experiences are healthy necessities as well.

It's surprisingly slapsticky and hilarious, and Gregory Peck is great, too.

'Roman Holiday' - when in Rome, have a good laugh and cry.


11. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

More romantic comedies from the same year, this time with Marilyn Monroe. 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' is a great barrel of fun from start to finish - it has to be, it's a lighthearted musical!

Monroe, in one of her sweetest, most charming roles, plays a girl, Lorelei Lee, who pretends to be a ditsy blonde, but she knows about money and how to get it; from the clueless rich men around her. There's a true brightness underneath her sparkle. It's not all about marriage scams, either: the film is very feminist for its time, featuring female friendships and comrades, with Monroe and Jane Russell sharing ample screen time and chemistry. As showgirls who love their jobs, they are a hoot.

'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' is about women who know what they want, and they are not shamed or punished for it. Marriage to men was still the main way for a women to be rich and successful in the fifties, sadly. Tongue-in-cheek and exciting, it's on a similar scale to that of' 'Singin in the Rain'.


10. The Princess Diaries (2001)

An additional guilty pleasure, from Disney's live-action vault. Very unexpected for me, since I tend to loathe Garry Marshall's films. He was partly responsible for why I hate most romantic comedies and their sexist ways. But with 'The Princess Diaries', maybe it was because of involvement from female writers and producers, but I honestly, unironically like it. It is one of Disney's more competently-made live-action films, which isn't saying a whole lot, but still. It's G-rated, refreshingly, and it was nonetheless a huge success.

Anne Hathaway's film debut, 'The Princess Diaries' wins me over with its charm, humour, likeable characters, dynamic relationships, artsy and colourful aesthetic, and smultz that isn't forced or patronising. And who can resist Julie Andrews in anything? She's soft, warmhearted, and utterly believable as a regal queen and grandmother. Between this and 'Mary Poppins', Disney has a knack for casting Andrews as iconic characters that were much more unlikable in their original source material (I didn't like the book by Meg Cabot, either).

The bane of every chick flick - you guessed it, the makeover montage - is in 'The Princess Diaries', and it receives a subversion similar to 'What a Girl Wants': that a makeover and fashion transformation alone are not enough to make a girl happy. External changes will not make you happy on the inside.

Yeah, it is still a princess movie glorifying hetero romances, but it's a nice, friendly one!


9. Shakespeare in Love (1998)

I've talked about this before on my first favourite films list. I've downgraded it somewhat since the Weinstein crimes were revealed in 2017. But I still remember the film fondly as an enchanting, endearing, hugely funny and entertaining period piece. Not at all like any costume drama I'd seen. The performances are superb, as are the set pieces and romantic chemistry. That I fell for 'Shakespeare in Love' and I'm not even a Shakespeare fan just goes to show how broad its appeal is. For further praise read my entry for 'Shakespeare in love' on my Favourite Films list here.


8. Mirror Mirror (2012)

One of the best 'Snow White' adaptations ever put to screen. 'Mirror Mirror' is new, fresh, exciting, fantastical, funny, cute, and possesses a gold heart. There are no comatose princesses in this version - Snow White is a hero, who ends up saving the prince rather than vice versa. The iconic poison red apple doesn't even make an appearance until the very end, where it's rightfully dismissed onscreen.

'Mirror Mirror' is as charming and twisty a fairy tale for the modern era as 'Enchanted'. It deserves the same praise and legacy as 'The Princess Bride' and 'Stardust'. Everyone turns in fantastic performances, but it is Julia Roberts who steals the show as the evil queen. It is her breakout role in over a decade; she's snarky, delightfully vain, prudish, self-aware, and cartoony without being too ridiculous or OTT. Roberts doesn't chew the scenery; she caresses and makes love to it. She's a parody who knows she's a parody. It's hard not to love her.

'Mirror Mirror' is a not-too-saccharine, cordial fantasy romance and comedy gem. I am in love with its creamy, colourful aesthetic and cinematography; and it is by no means style over substance. Underrated, and far more original and entertaining than 'Snow White and the Huntsman', which came out the same year.


7. Bad Moms (2016)

How about that: a film about motherhood written and directed by men that somehow manages to be genuinely funny, authentic, relatable, relevant, and suitably, refreshingly outrageous. It does showcase just how ridiculously hard motherhood is, and how little it is appreciated by everyone except the mums themselves, or even by the mums who snobbishly judge other mums. The message is don't judge the female parent too harshly - most are trying their best, and most just want to go out and have a break, to have fun. With their girlfriends.

'Bad Moms' contains one of Mila Kunis's best roles, as the main protagonist mother Amy. Thank you movie for respecting her, and giving her the chance to show the world just how talented she truly is, when she isn't struggling under a shitty script. She's been in too many downright terrible things, and now, along with 'Black Swan', I can safely say that I like her in something that's worth liking. Everybody else -  Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett Smith, Annie Mumolo, Jay Hernandez - is great, as well. The sex jokes actually work, and there's nothing wrong with a bit of man candy in a female-friendly romantic comedy!

'Bad Moms' is also about complex female friendships and bonds. I'd say it is feminist, considering where it came from. A recommended Saturday night popcorn treat.


6. Waitress (2007)

Here's a pie that is simultaneously sweet, comedic, harsh, and, excuse me, bittersweet.

Keri Russell stars as Jenna, a small town waitress at a pie diner, who faces an unwanted pregnancy on top of all of her other problems. She is trapped in an abusive marriage and desperately wants to earn enough money to escape her husband and her town. And she has an affair with her married paediatrician (Nathan Fillion, for once not playing a sexist arsehole, which is a feat, as he's an adulterer here). All this poor, deeply flawed woman wants, all she dreams about, is making pies - the best, most heavenly pies in the world. Something good, wonderful and creative can come out of suffering. But real life keeps shoving in line on front of her.

Jenna doesn't want to have a baby, or be subservient to her awful, scary, insecure husband, but she might have no choice.

'Waitress' can be hard to talk about, and not solely because of its subject matters: Adrienne Shelly, the film's writer, director and costar, was murdered shortly after filming was completed. She never got to see 'Waitress' premiere, and her young daughter, who also appears in the movie, was left to grow up without a mother. It's a travesty that a female filmmaker had to meet such an end; right at the peak of her career.

However, despite the theme of domestic abuse and the behind-the-scenes tragedy, 'Waitress' is absolutely worth watching as a funny, touching and beautiful chick flick. Its humour, when it isn't uplifting, is just as eager to go with the same "life is painfully unfair" vein as 'Malcolm in the Middle'.

The female friendships are more important than the hetero romances. All the actors are great: Cheryl Hines, Jeremy Sisto as the abusive husband who manages to be raw and pathetically human, and Andy Griffith in one of his last film appearances. Unfortunately, Shelly's character ends up marrying her stalker, but thankfully it is only a little feature in the story. In 'Waitress', no one is wholly good or wholly bad: we all make mistakes, and not everything goes the way you want and expect it to. The women barely wear any makeup - they are real human beings in this.

'Waitress' could have at least mentioned the word "abortion", though. Come on, even 'Nine Months', which came out twelve years previously, talks about abortion more than once. But it subverts other conventions, like a female lead ending a romance and taking charge independently and among female company. Friends as well as messy people can come in any shapes and sizes.

This kind of complexity, a study of human emotions, is what happens when women are given the chance to tell their own stories, exactly how they want it. Neither overly sentimental nor mean-spirited, 'Waitress' is a mix of ingredients for a tasty, warm, loving, honest, imperfect, heartfelt pie.

Incidentally, I've heard there's a recent stage musical based on the movie. It is fondly known, remembered and appreciated, that's good to know.


5. Nurse Betty (1999)

Yeah I'm counting 'Nurse Betty' as a chick flick. It's a chick flick with hitmen.

It stars Renée Zellweger, Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock, Greg Kinnear, Aaron Eckhart, Crispin Glover, and Allison Janney. How can you resist that kind of cast?

Zellweger is Betty, a diner waitress and a massive fan of the popular medical-based soap opera, "A Reason to Love". When she witnesses her cheating, drug-dealing husband's murder by two hitmen in her own house, she has a nervous breakdown, and enters into a dissociative fugue state, becoming Nurse Betty, and she sets off across the country in order to marry the star and heartthrob of her favourite soap opera. Meanwhile, the hitmen are tracking Betty down, believing her to be hoarding their victim's drugs, which unbeknownst to her are in the trunk of her car. Each character is chasing after a fantasy of another person, and what happens when, as they get closer to their dreams, reality comes crashing in?

Seriously, 'Nurse Betty' has a sweet, upbeat and lovable atmosphere, similar to a TV movie, exactly like how a chick flick would be shot. Its violent moments are very few and far between, so squeamish viewers won't have heaps to worry about. There is definitely an air of parody to the whole shebang, without being mean-spirited and insulting to its audiences who might like sappy soap operas. 'Nurse Betty' is a mix of all genres - it has something in it for everyone. It is so well made - an oddball, subversive passion project.

Granted, the filmography of the director, Neil Labute, isn't generally positive; it's actively misogynistic, in fact. 'Nurse Betty' is his anomaly, perhaps his best work. And no matter how well characterized and well performed they are, the lowly, drug-hunting hitmen are still portrayed by black men. But it was the late '90s, the turn of a new century; what can you do?

Forget 'Bridget Jones', 'Nurse Betty' is what I will think of when I think of Renée Zellweger in chick flicks. I look forward to seeing her portrayal of Judy Garland in her biography later this year.

'Nurse Betty' might read as ridiculous on paper, and there were many routes it could have taken where it would have gone horribly wrong. But it works, via skillful writing and direction. It has heart, brains and charm. An underrated masterpiece.


4. A League of Their Own (1992)

A cultural significance for a reason. A feminist baseball movie, inspired by a real professional female baseball team, starring my film queen Geena Davis, plus Tom Hanks, Lori Petty, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Jon Lovitz, and Bill Pullman. I don't know many people who haven't seen 'A League of Their Own'; I'll just say that it is fun, funny and energetic, and a wonderful, touching cinematic landmark. By a female director.

Watch it and enjoy, though it is very white, with POC extras barely given seconds of screen time.


3. Dumplin' (2018)

I told myself I wouldn't put a Netflix film on this list, but I can't help it: 'Dumplin'' is that good a teen chick flick. Warm, genuine and so very uplifting, it stars a fat girl protagonist, Willowdean (Danielle Macdonald), who enters her local Texan beauty pageant, hosted by her former beauty queen mother (Jennifer Aniston), and defies expectations and conventions in a superficial, fatphobic world.

I dislike the YA book that 'Dumplin'' is based on, but the film improves the story vastly. There is no love triangle, for one, thank the gods. There are no mean girls, no outright nasty people, or people actively trying to be bigots - in a movie about a beauty pageant, set in Texas. Holy fuck.

There is a POC and genderfluid cast. The drag queen bar visit is one of the best scenes. 'Dumplin'' is so positive and woke, that it features a white conservative Christian woman hugging a black gay drag queen. If you don't think that that's symbolic of a certain progressive agenda, then you're deluding yourself. The film also fangirls over Dolly Parton, and plays her songs, both old and new, written especially for 'Dumplin''.

It's a delight, a darling of a 2018 chick flick, made for our desperate times whilst never loosing its pure heart and spirit.


2. Battle of the Sexes (2017)

Emma Stone's best performance ever, hands down. Tennis player Billie Jean King is a remarkable woman, and 'Battle of the Sexes' highlights her and her 1973 match with Bobby Riggs.

It's a great tennis/sports movie as well as a coming-of-age drama and comedy. The people feel real, as they are, of course, real. It never shies away from the realities of sexism - like sexism in sports, a commentary much needed in this regressed day and age. What else doesn't it gloss over and ignore? Billie Jean King's lesbianism. Her relationships are warm and touching. The faithful, certifiable LBGTQ content is a nice stroke of fuck-you to Hollywood. Add in the positive female friendships, romantic or no, and you have an updated 'A League of Their Own' for the 21st century.

I don't like sports much, but I love 'Battle of the Sexes' and what it taught me. It's educational, unforgettable, tender, and wow is that tennis match, the titular battle, in the climax thrilling and intense. I cried!

'Battle of the Sexes' - a real-life battle fought and won by deserving women and LBGTQ women. Never forget.

The title might be ironic and meta too, as it's directed by the wife and husband team, Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton.


And my pick for the number one GOOD chick flick is...





1. Ever After (1998)

One of my absolute favourite films. 'Ever After' is historical fiction, and a 'Cinderella' retelling, exploring the fairy tale's origins, set in the Renaissance-era of France. There is no fantasy here, only wonderful, glorious real life.

A glowing, passionate, smart, fun, sad, moving, indescribable masterpiece of storytelling tapestry. It stars Drew Barrymore (as the lead Danielle), Anjelica Huston, Melanie Lynskey, Timothy West, and Richard O'Brien. It is far better than 'The Princess Bride'. It is certainly more feminist.

Read my account of 'Ever After' on my Favourite Films list here. It is the perfect chick flick. It is one of the highest orders of chick flicks, and how they should be made and treated: with love and respect.

Oh and there's a stage musical of it. What else?





So good chick flicks do exist, or at least ones that don't make me want to kill myself.

The general consensus and attitude concerning what are termed "chick flicks" is: they are inherently inferior and not worth the effort to make any good, because they're for women. This is precisely why they are so many terrible chick flicks to begin with. Be positive, respect your audience's intelligence. Leave them a different person by your film's end, for the better. No stagnancy, no patronising. Filmmmaking is filmmaking - gender shouldn't come into it. Gender doesn't matter; it shouldn't affect a story's quality.

Make a nice, comfy, feel-good film that all genders can enjoy.

That's my list. Hope you all have a lovely day.