The Best Alternative 90s Romance movies

February 14th, 2018 by Andrew McCarroll Comments

With Valentine’s day upon us, love is in the air and, as such, we are honour-bound to watch something with a little romance in it.

But before you reach for the obvious choices of The Notebook or Titanic. Take a trip back to the decade of love and romance: the era of naff jackets, X works jeans and crimped hair: I am talking about the 90s.

Here we offer some alternative choices to those classic Rom-Coms, movies with a little spice to go with the sweet.

Here is our list of The best alternative 90s Romance movies.


Grosse Pointe Blank

Perhaps the most under-rated movie of the decade, Grosse Pointe Blank sees hitman Martin Blank (John Cusack) return home for his 10-year high school reunion. While there, he not only has a target to kill but, more dauntingly, he has to face Debi Newberry (Minnie Driver), the girl he stood up on prom night.

Sharp, witty and breathlessly cool, the film also boasts one of the all-time great soundtracks. The two leads are given excellent support by Dan Aykroyd’s manic rival hitman trying to unionise contract killers and Alan Arkin as Blank’s terrified therapist.

Andy loves facts: Jenna Elfman wearing a body brace at the dance is a tribute to Joan Cusack in Sixteen Candles


There’s Something About Mary

Only beaten at the box office by the big-budget juggernauts Saving Private Ryan and Armageddon, There’s Something About Mary made $370 million on just a $23 million budget.

Flying in the face of the traditional romantic comedies, the film pushed the limits of political correctness (and Ben Stiller’s undercarriage); having started their career with Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin and this film, the Farrelly brothers would never again hit these peaks. While Me, Myself and Irene, along with Shallow Hal, were serviceable, the same can’t be said for the horrendous Three Stooges remake and the unforgivably god awful Dumb and Dumber sequel.

Andy loves facts: Former Daily Show Host Jon Stewart and Owen Wilson were considered to play Ted (Ben Stiller)


Groundhog Day

Perhaps the most original romantic comedy ever made – along with its high concept that invites the viewer to ponder what they would do if they could live the same day without consequence (punch Piers Morgan right in his fat, smug, phone hacking face) – the genius of this film lies with the casting of its lead.

Bill Murray has arguably never been better.

Playing a man bored with the world and everyone in, iseems like a normal day for the man who doesn’t even give his agent his phone number.

Andy loves facts: Michael Shannon who plays General Zod in Man of Steel makes his screen debut as a newlywed Phil gives Wrestlemania tickets to.


True Romance

Written by Quentin Tarantino, this updated take on the Bonnie and Clyde story sees Elvis fanatic Clarence (Christian Slater) fall in love with a prostitute named Alabama (Patricia Arquette).

The film contains all the classic staples of romance: love, marriage, killing pimps, suitcases full of cocaine and a brilliantly unhinged Christopher Walken.

An excellent cast including Val Kilmer as Elvis, a pre-Sopranos James Gandolfini, Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman, Dennis Hopper and Sam Jackson, this is one to watch this Valentine’s day if you like a little murder and mayhem with your romance.

Andy loves facts: Mr White from Reservoir Dogs mentions working with “Alabama”.


Out of Sight

An unlikely romance simmers to the boil between bank robber Jack Foley (George Clooney) and a US Marshal, Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez). The electricity between the two leads is visible from the moment they are forced into the trunk of a car together during Foley’s escape: the two discussing old Faye Dunaway movies convey an intimacy and connection that tripe like Fifty Shades can only dream of.

The film looks and feels from another time: the washed out colours along with the equal footing of both leads feels like a throwback to the days of Bogart and Bacall.

The wonderful bar scene where the two discuss how different their relationship would be had they met under different circumstances, feels like a romantic version of the similar scene in Heat.

A beautiful throwback of a movie that was criminally overlooked on its release, where it was destroyed at the box office by everything from Lost in Space to The Horse Whisperer.

Andy loves facts:
Sandra Bullock almost got the part of Karen Sisco but Director Steven Soderbergh didn’t feel she had the right chemistry with George Clooney

Andrew McCarroll never quite built on the dizzying career heights that he hit at 6 years old, when as a member of the “Ghostbusters” he would charge his neighbours to remove any unwanted spectres. Now retired from slaying spooks, he spends his time obsessing over superheroes (especially Batman) and devouring shows like Dexter, Game of Thrones and Archer in a manner that would make Galactus proud. You can follow his rants on twitter @andymc1983