Sappiness is fair game on Valentine’s Day. Over marketed or not, it’s nice to have one day a year where you can be a schmaltzy, lovey-dovey goon, and not many people will give you the stink eye. I’ll admit, I’m not typically much of a Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin fan, but That Funny Feeling is a cute, albeit silly, romantic comedy that gets more than a pass on Valentine’s Day- it gets watched! And I enjoyed it. Bring on the corny 1960s escapist rom coms!

Joan Howell (Sandra Dee) is a hard-working maid, er, excuse me, actress, who just works for a cleaning service until she gets her big break. When one of her clients, who has never met her, leaves a note saying he’ll be out of town for a week, she decides to take a break from her cramped apartment and live the high life until Mr. Milford (Bobby Darin) returns from California. But the funny thing is, Joan goes on a date with Mr. Milford without realizing the apartment she’s staying in is his, so when he brings her back to her place, or should I say his place, his curiosity is piqued. Why is this nice, seemingly innocent girl lying to him, and how did she get into his apartment? He decides to let her ruse continue, pretending that he lives in the fancy apartment of his boss, Harvey (Donald O’Connor), until he can figure out what Joan’s gig is all about. Of course, in the meantime, they fall in love with each other and worry about someday confessing their lies to one another.

I wondered if I’d be able to watch such a cheesy movie and thoroughly enjoy it, as I can certainly be a snobby movie watcher and only enjoy super corny flicks if they star my personal favorites, like Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. I gave That Funny Feeling a chance, even though I was cringing for the first few minutes, and sure enough- I got sucked in and completely enjoyed all ninety-three minutes of outrageous comedic scenarios and over-the-top acting. Sure, the plot isn’t very believable, but it’s still pretty funny, and much more entertaning (in my opinion) than modern takes on the story, such as Maid in Manhattan with Jennifer Lopez.

I loved the silly, wide-eyed jokes that hint towards sexual scenarios that nowadays you’d expect to be more like major plot elements, not just winks at the member of the audience in the know. It’s refreshing to have an innocent take on such things, even if it was probably unrealistic even for 1965. (I mean, come on, the sexual revolution was about to begin! People weren’t ignorant on the matter.) I loved the costumes, the sets, and Dee and Darin actually have a sweet sort of chemistry on film, which I suppose is no surprise considering they were married for s short time in real life.

So, if you’re looking for a fun and innocent little romantic comedy to enjoy this Valentine’s Day, why not enjoy That Funny Feeling, but be careful you don’t get a cavity, okay?

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s real life romance lasted a lifetime and is forever immortalized by the chemistry of their on-screen roles.I love their classics, like The Long, Hot Summer and From the Terrace, but I just recently watched one of their movies I had never seen before: A New Kind of Love. I really enjoyed seeing them obviously have fun with their roles and goof around a bit onscreen. They clearly enjoy each other, and I enjoyed watching it!

Samantha, or Sam Blake (Woodward), is a successul career woman who works for a department store that relies on her to steal the concepts of higher end department stores and fashion houses. She’s confident, ambitious, and lonely, but she doesn’t realize she’s ready for a change until she makes a trip to Paris and is frequently mistaken for a man, prompting her to try a makeover and indulge in the real-deal haute couture of Paris. She’s mistaken for a high-class call girl by Steve Sherman (Newman), a womanizing American journalist she had met on the plane. Of course, he doesn’t recognize her after her dramatic makeover, so she takes the opportunity to have a little fun playing the role he expects of her. They’re both just out to have a little fun, but neither of them expect to fall in love and get hurt.

A New Kind of Love has a great cast, of course starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, but also including Thelma Ritter, Eva Gabor, George Tobias, and even Maurice Chevalier. I loved the script that sparkled with the perfect mix of snark, wit, and  even a bit of realistic soul-searching. Paris, of course, is a beautiful setting, and especially fun when fashion is thrown into the mix. In the movies, Paris always seems to reveal the true desires of the heart, and this movie is no exception. The dynamic characters all have a chance at the happiness they never thought they could have, and it’s really fun watching the events unfold that lead up to a satisfying end.

A New Kind of Love is available to rent here or download here.

Traveling through Europe in the 196os would simply be a dream. But traveling through Europe in only 18 days with a bus full of kooky Americans in the 1960s? Well, that would be a mouthful, and also a fun movie. All of those stereotypes about American travelers are exaggerated and given a decidedly 1960s slant in this lighthearted comedy that follows the short stories of each traveler.

Each character is traveling to Europe for different reasons, whether it be to get a lusty teenager daughter away from her boyfriend, to decide on a marriage proposal, to relive the memories of old army days, to meet distant relatives, or to pick up women, they all have their little stories that delightfully play out on the trip. The main story centers on the tour guide director, Charlie Cartwright, who uses his job to maintain relationships with women all around Europe. He sets his cap towards a pretty American lady on his tour, but she easily pegs him as a womanizer and shows no interest in his advances. At first, that is. But soon enough, his attempts at winning her over turn from just a  conquest to real love.

If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium plays out like a serie sof vignettes, following characters who are interesting in their own odd ways. The vignettes are intertwined with each character’s story, coming together to create a quirky little story that certainly isn’t life changing, but is still a fun look at humanity, and more specifically, the 1960s American. I enjoyed the movie for its cultural themes (you all know I love the 1960s!) and light viewing content. I love heavy hitting dramas, but sometimes a fluffy movie like this is just the ticket, wouldn’t you say? If you’re looking for a modern-day comparison, I would say it’s like Valentine’s Day (2010) or New Year’s Eve (2011). It has a well-rounded cast of character actors and its plot offers a little something for everyone.