How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days - Best RomCom Ever!!

Best RomCom ever! So I think it is…

How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days (2003) is a romantic comedy film directed by Donald Petrie. The leading roles are shared among Kate Hudson as Andie Anderson and Matthew McConaughey as Benjamin Barry. (Loved the detail that their names and surnames start with the same letter which follows each other in the alphabet - A and B !!!) 

The storyline is simple - Andie Anderson who works in a women's magazine known as How to Girl decides to write an article about how to lose a guy in ten days as her best friend, Michelle, is going through a depression period after losing her boyfriend and wondering what she has done wrong in her relationship. In the meantime, Benjamin Barry who is trying to close the deal for leading the advertising campaign of a luxury diamond brand that mainly focuses on women, finds himself trying to prove that he understands women in a way that he can make any woman fall in love with him. His colleagues, Judy Spears and Judy Green offer him a challenge: he will make the woman they choose fall in love with him! And that woman is, of course, Andie Anderson who they talked to earlier about her next article. So, this bet is a trap for Ben, and now, they think they have “guaranteed” (so as they thought!)  winning the offer of working with this luxury brand. To make this bet clear, Ben should bring her to this brand’s party - which takes place after ten days (what a coincidence!) and show everyone that she loves him.

In these 10 days, Andie first captures Ben's attention and she acts flirtatiously. Ben thinks that she is the perfect candidate for the bet. But then, she starts to act weird - she asks for beverages while they are watching an important match of their favorite basketball team, interrupts his boys’ night, cries in public while accusing him of calling her “fat” and takes him to Celine Dion’s concert. Ben is about to lose his patience but then, his friends remind him of the importance of this bet. Because of the problems in their relationship, Ben offers to see couples therapy with her after getting this idea from his friends. This therapist recommended by Andie herself, is actually Michelle disguised as a therapist and normally works with Andie in the same magazine! In their “therapy session”, Ben and Andie decide to visit the parents of Ben in Staten Island. On this trip, Andie stops pretending to be a needy girl and transforms into her true self. This was the plot twist in the film, because they fall in love with each other for real this time. 

When they finally go to the party together and realize that their love for each other is the result of the bets they accepted. Although this situation hurts their feelings, this film ends well - so don’t worry!

I think that this film is one of the best romantic comedies that I ever watched. I really liked the New York City vibes in the film- dynamic with endless nightlife, lots of people running around the city with their coffee, the texture of buildings…  The storyline was interesting and made me believe in destiny. Also, Andie’s dress at the party was awesome and I am looking for this dress everywhere! I watched this film 4 times and because of this, I think I can confidently call it my comfort movie. I really recommend this film if you are sad and want to watch something that will cheer you up, if you would like to believe in love again, or if you just love NYC!

Elif Peren YILDIZ