Very few among us could have predicted the sad end of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s 12-year relationship, which has left many fans searching for romantic hope on the silver (and small) screen. Here are some on-screen couples who can help you believe in love again this autumn!
“Bridget Jones’s Baby” — Bridget Jones and Mark Darcy
Fans of the Bridget Jones franchise have had to wait some time for the third installment, but we’re happy to report it has been more than worth the wait. What’s not to love about the bumbling Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth locked in a perpetual state of “will they/won’t they”?
This time around, there’s a second guy in the mix and the mystery as to who’s the father of the titular baby drives the plot forward with purpose. We won’t spoil it here, but if you loved “Mamma Mia!” or any of the previous Bridget movies, you’ll relish the time spent back with old friends.
“La La Land” — Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, again
Stone and Gosling have become quite the on-screen duo, having proven very convincing chemistry-wise in the past with “Crazy, Stupid Love” (2011) and “Gangster Squad” (2013).
This time they’re back for the musical flick “La La Land,” which is set for release in December. Thanks to a unanimously praised opening at the Venice Film Festival, it already stands at a near-perfect 96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics particularly enamored with the sizzling performances of the leads (with Stone’s already garnishing Oscar buzz).
There should be a rule that dictates if you appear as an on-screen couple three times in a row, you are obligated to get together in real life. After all, the fans have come to believe it.
“Orange is the New Black” – Alex Vause and Piper Chapman
https://youtu.be/AOQmFU2NCLw
The show that got us out of our post-“Breaking Bad” hangover.
It has been a few months since the Netflix-dump of the entire fourth season, and now that the dust has settled, it’s high time for a re-watch — given the mileage to be had from that emotional roller coaster. The tempestuous relationship between Alex and Piper took something of a backseat compared to previous seasons, but comes back to the fore in the penultimate episode. We’ll have to wait until next June to find out whether they’ll ever stop hitting the self-destruct button on the relationship that has gotten us completely hooked.
As a romantic side note, Samira Wiley — who played Poussey Washington — has just announced her engagement to OITNB writer Lauren Morelli. The latter only realized she was gay during the process of writing the lesbian romance subplots of Poussey’s story. There’s a real off-screen love story to keep romance alive!
“Victoria” – Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
One of the finest period dramas to come out of Britain in recent years, Victoria covers the formative years of the country’s most alluring monarchs.
With exquisite attention to detail in the costume department and sets along with a superb performance from Jenna Coleman (who you may recognize as Clara from “Doctor Who”), what really steals the show is Victoria’s endearing relationship with Prince Albert … and particularly how such a love can survive given the power struggles that engulf them at every turn. And better yet, audiences can enjoy the fact that this is all inspired by one of the most famous real-life couples in recent European history.
Outside of online streaming, North American viewers will have to wait until it airs on PBS in January to see why it has become one of this year’s most-watched shows across the pond.
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” – Rebecca Bunch and Josh Chan
https://youtu.be/EYYN1SKESGo
Paradoxically, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is simultaneously the brightest and darkest comedy to have hit our small screens in the past year. It’s outright hilarious in a wacky way and peppered with delightful musical numbers, but at the same time centers around the (frankly disturbing) topic of obsessive stalking.
If you liked “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Ally McBeal” or “Flight of the Conchords,” you’ll love “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” And this on-screen … couple? couples? dysfunction?… will give you ample time to ponder the meaning of true love. Get caught up if you haven’t already, because season two will be airing in late October. And if the romantic implications of the season one finale are anything to go by, things are going to get very interesting, indeed!
“Me Before You” — Louisa and Will
One of this year’s biggest Hollywood success stories (having grossed $200 million against a budget of just $20 million), the DVD is now out for romance fans who missed it in the theatres. Again, we won’t spoil anything, but this is one of those couples … let’s just say, imagine Nicholas Sparks turned up to 11 — you’ll need a lot of tissues.
We hope these on-screen couples can keep the flames of romance burning for you throughout the fall. What are your favorite on-screen couples coming to TV or film this season? Let us know in the comments below!