5 Most Lovable & 5 Most Hateable Characters in Rom-Coms
Some rom-com characters are easier to hate than love. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for characters from romantic comedies we love, and those we can’t stand.
Transcript
00:00How can you possibly-
00:01Hey, Lassie, the show's called The Ugly Truth.
00:04If you can't face it, don't call.
00:06Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:07And today we're counting down our picks for characters from romantic comedies we love
00:11and those we can't stand.
00:14Beware of spoilers.
00:17Number five.
00:19Lovable.
00:19Ty Frazier.
00:21Clueless.
00:21Would you look at that girl?
00:23She is so adorably clueless.
00:25We've got to adopt her.
00:26Cher, she is toe up.
00:28Our stock would plummet.
00:30Dee, don't you want to use your popularity for a good cause?
00:33Played by Brittany Murphy, Ty Frazier is one of many standout characters in this 90s classic.
00:40It's also one of the actress's breakout roles, and for good reason.
00:44She plays the transfer student with a quirky energy that's nothing short of relatable.
00:49Whether or not you have the same personality,
00:51anyone can identify with her attempts to fit in with a new crowd.
00:55Fresh goes better when man is fresh and full of life.
00:59Mentos, the Freshmaker.
01:01Be seeing ya.
01:02Yeah, I hope not sporadically.
01:04It's not easy, and she's not perfect, but she navigates it in a real and raw way.
01:10Moreover, Murphy's bubbliness makes Frazier an essential part of the incredible ensemble.
01:15Funny and lovable, she's a friend we all wish we could have.
01:19Entire floral motif.
01:21Very floral garlands.
01:23No, no, no, when I get married, I'm gonna have a sailor dress, but it's gonna be a gown.
01:27And then all my bridesmaids are gonna wear sailor hats with veil.
01:30Number 5.
01:31Hatable.
01:32Benjamin Braddock, The Graduate.
01:34We are.
01:34You got me into your house.
01:36You give me a drink.
01:36You put on music.
01:38Now you start opening up your personal life to me and tell me your husband won't be home for hours.
01:42So?
01:43Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me.
01:45This might be a controversial choice, but Ben Braddock doesn't exactly make for a terrific
01:51person.
01:52All of his goofy and endearing moments are overpowered by selfishness.
01:56Lost after graduation, Braddock starts an affair with Mrs. Robinson.
02:00Take my arms and have my hand reach you, but my words like silent raindrops fell.
02:11He sleepwalks through life until falling for his lover's daughter Elaine.
02:15Just when you think he can't get any worse,
02:17he stalks the younger woman before interrupting her wedding.
02:20He's not exactly a knight in shining armor when you reconsider his actions.
02:24While he might have a rebellious spirit,
02:27the college graduate doesn't seem to consider how his decisions affect others.
02:31Where's that guy?
02:32What's he doing?
02:33I'll take care of him.
02:34He's too late.
02:38The ending shot underscores this, as the lead boards a bus with his
02:42supposed love without realizing that he might be in the wrong.
02:47Number 4.
02:48Lovable.
02:49Sandy Lyle.
02:50Along Came Pauly.
02:51This man is in the house.
02:54Oh my god.
02:55Sandy, you okay?
02:57Jorge, ice.
02:58The best man went down.
02:59That was more like a slip and slide, dude.
03:01Philip Seymour Hoffman never gave anything less than 100%.
03:05Along Came Pauly is a perfect example of his versatility,
03:09as he provides some of the rom-com's funniest moments.
03:12Sandy is an actor that lives life to the fullest.
03:15He can even turn a simple hangout at a basketball court into something memorable.
03:31There's multiple points in the story where we wish
03:34the hilarious friend could take over the film.
03:36Indeed, Hoffman both parodies his profession
03:39and becomes the perfect counterpoint to Ben Stiller's hero.
03:43You might not remember the main plot of Along Came Pauly,
03:46but you'll definitely love this side character upon re-watch.
03:50Are you that kid from Crocodile Tears?
03:56You're goddamn right I am.
03:57Number 4.
03:58Hatable.
03:59Joey Donner.
04:0010 Things I Hate About You.
04:02It's fair to say that the rich kids in high school movies are often villains.
04:07If they're anything like Joey Donner,
04:09they're unequivocally the most loathsome character.
04:12Would you be willing to make it your problem if I provide generous compensation?
04:19You're gonna pay me to take out some chick.
04:21He's nothing short of a vapid teenager that's mostly concerned with his own looks.
04:26When he's not being narcissistic, Donner only chases and manipulates girls.
04:31He's totally fine with paying Patrick to go out with Cat
04:34in order to date the latter's younger sister.
04:36I'm sick of playing your little game.
04:39Okay, wait, wait, wait.
04:40You, uh, you sick of, let's say, 300?
04:44Oh, and did we mention he also dated and mistreated Cat before the events of the movie?
04:49The only silver lining might be that you can laugh at him for being so self-centered.
04:53While there may be other flawed characters in 10 Things I Hate About You,
04:57he's the least redeemable of them all.
05:00That's for making my date bleed.
05:02That's for my sister.
05:04And that's for me.
05:07Number 3.
05:08Lovable.
05:08Philip F. Ducky Dale, Pretty in Pink.
05:11John Cryer's performance as this sidekick is a quintessential part
05:15of what makes Pretty in Pink so iconic.
05:18He's constantly wearing his heart on his sleeve while also making us laugh.
05:22Can you at least give me a ride home?
05:24Yeah, get in.
05:27Can I, like, put my head in your lap?
05:29No, wait.
05:30Can I rest my head on your shoulder and let you steer?
05:32Get in, Ducky.
05:33Okay.
05:34The eccentric Ducky is clearly in love with Andy and is willing to protect her at all costs.
05:40He might be a little much sometimes, but his kind heart outweighs any flaws.
05:44He's gonna use your ass and throw you away.
05:46God, I would have died for you.
05:48There's also his trademark outfits that make him something of a style guru we can't ignore.
05:54He might not end up with a girl, but he shows us that he'll be a friend for life.
05:58He's not like the others.
06:04If you don't go to him now, I'm never gonna take you to another prom ever again.
06:08Cryer's honest portrayal still tugs at our heartstrings all these years later.
06:14Number three hateable, Mike Chadway, The Ugly Truth.
06:18In this critically derided film, TV producer Abby Richter becomes rivals with host Mike Chadway.
06:24The latter character specializes in relationship advice,
06:27but he just caters to stereotypical male wants.
06:30Because at the end of the day all we're interested in is looks
06:34and no one falls in love with your personality at first sight.
06:37Gerard Butler brings this annoying character to life,
06:40having him poke and prod the heroine with his every controversial thought.
06:45He doesn't seem to really care how his ideas might rightfully infuriate women like Richter.
06:50Remember the bark? Last night a little phone conversation we had.
06:54Yeah! Hey, what do you know? You're not ugly at all.
06:59Oh, imagine my relief.
07:01Yet by the end Mike somehow turns into Mr. Right and falls for Abby.
07:05Even the rom-com logic seems off here.
07:08We're not sure we'd want the guy anywhere near us after half the stunts he pulled.
07:12Shut up! Yet again I just told you I'm in love with you
07:17and you're standing here giving me a vocabulary lesson.
07:19Number two lovable, Annie Hall, Annie Hall.
07:23Here you are! Don't give it to me!
07:26Look! One crawl behind the refrigerator. It'll turn up in our bed at night.
07:33Winning an Oscar for her performance,
07:35Diane Keaton absolutely steals the show as the title character in Annie Hall.
07:40She's quirky, authentic and funny at the same time.
07:44Keaton gives the character added nuances
07:46that separates her from the typical romantic comedy heroine.
07:49To me, I mean, it's all instinctive, you know?
07:53I mean, I just try to feel it, you know?
07:55I try to get a sense of it and not think about it so much.
07:58She's relatable enough that we can empathize with her,
08:00but also flawed in a realistic way.
08:03Her three-dimensional presence grounds the entire story.
08:07She's also a great match for Alvy Singer for pushing him further
08:11and fully able to compete with him.
08:13Alvy, you're incapable of enjoying life, you know that?
08:15I mean, you're like New York City.
08:17You're just this person. You're like this island unto yourself.
08:21It arguably raised the bar for female roles in the genre.
08:39Long before the days of The Hangover or A Star is Born,
08:42Bradley Cooper played this jerk in Wedding Crashers.
08:46It shows his range as an actor that he can play such a scummy guy.
08:49As Claire's macho partner,
08:51Zack Lodge is among the worst boyfriends in recent movie history.
08:56Why don't you tell her, John?
08:59I don't know what's going on. I'm playing catch-up, too.
09:03Zack, what are you doing?
09:04Remembering yet?
09:05He's dishonest, aggressive, and violent when he wants to be.
09:09Regardless on how you feel about John's behavior,
09:12you want him to save the day just to watch Lodge lose.
09:15Cooper's hyper-performance takes the attitude to the next level,
09:19giving us a despicable villain to root against.
09:22Getting a nice preview of what marriage is going to be like with Ike Turner here.
09:27Zack!
09:28Okay, here goes.
09:31Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:35Hatable.
09:36Steph McKee.
09:37Pretty in Pink.
09:38The preppy villain who embodies the worst memories of high school.
09:42If you want your little piece of low-grade ass, fine, take it, you know.
09:45But if you do, you're not going to have a friend.
09:47Is that right?
09:49Yeah, that's right.
09:50Lovable.
09:51Ronnie Camareri.
09:52Moonstruck.
09:53Nicolas Cage goes all out playing this exuberant and unexpected love interest.
09:58I lost my hand!
10:00I lost my bride!
10:02Johnny has his hand!
10:03Johnny has his bride!
10:04You want me to take my heartbreak, put it away, and forget?
10:08Hatable.
10:09Catherine Parker.
10:10Working girl.
10:11A corporate villain with a calm and calculated presence.
10:14Better make one more round.
10:16Right.
10:17I'd love to help you, but we can't busy the quarterback with passing out the Gatorade.
10:21Arnie, my hero, you've come.
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10:39Number one lovable.
10:41Amélie Poulain.
10:43Amélie.
10:44Through the power of good deeds, the heroine of this story becomes nothing short of lovable.
10:49Amélie is a waitress who's compelled to help others.
11:03She does everything from returning a sentimental box to matchmaking,
11:07and these simple acts show how much everyday kindness can make an impact.
11:11Audrey Tateau brings a joyful presence to every scene.
11:15Not only that, she taps into such a genuine and human quality within the character.
11:30Tateau endears us so much to the role that we're
11:33also invested in the protagonist's eventual romantic adventures.
11:37Helping to make this feel-good movie into a magic experience,
11:41Amélie makes you want to be a better person by the end.
11:56Number one hateable.
11:58Mr. Yuniyoshi.
11:59Breakfast at Tiffany's.
12:01For this classic comedy, Mickey Rooney was cast to play Holly Golightly's landlord, Mr. Yuniyoshi.
12:07Unfortunately, the entire character is a racist caricature of Japanese culture
12:11played by a white actor.
12:23The performance doesn't do the problematic role any favors,
12:26being both offensive and over-the-top.
12:29It's even more unfortunate to know that this wasn't exactly rare in older Hollywood films.
12:34While the part could have been rewritten or recast, it's hard to justify its existence at
12:39all. The character doesn't necessarily matter for the larger story and mainly exists as a
12:45poor attempt at comic relief. Through everything from his appearance to his voice,
12:50Yuniyoshi's presence is a negative aspect of an otherwise iconic movie.
12:54Good evening, Mr. Yuniyoshi.
12:58Did we forget another lovable or hateable rom-com character?
13:01Let us know in the comments below.
13:03This is Meredith Blake.
13:09Hi.
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