Romantic movies have been around for as long as people started making films, and they'll always be around because people can't get enough of a good love story. There's just something about the way a movie can have you believing that love is this unstoppable, magical force of the universe; even though everyone knows that real life romances are rarely like the movies. And while pretty much all movies stretch the truth a bit when it comes to their on-screen romantic pairings, some go even further and have movie couples make no sense together at all.
And I'm not talking about one person being out of another's league as far as looks go; that's both subjective and it happens in the real world all the time. Nor am I talking about the man in the couple being twenty years older than the woman (if I were then this list would include nearly every movie ever made). No, I'm talking about those on-screen couples that all have some fatal flaw that really can't be ignored, and likely would not be ignored in real life. So at the risk of spoiling your idea of love, I've put together the following list of 11 movie couples that make no sense.
1. Grease - Sandy and Danny
This one gets cited a lot, and with good reason: They have nothing in common! By the end of the movie, Danny tries to turn into a jock to please Sandy, and Sandy tries to turn into a greaser to please Danny. They're obviously attracted to each other, but I don't see a relationship blooming. Wouldn't it have made more sense if they each dated people who shared their interests?
2. Edward Scissorhands - Kim and Edward
Edward is a nice guy, and below all that makeup he's Johnny Depp, but let's not ignore the fact that he has massive, razor-sharp scissors for hands. Sorry, but that's kind of a deal-breaker.
3. Pretty Woman - Vivian and Edward
It's not inconceivable that a handsome, rich businessman would hire a prostitute. But that he would start a relationship with the sex worker? Probably not. Not that Vivian isn't deserving of a happy relationship, but the cultural and societal taboos against it would likely be too much of a risk for Edward to take a chance on her.
4. Clueless - Cher and Josh
I know Josh isn't technically Cher's brother, but... he's basically her brother. How neither of them sees this as an issue is the one aspect of this otherwise excellent movie I've never been able to move past.
5. Knocked Up - Allison and Ben
Ignoring the disparity in their looks, Allison could do way better than Ben. He's a lazy stoner, while she's a driven and successful media personality. He's not even a nice guy until basically the end of the movie, so he truly has no redeeming qualities for the bulk of their relationship. Even the baby is not a believable enough reason to keep them together.
6. Harold & Maude - Harold and Maude
It's a sweet movie, and a classic, but come on. I understand that love is love, but a couple with a 60 year age is exceedingly rare; especially one where the two parties are genuinely in love.
7. X-Men Series - Rogue and Iceman
Rogue is a pretty tragic character. Her mutant power makes it so she can't have physical contact with anyone, or else she runs the risk of killing them. Due to this, her having a relationship with anyone, especially Bobby who very much wants a physical relationship, is highly unlikely.
8. Manhattan - Tracy and Isaac
A 42-year-old Woody Allen falling for 17-year-old Mariel Hemingway is a little too believable, but why is this 17-year-old model interested in this 42-year-old neurotic weirdo?
9. Sleepless in Seattle - Annie and Sam
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are charming as can be in this very enjoyable Nora Ephron movie. But I think if someone wanted you to fly cross-country and meet them for the first time on Valentine's Day after hearing you on the radio, well, let's just say you'd probably be more than a little freaked out by that level of dedication.
10. You've Got Mail - Kathleen and Joe
Another Hanks/Ryan/Ephron collaboration, and another very enjoyable movie. But Joe is still basically shutting down Kathleen's bookstore, the true love of her life, and I don't see her moving past that just because the two of them have some decent online conversations.
11. Howard the Duck - Howard and Beverly
She's a human. He's an alien duck. Obviously, they should sleep together.
These nonsensical movie couples all prove that love is blind... and also deaf, insane, and likely suffering from a serious head injury.
Images: Paramount Pictures
