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 The movies have always provided audiences with a great escape,The movies have always provided audiences with a great escape, and the advent of video and subsequently DVDs have provided potential repeated viewings of film’s we love. The final kiss and the fade to black, and the viewer may imagine what happens to the characters after the credits roll.
In a romance or romantic comedy a good percentage of viewers are imagining just what the filmmakers intended: the live happily ever after. Groomsonline.com takes a look at some of our favorite film grooms. (Spoiler Alert! We reveal some very happy endings.)
The Jane Austen Hero Grooms (1996 to 2007)
We’ve put them together because no one knows what makes an ideal groom like Jane Austen. Her heroes are certainly {mosimage}literary icons of the best of men. All of Austen’s men, here translated into movie heroes – Darcy from Pride and Prejudice (Matthew MacFadyen, Laurence Olivier), Captain Wentworth from Persuasion (Ciaran Hinds), Edward Ferrars and Colonel Brandon Sense and Sensibility (Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman), and Mr. Knightly from Emma (Jeremy Northam). Yes, we know that there have been stellar television versions – and subsequent Austen TV heroes – but we’re addressing the film portrayals.
Each of Austen’s heroes – all of whom are played by handsome and likeable actors – imbue the following: wealth, elegance, thoughtful reservation, chivalry, nobility, honor and an ultimately, underlying sweetness. Each of these books, and of course, films, end with a fairytale kiss and wedding. These are all grooms who will always do the right thing, always be men of substance, in finance and character. Austen’s heroes/grooms are the inspiration for hundreds of thousands Regency romances, still mass produced monthly by authors with names like Emma Darcy (how obvious an Austen connection can there be?). With their fluffy ascots, snug pants and high boots these Jane Austen movie heroes are the stuff dreams are made of.
Where the Heart Is’ Forney Hull (James Frain) 2002
East-coast blue-blood intellectual Forney, has, for years been a caregiver for his much-older alcoholic sister, Mary Elizabeth. Mary Elizabeth is the librarian in a tiny Oklahoma town.{mosimage} Forney must fill in for her, and he’s abandoned his academic dreams. But into his austere life comes a 17-year-old pregnant teenager, Novalee (Natalie Portman).
Abandoned by her “boyfriend” (easily one of filmdom’s most heinous villains) in the parking lot of Walmart, Novalee’s been living in the store at night. One rainy evening, she goes into labor, alone. Suddenly, someone crashes through the storefront to help deliver her baby. It’s Forney. Over the course of a few years, the two form a close friendship, but Forney’s shyness and Novalee’s feelings of inferiority prevent the couple from their relationship turning romantic.
When Mary Elizabeth suddenly dies, Novalee and Forney finally find comfort in each other’s arms. But Novalee, concerned that she and her daughter Americus will prevent Forney from pursuing his dreams, tells Forney she doesn’t love him. A forlorn Forney reluctantly returns to his ivy league university. Finally, Novalee realizes she must tell Forney how she feels, drives to his school, and tells him, “It's just I lied because... I thought you deserved something better,” and he replies, “Something better than you? Novalee, there isn't anything better than you.” Ah the heartstrings! They marry, in full regalia, in the Wal-Mart where their relationship began. Forney deserves a top spot as movie groom. He’s willing to work in a plastic factory to be with Novalee, he puts no pressure on her, essentially is a father (without benefits) to Americus. The British Frain not only offers up a flawless American accident, but he gives Forney charm and honor and makes him a most memorable groom.
13 Going On 30’s Matt Flamhaff (Mark Ruffalo)
This dreamy fantasy allows Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner) to re-do a mistake she made at 13 – shunning her best friend and {mosimage}neighbor, Matt to become a popular girl. When 13-year-old Jenna wakes up the morning after her birthday, suddenly a 30-year-old fashion editor with a flashy, but ultimately empty life. When she reconnects with Matt, for him, years separate them (even though for her it’s a day) and he has moved on. But they end up working together, and sparks fly, but Matt is a stand-up kind of guy and marries his fiancé. Luckily for Jenna, she wakes up 13 again and is able to “fix” everything. The film ends with the couple taking pictures of themselves, all in wedding garb. Ruffalo’s Matt is the ultimate intimate friend who grows up into a hot guy who’s retained all of his warmth and sweetness.{mospagebreak}
The Notebook’s Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling/James Garner) 2004
Nicholas Sparks’ novel is transformed into one the most romantic contemporary films. One of most appealing aspects of the film is that it avoids the tired chestnut of clearly defined rivals. The viewer (those who had not read Sparks’ novel) is genuinely kept in suspense{mosimage} regarding the “rivalry” of Allie’s (Rachel McAdams) suitors, Noah and Lon (James Marsden). (Note: this is furthered by the fact that it’s Marsden, not Gosling who actually resembles older Allie’s (Gena Rowlands) husband in the film’s flash forwards). Noah’s devotion and all-encompassing love of Allie spans class differences, parental opposition, years and dementia. His dedication and affection make Noah one heck of a romantic movie groom.
Sweet Home Alabama’s Jake Perry (Josh Lucas) 2002
Imagine that your romantic rival is none other than the Kennedy-esque “Andrew Hennings,” {mosimage}who’s played by (gasp!) McDreamy himself, Patrick Dempsey. Still, Lucas’ Jake, as the childhood sweetheart and one-time teen groom of now-fancy fashion designer Melanie Smooter (Reese Witherspoon), manages to win both the audience and Melanie through a reveal of his real heart – he modestly keeps his successful glass business a secret and essentially allows Melanie to see where her love really belongs. It doesn’t hurt that he’s cute as a button, has an adorable hound dog and can fly a plane. Oh, and they have a bittersweet history together.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s Ian Miller (John Corbett) 2002
Writer and star Nia Vardalos based her hit film on her own love story. From the start, {mosimage}Corbett’s Ian is a highly idealized version of her “real” Ian, actor Ian Gomez. Corbett is tall, conventionally sexy, with long hair. Gomez, while a stellar character actor, is bald and on the roundy side. But this screen groom Ian embodies everything any duckling to swan would want. He’s attracted to her unreservedly, and throughout the film endures cultural differences, traditions and challenges to finally wed the woman he loves.
A Walk to Remember’s Landon Carter (Shane West) 2002
Carter doesn’t start the film off by being anything noteworthy – the “cool” kid is ready to {mosimage}make fun of class goody-goody, the sunny Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore). But in the course of the film, Carter must do community service and he and Jamie get to know each other. Through Jamie’s love, Carter grows as a person and into someone worthy of Jamie’s love. He then marries the terminally ill Jamie, joining into the ranks of one of cinema’s sweetest and worthy grooms.
The Wedding Singer’s Robbie (Adam Sandler) 1998
If you can separate Sandler from “Little Nicky” or “The Waterboy,” (just suspend disbelief, take a leap of faith), you’ll find his Robbie a sweet, kind guy who just wants to get married. The former rocker has become a wedding singer, and it’s only on his wedding day does he find out that his wife-to-be is chagrined with his new profession -- so much so, she stands him up at the altar. Wallowing in his loss, Robbie inadvertently meets Drew Barrymore’s Julia, who’s planning her own wedding to smooth Glenn (Matthew Glave). In the course of helping Julia out, the couple falls in love. A race to the airport and an airplane ride – complete with{mosimage} Billy Idol and one of Sandler’s signature songs, Julia and Robbie declare their feelings and marry at the wedding location where they both worked, as wedding singer and waitress. It’s pretty rare to root for Sandler in a film, but his Robbie is such a good guy and so kind, he deserves a place as one of the movies’ best grooms.
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