Do you find rom-coms to be cheesy and practically unbearable to watch? Or do you like the eternal optimism they shed on relationships, love and happily-ever-afters?

I enjoy watching the idyllic fantasy of an almost-perfect relationship. I also live for a good love story since it gives me hope.

I forgot that rom-coms were meant to be tacky as I had uncovered some gems during quarantine. A few of them have a level of finesse that renders them more entertaining than corny; some have better writing, acting, and directing than others.

For the sake of fulfilling my ultimate love dream, I'm writing about rom-coms that feature and center Black love.

I think we as Black humans need to be able to see happy, functional Black couples on our screens. We deserve it. It should not be a rarity. My cynicism knows that those who run the system purposefully makes it uncommon or irrevocably tainted in media because they don't want Black people to create solid families and communities, because that would lead to empowerment. And if you don't see healthy, normal Black relationships – especially people like me who did not have the privilege of seeing them during our upbringing – you start to think it's impossible for you to have one.

Whether or not you're in a relationship, see below for some feel-good flicks that will reignite your hope for and/or solidify your faith in love. They're great to watch with friends, family and significant others.

The Weekend

This is by far the best rom-com I have ever seen. An official selection in numerous film festivals, this movie was written and directed by Canadian writer/director Stella Meghie, who also worked on The Photograph.

The Weekend is a romantic comedy with an acerbic twist. The main character Zadie is a spoiled, sardonic comedian in her late twenties. Her ex-boyfriend, Bradford, was invited to stay at Zadie's family-owned B&B with her and decides to bring along his new girlfriend, Margo. Zadie is still not over Bradford and pulls no punches when it comes to poking fun at Margo, a more well-established woman, who Zadie deems to be bougie and shallow. A B&B guest named Aubrey encounters the trio and an interesting, often times uncomfortable, weekend ensues. The character mix and plot make for a smart and funny ride.

This film features the beautiful Southern California countryside as its backdrop. I was looking for hints to see where it was as a curious newcomer to the state who was eager to explore its beauty; I found out that it was mostly set in Cornell, CA. Interspersed with old school, classic tunes and some newer neo soul songs, the movie had a laidback vibe.

I liked how diverse and relatable the characters were. The story unfolded in a down to earth way and we could see character strengths and flaws in everyone. Plus, I love to see a hilariously awkward Black girl (Zadie) on television, cause I am one myself. Purposeful representation for the win!

The Weekend is available to stream on Hulu, Amazon Prime, Sling TV and the Roku Channel.

Always a Bridesmaid

In Always a Bridesmaid, we see Corina, an intelligent and lovely woman in her late twenties who is ever-present in her friends' weddings but struggling to find a committed relationship for herself. She is dubious about the prospect of finding true love and happiness because of her father's indiscretions during her parents' marriage. In spite of this, Corina's friends encourage her to pursue dating and stop pushing away one extraordinary suitor in particular.

This movie is the cheesiest on the list. The acting was questionable, as was the wardrobe, particularly for the main character. I would like to see more budget and talent allocated to Black women's hair, makeup and wardrobe because Black women deserve it. The lead actress is beautiful otherwise and has a decent amount of acting ability. It's the majority of the supporting cast that was awful.

That said, once you get through the crappy interpretations that sour the beginning, middle, and end, the movie finishes on a sweet, redeeming note and has a nice message. It especially resonated with me and made this otherwise D-list movie memorable. The Prince Charming tells the main character, “You refuse to be happy,” pointing to her self-sabotaging ways in love and her career. It sparked a self-reflective moment for sure.

Plus, the Prince Charming was gorgeous and successful. I hate when society tells Black women we have to be a “10” to get a Black man who is a “5”. We deserve quality partners who give us great love, respect, healthy relationships, admiration, financial stability and success, and good looks, just as much as anyone else.

Always a Bridesmaid is available to stream on the Roku Channel and Amazon Prime.

Jumping the Broom

This T.D. Jakes-produced film was more of a commercial success in the U.S., and features a more popular and mainstream cast.

In Jumping the Broom, we see Sabrina, a successful but unlucky-in-love lawyer, suddenly bump into the man of her dreams, Jason, who is a respectable Wall Street banker. While they are both well-established in their corporate careers, the two come from completely different socioeconomic backgrounds and upbringings. Their families clash when everyone descends upon Sabrina's family estate in Martha's Vineyard; traditions and cultural values are questioned on both sides.

This movie was was funny, quirky, and lighthearted. It did not have much depth but most rom-coms are pretty surface. It's entertaining and the acting, directing, wardrobe are decent.

I live for Loretta Devine, who plays Jason's mother – she is my fantasy movie mom, i.e. if I were ever in a film I'd want her to play my mom. This was probably the best acting that Paula Patton, who plays Sabrina, has ever done. Laz Alonso plays Jason, and Angela Bassett rounds out the main cast as Sabrina's mother.

Now the casting choice for Sabrina reeks of colorism – it's completely unfair for roles created for Black women to consistently be given to light-skinned and/or biracial women, especially those in happily-ever-afters – and this is one of those more mainstream movies that falls prey to that pitfall, but we'll get to that in another post (stay tuned).

Jumping the Broom is available to stream on the Roku Channel, Starz and Sling TV.

Did you enjoy watching any of the movies on the list? What's your favorite Black rom-com?