Top 10: Romantic Comedies

First of all, an admission: as a 22 year-old heterosexual male, I watch far more romantic comedies than I probably should. I put this down both to having a sister who flat-out refuses to watch anything other than rom-coms, and to my perpetual reluctance to get up and find something else to do. Second, a declaration: I find most of these films very enjoyable. Even though most of the time I can adroitly predict how the story will end (the highly strung but endearing woman will end up with the attractive man that isn't a complete arsehole) this doesn't dent my viewing pleasure. Third, an assertion: I am convinced that I am not alone; I'm certain, based on purely anecdotal evidence, that other straight men also watch these tawdry pageants of their own free will. With that comforting thought...

• 10. Only You (1994)

When she was a girl, Marisa Tomei was told by a gypsy fortune-teller that she would marry a man named "Damon Bradley". Flash forward to adulthood, and she learns that her podiatrist fiance has an old friend with that name. Cue a journey to Italy to track him down, but instead she discovers the always delightful Robert Downey Jr.

• 9. Three to Tango (1999)

Matthew Perry took a break from playing Chandler Bing to star in this very entertaining film about an architect who, by a series of unfortunate events, is believed to be gay by his employer, who then hires him to keep an eye on his mistress, with whom Perry then falls in love. Simples.

• 8. Notting Hill (1999)

Four Weddings and a Funeral is a very overrated film. Love Actually was just alright. But Richard Curtis nailed the fickle art of romantic comedy in this film, as charmingly inept bookshop owner Hugh Grant falls for movie star Julia Roberts.

• 7. How to Steal a Million (1966)

Audrey Hepburn is the wealthy heiress whose family has forged works of art for generations. When her grandparents' fake Venus sculpture is put on display and under the microscope, she enlists the services of society burglar Peter O'Toole to steal it from the museum.

• 6. The Proposal (2009)

Highly strung businesswoman Sandra Bullock, who is also Canadian, pretends to be engaged to her long-suffering assistant Ryan Reynolds to maintain her visa status and avoid deportation. Of course, they have to fly to Alaska to meet his family and stage a fake wedding. Obviously.

• 5. 50 First Dates (2004)

Adam Sandler is a marine biologist and always on the look out for a good time, until he meets Drew Barrymore's Lucy, a woman who's lost her short-term memory and lives the same day over and over again. Surprisingly moving and hilarious in equal measure.

• 4. Along Came Polly (2004)

Ben Stiller is the uptight actuary whose wife cheats on him the first day of their honeymoon with a French nudist, returns home dejected, and runs into old chum Polly (Jennifer Aniston), who is lackadaisical and happy to drift through life. Opposites attract, etc.

• 3. Keeping the Faith (2000)

Ben Stiller and Ed Norton have new age fun with a traditional religious feel, as best friends who become a rabbi and a priest, and compete for the affections of their old school friend Jenna Elfman. More substantive than your average fluff.

• 2. You've Got Mail (1998)

Because Sleepless in Seattle is a boring and overrated film. This is much better, and will make you want to own a dog named Brinkley, make ridiculously complicated orders in Starbucks, and open up a small children's book shop.

• 1. My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

Probably the definitive romantic comedy, in which the slightly over-possessive heroine (Julia Roberts) doesn't end up with her old flame by disrupting his wedding plans to Cameron Diaz, and instead dances the night away with gay old Rupert Everett.

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