If the thought of the perfect romantic hero conjures up an image of someone just like your dad or like the guy from Twilight, then prepare to have that blueprint shaken. While we’ve been conditioned to think of Robert Pattinson as the perfect romantic partner (he’s starred in four films and is arguably the most famous Englishman since Prince William, and it’s not even his birthday yet!), his romantic image has been severely tarnished by his recent actions.
What have these four films – Powers, Cosmic Love, Twilight, and Welcome to London – got in common? They’re all perfect romantic targets for a guy like you. Whether you’ve got a classic romantic comedy moment with Stella or you’ve got your heart broken by a vampire, these films will help you find the comfort you need. Let’s take a closer look.
Powers
In Powers, Pattinson plays Max, an ordinary guy who lives a seemingly perfect life: He’s a successful architect who’s never been seen without a perfect haircut and a crisp shirt and tie. We first encounter Max in the midst of a power outage, which strands him without electricity or telephone for a few days. As if this weren’t stressful enough, Max’s life turns upside down when billionaire Isaac Stanhope (John Goodman) takes an interest in him and his design talents. Suddenly, Max’s perfectly ordered world is turned upside down as he has to deal with Stanhope’s aggressive schemes to prove himself to be more resourceful than he actually is.
What we love most about this film are its unique blend of humour and danger. Max is always put in life-threatening situations, but we never really feel threatened. Goodman’s performance as Stanhope is also hysterical in the best way. He manages to bring humor to the most dangerous situations and keeps the film from getting too gruesome. The script is sharp and witty, and it keeps the laughs coming all throughout, even in the most dramatic moments.
Cosmic Love
In Cosmic Love, we follow Max on a different adventure as he heads to India to work with a mystical architect. While there, Max encounters a beautiful young woman named Amrita (Kate Winslet), who shows him a different side of life in Mumbai. Amrita introduces him to her friends: a band of misfits whose members are all searching for the one thing that they need to complete their lives.
Director Gillian Armstrong brings a sensitivity and understanding of the culture that makes this film so intriguing and special. We watch as Amrita and Max fall in love, and we want to be a part of it. While Max’s world is turned upside down in very dramatic fashion, he still finds the strength to put his love for Amrita first. Armstrong brings an intimacy to this romance that feels honest and real.
Twilight
In Twilight, we are treated to a break-up drama involving a conflicted vampire (Pattinson) whose human girlfriend (Kristen Stewart) is in love with someone else. After a long and arduous courtship, Robert’s character Carlisle (Patrick Stewart) and his female companion Esme (Emilie de Ravin) are over the moon to learn that their newborn daughter (Mackenzie Foy) is a human-vampire hybrid.
Carlisle’s joy is short-lived when he learns that the child’s mother is dying. To save his daughter’s life, Carlisle has no choice but to give up her human half. This is where the true villain (Peter Fonda) comes in. While a grief-stricken Carlisle wants nothing more than to be with his newborn child, Fonda’s character takes him away from them both and forces them to engage in a life-or-death struggle that tests Carlisle’s vampire strength.
The best part of this film is that it never loses its lightness of touch. The script allows the performances to shine through and offer some very comedic relief. Foy and Stewart are both excellent as the angst-ridden daughter and grief-stricken father, and De Ravin brings a warmth and charm to the role of Carlisle’s female companion. This film will bring a smile to your face. If you’re looking for a fun romance with a touch of danger, look no further.
Welcome To London
In Welcome to London, we are once again treated to a story of love and loss. This time, it’s a British man (Pattinson) in search of the American dream. The guy we meet at the airport is charming and confident, but that charm can quickly turn to dust as his quest for the American Dream takes a dark turn. We soon find out that this confident man is a total coward when it comes to women; he’s scared of commitment and loves to gamble. He is so in search of his American dream that he lets himself get manipulated by a beautiful yet deadly woman (Gloria Stuart). We soon learn that letting go of our inhibitions and being true to who we are is the way to happiness in the end.
This film is a brilliant example of how a story can still be exciting and emotional even though there’s no real horror elements involved. We laugh, we cry, and we feel empowered as the story progresses. As a romantic comedy, it’s one of the best ever made. Pattinson shows great versatility as a romantic lead as he portrays both the arrogant Englishman and the vulnerable and damaged man that he is really striving to be. This is one of the most interesting British actors to come out of the last few years, and we can’t wait to see what he does next.
If you’re looking for the perfect partner who will be supportive of your dreams and the man you are truly meant to be with, these films will bring you comfort and joy. Don’t be afraid to let your hair down and have some fun. After all, life is too short to be too serious. Bring a beer, and let’s party.