Disney’s hit film Enchanted boasts a fairy princess, cooperative cockroaches and a one-legged pigeon but best of all, it has Patrick Dempsey of Grey’s Anatomy fame, as the romantic lead the likes of which have not been seen in many a year. And the film’s success shows just how much the traditional hunky male lead has been missed.
So who are the top ten romantic comedy heroes?
Mel Gibson in WHAT WOMEN WANT
Mr Gibson puts in a surprisingly virile turn as Nick Marshall, a chauvinistic ad boss who has the tables turned on him when a freak accident means he can hear what women think. Who knew he could dance, too?
Tom Hanks in SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE
Sleepless could be considered the mother of all chick flicks – it certainly spawned a succession of poor imitations. Hanks and Meg Ryan were the golden couple here, Hanks playing widowed father Sam Baldwin who finds love again with Ryan’s journalist Annie.
Richard Gere in PRETTY WOMAN
Gere and Roberts struck gold in this 20th-century reworking of the Cinderella story as the jaded businessman Edward and the hooker with a heart of gold Vivian. Gere showed he could still be as sexy as he was in American Gigolo.
Hugh Grant in FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL
Grant made his name as the floppy-haired Brit Charles who falls for Andie McDowell’s American tourist Carrie. He’s been playing variations of the same role ever since…
Tom Cruise in JERRY MAGUIRE
One of Cruise’s finest roles sees him play the eponymous sports agent who has a crisis and winds up in the arms of single mom Dorothy, a scene-stealing Renee Zellweger, then a relative newcomer.
Henry Fonda in THE LADY EVE
In probably the best romantic comedy of all time, Fonda plays the hopelessly academic and wealthy Charles Pike who is led a merry dance by Barbara Stanwyck’s chancer Jean.
Clark Gable in IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT
Gable’s sardonic virility and lighthearted charm appealed to men as well as women and he was never better than as caddish reporter Peter Warne who by Ellie, a spoilt rich girl on the run played by Claudette Colbert. He really triumphed in this movie winning the Academy Award in 1934.
Humphrey Bogart in SABRINA
Bogart is the stiff Linus before he finally learns to relax a little and follow his heart not his head thanks to a charming Audrey Hepburn in the title role. It doesn’t get much better than this. Why anyone thought it would be a good idea to remake this, I just don’t know…
Ben Chaplin in THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS
Another Brit Chaplin was sweet and sexy as dog lover Brian who falls for the wrong woman in Uma Thurman before falling into Janeane Garofalo’s arms in this update of the classic Cyrano tale.
Cary Grant in BRINGING UP BABY
British-born Grant’s debonair charm and good looks, combined with his distinctive voice, made him a master of the romantic comedy, combining the right amount of machismo and comedic skill. Here he’s stuffy professor Dr David Huxley, opposite Katherine Hepburn’s free-spirited society girl Susan Vance. David Schwimmer’s role of Ross in Friends was based on Grant’s character.
