Movies to Keep You in on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day falls on a Monday this year, probably the least romantic day of the week, so most people will be celebrating a day earlier.

How about just grabbing some popcorn ?

Besides, now that the Super Bowl is over, long months of Sundays stretch into what seems like infinity. Or at least until September when the season gets underway again. 

In any case, these are good movies for snuggling on the couch while it's still winter and snow blankets the ground.

Sweet Home Alabama - Melanie is an upcoming fashion designer in New York City and is engaged to the mayor's handsome son. She's looking forward to marrying the man of her dreams ... as soon as she goes back to her hometown in Alabama to divorce her high school sweetheart. Things don't go exactly as Melanie plans, though, when she meets up with Jake again and the old lightening from their youth strikes again.

Date Night - Tina Fey and Steve Carrell play a long-married couple who decide to rekindle the romance in their relationship by varying their regular date night with a trip into Manhattan for dinner. The adventure begins when they take another twosome's reservation, and the couple is mistaken for people who have stolen something from a mobster. After a series of mishaps and chases using a variety of modes of transportation, the couple enlists the help of a security expert. The criminals are caught and the couple return home and admit they love other and the life they've built.

Mississippi Masala - Denzel Washington stars as Demetrius, a carpet cleaner, who falls in love with Mina (Sarita Choudhury), a young Indian woman. Despite some heavier themes of racism, Mississippi Masala is full of warmth, sexy joy, and the kind of romanticism that makes the whole "love conquers all" cliche seem like it could really happen.

The Notebook - The movie is surprisingly loyal to the book of the same name by Nicholas Sparks. Noah and Allie's incredible story of how love begins, grows, and lasts even through the darkness of Alzheimer's can't fail to touch everyone who watches.

Love and Basketball - Monica is a tomboy who wants to play pro-basketball. She lives next door to Quincy, the son of an NBA star who also wants to turn pro. They meet in first grade and start as rivals on the court before growing into friends and lovers. Sports fans and romantic movie lovers will both get what they want out of this warm, funny, and real love story.