Romantic Comedies

Sacbee.com tells us who they would put in a romantic comedy . I have to say the Romantic Comedy genre is lacking severely. I guess that is not new news as Salon.com wrote an article about the decline back in the 20th century.( June 1999) The movies sacbee mention like Knocked Up and The Waitress, I do not even consider to be close to a romantic comedy. Some of their pairings are a little far fetched too. Maybe women should revolt and demand more romantic comedies. Or maybe not, as that would mean more movies like Music and Lyrics; however Kate and Leopold I loved.

With a goal of trying to resuscitate these glossy romances, here's my list of dream pairings:

Penélope Cruz

and Christian Bale

An intense actor who always seems to be keeping a secret, Bale might be the co-star to finally help translate Cruz's great appeal in Spanish films to American movies. Cruz could be kooky and play off Bale, who would be a stoic, Colin Firth-type romantic lead. Or a Richard Gere-style straight man à la "Pretty Woman," but with even better suits and less prostitution.

Halle Berry and Will Smith

A pairing with Berry might pull in the five or so moviegoers who thus far have resisted Smith's films. Smith could hone the charm he showed in "Hitch," one of the few romantic comedies of the past few years that worked. And Berry, who was adorable in "Boomerang," could make a movie in which her character isn't in peril.

Amanda Bynes and Shia LaBeouf

These graduates of children's television have displayed impressive talent on the big screen. LaBeouf, who shows real depth along with fine comic timing, could both play into and help calibrate Bynes' wacky approach. Think about it: Bynes and LaBeouf. Not quite Tracy and Hepburn or Lunt and Fontanne, but it still sounds great once you learn to pronounce "LaBeouf."

Virginia Madsen and George Clooney

People compare Clooney to Cary Grant, but he's not known for his romantic comedies. Madsen, retro-glamorous before she grew more earthy on screen, could perfectly complement Clooney's old-school charm.

Keira Knightley

and Johnny Depp

We'll know later this week what the third "Pirates of the Caribbean" installment offers. But in the second film, Depp and Knightley sizzled so inappropriately that you wanted to shield the kiddies' eyes. Perhaps they could transfer that heat to a romantic comedy set in an insurance office or a hospital.

Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman

Freeman would play a widowed businessman who suddenly must raise young grandchildren. Mirren would be the opinionated Cockney nanny with whom he argues about the content and consistency of "pudding." Tempers flare. Sparks fly. And Mirren and Freeman will become the first actors in history to pull off one of those silly romantic-comedy scenes in which people spontaneously break into lip-sync and dance.

Renée Zellweger and Brad Pitt

A blight on the face of modern romantic comedies, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" showed that Pitt would do better with a more down-to-earth partner than Angelina Jolie onscreen, if not in life. And since Jennifer Aniston is probably out of the question, Zellweger will do.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger

Because romantic comedies, unlike "Brokeback Mountain," have happy endings.