Guess the Missing "Better Half" of This Rom-Com Couple!

By: Olivia Cantor
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Guess the Missing "Better Half" of This Rom-Com Couple!
Image: Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films, Bookshop Productions

About This Quiz

There was a time when romantic comedies were relegated to the "frilly and fluffy" bin of Hollywood's unofficial movie classifications. The term "chick flick" even came out and wrapped around this sub-category, which later became controversial a tag. Do you recall that one?

These days, romantic comedies are shortened to "rom-com," and it's more apt a term than "chick flick." The latter gives a negative gendered description of the sub-genre as it suggests shallow romantic storylines aimed at a female demographic. But rom-coms are for everyone, especially since they often portray hetero-normative relationships. 

Sometimes, it's not only a man and a woman they're showing in a rom-com flick. Love triangles are one of the most popular themes. Thus, there are stories where one girl is the object of desire of not just one, but two boys. In some instances, there are more than two guys competing to get the attention of one woman. There are films that reverse this situation, too, since we also see films focused on one guy being the center of attention of many women. So yeah, guys are in it, too. It should be a no-brainer, then, to consider them as part of this sub-genre's audience.

But can you guess which guy is which girl's partner, or vice versa? Open up this quiz and find out!



1 Edward Lewis Richard Gere
Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners IV
This dapper gentleman "rented" a few dates with this "Pretty Woman." Who does Richard Gere play?
Barney Thompson
Edward Lewis
James Morse
Phillip Kaufman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Pretty Woman" wasn't originally intended as a lighthearted rom-com. With a sex worker as its central character being hired by a "prince charming," it's obvious that the romantic angle was added later. But in the result, Richard Gere was dashing as Edward Lewis and Julia Roberts was funny as Vivian Ward.

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2 harry billy crystal
Castle Rock Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment
Here's Sally demonstrating something women can fake. Who's her embarrassed other half?
Tom
Dick
Harry
Jules
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"When Harry Met Sally" gave us the funny chance encounter pairing of Harry and Sally. Who could ever forget that classic restaurant scene where they were discussing how women can fake orgasms? With this, writer Nora Ephron and director Rob Reiner gave us one of the greatest rom-com scenes ever.

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3 juliet
Universal Pictures, StudioCanal, Working Title Films
In this Christmas-themed movie, Henry's married to her, but his best man Mark also wishes the same thing! Who are they both pining for?
Nancy
Juliet
Judy
Sarah
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For those who need more than just one storyline in a rom-com, "Love, Actually" addresses this need. The multi-storyline film features at least eight major subplots about different people with their own set of romantic concerns. The film cleverly intersects these people's lives eventually.

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4 annie hall
Jack Rollins & Charles H. Joffe Productions, Rollins-Joffe Productions
Neurotic New Yorker Alvy Singer laments how he messed it up with which wonderfully quirky woman?
Blue Jasmine
Annie Hall
Broadway Danny Rose
Mighty Aphrodite
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Writer-director Woody Allen wrote and directed the Oscar Best Picture awardee entitled "Annie Hall" where Diane Keaton played the titular character. As the lead actor in his own film, Allen as Alvy talks directly to the camera, addressing the audience with his break-up laments.

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5 pretty in pink blane
Paramount Pictures
This classic Brat Pack flick had Duckie pining for his BFF Andie, but who was her actual better half here?
Blane
Steff
Simon
Jack
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Writer John Hughes penned a lot of rom-com scripts aimed at the teen audiences of the '80s. And since that was the heyday of the Brat Pack, they starred in many of these films, like the 1986 film "Pretty in Pink." Molly Ringwald played Andie, who liked Blane, played by Andrew McCarthy.

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6 Danny Zuko Grease
Paramount Pictures, Robert Stigwood Organization (RSO), Allan Carr Production
"You're the one that I want," good girl Sandy sang to which slick-haired bad boy?
Danny Zuko
Mark Cohen
Artful Dodger
Troy Bolton
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Danny Zuko better shape up for Sandy Olsson, the girl who likes him so much. But since he's supposedly a bad boy, his reputation will be damaged if he shows he digs this goody-two-shoes. You can find their rom-com story and sing along with them, too, in the 1978 movie musical "Grease."

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7 before sunrise celine
Castle Rock Entertainment, Detour Filmproduction, Filmhaus Wien Universa Filmproduktions
In "Before Sunrise," Jesse is the American guy who had a chance encounter with which French gal?
Céline
Cosette
Esmeralda
Sophie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of the quintessential Generation X rom-coms is 1995's "Before Sunrise," directed by Richard Linklater. Gen-X icon Ethan Hawke played Jesse, while French actress Julie Delphy played his better half, Céline. They met again in 2004's "Before Sunset" and in 2013's "Before Midnight."

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8 Jerry Maguire
TriStar Pictures, Gracie Films
"You had me at hello," Dorothy Boyd confessed to this self-absorbed sports agent. What's his name?
John Carter
Billy Madison
Forrest Gump
Jerry Maguire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pull out a pen and paper if you're one of those types who jot down movie lines that resonate with you. Rom-com fans all over have memorized a handful of such lines from "Jerry Maguire." Yep, he's the character who said "You complete me."

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9 While You Were Sleeping Jack
Hollywood Pictures, Caravan Pictures
Transit train worker Lucy was always daydreaming about her commuter crush, Peter. But who does she end up with?
Saul
Jack
Joe
Jerry
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sandra Bullock appeared in many films of a comedic tone prior to appearing in "While You Were Sleeping." But that 1995 hit solidified her place in the rom-com hierarchy of the '90s and 2000s. Her lonely character Lucy ended up with Jack, played by Bill Pullman.

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10 notting hill will
Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films, Bookshop Productions
American Anna Scott was "also just a girl, standing in front of [which] British boy?"
Bernie
Martin
Spike
Will
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Anna Scott's unforgettable movie line in "Notting Hill" goes "And don't forget, I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." The "fairly level-headed bloke" she's addressing here is Will. Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant's chemistry made this 1999 rom-com a huge hit.

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11 500 Days of Summer
Fox Searchlight Pictures, Watermark, Dune Entertainment III
Greeting card writer Tom Hansen was recalling 500 days of being with which girl?
Autumn
Summer
Spring
Equinox
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Summer Finn embodies the character stereotype known as the "manic pixie dream girl" in "500 Days of Summer." This means she is a lovable yet eccentric feminine character who's often the object of affection of a cynical and often moody man.

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12 Reality Bites Troy
Jersey Films, Universal Pictures
The very Gen-X Lelaina was dating corporate type Michael, but her better half is really this bohemian. What's his name?
Sammy
Troy
Roger
Rock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1994 film "Reality Bites" gave us a classic Gen-X rom-com triangle with some drama sprinkled in there, too. Winona Ryder's Lelaina was in the the middle of it all. Corporate Michael was played by Ben Stiller, while bohemian Troy was played by Ethan Hawke.

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13 sabrina linus
Constellation Entertainment, Mirage Enterprises
The "Sabrina" remake found the titular character pairing up with which Larrabee scion?
David
Linus
Thomas
Oliver
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rom-coms also feature storylines of class differences, but this situation doesn't become a problem once love is underway. This is the scenario in the 1995 remake of "Sabrina" where Julia Ormond played the titular character and Harrison Ford played Linus, the Larrabee she ends up with.

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14 the princess bride buttercup
Act III Communications, Buttercup Films Ltd., The Princess Bride Ltd.
Westley always replies "As you wish" whenever his secret love would tell her to do errands. What's the name of his love?
Buttercup
Sugar Pie
Honey Bunch
Sweetie Girl
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Buttercup is the name of Westley's beloved in the 1987 rom-com "The Princess Bride." The material of this story originally came from a novel by William Goldman, the one who also wrote the script for the film. Cary Elwes and Robin Wright play the two love leads here.

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15 10 Things I Hate About You Heath Ledger
Touchstone Pictures, Mad Chance, Jaret Entertainment
In "10 Things I Hate About You," Julia Stiles played Kat Stratford while this actor played her love interest Patrick Verona. Can you guess who?
Heath Ledger
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Andrew Keegan
Kyle Cease
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" was given a '90s rom-com twist in the form of 1999's "10 Things I Hate About You." Julia Styles is the "shrew" whom Heath Ledger had to "tame," so to speak. But of course, given the modern times, the film updated several other things in this adaptation.

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16 Sleepless in Seattle tom hanks
TriStar Pictures
When Annie was "Sleepless in Seattle," she heard this guy Sam on the radio. Meg Ryan played her, but who played him?
Bill Pullman
Hugh Grant
Tom Hanks
Colin Firth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Writer Nora Ephron not only wrote rom-coms, she also directed them. One such film is 1993's "Sleepless in Seattle" where Tom Hanks played the grieving widower Sam. Meg Ryan co-starred as Annie, the journalist who took an interest in Sam's story.

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17 Jack Nicholson
Columbia Pictures Corporation, Warner Bros., Waverly Films
The 56-year-old playwright Erica Barry, played by Diane Keaton, felt something had to give when she met 63-year-old playboy Harry. Who played him?
Jack Nicholson
Laurence Olivier
Tommy Lee Jones
Clint Eastwood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Diane Keaton is the playwright Erica who ended up dating her daughter's boyfriend, the elderly playboy named Harry, played by Jack Nicholson. When all hell broke loose, Erica coped by writing a play about it. These funny characters are all found in the 2003 film called "Something's Gotta Give."

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18 Breakfast at Tiffanys Holly Golightly
Jurow-Shepherd
His name is really Paul Varjak, but her socialite-wannabe neighbor insists on calling him Fred. Which feisty femme neighbor is his better half?
Elizabeth Bennet
Scarlett O'Hara
Holly Golightly
Becky Sharp
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The elegant Audrey Hepburn brought to life that unforgettable Truman Capote character, Holly Golightly, in the 1961 film adaptation of "Breakfast at Tiffany's." The character came from Capote's novella which he wrote in 1958. George Peppard played the role of Paul.

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19 Nick
Screen Gems, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Mandate Pictures
When this girl Norah was looking for a suitable candidate for a 5-minute boyfriend, which guy did she pick?
Vic
Mick
Nick
Rick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Norah Silverberg is the teen who winds up listening to the mixed CDs curated by Nick O'Leary in the 2008 rom-com called "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist." Kat Dennings and Michael Cera gave life to the titular characters penned by David Leviathan and Rachel Cohn in their 2006 novel.

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20 Some Kind of Wonderful Watts
Hughes Entertainment, Paramount Pictures
"Some Kind of Wonderful" showed popular girl Amanda Jones as mechanic Keith's crush. But who really loves him?
Mia
Watts
Cindy
Carol
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mary Stuart Masterson played drummer teen Watts who's secretly in love with her BFF, the young mechanic named Keith in "Some Kind of Wonderful." Lea Thompson played Amanda Jones, the girl Keith initially liked. Keith was played by Eric Stoltz in this 1987 rom-com.

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21 maude
Mildred Lewis and Colin Higgins Productions, Paramount Pictures
Rom-coms can be quirky and morbid at the same time, too. Just ask young Harold and his older partner. What's her name?
Bonnie
Fanny
Frankie
Maude
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rom-coms can also be black comedies, and an example of this is 1971's "Harold and Maude." It's the story of a rather morbid young guy named Harold who likes all things related to death. He meets an elderly woman at a funeral who eventually becomes his girlfriend; her name is Maude.

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22 Shakespeare in Love William
Universal Pictures, Miramax, The Bedford Falls Company
Even famous playwrights can also be imagined as a rom-com character, such as Viola de Lesseps' partner. Can you name him?
Arthur Miller
Samuel Beckett
William Shakespeare
Tennessee Williams
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gwyneth Paltrow won an Oscar Best Actress award in her role as Viola de Lesseps in the 1998 film "Shakespeare in Love." Her love interest in the film, William Shakespeare, was played by Joseph Fiennes. This rom-com also won an Oscar in the Best Original Screenplay category.

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23 Matthew McConaughey
Lynda Obst Productions, MMP Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Moviemakers Productions (MMP)
Kate Hudson's Andie character wanted to lose this guy Benjamin in 10 days, to no avail. Who played him?
Matthew McConaughey
Johnny Depp
Greg Kinnear
Ben Stiller
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Matthew McConaughey played the playboy ad exec Benjamin while Kate Hudson played the lifestyle magazine writer Andie in the 2003 film "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." Both characters were clueless of each other's project when they met: she is to turn a guy off while he is to snatch a woman easily.

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24 Juno
Fox Searchlight Pictures, Mandate Pictures, Mr. Mudd
Part rom-com and part coming of age film, Michael Cera played teenage dad-to-be Paulie while Ellen Page played which titular character?
Juno
Amelie
Marnie
Ninotchka
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 2007 film "Juno" featured teenage pregnancy issues in a rather humorous and also loving way, thereby earning its place in the rom-com category. The characters of Juno and Paulie also come of age in this film due to the very adult issue they had to face early in life.

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25 Bridget Jones
Miramax, Universal Pictures, StudioCanal
Which girl wrote diary entries about her true love Mark Darcy and her office crush Daniel Cleaver?
Amélie Poulain
Veronica Mars
Nancy Drew
Bridget Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mark Darcy is a reworking of the Mr. Darcy character in the novel "Pride and Prejudice" since "Bridget Jones's Diary" kind of reworked Jane Austen's novel. In that sense, Bridget Jones represents a modern-day Elizabeth Bennet in this 2001 rom-com.

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26 Clueless Josh Lucas Paul Rudd
Paramount Pictures
Cher Horowitz was a bit clueless about who she'll end up with. Do you have a clue?
Mark Renton
Josh Lucas
Tyler Durden
Jack Dawson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alicia Silverstone's Cher character in "Clueless" didn't have a clue that she'll end up with Josh Lucas, her former stepbrother played by Paul Rudd. The 1995 rom-com showed us the story from Cher's point of view

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27 Enchanted Robert
Walt Disney Pictures, Josephson Entertainment, Andalasia Productions
In "Enchanted," Giselle is the fairy tale woman looking for a real happily-ever-after in New York. Who did she find?
Pip
Nathaniel
Robert
Edward
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Amy Adams played the perky Giselle while Patrick Dempsey played the cynical New Yorker Robert in "Enchanted." This 2007 Walt Disney-produced rom-com poked fun at the company's trademark fairy tale stereotypes and storylines.

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28 hitch will smith
Columbia Pictures Corporation, Overbrook Entertainment
Eva Mendes played Sara, the woman who fell for this "date doctor" played by Will Smith. What's his name?
Bean
Arthur
Hitch
Logan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Will Smith played the smooth-talking love coach teaching lovelorn men in "Hitch." The 2005 rom-com partnered him with Eva Mendes who played Sara, a gossip columnist. The practice of their respective professions became both a bridge and a hindrance to their developing love story in the film.

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29 Shes All That zack
Miramax, Tapestry Films, FilmColony
Even geeky characters like Laney Boggs gets transformed into rom-com partner material. Who's her better half in "She's All That?"
Crack
Jack
Zack
Mack
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In "She's All That," Freddie Prinze Jr. played Zack Siler, the campus crush whose mission is to turn Laney Boggs into a prom queen. Rachael Leigh Cook essayed the role of Laney in this immensely popular 1999 rom-com.

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30 Shallow Hal
Twentieth Century Fox, Conundrum Entertainment, Shallow Hal Filmproduktion GmbH & Co. KG
Gwyneth Paltrow played Rosemary, the obese woman who became the apple of which superficial titular character's eye?
Ed Wood
Shallow Hal
Barton Fink
Dorian Gray
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jack Black played the titular role of "Shallow Hal" in the 2001 rom-com by the Farrelly brothers. In the film, he gets hypnotized by Tony Robbins, the real-life life coach, who makes a cameo here. As a result, the women Hal deems as unattractive now appear as pretty "trophy girlfriend" types to him.

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31 50 First Dates Drew Barrymore
Columbia Pictures Corporation, Happy Madison Productions, Anonymous Content
Adam Sandler is Henry Roth who had to convince Lucy Whitmore of their love. Who played this amnesiac?
Keira Knightley
Drew Barrymore
Cameron Diaz
Jennifer Lopez
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Drew Barrymore played Lucy, the woman Henry fell in love with, in "50 First Dates." The 2004 rom-com showed how her character suffers from a kind of amnesia where she can't remember recent memories. That's why the whole film was about convincing her character to remember events from her recent life.

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32 the wedding planner Jennifer Lopez
Columbia Pictures Corporation, Dee Gee Entertainment, IMF Internationale Medien und Film GmbH & Co. Produktions KG
This singer-actress played Mary, the wedding planner, while Matthew McConaughey played Steven, her client. Who's the star here?
Jessica Simpson
Jennifer Lopez
Demi Lovato
Anna Kendrick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jennifer Lopez is "The Wedding Planner" who accidentally falls for Steve, the soon-to-be groom of her bride-to-be client. The 2001 rom-com is only one of many such films that the singer-actress appeared in. She was in "Maid in Manhattan," "Monster-in-Law," and "The Back-up Plan," to name a few.

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33 Must Love Dogs Jake
Warner Bros., Team Todd, Ubu Productions
Diane Lane's character, Sarah, supposedly wanted someone who "must love dogs." Who did she end up with?
Jake
Leo
Bill
David
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jake Anderson was played by John Cusack in the 2005 rom-com "Must Love Dogs." The film is an adaptation of a 2002 novel penned by Claire Cook. The story explored how divorced people explored dating options using social media platforms.

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34 13 Going on 30 Matt
Revolution Studios, Thirteen Productions
Jenna was this guy's crush when they were 13, and they met up again when they were 30. Who's the guy?
Scott
Matt
Richard
Wayne
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 13-year-old Matt grew up and became a photographer; he was played by Mark Ruffalo. Jenna fast-forwarded to her adult life as a magazine editor; she was played by Jennifer Garner. The two met up in two timelines in the 2004 rom-com "13 Going on 30."

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35 Moonstruck Nicolas Cage
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Star Partners
Cher is the widow Loretta in "Moonstruck" who falls in love with the younger Ronny. Can you identify who played him?
Robert Downey Jr.
Harrison Ford
Nicolas Cage
Rob Lowe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1987 rom-com "Moonstruck" paired Cher and Nicolas Cage in this film directed by Norman Jewison. Cher received an Oscar Best Actress award for playing Loretta in this movie. The movie also won in the Best Original Screenplay category.

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36 Kate and Leopold
Konrad Pictures, Miramax
Kate is the market research executive who didn't believe that this guy was a time traveler from the past. Which guy was this?
Michelangelo
Christophe
Leopold
Millard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Even Hugh Jackman played rom-com leads once in a while, in between Wolverine roles. In the 2001 film "Kate & Leopold," he played an accidental time traveling duke from the past named Leopold who meets a modern-day New Yorker. That woman he meets is Kate, played by rom-com royalty Meg Ryan.

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37 the cutting edge kate
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Interscope Communications
Doug is the hockey player who had to endure which bratty figure skater in "The Cutting Edge?"
Marie
Frances
Kate
Sheila
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Moira Kelly popularized the line "Toe pick!" as her character Kate said this a lot to irritate Doug , D.B. Sweeney's character, in "The Cutting Edge." The 1992 rom-com was about how a hockey player got teamed up with a figure skater to compete as a tandem in an upcoming Winter Olympics.

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38 Shes The Man Duke
DreamWorks, Lakeshore Entertainment, Donners' Company
Gender bender rom-coms are also a thing, thanks to characters like Viola who's in love with which character in "She's The Man?"
Andrew
Justin
Duke
Sebastian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A reworking of the Shakespearean comedy called "Twelfth Night," the 2006 rom-com called "She's The Man" featured Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum as the featured couple. Only she played Viola who pretended to be her twin bro Sebastian, and befriended her crush Duke while she was a boy.

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39 some like it hot sugar
Ashton Productions, The Mirisch Corporation
Some joes like Joe like it hot, so he pretended to be someone he's not to woo which honey?
Apple
Peaches
Sugar
Maple
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The legendary Marilyn Monroe portrayed the role of Sugar, the ukulele-playing hottie in "Some Like It Hot." This classic 1959 rom-com also had Tony Curtis playing the role of Joe, a musician on the run. He disguised himself as a woman and as an oil baron, too.

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40 chances are robert downey jr
TriStar Pictures, Lobell/Bergman Productions
Cybill Shepherd played Corinne Jeffries while this Avenger played Alex Finch in a rom-com about reincarnation. Can you name the guy?
Robert Downey Jr.
Chris Hemsworth
Mark Ruffalo
Chris Evans
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1989 rom-com "Chances Are" explored the concept of reincarnation and getting reacquainted with departed loved ones. The film starred Cybill Shepherd and Robert Downey Jr. as Corinne and Alex, respectively. The popular song "After All" by Peter Cetera and Cher came from this film's soundtrack.

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You Got:
/40
Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films, Bookshop Productions