Its long been a device of tinsel town that the boy will get the girl, but every now and again a curveball is thrown our way in the guise of a seriously mismatched couple, and Hollywoods latest offering – romantic comedy Shes Out Of My League – looks to be no exception. With Molly (Alice Eve) being a perfect 10 and awkward, insecure Kirk (Jay Baurchel) being something more like a 5 weve put together a list of other unusual onscreen parings to help them see what they are in for…
Clark Kent and Lois Lane, Superman (1978)
(Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder)
The quintessential Hollywood geek gets the girl couple; we are often left wondering if Lois would have actually chosen Clark over his rather more attractive (if a little more smarmy) secret identity counterpart Superman if all hadnt been revealed. However, it all ends in Superhero paradise as Lois decides that its whats behind the suit that is important.
Lesson learned: Only ever reveal your secret identity when you think that maybe you wont win the girl without it.
Roger and Jessica Rabbit, Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
One of the more disturbing mismatched pairings in our lists contains some questionable ethics as it is a pairing between a woman and a rabbit: Luckily as theyre both cartoons its not as much of a problem as it might have been! Proving the age old saying that there is nothing more attractive than a good sense of humour, Jessica is successfully wooed by said rabbit and eventually claims that his ability to make her laugh is what over comes their logic defying match which defeats a disparity in looks, personality and species.
Lesson learned: Cross species relationships areOK?
Josh Baskin and Susan, Big (1988)
(Tom Hanks and Elizabeth Perkins)
Another slightly disturbing couple who proves that while romance can conquer many obstacles, age is not one. As a 13 year old trapped in a 30 years old body you would have thought Joshs capability for romancing a lady over double his mental age would prove minimal, however, his carefree and childlike ways captivate Susan and show her that it is possible to grow up but still stay young at heart.
Lesson learned: Love cannot overcome the miracle of time travel
Beast and Belle, Beauty and the Beast (1991)
With another vaguely threatening premise to kick off this classic love story, we see Belle being traded to the Beast by her father to save his own skin. Often re-packaged as a story that sees love overcome all boundaries, Beast learns to tame his wilder side in order to win Belles heart. With obstacles such as some wonderfully in-tune but ignorant townsfolk, a sick father and a pesky wilting rose its a miracle that these two beat the (singing!) clock and made it into our countdown, but they did, and they are.
Lesson learned: In love it is necessary to forgive and forget
Lenny, Amanda and Linda Ash, Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
(Woody Allen and Helena Bonham Carter and Mira Sorvino)
To be honest, there were quite a few Woody Allen films that we could have chosen for this count down, however, his pairing with a woman 30 years his junior really takes the biscuit when it comes to couples that just look right together. As he also gets his jolly-on with a dizzy young lady of the night this film really knocks it out of the park when it comes to throwing unusual couplings our way.
Lesson learned: Apparently you are never too old to get with someone too young.
William Thacker and Anna Scott, Notting Hill (1999)
(Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts)
It all started with the fateful polystyrene cup of orange juice… When bumbling and awkward travel bookshop owner literally runs in to Anna Scott (a world famous actress), it does not look like a potential for blossoming romance. But with a personal crisis looming just around the corner for the beautiful actress, Will Thackers luck is in, and after a few false starts hes finally gets the girl in truly romantic Hollywood style.
Lesson learned: Always carry a cup of orange juice with you in case you spot a celebrity … its a good way to meet them apparently.
Melvin and Carol, As Good as It Gets (1997)
(Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt)
As Melvin, who suffers from acute OCD, is one of the rudest men that waitress Carol has had the misfortune to meet it seems from the off as though the likelihood of a happy ending for this mismatched couple. However, when Melvins generosity changes the course of Carol and her sons life their relationship between the two blossoms into fantastically mismatched couple heaven.
Lesson learned: You can be as rude as you like as long as youve got dollar.
Even and Becca, Superbad (2007)
(Michael Cera and Martha MacIsaac)
When the end of school comes and you still havent managed to get the girl of your dreams, some might give up. Not so Even, a loveable loser whose crush on Becca goes back longer than he cares to remember. When the opportunity arises to purchase her alcohol for a party Even sees his golden opportunity and seizes it with both hands. Unfortunately for Even, fate plays its part in the guise of alcohol and his socially incompetent friends, meaning he is almost prevented from being one of Hollywoods mismatched but adorable couples. Luckily, time heals all wounds and the next day the pairings future happiness seems assured (at least until college starts!).
Lesson learned: If you dont work up the courage to ask a girl out all through school, it will happen if there is a big end of term party and she embarrasses herself enough to finally stoop to your level.
Alison Scott and Ben Stone, Knocked Up (2007)
(Katherine Heigl and Seth Rogen)
What better way to start a classic Hollywood romance than the most modern of devices the one night stand? Knocked Up sees uptight control freak Alison paired with Ben, your classic tinsel town bum who lives off an old insurance claim and still house shares with his stoner friends. The realisation that this is a match made in mismatched couples heaven strikes only after a series of mishaps and a nine month period.
Lesson learned: If you are a couple made in relationship hell with literally nothing in common then having a baby will fix everything
Molly and Kirk, Shes Out Of My League (2010)
(Alice Eve and Jay Baruchel)
Kirk is stuck in a dead-end job as an airport security agent but, against all odds, Molly, a successful and outrageously gorgeous babe, falls for him. Kirk is stunned. So are his friends, his family and even his ex-girlfriend. Now he has to figure out how to make the relationship work, even though hed be the first to admit shes totally out of his league.
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