We Ranked Male Rom-Com Leads Based On If They Could Pull Off Saying “Good Girl,” And We Really Want To Know If You Agree
There’s this moment in so many romance novels when the male love interest drops a well-placed "good girl" in the middle of a sex scene — and it's almost always HOT. But for some reason, the "good girl" effect doesn't translate as well to romantic comedy movies.
Paramount Pictures / Via media.giphy.com
Regardless of whether the phrase "good girl" is hot to you or not, there are still people who can get away with saying it and people who absolutely cannot.
We gathered our crack team of writers to break down which male leads from popular rom-coms can actually pull off saying “good girl” under VERY specific circumstances.
It's us, hi! We're the freaks, it's us.
For example: There is always at least one moment in every movie Mark Ruffalo is in where he can say “good girl.”
Not a rom-com, but you get the idea.
Now, let's go, (good) girls! It's time to make some tough calls!!
We're gonna get horny on main!!!
1.Matt Flamhaff (Mark Ruffalo) in 13 Going on 30 — yes
Alice: He's hot as all get out, but Matt just doesn't have the right vibes for "good girl"-ing — EXCEPT in the scene where they jump off the swings at night and he rolls on top of her and they kiss.
Myke: And when Matty's holding the doll house, but ONLY when he's holding it.
Jake: Literally, no man on god's green earth is as hot as Mark Ruffalo in 13 Going on 30. He can call me anything he likes!
Molly: Yes, except when he’s doing the “Thriller" dance.
2.David Abbott (Mark Ruffalo) in Just Like Heaven — yes
Molly: He makes gardens for a living. So, yeah.
Jake: This might as well be Matt Flamhaff again. Yes.
Myke: I would haunt his apartment any day of the week, tbh.
3.Graham (Jude Law) in The Holiday — yes
Myke: I'm saying yes, but only because...oh, never mind. I'll keep it clean.
Alice: I won't. Because here's the thing: Jude Law fucks. So, when Cameron Diaz's character opens the door and a sloshed Graham is doing that unsexy little dance we all do when we need to pee and we're trying to hold it in, he's still hot, and he still fucks. And anyone who fucks that hard can say "good girl." Just name the place and time, and I'll be there.
Jake: Ohhhh, he can 100% say "good boy." He can say it while he's crying, he can say it when he's getting pissed at the pub, he can say it with a napkin over his face!
Alice: Damn, Graham turned Jake into Horny Dr. Seuss.
4.Miles (Jack Black) in The Holiday — probably
Molly: Actually, yes. Especially when he brings Kate Winslet to the video store and very loudly hums movie scores at her while they're drinking frozen coffees. Annoying? Maybe. Is it also my dream date? Yes.
Alice: Actually, no. I stand by our initial assessment. Miles is a great character and a top-tier love interest, but what he isn't is someone who can pull off "good girl." But if Jack Black wants to come to my home and try to prove me wrong, I'll hear him out.
Jake: I have to agree with Molly on this one. He definitely could. It would be almost too sweet? But he just makes it because the charm is off the charts.
Myke: I'm too distracted by the fact they're in a Blockbuster. Blockbuster is dead. True love is dead. *stares out the window, fake crying*
5.Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) in When Harry Met Sally... — no
Myke: Nora Ephron is a scholar of the female gaze, so it's a little disappointing to admit that Harry can't say it before or after he meets Sally's ass.
Alice: The moment Harry revealed that he couldn't tell when a woman was faking was the moment I realized he couldn't say "good girl," and the rest of the movie was further proof of that fact. HOWEVER. Harry in that sweater? He can't say "good girl," but he can say SOMETHING, that's for sure.
6.Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman) in Casper — yes
Molly: With that hair, those glasses, and THAT CARDIGAN? Uhh, yeah, he can. He's a single dad, still very much in love with his dead wife (enough to never take off his wedding ring), and he's kind of a huge, nervous mess. He's a classic example of the female gaze, and he can say WHATEVER he wants.
Myke: I was heartbroken when they didn't use the elixir for Casper, especially after he whispered, "Can I keep you?" But Daddy Harvey was serving looks in that oversized sweater. So, I agree with Molly. Sorry, Caspey. Maybe next time.
7.Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) in You’ve Got Mail — yes
Alice: Joe shouldn't be able to say good girl, but in the final act of the movie when they become friends and he starts shit-talking NY152 when they hang out in person and then using those emails from NY152 to further his connection with Kathleen anonymously? Something about that whole vibe is CLASSIC contrived rom-com BS, and I eat it up every time. So, yes, end-of-movie Joe can say "good girl."
8.Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) in Sleepless in Seattle — absolutely not
Alice: This is less about Sam and more about his terrible, shitty, annoying freak of a son who won't let this poor man LIVE!!! As long as that son is in his life (and I sadly do not advocate murdering children, fictional or otherwise), Sam Baldwin cannot say "good girl." Maybe once the kid turns 18 and moves away (ideally far, FAR away), Sam will have better luck in the "good girl" department.
Jake: Now, here's where we differ, because there's something about his cranky, sad ass that really draws me in, and I would absolutely let him call me "good boy." Like, no doubt in my mind that this man is a freak in the boudoir.
9.Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) in Pretty Woman — no
Myke: Not a fan. Big nope.
Alice: Richard Gere is in a trio of absolutely identical guys (along with John Cusack and Dustin Hoffman) who work well as rom-com leads but have the face of someone who could never pull off "good girl" in a thousand years. So, no.
Molly: Bold of you to lump John Cusack in with these two, Alice.
Alice: See for yourself!!!
10.Mr. Darcy (Matthew MacFadyen) in Pride & Prejudice — yes
Myke: Absolutely, yes. I think about this movie a lot. It's partly why I can't watch Succession without taking Tom Wambsgans's side on everything, even though he's a creep in the show. Future love of my life, don't talk to me unless you're standing in the rain.
Alice: Maybe it's just because I read a lot of contemporary romance novels, and half of them are inspired by Pride & Prejudice, but I'm never not thinking about Mr. Darcy. And when I watched this movie for the first time? Those longing glances?? His nervous but fiery attraction?????? Oh, my Lord, 'til that moment, I never knew myself. "Good girl" away, Mr. Darcy!!!!
11.Colin Firth, Michael B. Jordan, and Dev Patel can say “good girl” any time, any place
Jake: Ok, well I sign off on this, no questions.
Myke: Whew, yes. They can say it in unison like a Gregorian chant.
Molly: Like, all at the same time? Because I actually wouldn’t be able to handle that.
Alice: We shouldn't be allowed to list these three men together — it's "good girl" overload.
12.Brad Pitt can’t pull off saying “good girl” in any context
Jake: Once again, must pop in to say that while maybe y'all don't think he can say "good girl," Mr. Pitt can say "good boy" in literally any role, as himself, any age, any decade, any time, anywhere. Be it on a Bullet Train or be it in a river that's running through it. I'M ON BOARD!
Myke: If he doesn't randomly chew on food with his mouth open as he does in every single movie scene, then maaaaaaaaybe he can mumble something to me. Joe in Meet Joe Black with the oversized JC Penny suit? Definite yes. But only Joe, not the person who plays him.
Molly: Well, I would argue maybe only when he’s eating.
Alice: I would argue maybe only when he's alone in the middle of a forest where there's no one around to hear him say "good girl" but the trees. And even then, I'd feel bad for giving all the trees the ick.
13.Monty James (Idris Elba) in Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls — yes
Jake: Uhhhhhh, yeah. We all have perceived this man. This is not a debate.
Alice: I mean...duh. 100000%. If anyone says otherwise, I will assume they don't have eyes.
Myke: I wish I could change the setting on my phone from Siri's voice to Idris Elba's voice. He is a special type of human being, and in this movie — I would be stepmommy in the first five minutes. Don't play with me.
14.Josh (Paul Rudd) in Clueless — yes
Myke: At some point, Paul was snatched out of the female gaze and forced into the male gaze. When men found out women liked him, they stole him. So, Clueless Paul, sure. Ant-Man Paul, no.
Molly: When he’s reading Nietzsche and has a goatee? Probably not. But every other time, 1000% yes.
Alice: Sorry to be the negative Nancy in the Paul Rudd parade, but this man has never pulled off "good girl" in his life. Clueless is the closest he's come (pun intended???), but I just don't think he's all the way there.
Myke: But, Alice. What about when he's doing the "slap a da bass" bit in I Love You, Man? He was soooo adorable.
Alice: Fine, sure, he can say it then. (Wow, we agree. Who would have thought? Not me!)
15.David, the Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) in Love Actually — no
Myke: I dunno. He was a walking HR violation in this movie (and it's one of my favorite movies). Maybe when he's sitting in the car next to a kid dressed up as an octopus. Only in that moment for me.
Molly: Not in this movie. Not in any movie.
Alice: In the year of the N*d F*lmer scandal, I think we as a society have FINALLY moved on from gross bosses. Bye, David! If you're lucky, maybe SNL will write a weirdly insensitive sketch in your favor.
16.Harry (Alan Rickman) in Love Actually — maybe, and we’re not proud of ourselves for even considering it
Myke: Not when he was secretly buying the necklace. That was slimy.
Molly: Absolutely not. Give me normal Alan Rickman, though, and then we'll talk.
Alice: I understand the irony of me saying this right after I talked all that shit about Ned and terrible bosses, but...guys. Not everyone who can pull off saying "good girl" is a good person. Unfortunately, the vibes are all there even if his character sucks!!!
17.Stanley Tucci in anything, obviously
Jake: Tooch is the most sexual being that has ever roamed the earth. This is a no brainer for all ends of the sexual spectrum.
Myke: In The Devil Wears Prada, when she gives the position to Jacqueline Follet, and he says, "When the time is right, she'll pay me back." 100%, yes.
Alice: 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤 That's all.
Molly: I think he could, but probably shouldn’t.
18.Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in 500 Days of Summer — no
Myke: I just threw up in my mouth. This movie "almost" made me dislike JGL. Almost.
Alice: This dude should probably be in jail.
Molly: Maybe in, like, 20 years when he gets over himself.
19.Kevin Doyle (James Marsden) in 27 Dresses — maybe
Alice: I don't know, possibly under very specific circumstances that we don't see on screen?
Jake: Ok, but he's so hot, tho. I say big yes.
Alice: I think you might be mixing up Kevin Doyle (meh) with James Marsden (🥵).
Molly: Yeah, but what about when he’s singing “Bennie and the Jets” and Katherine Heigl says he’s singing the wrong words, so he says, “Sorry, lyric police”?
Alice: Yasss, abolitionist king!! That's hot.
20.George (Edward Burns) in 27 Dresses — no
Myke: 27 hell no's.
21.Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) in Crazy, Stupid, Love — maybe
Myke: Cal was getting on my nerves for the entire movie. I'm frustrated by adorable dads who don't embrace their hot daddy powers. A waste of talent.
Jake: Oh for suuuuuuure. There is daddy energy happening all over here and "good ___" only feels natural to me. SORRY IF THAT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE!!
Alice: Maybe after his makeover?? But not all daddies are hot, Jake. Sometimes, they're just...dads.
22.Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) in Crazy, Stupid, Love — yes
Warner Bros. Pictures / Via media.giphy.com
Alice: Yes, but only the version of him where he lowers his sunglasses and recoils in disgust.
Jake: Ok, and we're just going to ignore the scene where his balls are fully in Steve Carell's face???? Let's get real here. Yes, he can.
Myke: This is like when we put Idris Elba's character in this list and wanted to act like it was going to be a debate. We already know this man is the King of "HEY GIRL," so you know he's getting an okay for me when it comes to "GOOD GIRL."
23.Darius Lovehall (Larenz Tate) in Love Jones — yes
Myke: Of course, y'all haven't seen this movie. 🙄
Alice: I've made a severe and continuous lapse in my judgement. I don't expect to be forgiven; I'm simply here to apologize.
24.Emmett Richmond (Luke Wilson) in Legally Blonde — no
Alice: I don't see it. Mayyyyyyybe toward the end of the movie, like that scene where he uses Elle's tip and gets Enrique to admit he has a boyfriend on the stand. But even then...the hair just isn't it. I think it's a no from me.
Jake: Look, I love Emmett, but if he tried to call me "good boy," I would laugh. I'm SORRY!
Myke: Not Emmett. But Pete Komisky in Charlie's Angels (2000). 1000%
Molly: Are we watching the same movie?? Yes, especially when he says “butthead."
Alice: Ok, fine. But ONLY when he says "butthead."
25.Warner Huntington (Matthew Davis) in Legally Blonde — maybe
Alice: He thinks he can pull it off, but he can't.
Jake: It would work on me, and I'm NOT PROUD of that.
Myke: I plead the fifth.
Molly: It’s better than “pooh bear.”
26.Robert Redford and Paul Newman in literally any movie — yes
Myke: They really don't make 'em like they used to. Today's leading men could never.
Alice: These two men can pull off saying “good girl” in any context and at any age. For example, if The Sting had the exact same plot, but for some reason, they said “good girl” at least once every 15 minutes, the movie would still work. And, oh my God, if Robert Redford-as-Bob Woodward said "good girl" to me?! Sorry, America, but movie-Nixon would've been a forever president because I'd be too busy jumping Redford-as-Woodward's bones.
Molly: Robert Redford — yes, in any movie, in any context. Paul Newman, same — even the logo on his salad dressing could say it.
27.Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) in 10 Things I Hate About You — 100000%
Jake: Even if he was calling literally everyone around me good boys and girls, I would still feel special when he said it to me. That is his power.
Myke: This movie/character is in my Top 5. I will fight anybody about this. There will be no Patrick Verona or Heath Ledger slander in my presence. "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" was on my Spotify Wrapped two years in a row.
Molly: I was always more of a Michael (David Krumholtz) girl.
28.Alex "Hitch" Hitchens (Will Smith) in Hitch — no
Myke: It's a slap in the face to everyone else on this list to even include him.
29.Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey) in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days — yes
Jake: Ummmm, yeah. I'd even still be into it if he was on board with the "princess Sophia" of it all.
Myke: Alright. Alright. Alright. Ben Barry could get it.
30.Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) in The 40-Year-Old Virgin — no
Alice: Absolutely not!!! Holy shit, no, are you kidding me!!!!!???
Myke: What if he randomly shouted it out while he was getting his chest waxed? That would be funny.
Alice: You've convinced me.
31.Nick Spitz (Adam Sandler) in Murder Mystery — maybe
Alice: This will be highly controversial, but I think he definitely could. Or, maybe I just haven't traveled in so long that his presence in a movie about a European vacation tricked me into thinking he's a "good girl" guy.
Myke: I love Adam in this movie! He can say it if he doesn't do that goofy voice. Please, no.
32.Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) in Midnight in Paris — yes
Alice: If he said it quietly in a deep voice during an intimate moment, I think he probably could. But unfortunately, I can't enjoy the movie anymore because of the whole W**dy All*n thing.
Myke: I loved this movie, and then, I found out who made it, and I was like "ew, vom." I will give it to Gil only if he writes it down in French in his book. No exceptions.
33.Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut) in The Best Man movies — yes
Alice: Morris Chestnut in a white suit is doing things to me.
Myke: When he’s on his knees crying and praying to God before his wedding after he found out his best man slept with his soon-to-be wife? Yes, please.
34.Woodchuck Todd (Penn Badgley) in Easy A — no
Alice: No, but that character could definitely grow up into a man who can pull off "good girl" in the right context.
Myke: If he's wearing the mascot suit, sure. (Pretends to munch on log.)
Alice: I have absolutely no authority to say this, but Myke...you're fired.
35.Ian Miller (John Corbett) in My Big Fat Greek Wedding — YES
Myke: If my fiancé is nothing like him, then I will leave them at the altar because this movie set up all my expectations of the only person who can marry into my big, fat Black family.
Molly: He can, and I would bet money that he already has.
36.Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) in Forgetting Sarah Marshall — no
Jake: Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!
Alice: Not a chance. But I would pay real money to see his vampire puppet musical (not a euphemism).
Myke: Wait. Hear me out. What about the scene where he's doing his little dancey-dance with the towel. No? Ok, I'll stop.
37.Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Riley Johnson (Aubrey Plaza) in Happiest Season — yes
Jake: These two were PEAK hotness on screen, and they can both STEP ON ME and anyone, frankly. K-Stew is literally my phone background, and there's nobody hotter. I know I've said that a lot, but I mean it this time.
Myke: I second all the thirst Jake is experiencing at the moment.
Molly: Aubrey Plaza in this, in anything.
Alice: As the resident bi lady of the group, I just wanna say I would probably die for Kristen Stewart if she asked me to. Or, at least die if she called me "good girl."
38.Harper (Mackenzie Davis) in Happiest Season — no
Jake: Don't. Make. Me. Laugh. No.
Molly: NO, and she definitely thinks she can.
Alice: Ditto, Molly. And I bet she also thinks she could pull off "if you want it, beg."
Myke: Bye, Harper.
39.Brendan Fraser in anything he appeared in from 1992-2001
Jake: '90s Brendan Fraser DID THINGS TO ME! He could kill me and I'd say "thank you." He can say whatever he wants.
Myke: Brendan Fraser was my bisexual awakening, so yes.
Alice: If I'm being really, REALLY honest with y'all (and this is me being vulnerable, so don't @ me), I never got the Brendan Fraser thing. Sorry, I know. I just don't see it.
Molly: You know that scene in Blast from the Past where he cleans the cut on Alicia Silverstone’s knee and he blows on it? He could have said it right there.
He should have said it right there.
New Line Cinema
Alice: Never mind. I see it now.
