13 Best Romantic Comedies Of The 21st Century

Of all the films on this list, this entry was years ahead of its time and therefore didn't receive the appreciation it deserved. At its heart the film explores an open and honest relationship that happens to be BDSM in nature, but many mistook the film's 'controversial' subject matter as cheap and exploitative, when the opposite is actually the case.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is brilliant as the fragile Lee, a woman struggling to come to terms with her own insecurities and desires. She finds a job as a secretary despite being over qualified, where she notices herself becoming sexually aroused by the demands of her boss, E Edward Grey, portrayed by the wonderful James Spader.

What follows is an open exploration of what a loving BDSM relationship looks like, as our protagonist lovers try to deal with their own and societal expectations of male-female relationships. The humour is dished out deliciously dark, but it never comes at the expense of the character development and exploration of the relationship.

Gylenhaal is a delight as Lee while Spader brings a genuine sensitivity to a role that could easily have seen his character portrayed as mean spirited in lesser hands. It wasn't to everyone's tastes and is definitely not your standard rom-com, but it definitely warrants its place on this list.