by Melinda Barr

Created on: March 15, 2009   Last Updated: April 07, 2009

Just what constitutes a great guy movie varies somewhat according to the guy himself, as well as his personal favorite movie genres.

That said, however, it also seems that most men prefer the action packed movies and the ribald humour of the "bad boy" movies. In considering the movie selection for your guy, mix and match from the following list and you'll be sure to pick a winner:

Sophomoric humor and off-color jokes

Car chases and car crashes

Male-bonding type insults and put downs

Smart-ass comedy of any kind

Drinking, gambling and sports

Politically incorrect statements or actions

Blood, Guts and Gore

Foul language and inappropriate comments

Gratuitous nudity or partial nudity

Testosterone- fueled action

To ensure that your fellow loves the movie add any of the following actors Al Pacino, Steve McQeen, Clint Eastwood, Robert DeNiro, Keanu Reeves, Bill Murray, John Belushi, Chevy Chase and Russell Crowe to name but a few.

To ensure a well rounded movie take a look at any flick that uses any combination of the above noted actors. For example, Caddyshack with Belushi and Chase is a rip roaring comedy that is a classic. Another great movie, all though somewhat lesser known is "Heat" starring Pacino as the bad boy criminal and DeNiro as his unrelenting nemesis in the guise of a "never give up" cop.

Other great guy movies are Slapshot, National Lampoon's Animal House, Godfather 1 & 2, Matrix and the list goes on and on.

One more recent classic is Russell Crowe's "Cinderella Man" (2005). Guys, if you want to appease your lady somewhat, choose this movie, it has something for both genders. Based on the true life story of a poverty stricken boxer wanna-be it chronicles the life of James Braddock. This depression era movie starts with a broken down, beaten up, down on his luck boxer who is forced to retire after breaking his hand in a match. Directed by Ron Howard this movie is emotionally driven from start to finish. It keeps you on the edge of your seat through out its entirety as you root for the under-dog.

When Braddock is forced to farm out his children to relatives, he is reduced to begging his so called superiors for money. This is a very proud man who will stoop to any means necessary to protect his wife and children including resorting to public relief, something he had sworn he would never do. Braddock is truly a reflection of the ultimate man's man.

The movie is driven by love, honor, true grit and determination. This leads to Braddock becoming a source of inspiration as the Great Depression hits America and a series of defeats follow. He became, in short, a champion of the downtrodden masses struggling to survive during and after the Depression.

He is tender and loving in his home life as well as ruthless and violent in his chosen profession. Add in his literal rise from rags to riches and this movie is now an ultimate viewing choice for men and women alike. Even the title can work in your favor.

Guys, when your lady starts to steer you down the "chic-flick" aisle, gently guide her back to Cinderella Man. The combination of Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger alone will convince her to accept this movie choice. Talk about a win-win situation! You get brownie points for sitting through what she may think is a chick flick, and you get to see a great action movie with plenty of brutal boxing violence. A beautiful solution to the art of compromise.

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