My favorite examples of witty, flirty banter in movies
To me, witty banter is what makes the world go round.
It’s also one of the reasons why I love first dates (I might be the only person in the world who does). Sitting down with a stranger over drinks, and engaging in repartee is like a drug to me. Sorry, introverts of the world! I know that probably sounds like your nightmare.
I also find the formula of flirting so fascinating. The way double entendres can be provocative, how the number of seconds that you hold a silence for can mean something - it’s all so exciting. And when it’s done well? I mean - you have my heart.
So here are some of my hand-picked best examples of witty, flirty banter in movies and tv shows, and why I find them so tantalizing.
1. Larry and Alice talking in the movie Closer
Hot god, this is one of my favorite scenes of all time. You don’t need to know much of the backstory to find it intriguing, too. Some of my favorites:
LARRY: Is he here, your bloke?
ALICE: Yeah, he’s over there. Talking to your bird
The term ‘bloke’ is unusual, and a bit condescending, so Alice matches the theme of his word choice by referring to his girlfriend as ‘your bird’ since he just called Alice’s boyfriend her ‘bloke’
LARRY: So Anna tells me your bloke wrote a book. Any good?
ALICE: Of course.
LARRY: It's about you, isn't it?
ALICE: Some of me.
LARRY: Oh? What did he leave out?
ALICE: The truth.
Stand up and applaud for this back and forth. The ‘some of me’ and ‘the truth’ are such great responses.
LARRY: He's very pretty. (talking about Alice’s boyfriend)
ALICE: She's very tall. (talking about Larry’s girlfriend)
The way Natalie Portman delivers this line too is just, amazing, you must watch. The pause of “she’s very…tall” gives off everything you need to know. That Alice doesn’t find the girlfriend pretty. That there isn’t much of her to comment on. Just a pause and three words conveys so much here. It’s great.
2. The bar pickup scene from Crazy, Stupid Love
Ryan Gosling’s bravado and Emma Stone’s cuteness are really what cement this scene as iconic, but the dialogue in it is also great.
There’s a line in it where Ryan’s character says, “you won’t regret going home with that guy from the bar one night who was a total tomcat in the sack”
The total tomcat in the sack like a melody.
You have the alliteration of “total tomcat” and also, the rhyming of “cat” and “sack” it just makes the phrase sound extra delightful.
Obviously, it would work on me. Look at him.
And when Emma says “okay, it’s time to go home,” and he responds with “really? Well, that’s forward of you, but okay” I love it.
3. The tango scene and conversation from Mr. and Mrs. Smith
I actually think Mr. and Mrs. Smith is a great movie. First of all - does it get hotter than these two? I really don’t think it can. But also, there is great witty banter throughout this entire movie. I didn’t include this clip, but when Brad and Angelina first meet in the movie, they have a risky escape together from some danger, meet each other, and then drink outside.
She downs her shot, and purrs “so it drinks…but does it dance?” and saunters over to the dance floor where he joins her. It’s beautiful. Calling him “it” because he’s unusual and she just met him, and the subtle challenge in the phrase - beautiful.
The tango scene about is great as well. It’s high-stakes, erotic, and the conversation moves as seamlessly as the dancing.
JOHN: Dance with me.
JANE: You don't dance.
JOHN: That was just part of my cover, sweetheart.
JANE: Was sloth part of it too?
I love when people use phrases that are upgraded just one level. She didn’t call him lazy, instead she deemed him with “sloth” which holds so much more weight.
JOHN CONTINUES TO MOVE WITH HER ACROSS THE DANCE FLOOR, THEN DIPS HER.
JANE SMILES: Satisfied?
JOHN: Not for years.
The double entendre here of being satisfied with dance moves vs. satisfied in a marriage is great.
4. When Bond meets Vesper on the train in Casino Royale
I would kill to re-enact this scene. Something about witty banter on a train just makes it so much better, doesn’t it?
Vesper sits down with the ‘money’ for James and it starts off at a perfect pace.
Vesper: I'm the money.
Bond puts down his menu and regards her with an amused smile.
Bond: Every penny of it.
Nothing like a double entendre wrapped in a compliment to start off a conversation.
They start making assumptions about each other based off of their first impressions (another thing I love to do) and it ends perfectly as well.
Vesper: Now having just met you I wouldn’t g as far as calling you a cold hearted b-a-s-t-a-r-d.
Bond : Of course not.
Vesper: But it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine that you think of women as disposable pleasures rather than meaningful pursuits, so as charming as you are, I will be keeping my eye on our government’s money and off your perfectly formed arse.
Bond: You noticed.
Vesper: Even accountants have imaginations. How was your lamb?
Bond: Skewered. One sympathizes.
What a perfect end to a perfect conversation.
5. When Tony Stark meets Natasha Romanoff
Tony Stark’s conversation is always witty - if have subtitles on and can keep up with the pace he speaks at. His dialogue with Pepper is also always game for great dialogue.
Tony: [Sitting down next to Pepper] Who is she?
Pepper: She is from legal. And she is potentially a very expensive sexual harassment lawsuit if you keep ogling her like that.
Another favorite of wordplay below:
Tony: How do I spell your name, Natalie?
Natalie: R-U-S-H-M-A-N.
Pepper: What, are you gonna google her now?
Tony: I thought I was ogling her.
What are your favorite examples of witty, flirty banter in movies and tv shows? I am (clearly) a sucker for scenes like this, so if you have any favorites drop them in the comments below!
And in the meantime, I’ll be playing the Closer clip on repeat. Natalie Portman saying coy things is a drug.
Until the next one,
S