It's that time of year again. Not tax time, although that's right around the corner, too. I'm talking about Valentine's Day. The one day of the year guys (and their checking accounts) dread, and women love, unless they're single. Also, this is the only day in the whole year that matters for hopeless romantics, even though it's traditionally a sure-shot failure for them. Many women (read: all your girlfriends) want Valentine's Day to be like a scene from Cinderella. A pompous affair, involving lots of candles, expensive wine, fountains, and the phrase "out on the town."

However, if this isn't your first Valentine's Day with the one you're with, or if you're already a big spender and you're all burned out, your girlfriend is agoraphobic… whatever the case may be, you may want to stay in. Warning - note that this does not mean that carrying the evening will be any easier.

What you need to understand is that Valentine's Day isn't a holiday for couples - it's a day for boyfriends to make their girlfriends feel special. Thus "letting" your girlfriend do the cooking if you stay in isn't going to fly. Even if you have no experience in the kitchen, you will undoubtedly get points for trying. Women often see this as "cute."

Stay within your bounds, though. A burnt tuna casserole spells R-O-L-A-I-D-S, not R-O-M-A-N-C-E. On the other end of the spectrum, unless your girlfriend is a pre-school teacher and baby-talks all the time, PBJ's are a bad idea, too. Stick to something easy to make like pasta, or go with a "shortcut" product like Stove Top Classics or Lipton Noodles & Sauce. You can sometimes mask the fact that most of the dinner came in a bag or a box, and even if she finds out, you won't lose too much respect.

Candles and some form of dessert are a must. It's always a nice gesture to offer coffee instead of challenging her to a wine-chugging contest. Chances are at this point you're not going to have to work too hard to have a good time later on in the evening, so coffee will look very genuine and sweet. This will also keep her up for a while. Good unless you hate her and want her to pass out soon so you can get a moment of peace. In said scenario, proceed instead with more wine - the cheap stuff.

If you're staying in, getting a movie is pretty much going to be a lock, unless you're just painfully boring and you play Scrabble on Valentine's Day. You may assume that you're going to have to rent a chick flick or a sappy romantic comedy. You've pretty much hit the nail on the head. Anything emotional is going to be a winner. But don't break yourself being formulaic, especially if your girlfriend isn't particularly shmoopie. It's always a nice touch to get her favorite movie, or something she's been dying to see. You can either get it the night before, or suggest it at the video store. This means it's possible to be able to enjoy The Matrix with your girlfriend before the sequels come out.

I have suggestions. There are movies that girls just love -- movies that are pretty much shoe-ins if you're hopeless. Movies like Life is Beautiful and Forrest Gump are tear-jerkers and heart-warmers, sure to be a hit with the old lady. They're not too hard to sit through, either. For something much more light-hearted, Shrek is great, especially if she hasn't seen it yet, which is unlikely.

Anything off the Oscar or Golden Globe list is usually good form; it gives you something to talk about. A Beautiful Mind or Moulin Rouge, if you can sit through it. Epics such as Lord of the Rings are pretty good, but long, obviously. It's one of those movies that you love that your girlfriend won't mind. Minority Report also works here with pleasant results. A little less luck will come with the Star Wars trilogy, though. Foreign films with subtitles that cross over into the mainstream will also rank high. You will have no trouble pleasing your significant other with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, or the cult hit Amelie. inlineAd(alLeft);

Now, for the romance. My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a great movie to bring home, and usually leaves everyone in a good mood. Meg Ryan movies will have her smiling, although I've been made to understand Kate and Leopold is about as entertaining as Encino Man. Julia Roberts is kind of hot, so you may want to pick one of her films. Erin Brockovich is worth noting, and you can probably even get away with the wonderful Ocean's Eleven.

More important than the actual movie, is your body language during the evening. Cuddling and holding her will go a lot farther to show her you care than just picking her favorite flick. Give her an innocent back rub or stroke her arm. You don't want to be distracting; she'll probably close the deal soon enough.

The trick to pulling off a great Valentine's Day, no matter what it is that you actually do, is to show her you care. So, if you are looking at staying home for a quiet evening together this year, fear not. Head over to the video store and get ready to make it a night to remember.