Love at First Screening

This week, our hosts welcome a man (gasp!) into the studio to discuss the pod's most-requested film, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003). Starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey (and an exciting Kathryn Hahn cameo), this approach to "the Bet" trope has our hosts and special guest Luke questioning which behaviors constitute poor dating etiquette specifically vs. generally unhinge...

This week, in a very special guest episode of Love at First Screening, Tori Green joins our hosts to discuss a movie that she never wanted to watch: Bottoms (2023), starring Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri. Chelsea picked both this movie and Tori as its viewer as a special birthday gift to herself and it’s honestly a gift to us all. Listen as we talk root vegetables, epic monologues, Ayo Edebiri’s...

This week, our hosts request a table for two to discuss No Reservations (2007), starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, and Abigail Breslin. It's a classic tale of wacky, opera-singing guy tries to worm his way into the heart of frigid chef who has recently suffered the loss of her sister and gained custody of her niece. Madison admits this pick doesn't serve a traditional rom com, a...

Join our hosts on the wee Scottish Isle of Hegg (or, rather, the Isle of Mann, masquerading as Scotland if we are being honest about our filming locations) as they review Chelsea's pick: The Decoy Bride . Madison is baffled, yet delighted, at Chelsea's appreciation of the movie and both uncover the real reason why this movie works so well: David Tennant. Sure, the dialogue is witty and the...

This week, answering an online dating ad takes our hosts on a walk to the dog park in Must Love Dogs (2005), starring Diane Lane and John Cusack. Much to Madison's surprise, Chelsea seemed to enjoy this flick, and even more shocking, she didn't request a queer rewrite! (Although, it absolutely needed more dogs!) Featuring cameos from Dermot Mulroney, Stockard Channing, and Madison's se...

On this episode of Love at First Screening, Chelsea and Mads bring back the classic duo of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere with Runaway Bride (1999). Chelsea promises that while every movie would be made better if only if were gay, this movie would truly make more sense if that were the case. Madison looks at concepts of codependency through the metaphor of how Julia Roberts' character likes he...

This week it's cynic's choice, and Chelsea's pick, My Life in Ruins (2009), has sent Madison straight to the freezer for the only two men who can't disappoint her, Ben and Jerry. Hop on the tour bus alongside some unforgettable characters exploring Greece...amid their day drinking, dad jokes, shoplifting, and syrup monologues. This comedy-fueled rom-com is no gay pirate romp, but i...

Calling all sports fans– since that obviously encompasses our primary demographic. This week, Chelsea and Mads watched Love & Basketball (2000), starring Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan. Right out the gate, this sports “rom-dram” is pretty much guaranteed to fail the romantic comedy test– but then why is it always featured on the must-watch rom-com lists? Listen as our hosts explore this and more a...

Interpersonal relationships all have their hurdles...like your run-of-the-mill Groundhog Day -style time foolery, for instance. In this episode of Love at First Screening , our hosts try to wrap their minds around Palm Springs (2020), or perhaps a better title would have been The Hot Girls' Guide to Mathemagics. Have Chelsea and Madison finally cracked the Happily Ever After code to their roma...

Welcome, one and all, to season 4! Did you think we would make it this far? Our cohosts welcome back you back to the fold with a 2023 rom-com Your Place or Mine featuring Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, and Tig Notaro’s ever-present and massive cup of coffee. This film may or may not be a rom-com, but Mads is holding strong either way to offering up a poor start to the season in terms of her mo...

If you have been holding your breath all season in anticipation for our first book club episode, it’s time to exhale (and perhaps seek medical attention since it’s been a long time coming). In a deep conversation of relationship dynamics, marriage practices, and queer dignity expansion, our hosts break down Alexis Hall’s Boyfriend Material and Husband Material . The conversation gets surprisingly...

In the final episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Madison invites everyone to join her corn cult while Chelsea spins a sapphic tale fit for the new year: Two suburban households, both alike in WASPy sensibility, and their queer middle children on the precipice of tearing their mothers' New Year's letters to shreds is where we lay our scene. These gays do nothing but gab, an...

In this Christmas-spirited episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, our hosts have been blessed with a visit from someone at the top of Santa's nice list: Caroline Bourke (@carrottlime on TikTok and @carolinekbourke on Instagram). With a story inspired by Anna Vaus's song, "Halloween on Christmas Eve" the LAFS team takes Caroline on a magical sleigh ride of Christmas ...

In this episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Madison gives the people (Chelsea) what they (she) wants: enemies-to-lovers gay pirates. It’s got everything, from rival pirates-in-training to creepy mermaid things that are inspired by angler fish. We could tell you more, but honestly you’ve just got to check it out. Starring our hottest cast yet with Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Annabelle, Jodi...

In this episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Chelsea loads Madison onto her broomstick for an enchanting ride with a little bit of hocus and a little bit of pocus. One drunken night has unintended consequences for asexual adult-toy-store-manager protagonist (Merritt Wever) when a love spell conjures a work of art (Pedro Pascal). Witches, vampires, and were-panthers? Oh my! Better g...

In this episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Madison takes Chelsea to a cult-- wait... no. Not a cult. I swear, it's really not a cult. It's just a co-op living community. Together, wearing jewel-toned linen outfits, Madison reveals an over 55 romance to Chelsea in an attempt to make up for forcing her to watch that one Diane Keaton movie (you know the one). Your husband ma...

In this episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Chelsea and Madison take a lakeside vacation with a family that's not too thrilled about their granddaughter's recent engagement. Starring Hailee Steinfeld and Ruby Barker, our hosts endure meddling rich folks, kayaking mishaps, and a non-consensual, fireside guitar solo or two. It's a tense gathering, but hey, they're ju...

In this episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Madison goes with the spirit of the topic and shows up a little less than sober... Don't worry, the whole driving part of this is only metaphorical and she somehow ends up putting this story together more coherently than she has told others in the past. In order to fulfill Chelsea's request of drunken wedding shenanigans, Madison...

In this episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Chelsea has a lot to say about ambiguously fruit-flavored toaster pastries. Oh, but don't worry, she definitely gets around to telling a story at some point (even if she does get lost in the spooky potential and forgets the Com for this Rom). A witch on the run from her ex-boyfriend and a magical mafia reunites unexpectedly with her...

In this episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Madison takes Chelsea on possibly the most banal trip yet. Like, seriously all we saw was corn and then Madison started ranting about hornworms? Not her finest work, but if you are into that kind of thing, she does tell a semi-decent tale of a marriage of convenience. Starring Kat Graham and an alarming number of male characters--serious...

In this episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Chelsea's the designated driver on a trip where things are shaken, stirred, and on the rocks for the guitarist of a queer rock band quickly rising to stardom, who's on vacation in Stanley Tucci's favorite mountain town: Smashville. Starring Ariana DeBose and Kristen Stewart, LAFSters can look forward to adorable house goats,...

In this episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Madison invites Chelsea to ride to an unknown town to a romance bookstore where love is brewing alongside the oatmilk lattes. Of course, it can't always be easy to be vulnerable and open yourself up to something amazing. Starring Jamie Clayton and Raymond Ablack, it's a classic feel-good will they, won't they that'll have...

In this installment of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Chelsea shoves Madison into the car alongside a group of queer documentary filmmakers as they set out on a cross-country bar crawl. But you know what they say: It's all fun and gay until you're drunk in a motel room...and there's only one bed. Starring Stephanie Allynne and Roberta Colindrez, it's a sexy romp that&#39...

In the second episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Madison takes Chelsea to Ireland where a farmer and Michelin star chef find themselves putting on the performance of a lifetime whilst pretending to be in love, rather than being adversarial co-workers. What could go wrong? The cards spell out love... We've got an amazing cast—featuring Jesse Williams, Aisha Dee, Keke Palmer to...

In the first episode of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Chelsea drops Madison off at the Seattle-based retirement community of her dreams with an absolute farcical tale filled with disguises, schemes, and sapphic love for all ages. They’ve got a star-studded cast—featuring Beanie Feldstein, Lily Tomlin, and Dan Levy—and a hilarious plot, but they’re undecided on the title…maybe LAFSters...