The Rom Com Rewrite

Queer representation returns to the Rom Com Rewrite just in time… for the month after Pride month.   Imagine Me & You Year: 2005 Written by: Ol Parker Directed by: Ol Parker Stars: Piper Perabo, Lena Headey, Matthew Goode   Show notes: This film begins with a glance that makes us feel things and continues with some funny lines and not nearly enough queer specificity. It's 2005, people!   If you wo...

Two films about books about female empowerment. One of these films is more empowering than the other.   Sex & The Single Girl Year: 1964 Screenplay by: Joseph Heller and David R. Schwartz Story by: Joseph Hoffman Based on the book by: Helen Gurley Brown Uncredited writer: Leslie H. Martinson Directed by: Richard Quine Stars: Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Henry Fonda, Lauren Bacall   Down With Love Ye...

What does love need?   The Big Sick Year: 2017 Written by: Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani Directed by: Michael Showalter Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan   Show notes: This film falls into the very interesting category of films that a) we are not sure are rom coms and b) we love. As it happens, another of Michael Showalter's films (The Idea of You, which is discussed in episode 43 of this po...

Welcome to the Saoirse Ronan appreciation society.   I Could Never Be Your Woman Year: 2007 Written by: Amy Heckerling Directed by: Amy Heckerling Stars: Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd, Saoirse Ronan   Show notes: There is some good stuff in this film and some bad stuff and it is not Amy Heckerling's best work but it is definitely worth a watch. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this mo...

Moustachioed multimillionaire adventurer scientist meets flame-haired kick-ass wine babe in this adventure rom com from 1992.   Year of the Comet Year: 1992 Written by: William Goldman Directed by: Peter Yates Stars: Penelope Ann Miller, Tim Daly     Show notes:   Like loving parents on the touch line at their child's hockey match, we really get into this film. It is already so charming and has so...

A film that begins with a meet-cringe and ends with mis-apportioned blame.   Leap Year Year: 2010 Written by: Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont Directed by: Anand Tucker Stars: Amy Adams, Matthew Goode   Show notes:   Happy 5th anniversary to us!!! In this year that is not a leap year please allow us to propose a film about proposals that also did not come out in a leap year.   If you would like to...

Not so much a rewrite as an appreciation of this 25-year-old classic in general and of Daniel Cleaver as played by Hugh Grant in particular. Bridget Jones's Diary Year: 2001 Screenplay by: Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies, Richard Curtis Based on the novel by: Helen Fielding Directed by: Sharon Maguire Stars: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant Show notes: CN: discussion of fatphobia and diet cu...

Why isn't this film called Love Sleeping? Or Love You Were Sleeping? Or Actually, Love, Were You Sleeping? Or Do You Actually Love Sleeping? Or some other combination of the films Love Actually and WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING!? Love Hard Year: 2021 Written by: Daniel Mackey and Rebecca Ewing Directed by: Hernán Jiménez Stars: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet Show notes: This film wants to exi...

This one is worth returning to - it might be better than you remember! Runaway Bride Year: 1999 Written by: Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott Directed by: Garry Marshall Stars: Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Joan Cusack, Hector Elizondo, Rita Wilson, Paul Dooley, Christopher Meloni, Laurie Metcalf (uncredited) Show notes: Always the bride-to-be! This month we conclude our all-too-brief Julia Roberts...

It's just a film standing in front of two podcasters asking them to take it lovingly apart and put it back together better. Notting Hill Year: 1999 Written by: Richard Curtis Directed by: Roger Michell Stars: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant Show notes: We really get into this one - and for 'this one' read Richard Curtis films in general and their male leads in particular. 26 years after its release ther...

Women have surfaces, men have depths. Hitch Year: 2005 Written by: Kevin Bisch Directed by: Andy Tennant Stars: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Amber Valletta Show notes: We are not aware of many rom coms that centre a straight man's experience. Maybe this is the only one. Straight men rejoice! Content note: In this episode there is some discussion of incel culture, assault, violence and deat...

Always the bridesmaid never the bride. 27 Dresses Year: 2008 Written by: Aline Brosh McKenna Directed by: Anne Fletcher Stars: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Edward Burns, Judy Greer Show notes: This is a film about a woman who says yes and her hate-able sister and the guy they both fancy and another guy called Kevin and a closet full of dresses. If you would like to skip the plot...

Pride season continues! A Nice Indian Boy Year: 2024 Written by: Eric Randall Based on the play by: Madhuri Shekar Directed by: Roshan Sethi Stars: Karan Soni, Jonathan Groff Show notes: Another one for the pile of films that we liked, this is a film about love and culture and family and who does the bride's family's dance at the wedding. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's...

Happy Pride Month! The Wedding Banquet Year: 2025 Screenplay by: Andrew Ahn and James Shamus Based on the screenplay by: Ang Lee, Neil Peng and James Shamus Directed by: Andrew Ahn Stars: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-Chan, Joan Chen, Youn Yuh-jung, Bobo Le Show notes: A remake of the 1993 Ang Lee film, this 2025 update is queer struggle and queer joy and green cards and IVF...

For our half century, a film that is approaching its whole century. It Happened One Night Year: 1934 Screenplay by: Robert Riskin Based on the short story by: Samuel Hopkins Adams Directed by: Frank Capra Stars: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert Show notes: With the exception of a couple of non-consensual slaps, the words "shut up" and the title (which we think is silly), there is really nothing we w...

A warm bath of a film or kind of dull, depending on your point of view. Brown Sugar Year: 2002 Screenplay by: Michael Eliot and Rick Famuyiwa Story by: Michael Eliot Directed by: Rick Famuyiwa Stars: Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Queen Latifa Show notes: We consider this a romance rather than a rom com so we are a bit stumped when it comes to fixes but we are resourceful and we do what we can! If you...

This film holds up! Going The Distance Year: 2010 Written by: Geoff LaTulippe Directed by: Nanette Burstein Stars: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Christina Applegate Show notes: Finally. A rom com that takes long distance relationships seriously. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about 11 minutes and 15 seconds into the episode. In this episode we...

This is a film you can safely drag your straight boyfriend to. Holidate Year: 2020 Written by: Tiffany Paulson Directed by: John Whitesell Stars: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey Show notes: "I think that's, like, the straightest movie I've seen in a while" - Lisa Findley If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about 8 and a half minutes into the episode. In...

La Lohan is back with another Christmas rom com. Our Little Secret Year: 2024 Written by: Hailey DeDominicis Directed by: Stephen Herek Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Kristin Chenoweth Show notes: The second of Lindsay Lohan's forays into festive romance is more interesting than the first but it still needs a little work (no pun intended). Luckily, we have ideas. If you would like to skip the...

Good bread and bad boyfriends! Something from Tiffany's Year: 2022 Screenplay by: Tamara Chestna Based on the book by: Melissa Hill Directed by: Daryl Wein Stars: Zoey Deutch, Kendrick Sampson, Ray Nicholson, Shay Mitchell, Leah Jeffries, Jojo T. Gibbs Show notes: We have some fixes to turn this perfectly charming seasonal film into an absolute banger. If you would like to skip the plot summary fo...

Women are from Pentatonix, men are from Mac L'Amour. Meet Me Next Christmas Year: 2024 Written by: Molly Haldeman and Camilla Rubis Directed by: Rusty Cundieff Stars: Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, Pentatonix Show notes: Meet us THIS MONTH for Christmas with Christina Milian! We loved her in Resort To Love. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward abo...

These two films map so brilliantly onto one another. They are neither of them quite what we would call a rom com but, in both cases, for interesting reasons. A Family Affair Year: 2024 Written by: Carrie Solomon Directed by: Richard LaGravenese Stars: Nicole Kidman, Zac Effron, Joey King The Idea of You Year: 2024 Screenplay by: Michael Showalter and Jennifer Westfeldt Novel by: Robinne Lee Direct...

"She understands the truth of things even through all the lies. That's the whole film." Housesitter Year: 1992 Screenplay by: Mark Stein Story by: Mark Stein and Brian Grazer Directed by: Frank Oz Stars: Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn   Show notes: A house that was too big for a woman's finger, sketched on a napkin and left for another woman to fill. We love this rom com with its gorgeous, forty-seven-...

Anything but this, frankly. Anyone But You Year: 2023 Screenplay by: Ilana Wolpert and Will Gluck Story by: Ilana Wolpert  Directed by: Will Gluck Stars: Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell   Show notes: Apologies to anyone who liked this film. We lay into it pretty comprehensively. But then, honestly, any time you want to set yourself up against William Shakespeare you'd better bring your very best (in o...

"If you didn't think you had a thing for Kevin Kline before… that scene is gonna give you one." French Kiss Year: 1995 Written by: Adam Brooks  Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan Stars: Meg Ryan, Kevin Kline, Timothy Hutton   Show notes: Why is this film not easier to find (in the UK)?? This is one of the best rom coms on the market. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you c...