The Rom Com Rewrite

Meg Ryan, Tim Robbins, Walter Mathau… this film is cute and fun with a great cast. But it needs more work. I.Q. Year: 1994 Written by: Andy Breckman and Michael Leeson Based on a story by: Andy Breckman  Directed by: Fred Schepisi Stars: Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan, Walter Mathau, Lou Jacobi, Gene Saks, Joseph Maher, Stephen Fry   Show notes: This month, Lisa and Charles Adrian go deep into this apparen...

No notes. This is a gorgeous, funny, beautifully-performed, character-driven rom com. Always Be My Maybe Year: 2019 Written by: Ali Wong, Randall Park & Michael Golamco Directed by: Nahnatchka Khan Stars: Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito, Michelle Buteau, Vivian Bang, Keanu Reeves, Daniel Dae Kim   Show notes: This month Lisa and Charles Adrian try very hard to put their fingers on exactly how...

But what if Mr Malcolm had written a more interesting list? Mr Malcolm's List Year: 2022 Written by: Suzanne Allain Based on the novel by: Suzanne Allain Directed by: Emma Holly Jones Stars: Zawe Ashton, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Sope Dirisu, Theo James, Freida Pinto, Ashley Park   Show notes: We love this film. Seriously. Full marks for performances, set, locations, score, costumes and more where thi...

"They are very small poops and I make sure it's only after greens." Players Year: 2024 Written by: Whit Anderson Directed by: Trish Sie Stars: Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr., Tom Ellis, Augustus Prew, Joel Courney, Liza Koshy   Show notes: This very charming film gets past a somewhat gross set-up to persuade us that its lovers belong together. Good job, film! In this episode we mention the film...

Who knew Mattifer (Jenthew?) would have so much chemistry! The Wedding Planner Year: 2001 Written by: Pamela Falk and Michael Ellis Directed by: Adam Shankman Stars: Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey   Show notes: This podcast is now three years old!!! To celebrate, Lisa and Charles Adrian watched J Lo and Matt McConaughey do everything they need to do in this genuinely sweet and funny romant...

Can men and women ever really be friends?? When Harry Met Sally Year: 1989 Written by: Nora Ephron Directed by: Rob Reiner Stars: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan   Show notes: This month Lisa and Charles Adrian invite you to spend New Year with them, enjoying one of the most perfect rom coms ever made. In this episode we mention the film Same Time, Next Year (1978) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078199/)...

You think Christmas is bad in your house?? Merry & Gay Year: 2022 Written by: Christin Baker Based on a story by: Maggie Cummings and Megan Ullrich Directed by: Christin Baker Stars: Dia Frampton, Andi René Christensen   Show notes: This movie has good bones but Single All The Way deserved more from its queer sibling. Correction: we are not 0 for 4 at this point, as Charles Adrian says towards the...

This month we watch a fun three-minute sketch that goes on for an hour and twenty-three minutes. They Came Together Year: 2014 Written by: Michael Showalter and David Wain Directed by: David Wain Stars: Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler   Show notes: In this episode there are digressions into the worlds of improv and sketch comedy, whether it is even possible to lovingly send up Romantic Comedy, why send-ups...

It's Toddlers' Choice this week on the Rom Com Rewrite! Choose Love Year: 2023 Written by: Josann McGibbon Directed by: Stuart McDonald Stars: Laura Marano, Avan Jogia, Scott Michael Foster, Jordi Webber   Show notes: This rom com is interactive! Viewers get to decide what happens to our heroine! This rom com has broken our podcast. In this episode we mention the films Groundhog Day (1993) (https:...

Sex haze meets trauma, with private jets. Red, White & Royal Blue Year: 2023 Screenplay by: Matthew López and Ted Malawer Based on the novel by: Casey McQuiston Directed by: Matthew López Stars: Nicholas Galitzine, Taylor Zakhar Perez   Show notes: This is such a gorgeous film. In this episode we mention the book Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Pr...

This film is less than perfect. The Perfect Find Year: 2023 Screenplay by: Leigh Davenport Based on the book by: Tia Williams Directed by: Numa Perrier Stars: Gabrielle Union, Keith Powers   Show notes: For a film that loves films, this film could work on loving itself more. The very talented stars of this film deserved better! We get right into fixing this month. In this episode we mention the TV...

The Croatian tourist board did good with this one.     Faraway Year: 2023 Written by: Jane Ainscough Based on a story idea by: Alex Kendall Directed by: Vanessa Jopp Stars: Naomi Krauss, Goran Bogdan       Show notes:   Croatia. Oh yes.   In this episode, we mention the films Shirley Valentine (1989) ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098319/ ), Under The Tuscan Sun (2003) ( https://www.imdb.com/titl...

This month, a message in a bottle from the dawn of the internet dating age washes up on our shore.     You've Got Mail Year: 1998 Written by: Miklós László, Nora Ephron, Delia Ephron Directed by: Nora Ephron Stars: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan       Show notes:   In the third of the Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks rom coms, Kathleen owns a bookshop and Joe owns a bigger bookshop. What could possibly go wrong?   In this...

This month, we respond (with love) to this love letter to South London.     Rye Lane Year: 2023 Written by: Nathan Bryon and Tom Melia Directed by: Raine Allen-Miller Stars: David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah       Show notes:   Peckham, Brixton, Brockley Park, Camberwell Green and Bankside. This is South London, baby.   In this episode, we mention the films Before Sunrise (1995) ( https://www.imdb.com/...

This is a film starring Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher.     Your Place Or Mine Year: 2023 Written and Directed by: Aline Brosh McKenna Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Chao, Jesse Williams       Show notes:   Listen, we took this film apart and, after a conversation that lasted 1 hour 20 minutes in its raw form (edited down to 50 minutes for your convenience) we have put it back...

Still every bit as fresh as the day that it was born, this perfectly pitched, very funny rom com is shot through with pain and rewards repeated viewing.   Saving Face Year: 2004 Written and Directed by: Alice Wu Stars: Michelle Krusiec, Joan Chen, Lynn Chen   Show notes:   How much do we love this film? Very much. Happy Valentines!   In this episode, we mention the films The Half Of It (2020) ( ht...

Lindsay Lohan deserved better, frankly.     Falling For Christmas Year: 2022 Screenplay by: Jeff Bonnett and Ron Oliver Based on a story by: Jeff Bonnett Directed by: Janeen Damian Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Chord Overstreet, George Young       Show notes:   Compare and despair! This bland remake of 1987's Overboard is not good in lots of different ways. But we can fix it.   For the absence of doubt, t...

"Yeah, but the women… they're on holiday and suddenly the man of their dreams is knocking at the door. Like, what could be cuter?"       The Holiday Year: 2006 Written and Directed by: Nancy Meyers Stars: Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Jack Black, Eli Wallach       Show notes:   Have you ever thought to yourself: I quite like The Holiday but Miles should have been gay?   In this episode, we...

This November, the gays get their say.     Bros Year: 2022 Written by: Billy Eichner, Nicholas Stoller Director: Nicholas Stoller Stars: Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane   Fire Island Year: 2022 Written by: Joel Kim Booster Director: Andrew Ahn Stars: Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho, Conrad Ricamora, James Scully     Show notes:   "Happy ending… rom com… but also we're gay and we do thing...

This month, Lisa and Charles Adrian compare and contrast two jungle-based adventure rom coms.     Romancing The Stone Year: 1984 Written by: Diane Thomas, Lem Dobbs, Howard Franklin, Treva Silverman Director: Robert Zermeckis Stars: Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito   The Lost City Year: 2022 Screenplay by: Oren Uziel, Dana Fox, Adam Nee, Aaron Nee Based on a story by: Seth Gordon Dir...

It's still wedding season! This month we look at a desi take on the wedding-based rom com. But how desi is it? And, frankly, how wedding-based?   Wedding Season Year: 2022 Written by: Shiwani Srivastava Director: Tom Dey Stars: Pallavi Sharda, Suraj Sharma     Show notes:   In this episode, we (and our desi co-watchers, through us) weigh in on whether or not this entertaining, funny film really ma...

The first of three (3) films to star Rock Hudson, Doris Day and Tony Randall, Lisa and Charles Adrian chew over whether Pillow Talk can be said to have succeeded on its own terms.   Pillow Talk Year: 1959 Screenplay by: Stanley Shapiro and Maurice Richlin Based on a story by: Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene Director: Michael Gordon Stars: Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall, Thelma Ritter     S...

Whom amongst us has not carried a watermelon?   Content note for this episode: Roe v. Wade, abortion, bodily autonomy, reproductive justice.     Dirty Dancing Year: 1987 Written by: Eleanor Bergstein Director: Emile Ardolino Stars: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey     Show notes:   With one of the most iconic meet-cutes in the history of cinema, some serious obstacles and an all-time great happy endi...

One of these films is better than the other. Boomshakalaka.     The Wedding Year Year: 2019 Screenplay by: Donald Diego Director: Robert Luketic Stars: Sarah Hyland, Tyler James Williams   Plus One Year: 2019 Written and directed by: Jeff Chan and Andrew Rhymer Stars: Jack Quaid, Maya Erskine   Show notes:   June is the beginning of big-time wedding season in the UK so when better to compare and c...

You have to put your own oxygen mask on first, folks. That's just how it is.   I Want You Back Year: 2022 Written by: Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger Director: Jason Orley Stars: Charlie Day, Jenny Slate, Scott Eastwood, Gina Rodriguez, Manny Jacinto, Clark Backo   Show notes:   This six-some reel of a film feels simultaneously up-to-date and out of time. And it might just be (for Charles Adria...