Sam Frontera and Shelby Schwieterman
The Rom Complex
Which came first, the romantic comedy or our messed up ways of thinking about love and relationships? Each week Sam Frontera and Shelby Schwieterman break down the romcom tropes that make their hearts sing and the ones that need to be tuned up. Listen to them talk about how these movies affected their relationships–for better and for worse.
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Author
Sam Frontera and Shelby Schwieterman
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Oct 15, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
140. The Duff: A Dark Booth? I Love It When You Talk Dirty to Me. 22.09.2022 1:00:37
Join us and some OBVIOUS adults for the teen romcom The Duff (2015). We discuss hot friends, cringe behavior, and the low, low, stakes of high school homecoming.
139. The Wedding Pact: You Love Her, Man! You’ve Always Loved Her. 15.09.2022 1:01:01
This time it’s Shelby bringing in a truly baffling movie with 2014’s The Wedding Pact. We talk about mediocre-looking men, prenups, and why we hate being guilt-tripped by cash registers.
138. Sam: All Women Love Makeovers, Right? 08.09.2022 1:01:59
This week we discuss the baffling gender-switch romcom Sam (2015). Does it have something important to say about gender? Absolutely not. We, however, have plenty to say about performative relationships, how different...
137. Dudley Do-Right: A Confession of Love from a Moose (with James AKA Marsh Land Monster) 01.09.2022 1:06:18
This week’s guest James (Marsh Land Monster, Mostly Speakin’ Sentai, Marsh Land Media) nonsensically chose the movie Dudley Do-Right (1999) so we talk about that! We also discuss Canada, carnivals, and James’s...
136. Austenland: I Certainly Didn’t Intend on Falling in Love, But… 25.08.2022 59:16
Grab your… bonnets? I don’t know what they wear. Grab whatever hats they wear in Jane Austen books and join us as we talk about Austenland (2013)! We discuss funny boys, Jennifer...
135. The First Time: You Are in Love with Her Smile and Her Hair Tucking 18.08.2022 59:32
Sam forces Shelby to slum it through another virginity tale with this week’s movie: The First Time (2012)! We talk monologues, teen decision-making, and the manic pixie dream girl urge to drink...
134. Chasing Liberty: They Want You to Have Love, Find Love, and Value Love, but Not Make Love, Ever! 11.08.2022 58:56
Hop on your scooter and come with us as we go Chasing Liberty (2004)! We discuss human anatomy, overprotective fathers, and Shelby’s capacity for forgiveness. Oh, and don’t forget our boy Matthew...
133. One Small Hitch: It’s Not Like That, Man. I Love Her. 04.08.2022 58:24
Sam’s choice month is off to a start with One Small Hitch (2013). This is a bad movie, which is okay, because we were getting too comfortable with good ones. Sam goes...
132. Palm Springs: Eat, Drink, Dance. Bask in Love. 28.07.2022 58:33
We’re back in time loop territory, folks! And this time it’s a GOOD ONE: Palm Springs (2020). We talk about why time loops are so interesting, why Andy Samberg is so hot,...
131. Obvious Child: I Really Do Love Pregnant Ladies 21.07.2022 59:08
This week we’re talking about 2014’s Obvious Child, so if you don’t want to hear our opinions on abortion then whoopsie doopsie this is NOT the episode for you! (Spoiler alert: we...
130. Mr. Right: I Think I’m in Love with Him. Is That Stupid? 14.07.2022 50:41
Shelby has forced Sam to look at Anna Kendrick’s face with this week’s pick: Mr. Right (2015). Sam confesses to a desire to murder, and Shelby confesses to a susceptibility to being...
129. Bringing Up Baby: The Love Impulse in Man 07.07.2022 56:20
July is Shelby takeover month, and the first movie up is 1938’s Bringing Up Baby. That’s right, I made Sam watch a movie in black and white! We talk about Cary Grant...
128. Adventureland: I Realized I Don’t Really Love This Person 30.06.2022 58:28
Sam and Shelby use 2009’s Adventureland to discuss virginity tales, the positive feminist qualities of gossip, and Academy Award nominated actor Kristen Stewart. Also, Jesse Eisenberg looks like a lizard.
127. 50 First Dates: The Guy That Makes Me Fall in Love with Him Every Day 23.06.2022 56:38
There’s a lot to dislike about 50 First Dates (2004), but if you squint hard, you might find something cute in there! We discuss being real people instead of fantasy women, living...
126. Say Anything: A Date Is a Prearrangement with a Possibility for Love 16.06.2022 56:07
We finally visit a classic neither of us have seen–1989’s Say Anything. We talk about precious empty-headed men, smart girls who can say anything, and dads who need better boundaries.
125. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants: Love Your Sisters and Love Yourself 09.06.2022 1:08:37
Are you looking for some magic pants? Well, we have some right here! It’s The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)! We rank the four storylines, discuss which sister we are, and...
124. Along For the Ride: All the Things He Loved, I Loved Too 02.06.2022 1:05:05
This episode we’re going into the Dessenverse with this year’s Along For the Ride (2022). We discuss being kind to your past self, pie, and how change is a great part of...
123. How to Be Single: I Didn’t Need an Experiment to Know That I Loved You 19.05.2022 1:03:45
This episode is NOT about Dakota Johnson’s naked body! It’s about the movie How to Be Single (2016). Three main storylines of varying quality come together to form a romcom the same...
122. Shallow Hal: It Didn’t Matter, ‘Cause He Already Loved Her 12.05.2022 57:03
We’re sorry to talk about Shallow Hal (2001), but also you’re welcome because we watched it and now get to give you funny content. We talk about donuts, the hot vs. personality...
121. Morning Glory: You’ll Love It Though, It’s a Great Job 05.05.2022 54:20
We’ve got some more fan-requested movies for you this month, starting with 2010’s Morning Glory! We talk about leaning into it, the ease of good relationships, and why you should invite your...
120. Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Dracula, A Taste for Love (with Lexi Forde) 21.04.2022 1:00:09
This episode we return to an old favorite–Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)–WITH a returning favorite–Lexi Forde! We discuss how Sarah Marshall is not actually the villain, the importance of getting out of bad...
119. About Time: For Me, It Was Always Going to Be About Love 14.04.2022 59:44
Hey, can we borrow some tissues? We’ve been crying over About Time (2013), as you do. We can? Great! Thanks! You’re the best! Now go ahead and listen to the episode if...
118. The Lost City: We’re on a Lovemore and Dash Adventure Right Now 07.04.2022 53:58
Happy national himbo month! It’s not a real thing, but it’s real to us! We’re celebrating with The Lost City (2022) starring a big beefy Channing Tatum. It also features a surprisingly...
117. Bridesmaids: Show Me Your Love Is Eternal Face 31.03.2022 55:12
I gotta be honest, we spend this episode talking about how much we love every part of this movie! Please find Shelby a spare non-cop golden retriever boy. Please find Sam an...
116. Wedding Crashers: Love Doesn’t Exist, That’s What I’m Trying to Tell You Guys 24.03.2022 55:58
We all have those movies that meant a lot to us in adolescence. Here’s one that didn’t! And also doesn’t mean anything to us now! Wedding Crashers (2005) takes us back to...
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