Brown Sugar
The Rom Com Rewrite
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 would like to skip the plot summary for this month’s film you can spool forward about nine and a half minutes into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: When Harry Met Sally* (1989)...
info_outline
Going The Distance (2010)
The Rom Com Rewrite
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 mention the films: Going The Distance (2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388285/) Failure To Launch* (2006) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427229/) To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before* (2018)...
info_outline
Holidate
The Rom Com Rewrite
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 this episode we mention the films: Our Little Secret* (2024) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31022050/) Failure To Launch* (2006) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427229/) Single All The Way*...
info_outline
Our Little Secret
The Rom Com Rewrite
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 plot summary for this month’s film you can spool forward about 14 minutes into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: Falling For Christmas* (2022)...
info_outline
Something from Tiffany's
The Rom Com Rewrite
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 for this month’s film you can spool forward about fourteen and a half minutes into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: Rye Lane* (2023) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15893750/)...
info_outline
Meet Me Next Christmas
The Rom Com Rewrite
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 about nine minutes into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: Going The Distance (2010) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1322312/) Girls Trip (2017)...
info_outline
A Family Affair & The Idea of You
The Rom Com Rewrite
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 Directed by: Michael Showalter Stars: Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galatzine, Ella Rubin Show notes: “Maybe you’re an amazing duck” - Lisa Findley’s message for Zac Efron. By the way, we don’t...
info_outline
Housesitter
The Rom Com Rewrite
“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-year-old leads. This episode contains a disquisition on domestic architecture. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month’s film you can spool forward about twelve...
info_outline
Anyone But You
The Rom Com Rewrite
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 our humble opinion). If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month’s film you can spool forward a little over thirteen minutes into the episode. In this episode we talk a lot...
info_outline
French Kiss
The Rom Com Rewrite
“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 can spool forward just over fourteen minutes into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: I.Q.* (1994) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110099/) Le Bonheur Est Dans...
info_outlineNo 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 it is that this rom com is as good as it is.
If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month’s film you can spool forward 9 and a half minutes into the episode.
Correction: when we talk about the Billy Eichner film Bros, we call it Boys. We mean Bros.
In this episode we mention the films:
The Apartment (1960) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053604/)
Notting Hill (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125439/)
Bros* (2022) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9731598/)
Saving Face* (2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384504/)
Dirty Dancing* (1987) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092890/)
Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109831/)
About Time (2013) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194499/)
Love Actually (2003) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/)
And the TV series:
Don’t Trust The B In Apartment 23 (2012-2013) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1819509/)
Tuca & Bertie (2019-2022) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8036272/)
Fresh Off The Boat (2015-2020) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3551096/)
*Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast.
You can find a list of Hallmark Christmas movies on imdb here: https://m.imdb.com/list/ls068976997/ and you can read about Chekhov’s Gun on Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chekhov%27s_gun.
Next month we are planning to watch either or both of the following Meg Ryan-led rom coms: French Kiss (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113117/) and IQ (1994) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110099/).
If you would like to suggest films for future episodes, you can tweet Lisa: @LisaStowaway.
We record these episodes over the internet. Sometimes the audio is not perfect. We apologise for that.
Music in this episode is by Martin Zaltz Austwick (martinzalzaustwick.com).
Artwork is by Lisa Findley.
Thank you for listening!