The Rom Com Rewrite

Lisa and Charles Adrian LOVE rom coms but they have some suggestions. In each episode they choose a film, take it lovingly apart and put it back together better. Warning: This podcast is all spoilers all the time!

The Wedding Banquet 06/13/2025

It Happened One Night 05/09/2025

Brown Sugar 04/11/2025

Going The Distance (2010) 03/14/2025

Holidate 02/07/2025

Our Little Secret 01/11/2025

Something from Tiffany's 12/13/2024

Meet Me Next Christmas 11/15/2024

A Family Affair & The Idea of You 10/11/2024

A Family Affair & The Idea of You 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 mean to dismiss or belittle anyone who is in their early twenties (or younger). We are in our forties. It feels like a long time ago. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month’s film you can spool forward about fourteen and a quarter minutes into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: High School Musical (2006) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475293/) Born On The Fourth Of July (1989) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096969/) Mission: Impossible (1996) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117060/) The Break-up (2006) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452594/) Red, White & Royal Blue* (2023) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10172266/) *This film has previously been featured on the podcast. Correction: Harry Styles was just 16 years old in 2010 when he auditioned for the TV show The X Factor, which lead to him becoming part of One Direction (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Styles). Robbie Williams was also 16 when he joined Take That in 1990 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Williams). For next month's episode we were going to watch Going The Distance (2010) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1322312/) but in fact we ended up watching Meet Me Next Christmas (2024) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20502488/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt). We will watch Going The Distance at some point next year - promise! 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! /episode/index/show/romcomrewrite/id/33249087

Housesitter 09/20/2024

Anyone But You 08/09/2024

Anyone But You 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 about the play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, which this film makes much of being based on. You can read about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Much_Ado_About_Nothing. We also mention the films: Titanic (1997) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120338/) Much Ado About Nothing (1993) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107616/) Red, White & Royal Blue* (2023) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10172266/) My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119738/) Set It Up (2018) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5304992/) Friends With Benefits* (2011) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1632708/) And the TV show The Bear (2022- ) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14452776/) *Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast. The Ashton Kutcher film Charles Adrian is trying to get Lisa to watch for the podcast is A Lot Like Love (2005) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0391304/). Next month we are going to watch Housesitter (1992) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104452/). 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! /episode/index/show/romcomrewrite/id/32433302

French Kiss 07/12/2024

French Kiss “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 Le Pré (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112556/) Le Diner des Cons (1998) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119038/) To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before* (2018) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3846674/) Grease (1978) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077631/) My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119738/) *Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast. Also, speaking of wine and the enjoyment of wine, Charles Adrian would like to recommend one of his favourite films, Uncorked (2020) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9261218/) Next month we are going to watch Anyone But You (2023) (. The ‘Much Ado’ that Lisa mentions towards the end of this episode is the play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, which you can read about here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Much_Ado_About_Nothing. In case of need, here is a list of all the Meg Ryan films featured on the podcast to date: Episode 8: Joe Versus The Volcano (1990) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099892/) Episode 12: Sleepless In Seattle (1993) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108160/) Episode 27: You’ve Got Mail (1998) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128853/) Episode 34: When Harry Met Sally (1989) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098635/) Episode 39: I.Q. (1994) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110099/) Episode 40: French Kiss (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113117/) 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! /episode/index/show/romcomrewrite/id/31959097

I.Q. 06/21/2024

Always Be My Maybe 05/17/2024

Always Be My Maybe 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 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! /episode/index/show/romcomrewrite/id/31334007

Mr Malcolm's List 04/12/2024

Mr Malcolm's List 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 this month’s film is concerned. Nevertheless, we have some notes on language & mores, our all-important B couple and the eponymous list. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month’s film you can skip forward 11 minutes into the episode. In this episode we mention the TV shows Pride And Prejudice (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/), Bridgerton (2020-) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8740790/) and Downton Abbey (2010-2015) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606375/) as well as the film Gosford Park (2001) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280707/). We also mention the novel Pride and Prejudice (1813) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice) and the play Much Ado About Nothing (1598?) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Much_Ado_About_Nothing). Incidentally, the Mozart opera Charles Adrian was mostly likely thinking of is The Marriage Of Figaro (1786) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marriage_of_Figaro) and you can find out more about “the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery”, aka the Dulwich Picture Gallery (1811), here: . Next month we [are planning to watch The Apartment (1960) (] will watch Always Be My Maybe (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7374948/). 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! /episode/index/show/romcomrewrite/id/30778188

Players 03/08/2024

The Wedding Planner 02/14/2024

The Wedding Planner 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 romantic comedy from the very beginning of the century. The plot summary of this film finishes at about 10 minutes into the episode, in case you would like to skip it. In this episode we mention the films: Speed (1994) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111257/) Failure To Launch* (2006) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427229/) My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119738/) Sliding Doors (1998) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120148/) Rye Lane* (2023) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15893750/) An Affair to Remember (1957) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050105/) Sleepless In Seattle* (1993) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108160/) Casablanca (1942) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/) When Harry Met Sally* (1989) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098635/) Marry Me (2022) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10223460/) Hustlers (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5503686/) The Watermelon Woman (1996) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118125/) Stud Life* (2012) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1758770/) Appropriate Behaviour (2014) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3077108/) 500 Days Of Summer (2009) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1022603/) And the TV series: Superstore (2015-2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4477976/) *Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast. 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! /episode/index/show/romcomrewrite/id/29876268

When Harry Met Sally 01/19/2024

Merry & Gay 12/08/2023

They Came Together 11/10/2023

They Came Together 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 of Murder Mystery work so much better, genre, fandom, and patchworking. We mention the films: Knives Out (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8946378/) See How They Run (2022) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13640696/) Wet Hot American Summer (2001) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243655/) Don’t Think Twice (2016) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4972062/) When Harry Met Sally (1989) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098635/) You’ve Got Mail (1998) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128853/) Scary Movie (2000) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0175142/) Another Gay Movie (2006) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443431/) Robin Hood: Men In Tights (1993) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107977/) Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves (1991) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102798/) Star Wars (etc) (1977) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/) Space Balls (1987) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094012/) Dirty Dancing (1987) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092890/) and the TV shows: Only Murders In The Building (2021-) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11691774/) Brooklyn 99 (2013-2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2467372/) Reno 911 (2003-) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0370194/) Neighbours (1985-) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088580/) We also mention the radio programme and podcast This American Life (https://www.thisamericanlife.org/). More information about the comedy troupe The State can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_State_(comedy_troupe). 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! /episode/index/show/romcomrewrite/id/28508009

Choose Love 10/06/2023

Red, White & Royal Blue 09/08/2023

The Perfect Find 07/14/2023

Faraway 06/12/2023

You've Got Mail 05/12/2023

Rye Lane 04/14/2023

Your Place Or Mine 03/17/2023

Saving Face 02/10/2023

Falling For Christmas 01/13/2023

The Holiday 12/18/2022

The Rom Com Rewrite

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