The Rom Com Rewrite – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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 exist at the place where Love Actually meets Die Hard but the story of a woman who falls for a guy she knows nothing about beyond how he looks makes us think of a different film entirely. There is some good stuff here, some less good stuff and one or two elephants in the room - the biggest and noisiest elephant being: why does this film reference While You Were Sleeping so much and NEVER ONCE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT???

If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about eleven minutes into the episode.

In this episode we mention the films:
To All The Boys I've Loved Before* (2018) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3846674/) 
Always Be My Maybe* (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7374948/)
Love Actually (2003) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/)
Die Hard (1998) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/)
While You Were Sleeping* (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114924/)
Home Alone (1990) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099785/)
Single All The Way* (2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14315756/)

And the TV series:
Catfish: The TV Show (2012- ) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2498968/)

*Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast.

Next month we are going to be talking about Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243155/). 

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! 

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 mini-season with this gorgeous small-town battle of the sexes.

If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about 11 minutes into the episode.

In this episode we mention the films:
Notting Hill* (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125439/)
Erin Brokovich (2000) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195685/) 
Pretty Woman (1990) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100405/)
Oceans Twelve (2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349903/)
While You Were Sleeping* (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114924/)
Let It Snow (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1950235/)

*Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast.

Addendum: it turns out that Laura Solon, who wrote the film Let It Snow, also co-wrote (with Daisy Haggard) the brilliant and funny TV series Back To Life (2019-2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8594510)

Next month we are going to be talking about Love Hard (2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10752004/). 

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! 

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* (2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14315756/)
Titanic (1997) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120338/)

And the TV series:
Home For Christmas (Hjem til jul) (2019-2025) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10069398/)

*These films have previously been featured on the podcast.

We also reference the book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (1992) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_Are_from_Mars,_Women_Are_from_Venus).

If you want to read more about the 'cool girl' and 'pick me' tropes, Cosmopolitan has articles on them here: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a32077/chill-girl-falls-in-love/ and here: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a42134933/what-is-a-pick-me-girl-definition/.

You can watch Paul Rudd pranking Conan O'Brien with fake movie clips on YouTube starting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rcqGBrHDtw&list=PLSYFbhIZUHHQEbPrCyoPawoiXVIooGZgN

Next month we are going to watch Going The Distance (2010) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1322312/).

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! 

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) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14715170/)
The Family Stone (2005) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0356680/)
While You Were Sleeping* (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114924/)

And the TV series:
Derry Girls (2018-2022) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7120662/)
Greenleaf (2016-2020) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4971144/)

*These films have previously been featured on the podcast.

Next month we plan to watch Holidate (2020) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9866072/).

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! 

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/)
Bridesmaids (2011) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1478338/)
Bringing Up Baby (1938) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029947/)
Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054698/)

And the TV series:
Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1578873/)
You (2018-2024) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7335184/)

*This film has previously been featured on the podcast.

Next month we are going to watch Our Little Secret (2024) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31022050/).

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! 

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) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3564472/)
Really Love (2020) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8722624/)
Garden State (2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0333766/)
Ghost (1990) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099653/)
Resort To Love* (2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12929990/)
Overboard (1987) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093693/)

*This film has previously been featured on the podcast.

In case you are curious about "that SNL sketch that thingummy and thingummy used to do of the weird nordic couple who live in a strange house", this is one version of it: https://youtu.be/OXt0J2K0nEg?si=KMDZXp1UQYLUJTov

Next month we are going to watch another Christmas Rom Com but we don't know which one yet. 

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! 

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! 

"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 minutes into the episode.

In this episode we mention the films:
Mary Poppins (1964) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058331/)
Death Becomes Her (1992) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104070/)
First Wives Club (1996) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116313/)

Manic Pixie Dream Girl is a term coined by the critic Nathan Rabin and you can read more about it on Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Pixie_Dream_Girl.

Next month we are going to watch The Idea Of You (2024) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9466114/) and A Family Affair (2024) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21051906/).

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! 

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! 

"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) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26047818/).

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!