The Rom Com Rewrite – Details, episodes & analysis

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! 

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/) and the TV show How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460649/).  

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! 

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 end of the episode. We are only 0 for 3.

In this episode we mention the films: 
Notting Hill (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125439/)
You’ve Got Mail (1998) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128853/)
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0147800/)
Single All The Way (2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14315756/)

and the TV shows: 
Crazy Ex Girlfriend (2015-2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4094300/)
Friends (1994-2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108778/)
A League Of Their Own (2022) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8226360/)

You can find the Guardian ‘How we met’ article Charles Adrian mentions here: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/nov/30/how-we-met-dressed-up-as-horse-i-was-the-bum. 

Next month we will be watching When Harry Met Sally (1989) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098635/)

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 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! 

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://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/), Palm Springs (2020) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9484998/), Sliding Doors (1998) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120148/), About Time (2013) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194499/), Past Lives (2023) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13238346/), They Came Together (2014) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2398249/) and the Meg Ryan directed What Happens Later (2023) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19890316/). We also mention the TV show Bandersnatch (2018) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9495224/) and the Choose Your Own Adventure book series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choose_Your_Own_Adventure).

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! 

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_Prejudice), the films You’ve Got Mail (1998) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128853/), The Princess Diaries (2001) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247638/) and Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109831/), the tv series The West Wing (1999-2006) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200276/), and the work of P.G. Wodehouse as read by Stephen Fry (https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/PG-Wodehouse-Volume-1-Audiobook/B08QDKDNK9).

You can find out more about London’s V&A museum here: https://www.vam.ac.uk/ 

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 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 shows Ridiculousness (2011- ) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1820166/) and You’ve Been Framed (1990-2022) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0204113/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1). 

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! 

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/title/tt0328589/), Love Actually (2003) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/), Pillow Talk (1959) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053172/) and the radio (1985-1989) and TV (1988-1992) series After Henry (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092314/).  The film about elephants somewhere in Africa that stars Kristin Davis and Rob Lowe is called Holiday In The Wild (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8510488/) and is, in fact, set in Zambia.

The song 99 Luftballons is by Nena (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMSlTQmDLx4).

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 (martinzaltzaustwick.com). Artwork is by Lisa Findley.

Thank you for listening!

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 episode, we mention The Shop Around The Corner (1940) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033045/), Pillow Talk (1959) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053172/), Your Place Or Mine (2023) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12823454/), Catfish: The TV Show (2012- ) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2498968/), Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (1782) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Liaisons_dangereuses), Dangerous Liaisons (1988) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094947/) and Cruel Intentions (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139134/). We refer obliquely to Joe Versus The Volcano (1990) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099892/) and Sleepless In Seattle (1993) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108160/).

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 (martinzaltzaustwick.com). Artwork is by Lisa Findley.

Thank you for listening!