The Rom Com Rewrite

So if you could just run through for us one more time why HR exists...
 
Office Romance
Year: 2026
Written by: Brett Goldstein & Joe Kelly
Directed by: Ol Parker
Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Brett Goldstein, Betty Gilpin
 
Show notes:
Continuing our very mini Ol Parker season we find that Office Romance is a film of too many parts. And some of them are good!
 
If you would like to skip the plot summary for this film you can spool forward about 10 and a half minutes into the episode.
 
In this episode we mention the films:
The Graduate (1967) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061722/)
Two Weeks Notice (2002) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0313737/)
Notting Hill* (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125439/)
 
And the TV series:
Ted Lasso (2020- ) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/)
Lupin (2021- ) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2531336/)
 
*Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast.
 
Next month we are going to be talking about French Lover (2025) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32360696/).  
 
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!

Queer representation returns to the Rom Com Rewrite just in time… for the month after Pride month.
 
Imagine Me & You
Year: 2005
Written by: Ol Parker
Directed by: Ol Parker
Stars: Piper Perabo, Lena Headey, Matthew Goode
 
Show notes:
This film begins with a glance that makes us feel things and continues with some funny lines and not nearly enough queer specificity. It's 2005, people!
 
If you would like to skip the plot summary for this film you can spool forward a little over 18 minutes into the episode.
 
Next month we are going to be talking about Office Romance (2026) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33397980/)
 
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!

Two films about books about female empowerment. One of these films is more empowering than the other.
 
Sex & The Single Girl
Year: 1964
Screenplay by: Joseph Heller and David R. Schwartz
Story by: Joseph Hoffman
Based on the book by: Helen Gurley Brown
Uncredited writer: Leslie H. Martinson
Directed by: Richard Quine
Stars: Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Henry Fonda, Lauren Bacall
 
Down With Love
Year: 2003
Written by: Eve Ahlert and Dennis Drake
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Stars: Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Sarah Paulson, David Hyde Pierce
 
Show notes:
This month compare and despair returns to the Rom Com Rewrite!
The plot summaries for these films take up a good portion of the beginning of this episode. If you would like to skip them you can spool forward a little over 23 minutes into the episode.
 
In this episode we mention the films:
The Pink Panther (1963) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057413/)
What's Up Doc (1972) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069495/)
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251127/)
Bridget Jones's Diary* (2001) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243155/)
Chicago (2002) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299658/)
Moulin Rouge (2001) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203009/)
 
And the TV series:
The Judy Garland Show (1963-1964) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056767/)
 
And also the book Sexual Personae by Camille Paglia (1990) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_Personae).
 
*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!

What does love need?
 
The Big Sick
Year: 2017
Written by: Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani
Directed by: Michael Showalter
Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan
 
Show notes:
This film falls into the very interesting category of films that a) we are not sure are rom coms and b) we love. As it happens, another of Michael Showalter's films (The Idea of You, which is discussed in episode 43 of this podcast) also falls into this category.
If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward around 12 minutes into the episode.
 
In this episode we mention the films:
When Harry Met Sally* (1989) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098635/)
The Idea of You* (2024) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9466114/)
Sleepless in Seattle* (1993) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108160/)
You Got Mail* (1998) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128853/)
Your Place or Mine* (2023) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12823454/)
Going The Distance* (2010) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1322312/)
And the podcast:
This American Life (1995 - ) (https://www.thisamericanlife.org/)
*Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast.
 
Next month we are going to be talking about You, Me & Tuscany (2026) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36352591/)
 
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!

Welcome to the Saoirse Ronan appreciation society.
 
I Could Never Be Your Woman
Year: 2007
Written by: Amy Heckerling
Directed by: Amy Heckerling
Stars: Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd, Saoirse Ronan
 
Show notes:
There is some good stuff in this film and some bad stuff and it is not Amy Heckerling's best work but it is definitely worth a watch.
If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward almost 9 minutes into the episode.
Correction: The film Charles Adrian remembered as Coming Home is in fact called Home Again.
 
In this episode we mention the films:
Home Again (2017) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5719700/)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083929/)
Clueless (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112697/)
Vamps (2012) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1545106/)
Girls Trip (2017) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3564472/)
 
And the TV series:
Dawson's Creek (1998-2003) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118300/)
Bridgerton (2020- ) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8740790/)
 
Next month we are going to be talking about You, Me & Tuscany (2026) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36352591/)
 
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!