The Rom Com Rewrite

This Cinderella story needs a fairy godmother or two and we are happy to oblige.   French Lover Year: 2025 Written by: Noémie Saglio, Lisa-Nina Rives & Hugo Gélin Adaptation by: Lisa-Nina Rives & Hugo Gélin Dialogue by: Lisa Nina Rives & Hugo Gélin Inspired by: A Very Important Person by Shirli Mushoyef Directed by: Lisa-Nina Rives Stars: Omar Sy, Sara Giraudeau   Show notes:   The heart is, indeed, a sad carny.   If you would like to skip the plot summary for this film you can spool forward a little over 15 minutes into the episode.   In this episode we mention the films: Notting Hill* (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125439/) Always Be My Maybe* (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7374948/) Mr Malcolm's List* (2022) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12545566/)   And the TV series: Lupin (2021 - ) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2531336/) Bridgerton (2020 - ) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8740790/)   *Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast.     For anyone who is not familiar with the folk tale known in English as 'Cinderella', there is a nice round-up of its history and variants on Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella.     If you would like to suggest films for future episodes, you can find Lisa on Instagram: @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! 

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!