The Rom Com Rewrite

It takes us a moment but we fix this one! [flexed biceps emoji]

Hello Again

Year: 1987

Written by: Susan Isaacs

Directed by: Frank Perry

Stars: Shelley Long, Gabriel Byrne, Judith Ivey, Corbin Bernsen, Sela Ward

Show notes:

Something spooky for Halloween season. This film is not quite a rom com in its current form but, as ever, we have some ideas.

If you would like to skip the plot summary for this film you can spool forward about 15 and a half minutes into the episode.

In this episode we mention the films:

Simply Irresistible (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145893/)

Troop Beverly Hills (1989) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098519/)

You can find a trailer for Simply Irresistible on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/HrnSqohMAqI?si=Rhyh7D4C29EFjeuG

If you would like to hear our third musketeer Liz Bailey talking a little about screwball comedy, please check out our 8th episode in which we discuss the film Joe Versus the Volcano.

Next month we are going to be talking about Baggage Claim (2013) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1171222/)

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!

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!

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!

Moustachioed multimillionaire adventurer scientist meets flame-haired kick-ass wine babe in this adventure rom com from 1992.

Year of the Comet

Year: 1992

Written by: William Goldman

Directed by: Peter Yates

Stars: Penelope Ann Miller, Tim Daly

Show notes:

Like loving parents on the touch line at their child's hockey match, we really get into this film. It is already so charming and has so much good stuff in. We just want it to be better!

If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward a little over 4 and a half minutes into the episode.

In this episode we mention the films:

The Princess Bride (1987) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064115/)

All The President's Men (1976) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074119/)

Heat (1986) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093164/)

Pink Panther (1963) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057413/)

The Love Bug (1968) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064603/)

Herbie Fully Loaded (2005) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400497/)

Death Becomes Her (1992) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104070/)

Romancing the Stone* (1984) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088011/)

Con Air (1997) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118880/)

*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!

A film that begins with a meet-cringe and ends with mis-apportioned blame.

Leap Year

Year: 2010

Written by: Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont

Directed by: Anand Tucker

Stars: Amy Adams, Matthew Goode

Show notes:

Happy 5th anniversary to us!!! In this year that is not a leap year please allow us to propose a film about proposals that also did not come out in a leap year.

If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about 13 minutes into the episode.

In this episode we mention the films:

Saving Face* (2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384504/)

Holidate* (2020) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9866072/)

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109831/)

Overboard (1987) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093693/)

Plus One* (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7645122/)

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

According to the article about it on Wikipedia, the leap year proposal tradition referenced in this film "is an Irish tradition by which women are allowed to propose to men on Leap Day, 29 February, based on a legend of Saint Bridget and Saint Patrick. It once had legal basis in Scotland and England." The Wikipedia article (accessed February 2026) is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor%27s_Day_(tradition)

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!

Not so much a rewrite as an appreciation of this 25-year-old classic in general and of Daniel Cleaver as played by Hugh Grant in particular.

Bridget Jones's Diary

Year: 2001

Screenplay by: Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies, Richard Curtis

Based on the novel by: Helen Fielding

Directed by: Sharon Maguire

Stars: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant

Show notes:

CN: discussion of fatphobia and diet culture; derogatory language

If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about 12 and a half minutes into the episode.

In this episode we mention the films:

Notting Hill* (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125439/)

Paddington 2 (2017) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4468740/)

Love Actually (2003) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/)

And the TV series:

Pride and Prejudice (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/)

And the books:

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding (1996) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_Jones%27s_Diary_(novel))

Sex & The City by Candace Bushnell (1996) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_and_the_City_(newspaper_column))

Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin (1978) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_the_City_(novel))

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend (1982) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Diary_of_Adrian_Mole,_Aged_13%C2%BE)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice)

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding (1999) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_Jones:_The_Edge_of_Reason_(novel))

Persuasion by Jane Austen (1817) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persuasion_(novel))

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

You can watch the shower sketch from Eddie Izzard's Glorious tour (1997) here: https://youtu.be/0Zfsn82MF3E?si=uhKVM3t9YtR8PKSQ

NB: In this episode, we refer to events from both the first and the second books in the Bridget Jones canon - Bridget Jones's Diary (1996) and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (1999)

The passage from the (first) book that Charles Adrian was trying to find is right at the beginning - Sunday 1 January: "It struck me as pretty ridiculous to be called Mr Darcy and to stand on your own looking snooty at a party. It's like being called Heathcliff and insisting on spending the entire evening in the garden, shouting 'Cathy' and banging your head against a tree."

Comic Relief, mentioned in passing at the beginning of this episode, is a British charity co-founded in 1986 by Richard Curtis and Sir Lenny Henry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_Relief).

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!