The Rom Com Rewrite Lisa Findley & Charles Adrian

But what if Mr Malcolm had written a more interesting list?

Mr Malcolm’s List
Year: 2022
Written by: Suzanne Allain
Based on the novel by: Suzanne Allain
Directed by: Emma Holly Jones
Stars: Zawe Ashton, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Sope Dirisu, Theo James, Freida Pinto, Ashley Park
 
Show notes:
We love this film. Seriously. Full marks for performances, set, locations, score, costumes and more where this month’s film is concerned. Nevertheless, we have some notes on language & mores, our all-important B couple and the eponymous list.

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

In this episode we mention the TV shows Pride And Prejudice (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/), Bridgerton (2020-) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8740790/) and Downton Abbey (2010-2015) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606375/) as well as the film Gosford Park (2001) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280707/). We also mention the novel Pride and Prejudice (1813) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice) and the play Much Ado About Nothing (1598?) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Much_Ado_About_Nothing).
Incidentally, the Mozart opera Charles Adrian was mostly likely thinking of is The Marriage Of Figaro (1786) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marriage_of_Figaro) and you can find out more about “the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery”, aka the Dulwich Picture Gallery (1811), here: https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/. 
 
Next month we are planning to watch The Apartment (1960) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053604/).

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! 

Players
They are very small poops and I make sure it’s only after greens.

Players
Year: 2024
Written by: Whit Anderson
Directed by: Trish Sie
Stars: Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr., Tom Ellis, Augustus Prew, Joel Courney, Liza Koshy
 
Show notes:
This very charming film gets past a somewhat gross set-up to persuade us that its lovers belong together. Good job, film!

In this episode we mention the film Someone Great (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8075260/) and the book The Game (2005) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Game:_Penetrating_the_Secret_Society_of_Pickup_Artists).

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! 

Who knew Mattifer (Jenthew?) would have so much chemistry!

The Wedding Planner
Year: 2001
Written by: Pamela Falk and Michael Ellis
Directed by: Adam Shankman
Stars: Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey
 
Show notes:
This podcast is now three years old!!! To celebrate, Lisa and Charles Adrian watched J Lo and Matt McConaughey do everything they need to do in this genuinely sweet and funny romantic comedy from the very beginning of the century.
The plot summary of this film finishes at about 10 minutes into the episode, in case you would like to skip it.

In this episode we mention the films:
Speed (1994) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111257/)
Failure To Launch* (2006) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427229/)
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119738/)
Sliding Doors (1998) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120148/)
Rye Lane* (2023) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15893750/)
An Affair to Remember (1957) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050105/)
Sleepless In Seattle* (1993) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108160/)
Casablanca (1942) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/)
When Harry Met Sally* (1989) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098635/)
Marry Me (2022) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10223460/)
Hustlers (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5503686/)
The Watermelon Woman (1996) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118125/)
Stud Life* (2012) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1758770/)
Appropriate Behaviour (2014) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3077108/)
500 Days Of Summer (2009) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1022603/)
And the TV series: 
Superstore (2015-2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4477976/)
*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! 

When Harry Met Sally
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! 

Merry & Gay
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! 

They Came Together
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!