The Rom Com Rewrite

Lisa Findley & Charles Adrian
  • 5.0 (5)
  • FILM REVIEWS
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Lisa and Charles Adrian LOVE rom coms but they have some suggestions. In each episode they choose a film, take it lovingly apart and put it back together better. Warning: This podcast is all spoilers all the time!

  1. JAN 16

    Bridget Jones's Diary

    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!

    47 min

  2. 12/12/2025

    Love Hard

    Why isn't this film called Love Sleeping? Or Love You Were Sleeping? Or Actually, Love, Were You Sleeping? Or Do You Actually Love Sleeping? Or some other combination of the films Love Actually and WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING!? Love Hard Year: 2021 Written by: Daniel Mackey and Rebecca Ewing Directed by: Hernán Jiménez Stars: Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang, Darren Barnet Show notes: This film wants to exist at the place where Love Actually meets Die Hard but the story of a woman who falls for a guy she knows nothing about beyond how he looks makes us think of a different film entirely. There is some good stuff here, some less good stuff and one or two elephants in the room - the biggest and noisiest elephant being: why does this film reference While You Were Sleeping so much and NEVER ONCE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT??? If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about eleven minutes into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: To All The Boys I've Loved Before* (2018) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3846674/)  Always Be My Maybe* (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7374948/) Love Actually (2003) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/) Die Hard (1998) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095016/) While You Were Sleeping* (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114924/) Home Alone (1990) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099785/) Single All The Way* (2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14315756/) And the TV series: Catfish: The TV Show (2012- ) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2498968/) *Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast. Next month we are going to be talking about Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243155/).  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!

    56 min

  3. 11/14/2025

    Runaway Bride

    This one is worth returning to - it might be better than you remember! Runaway Bride Year: 1999 Written by: Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott Directed by: Garry Marshall Stars: Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Joan Cusack, Hector Elizondo, Rita Wilson, Paul Dooley, Christopher Meloni, Laurie Metcalf (uncredited) Show notes: Always the bride-to-be! This month we conclude our all-too-brief Julia Roberts mini-season with this gorgeous small-town battle of the sexes. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about 11 minutes into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: Notting Hill* (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125439/) Erin Brokovich (2000) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195685/)  Pretty Woman (1990) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100405/) Oceans Twelve (2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349903/) While You Were Sleeping* (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114924/) Let It Snow (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1950235/) *Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast. Addendum: it turns out that Laura Solon, who wrote the film Let It Snow, also co-wrote (with Daisy Haggard) the brilliant and funny TV series Back To Life (2019-2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8594510) Next month we are going to be talking about Love Hard (2021) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10752004/).  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!

    52 min

  4. 10/10/2025

    Notting Hill

    It's just a film standing in front of two podcasters asking them to take it lovingly apart and put it back together better. Notting Hill Year: 1999 Written by: Richard Curtis Directed by: Roger Michell Stars: Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant Show notes: We really get into this one - and for 'this one' read Richard Curtis films in general and their male leads in particular. 26 years after its release there is much that is good about this film and also much to fix. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about 12 minutes into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109831/) About Time (2013) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194499/) Love Actually (2003) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/) Going the Distance* (2010) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1322312/) Always Be My Maybe* (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7374948/) The Idea of You* (2024) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9466114/) Pretty Woman (1990) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100405/) And the TV series: Black Books (2000-2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0262150/) *Films marked with an asterisk have previously been featured on the podcast. Correction: We said in the last episode that Hitch might be the only rom com that centres the heterosexual man's experience. For whatever reason we forgot that Notting Hill also does this. As does Four Weddings And A Funeral. And other Richard Curtis films. If you are interested to read more about what has been called Boarding School Syndrome, Nick Duffell's book The Making of Them is a good primer. Chapter 8 can be found in its entirety on the boardingrecovery site here: https://boardingrecovery.com/docs/leaving-home.pdf.  Next month we are going to be talking about The Runaway Bride (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0163187/).  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!

    57 min

  5. 09/12/2025

    Hitch

    Women have surfaces, men have depths. Hitch Year: 2005 Written by: Kevin Bisch Directed by: Andy Tennant Stars: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Amber Valletta Show notes: We are not aware of many rom coms that centre a straight man's experience. Maybe this is the only one. Straight men rejoice! Content note: In this episode there is some discussion of incel culture, assault, violence and death. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about 5 and a half minutes or so into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: He's Just Not That Into You (2009) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1001508/) Jerry Maguire (1996) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116695/)  And the TV series: Sex And The City (1998-2004) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159206/) Next month we are going to be talking about Notting Hill (1999) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125439/) 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!

    54 min

  6. 08/15/2025

    27 Dresses

    Always the bridesmaid never the bride. 27 Dresses Year: 2008 Written by: Aline Brosh McKenna Directed by: Anne Fletcher Stars: Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Edward Burns, Judy Greer Show notes: This is a film about a woman who says yes and her hate-able sister and the guy they both fancy and another guy called Kevin and a closet full of dresses. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about 8 and a half minutes or so into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: The Princess Diaries (2001) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247638/) The Devil Wears Prada (2006) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458352/) In Her Shoes (2005) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388125/) My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119738/) Last Christmas (2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8623904/) A Nice Indian Boy* (2024) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16431330/) And the TV series: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2019) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4094300/) *This film has 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!

    53 min

  7. 07/11/2025

    A Nice Indian Boy

    Pride season continues! A Nice Indian Boy Year: 2024 Written by: Eric Randall Based on the play by: Madhuri Shekar Directed by: Roshan Sethi Stars: Karan Soni, Jonathan Groff Show notes: Another one for the pile of films that we liked, this is a film about love and culture and family and who does the bride's family's dance at the wedding. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about 10 minutes or so into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: The Wedding Banquet* (2025) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32214413/) DDLJ (1995) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112870/) Milk (2008) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013753/) Bros* (2022) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9731598/) *These films have previously been featured on the podcast. If you would like to know more about OUTtv, you can read about it on Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OUTtv_(Canadian_TV_channel).  Next month we are going to be talking about 27 Dresses (2008) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988595/).  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!

    55 min

  8. 06/13/2025

    The Wedding Banquet

    Happy Pride Month! The Wedding Banquet Year: 2025 Screenplay by: Andrew Ahn and James Shamus Based on the screenplay by: Ang Lee, Neil Peng and James Shamus Directed by: Andrew Ahn Stars: Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran, Han Gi-Chan, Joan Chen, Youn Yuh-jung, Bobo Le Show notes: A remake of the 1993 Ang Lee film, this 2025 update is queer struggle and queer joy and green cards and IVF and family and chosen family. It's not a rom com but it's a beautiful film and we loved it. If you would like to skip the plot summary for this month's film you can spool forward about 12 minutes into the episode. In this episode we mention the films: The Wedding Banquet (1993) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107156/) Minari (2020) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10633456/) Watermelon Woman (1996) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118125/) Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5537002/) A Nice Indian Boy (2024) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16431330/) 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!

    48 min
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About

Lisa and Charles Adrian LOVE rom coms but they have some suggestions. In each episode they choose a film, take it lovingly apart and put it back together better. Warning: This podcast is all spoilers all the time!

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa Findley & Charles Adrian
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lisa Findley and Charles Adrian Gillott
  • Show Website
    The Rom Com Rewrite