A Gentlemen's Guide to Rom-Coms (Kelly McCrillis/Ryan Graves (The Rom Com Gents))

Yes, Meryl Streep terrifies us all in this movie, but you know what guys? Stanley Tucci is here! Well, not recording with us but he's in this movie and he's magnificent. 

Next Week: T-hanksgiving 2! JOE VS THE VOLCANO

Welcome to the most magical night in podcastland.

A year in review episode where we give Rom Com Oscars to all the movies we've watched this year!

Next Week's Movie: FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL

Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau vie for the affection of Ann-Margret in this classic 90's romp.

Next Week: Oooh. this is awkward... The hiatus starts now. Follow our instagram for updates on our return

What would you do for a promotion?

How much coffee would you drink to sober up from sleeping pills?

How much gin is too much gin... rummy?

Next Week's Movie: MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING

She’s there... sneaking around the corner, watching your every move, she’s selling you tickets for the L-train, she’s pretending to be engaged to your family member, she’s stealing your family for her own. Who is this dastardly fiend? IT’S… Sandra Bullock?

Grab your popcorn and keep your loved ones close as we watch this cold Chicago romcom that is definitely not about a serial killer. Beware though, because she’ll fall in love with your brother While You Were Sleeping.

Next week's movie: ROMAN HOLIDAY

This week we're watching people read for 98 minutes. It's actually better than it sounds! Also, Jimmy Smits is here! Not in person, just in the movie, but still, damn he's got charms (in spite of his character...)

Next Week: LAGGIES!

p.s. Check out our Patreon for exclusive content like polls, essays, and bonus episodes! www.patreon.com/romcomgents

Another Netflix Teen Rom-Com, how bad can it get? ........Guys, guys? I asked how bad can it get?!

Next Week: Patreon Poll winner DOWN WITH LOVE!

p.s. Find exclusive content like polls, essays and bonus episodes at our patreon: patreon.com/romcomgents

Heath Ledger. Julia Stiles. And a whole lot of love disguised as hate.

One of the best Shakespeare adaptations of all time.

Next Week's Movie: KISSING JESSICA STINE

Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie star in this 2015 indie romcom that you know, doesn't have THAT many other people if you really think about it.

Next Week: THE APARTMENT

What do you want?

Just when you think you've got it figured out, life throws you a curveball. An unexpected illness... A job offer out of the blue... or in today's movie's case: Cersei Lannister- sorry, Lena Headey.

Listen along in this week's episode as the boys and special guest Robin Vada wade through questions of sexuality, love triangles, and the power of lesbian lungs while admiring the graceful way in which Rachel answers the question, "What do I want?" (spoiler alert, it's Lena Headey).

Next weeks episode: Father of the Bride

Booty.

Call.

Enough Said.

Next Weeks Movie: Top Five

Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon star in the late oughts Christmas Rom-Com FOUR CHRISTMASES. Is this the golden mean for the Christmas Rom-Com? Well. Uh... Let's work this one out...

Special Thanks to Rachael Perrell Fosket for her rebuttal to our assessment of last week's film HAPPIEST SEASON.

Next Week: THE FAMILY STONE!

We apologize to the Scottish people. This week's episode: Made of Honor Next Weeks Episode: Set it Off (find it on Netflix)

Patrick Swayze is back with a vengeance here to spirit away our hearts in the all time classic GHOST.

Next Week: ROSALINE

It begins by pulling the heart strings. Then it pulls them again.

Cancer, coming out, grief, love, and graffiti.

Next week's movie: RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS

Religion, tradition, stoicism, and the patriarchy get more than they bargained for when Juliet Binoche comes to town bearing her sensual chocolat(e). 

Enjoy this weeks scrumptious episode as Ryan and Kelly discuss: Chocolat.

(WARNING: DO NOT WATCH WITHOUT CHOCOLATE)

Next Weeks Episode: Frances Ha

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore charm our pants off in this sweet romcom co-starring Sean Astin, Dan Akroyd and Rob Schneider

One of the most underrated, best rom-coms, best films, ever.

Next week's movie: WHITE CHRISTMAS

The bromance is strong with Nick FUCKINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN Cage, and Pedro Pascal.

A retread of familiar territory with new jokes and beautiful people, this is popcorn chuckles all the way down.

Next Week's Film: THE PHILADELPHIA STORY

Check out our Patreon for more bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/romcomgents 

We've been dreaming of a true love's kiss, have you?

Next Week's Movie: THE HEARTBREAK KID

Check out our patreon over at www.patreon.com/romcomgents

Given enough time and energy you can dig up dirt on any genre of film. The campiness of some horror, the horniness of some spy films, and yes, even the cheesiness of the rom-com. They Came Together is an example of a parody taking it just way too... well, we'll let the boys tell you about it. Next Weeks Movie: Juno

Not only is this an Adam Sandler rom-com, but it's from his Happy Madison production company. So what do you get when it's an Adam Sandler Production? You MAY be surprised. Or not. It's Adam Sandler, not Shakespeare.

p.s. Find exclusive content over at our patreon! www.patreon.com/romcomgents

Next Week's Movie: SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE

Welcome to the PNW. We usually traffic heavily in vampires and clouds, but today we've got sunshine and witches!

Next Week's Movie: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

Check out our PATREON here for monthly bonus episodes, weekly essays, and patron picked movies!

Diane Keaton and Morgan Freeman experience Life's grand Romances: Buying a condo.

Next Week: 50 FIRST DATES

And we'll always be together, like shoobah doo bah deep a do deep a dop..

Next week's film: ROMEO AND JULIET (1968)

check out our patreon at www.patron.com/romcomgents

Is this the most quintessential Bill Murray film there is? I don't know, I'm an episode description, not an encyclopedia. It's Groundhog Day everybody!

Next Week: MURIEL'S WEDDING!

Billy Crystal Writes, Directs, Stars and probably does a lot more in the mid-90s film FORGET PARIS

Next Week: GREASE (RIP SANDY)

Like wine, we and these movies have aged.

You...

Doing that thing you dooooo...

Breaking my heart into a million pieces...

Like you always dooooo...

It's catchy. We like it. 

Next week's movie: HER

Paul Bettany plays an underdog tennis pro in this 2004 romcom. Kirsten Dunst steals his heart, and Sam Neill just wants to shoot him. (Because he's old. Like, like a dinosaur. Get it?)

Next Week: WHAT IF?

Nick. Nick. Nick. Nick Nick. Nicky. and Gus. It's my big fat greek wedding, and the whole family is here.

Next Week: MOULIN ROUGE

Winter must be cold for those with no podcast episodes.

Next weeks movie: 5 FLIGHTS UP

Check out our Patreon for bonus episodes!

Yo D, is this episode the worst? AS IF, it's obvs the best.

Next Week's Film: AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER

Who knew two men could come together and talk about interior design in a rom com podcast so much?

Next Weeks Movie: WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING

Jennifer Westfeldt plays Jessica Stein, a neurotic New Yorker who's unlucky in love. So, she tries something completely new. For the first time in her life, she dates another woman. What could go wrong?

Next Week: SIXTEEN CANDLES!

Nora. Meryl. Amy. 

Food.

Bon Appetit!

Next Week: THE CUTTING EDGE!

Two best friends try to pass off their dead friend's lottery ticket as their own.

This movie is amazing. Full Stop.

Next Week's Movie: THE PROPOSAL

All love is beautiful. Which is why we make so much art about it.

Ang Lee knows this, which is why he makes so many movies about it.

With some of the best performances you’ll ever see from Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhal, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, which is saying something, Brokeback Mountain is the one of the most beautifully shot, brilliantly written, perfectly executed, necessary romance films ever made.

Next Weeks Episode: To All The Boys I Loved Before

What a triumph of an adaptation.

Next week's movie: GRUMPY OLD MEN

Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn star in Howard Hawks' BRINGING UP BABY, the mighty screwball comedy!

Next Week: Nancy Meyers' IT'S COMPLICATED.

Drew Barrymore and Steve Zahn star in the heartwrenching RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS. For everyone looking for a happy go lucky period piece about Drew Barrymore getting into some antics, well... just bring the kleenex and you should be good.

Next Week: LOVE WEDDING REPEAT

Cooking, like romantic chemistry, is a tricky thing. The ingredients and the proportions in either can't stray too far from a recipe, or it becomes something else (and probably tastes bad). Nowhere in the film business are the proportions of romantic chemistry more important than in romcoms.

That doesn't mean you can't experiment and break the rules. Imagine an Ice Cube // Betty White romcom... with a Harold and Maude twist? I'm guessing it wouldn't work, but why not try!?

Regardless, sometimes in romcoms you have a bunch of ingredients that look good together, but don't actually turn into a delicious meal. We love Hugh Jackman in period costume schilling us butter, we love Meg Ryan in New York trying to do business, we love Liev Schreiber being a quirky misfit, and we love Bradley Whitford being an insufferable boss... all amidst a time-travel gone wrong plot. It seems like it would be amazing... this week, see what the boys think about the chemistry of Kate and Leopold.

Next weeks episode: Before Sunrise

A young woman wins an old in, a patient boyfriend, and a whole charming New Zealand Town's respect and admiration.

How did she do it? We'll never telllll. Because we don't know.

Next week's movie: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1993)

Thank you for listening! Support us here: https://www.patreon.com/romcomgents

Billy Crystal skewers the film industry and the on-screen/off-screen romances of the day. Julia Roberts, John Cusack, and Catherine Zeta Jones star in this early oughts (but really late 90's) film.

Next Week: 27 DRESSES

Humphrey and Bergman heat up the silver screen and our podcast in one of the most epic love triangles of all time, CASABLANCA. Forgive the bad impressions. Next Week's Movie: MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING

Don't worry... we address it... (you know what we mean...)

Next Week: Enough Said!

Hey Hey Hey Alright Alright Alright

Next Week: THE PRINCESS SWITCH

This is one of our favorites. No not technically a rom com, but close enough.

And you don't get much better than William Powell and Myrna Loy.

Next Week's Movie: SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE

Check out our Patreon for more bonus episodes and content: https://www.patreon.com/romcomgents

In today's world, we get less we get less and less romantic comedies in theaters. It's a tragedy, but them's the breaks. However, today's movie not only premiered at the box office, but it also killed. Few American-made romantic comedies do this well today. And there's lots of reasons: the cast is spectacular, the story is both great and mostly true, and honestly... it stood out during a time where most rom-coms are pretty rote. It's about a young man (Kumail) in Chicago trying to make it in the world of stand-up comedy while his ex-girlfriend is in a coma... it's full of generational discord, awkward parental baby-sitting,  immigrant education (especially in the form of a so-bad-it's-good one-man-show), and hospitals... lot's and lot's of hospitals. But that' makes sense, after all the movie is called: The Big Sick. Next Weeks Book: Pride and Prejudice

Will Smith. Eva Mendes. KEVIN JAMES. Hot Damn this is a good looking movie. This week, we discuss the 2005 classic, HITCH.

Next Week: Chocolat.

Wiig. Rudolph. McCarthy. Kemper. McLendon-Covey. Byrne.

And don't forget O'dowd.

Next Week's Movie: AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS

Check out our patreon for bonus episodes at: patreon.com/romcomgents !!!!

Oscar Winner Spike Lee makes his feature debut with SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT. In spite of its shoestring budget, Spike Lee came out swinging with a fascinating tale of young love.

Next Week: Netflix's SET IT UP.

Over and over and over and over again the wheel of time turns.

And it's a freaking ride.

Next Week's Movie: THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB

Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey are downright stunning in this classic 80's dance film. Hear the gents just gush in this supersized episode.

Next Week: THE BIRDCAGE! (with Rachael Perrell Fosket!)

Special Guest Kerry Frances and the boys break down this revue style holiday dancical with Fred, Bing and Reynolds.

Next Week's Movie: JUST FRIENDS

Check out our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/romcomgents !!!

Check out Kerry's new holiday single For Christmas on itunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/for-christmas-single/1595523428

Have you ever been kissed? Probably.

Have you ever talked about it with Liz Beeson and Rebecca Duckert?

Well we have, and it was awesome. Check them out HERE.

Next Week's Film: THE BEST MAN

Brendan Fraser stars as a man who creeps from the underground searching for his bride, doing his best to stay away from the nuclear fallout. A comedy! But SRSLY, how adorbes is he?!?!

What if you fell in love with an operating system? What would that relationship be like? And what can that tell us about the other relationships we have in life? 

These are the questions brought up in Spike Jonze's HER. Does love conquer all? Tune in and find out.

Next Week: Crazy Stupid Love

Michael Douglas IS... The American President...

Annette Benning FALLS... for THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

...

Remember when Presidents were classy? Good times...

Next Week: VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL!! It's our first Bromantic Comedy... IT'S... "I LOVE YOU MAN!"

Julia Roberts stars in this iconic and surprisingly subversive romcom from the 90's. Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, and Rupert Everett all turn in wonderful performances alongside the RomCom titan.

Next Week: BRIDESMAIDS 

Nathan Lane and Robin Williams star in this rollicking 90's farce that features Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest as two sets of parents who navigate the act of becoming in-laws. Oh, and Nathan Lane tries to get away with impersonating their son's "Mother" the entire time. We're joined by special guest Rachael Perrell Fosket to discuss the wonderful film!

Next Week: DATE NIGHT (with Sara Graves!)

p.s. Don't forget to check out the patreon! www.patreon.com/romcomgents

Nora+Rob+Billy+Meg.

Nothing could be better than this.

This week the boys and special guest Erin Carlson do a deep dive on When Harry Met Sally.

Next Week's Movie: Twilight

Find Erin at her website and check out her books I'll Have What She's Having and Queen Meryl at https://bookshop.org/. 

In one of the most layered, beautiful, odd movies ever made, Tom Hanks goes on three dates, with three different Meg Ryans.

Next Week's Movie: SPLASH

Check out our patreon for bonus episodes, our blog, and listener polls to pick the months patreon movie.

It is one of the most famous Christmas films. Does it still hold up?

Are you drunk on eggnog? Of course it is. Listen to our episode and hear our praises be sung! (maybe I need to lay off the eggnog..)

Next Week: THE HOLIDAY! (ON CHRISTMAS EVE!)

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie sexy sexy sexy sexy sexy SEXY sexy sexy. I mean, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are super sexy spies who do SEXY spy things!

Next Week: KILLERS!

This movie is a whale. It's probably one of the most popular, high school, coming-of-age romantic comedies of all time.

It's totally fetch.

Next Week's Movie: GROUNDHOG DAY

It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside... but you'll have to listen to the podcast to find out what that feeling is...

Next Week's Movie: WHISPER OF THE HEART

What a fun romp. Ryan and Kelly appreciated this one, especially after having to watch Persuasion.

Next Week's Film: SHOP AROUND THE CORNER

Check out our patreon at www.patreon.com/romcomgents for bonus episodes!

J.lo. Chris Rock. DENNIS QUAID! This cast is stacked! And they are taking on the greatest story of all time. Becoming a parent. Whether it's through birth or adoption or anything in between, the act of taking on a little one is noble and good. But does the movie work? Find out and give us a listen.

Heath Ledger and Shannyn Sossamon dance to David Bowie while Vision, Wash, Robert Baratheon, and Kate look on in wonder.

Next Week's Movie: NEVER BEEN KISSED (with special guests Liz Beeson and Rebecca Duckert from "On The Virge")

Kevin Bacon earns his nameright in this tantalizing 80's emblem of a film. 

Next Week: BROS

A movie in which we think Muriel is not so terrible! Unlike her sister.

Next Week's Movie: THE KISSING BOOTH

Taye Diggs.

Also a huge cast of complicated characters deal with some revealing information at a wedding.

Can there BE any more drama?

Next Week's Movie: BLAST FROM THE PAST

The name says it all. But it's also good. But we don't like some of it. But Bill Hader is wonderful. Lebron James can act?

Next Week's Movie: WIMBLEDON

Check out our patreon for bonus episodes!

Wait a minute does Philadelphia even have any lines in this movie?

Next week: THE THIN MAN!

If you would just shut your gob for a second and listen,  we'll tell you about one of best movies made in the 2000s.

A unique script, with good actors to carry it, and a great director that made it sparkle.

Today the boys gush over: Juno.

Next Weeks Movie: In & Out

This week we dive deep into one of the greatest cult classics of all time, as well as a fantastic Bromantic Comedy.

Next Week: MARRY ME

Endlessly charming, endlessly existential. It's Lynn Shelton's Laggies.

Next Week's BOOK: THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

p.s. Check out our Patreon for exclusive content like polls, essays, and bonus episodes! www.patreon.com/romcomgents

The origin of the Richard Curtis/Hugh Grant Collaboration; FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL was a romcom phenomenon when it was first released. But does it still hold up?

Next Week: CASABLANCA

P.S. Don't miss our exclusive, weekly content over at our patreon: https://www.patreon.com/romcomgents

Kenneth Branagh Stars in and Directs this 1990's adaptation of the bard's tragicomedy. Co-starring Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton and... Keanu... Reeves... well. Listen to what the gents have go to say, it's a doozy. 

Next Week: DIRTY DANCING!

Ryan Reynolds dons a fat suit (and so much more) Is this Peak Reynolds? (.... Oh, God... No.)

Next Week: The Preacher's Wife!

It's our 100th episode special! To celebrate, we chose the epic romance to end all epic romances, James Cameron's TITANIC.

Next Week: LEGALLY BLONDE

Don't miss this 90's movie pretending to be an 80's movie.

It's got montages, it's got romance, it's got tequila shots!

Also, Doug can read.

Next Week's Movie: LOVE JONES

Come join our patreon family at www.patreon.com/romcomgents !!!

Are we down with love girls? Well we're for sure up with this movie guys!

Next week's movie: JUST GO WITH IT

It sucks when a movie based on a play thinks it's great. But at least we got to hang out on a beach.

Next Week's Movie: EASY A

Check out our patreon for bonus episodes like DIE HARD, NAAUSICA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, and GILMORE GIRLS.

Oh no! A Duchess Switch didn't make the cut! But it's quite charming at times.

Next Week's Movie: LAST CHRISTMAS

It is perhaps one of the most important YA romance novels of the past 20 years. Hear our thoughts on the tragic and moving novel by John Green.

Next Week: BEGINNERS!

One of Ryan and Kelly's most contentious episodes about a movie that really isn't that contentious.

Next Week's Movie: FOOTLOOSE

Jane Austen is at her most introspective in this gently moving novel. Though its protagonist isn't as electric as Elizabeth Bennett, Anne Elliot more than holds her own as a romantic heroin. 

Next Week

PERSUASION... Again! The netflix version starring Dakota Johnson

With a compelling premise, good performances, and a very mediocre everything else... just make sure you turn off your brain and you'll enjoy it just fine.

Next Weeks Movie: A KNIGHT'S TALE

Never in the history of cinema has the words of George Michael been taken so seriously.

Next Week: Christmas Special - LITTLE WOMEN (1994)

Rarely do we run into a film here on a Gentlemen’s Guide to Rom Coms that you could describe as gritty, realistic, raw, and poignant, alongside funny and romantic. With great performances from Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee, Dwight Ewell, and a stellar stellar script and direction from Kevin Smith, this one romantic comedy we’re definitely telling our friends about. Next Week's Movie: BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY

A dash of a Christmas tale...

A sprinkle of a coming out story...

And a whole lot of romcom on this week's episode when the boys discuss the Hulu exclusive: Holiday Season.

Next week's movie: FOUR CHRISTMASES

Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach team up for the vivacious and spirited FRANCES HA. Baumbach directs while Gerwig stars in this moving indie darling. We discuss the ins and outs of indie filmmaking and why this particular pairing of Baumbach/Gerwig is a collab for the ages.

Next Week: BOOTY CALL!

Jimmy Stewart is a Hungarian shopkeep who must earn the respect of the Wizard of Oz in Tom Hanks' finest film. Everything I just said is true in that statement. 

Next Week: The Requel to this gem of a movie: YOU'VE GOT MAIL

In order of chronology, the touchstone English storytellers are as follows: first you have Chaucer, then Shakespeare, and finally this week's author, Jane Austen.

Pride and Prejudice, her third written and second published novel, is the true-north of the rom-com genre. It is everything most rom-com's aspire to be: witty, romantic, thoughtful, and full of the feels.

We would be hard pressed to send you anywhere else if you want the perfect example of the form.


Next weeks episode: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Richard Curtis set the standard for the seasonal ensemble romcom, but does it hold up? Kelly and Ryan investigate...

Next Week: Holiday Inn! (with Kerry Frances)

DAVID LINDHAGEN.

Next Weeks Movie: BRINGING UP BABY

Ryan Reynolds stars with Rom Com Queens Sandra Bullock and Betty White in 2009's THE PROPOSAL. Is it a modern classic or just really really good? (Maybe both?)

Next Week

100th Episode SPECIAL: JAMES CAMERON'S TITANIC