Rom-Com De-Con

In the way they portray outer beauty, rom-coms feel tethered to their fairy tale roots. Even if the leading lady isn’t an actual princess, she needs to look, talk, and behave like one. This genre has a lot to say about a woman’s size, style, and decorum—and how those traits help or hinder her chances at finding love.

Listen in for discussion of the rom-coms with the best wardrobes (Clueless), the most under-appreciated May-December love stories (Murphy’s Romance), the most deceptive and self-guided makeovers (She’s All That and My Big Fat Greek Wedding), and the best use of Dolly Parton since 9 to 5 (Dumplin’).

Flavor of the Week: Kisses for My President

What do two made-for-TV Christmas experts consider the most watchable tropes in these oh-so-predictable movies? Listen in to find out! 

Game: Guess the Imposter 

Guest: Amy Heaton

Most romantic comedies don’t have action sequences. The obstacles the central characters face on their road to love are usually misunderstandings, fear, and annoying exes, not guns, bombs, and spies. Generally two people falling in love are trying to overcome hiccups, not earthquakes.

Brandon Treadway from the Cinemast podcast joins me to discuss rom-com obstacles large and small in Annie Hall, That Touch of Mink, Something Borrowed, The Big Sick, and The Princess Bride.

Flavor of the Week: The Mount Rushmore of Rom-Com Actors

Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive -- and then we fall in love and have to untie the knots! Rom-com characters know a little something about lying to get ahead only to realize they compromised their morals at the exact moment they met their person.

Listen in for hot takes on the best and worst forms of rom-com deception, including fake relationships, unbelievable accents, and at least one wig. We'll also take a deep dive into five deception-centric rom-coms: Much Ado About Nothing, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, Pillow Talk, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and She's the Man.

Flavor of the Week: Charade