Romantic Comedies

[Ms Blue Jay]

Another one coming out.  The title annoys me.  The song by Gotye is "Somebody that I used to know", which I prefer.  This is starring Alison Brie as directed by her husband Dave Franco.

Quote

Somebody I Used to Know is an upcoming American romantic comedy film co-written and directed by Dave Franco. The film stars Alison Brie, Jay Ellis and Kiersey Clemons. It is scheduled to be released on Prime Video on February 10, 2023.

Plot[edit]

On a trip to her hometown, workaholic Ally reunites with her ex-boyfriend Sean, which makes her question her life choices. This feeling is exacerbated when she meets Cassidy, a younger woman who reminds her of the person she used to be.[1]

 

Edited February 8, 2023 by Ms Blue Jay

[Ms Blue Jay]

DJ Khaled voice: "Another one"

Oh sorry, this one comes out in May.

 

Edited February 8, 2023 by Ms Blue Jay

[Scarlett45]

I think I’m going to watch Your Place or Mine on Valentines Day- I’ve heard good things from my friend who watched it yesterday. 

[twoods]

I heard the new Reese Witherspoon flick was boring so opted to watch the Wedding Singer for the billionth time. Not regretting my choice at all.

[Bastet]

25 minutes ago, twoods said:

I heard the new Reese Witherspoon flick was boring

I watched the trailer this morning when Netflix recommended it (based on what, I have no idea), and it looked like everything I hate about romantic comedies all lined up in one film.  There was absolutely nothing about the story or the acting that made me want to check it out and see if it's one of my exceptions.  Usually there's at least a good friendship between the main female character and her sarcastic best friend, but even that didn't spark.  Maybe it's just a bad trailer, but I have no interest.

27 minutes ago, twoods said:

so opted to watch the Wedding Singer for the billionth time. Not regretting my choice at all.

Now that one is one of my exceptions.  I don't like everything about it, but overall I enjoy it.  And, if circumstances allow, I like to rage shout thusly if someone is late in giving me information:

 

[Ms Blue Jay]

This is just a genuinely good song

 

[Irlandesa]

I watched both Someone I Used To Know (Alison Brie/Franco movie) and Your Place Or Mine (Reese and Ashton movie.)

Someone I used To Know can best be compared to My Best Friend's Wedding and the movie is straight up referenced.  I don't know if it can be called a romantic comedy as it's really about people being honest about themselves more than having a rootable couple. But Alison Brie is terrific and I enjoyed the dialogue. 

It was definitely the better movie of the two.

As a fan of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, I was looking forward to Your Place or Mine because the writer/director was a co-showrunner  on the show. I'd have to say it was a bit of a slog. Tig Notaro was the best thing about the movie.  Reese and Ashton spend the whole movie on opposite coasts and aren't able to generate chemistry.  It makes me appreciate what Sleepless in Seattle was able to accomplish. 

 

[twoods]

You’re right! I forgot how in Sleepless in Seattle they barely had any scenes but I was so invested in the story. That is why I love You've Got Mail so much- there were so many more scenes between Tom and Meg that I wish they had in Sleepless.

[Ms Blue Jay]

I saw Mack and Rita -- the reviews are sooooo bad!  But I didn't hate it, i thought it was fine.

[twoods]

I rewatched one of the movies I liked on Netflix, Love Guaranteed. It had a nice storyline and I liked the chemistry between Rachel Leigh Cook and Damon Wayans Jr. I am a sucker for those hate at first turning to cute bantering and chemistry.

Edited February 13, 2023 by twoods

[blugirlami21]

I watched Your Place Or Mine tonight and I liked it. It thought it was pretty funny and I bought the friendship between Debbie and Peter. I thought the stuff with Peter and Jack was very cute and I loved the relationship between Minka and Debbie as well.

That being said, they made Theo way too perfect and interesting and Jesse Williams is as fine as ever. He was perfect, their chemistry was amazing. I would have been fine if she had picked Theo over Peter.

I rewatched Moonstruck and The Night We Met earlier this week, both still as good as I remember.

[andromeda331]

On 2/11/2023 at 9:27 PM, twoods said:

You’re right! I forgot how in Sleepless in Seattle they barely had any scenes but I was so invested in the story. That is why I love You've Got Mail so much- there were so many more scenes between Tom and Meg that I wish they had in Sleepless.

I never noticed until I was an adult that they barely had any scenes. What happens next? Do they just get married? Date long distance. Plus Annie following him through Seattle is creepy. 

[Scarlett45]

19 hours ago, blugirlami21 said:

I watched Your Place Or Mine tonight and I liked it. It thought it was pretty funny and I bought the friendship between Debbie and Peter. I thought the stuff with Peter and Jack was very cute and I loved the relationship between Minka and Debbie as well.

That being said, they made Theo way too perfect and interesting and Jesse Williams is as fine as ever. He was perfect, their chemistry was amazing. I would have been fine if she had picked Theo over Peter.

I rewatched Moonstruck and The Night We Met earlier this week, both still as good as I remember.

(Bolding mine). Ditto!!

 

Your Place or Mine was cute, but failed where Sleepless in Seattle succeeded! (just like you all said) 

The main couple spends very little time together so I’m not sold- I was sold on their friendship but not any romantic chemistry. 

But the side characters were fun though! It wasn’t as good as The Holiday which had the “swap houses premise”.

[Scarlett45]

On 2/7/2023 at 10:40 PM, Ms Blue Jay said:

DJ Khaled voice: "Another one"

Oh sorry, this one comes out in May.

 

I finally checked out this trailer and it looks like it would be really good! Us Outlander fans know Sam can bring the romantic smolder. 

[twoods]

Another Friday night of new movies not looking appealing, so While You Were Sleeping won. Joe Jr is seriously the funniest character. 
 

10 Things I Hate About You is next in the queue. 

Edited February 18, 2023 by twoods

[Artsda]

I liked Your Place or Mine, but more the Ashton side with her son.  Reese's character wasn't the most likeable at parts, Ashton's comes across more sympathetic.  But I guess it's the neurotic type A over bearing mom they were going for. 

[Ms Blue Jay]

I rewatched "Fools Rush In", one of my favourites.  Alex (Matthew Perry) is kind of an asshole though, and I could totally see him being mentioned as one of the worst love interests.

[Bastet]

5 hours ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

I rewatched "Fools Rush In", one of my favourites.  Alex (Matthew Perry) is kind of an asshole though, and I could totally see him being mentioned as one of the worst love interests.

I don't remember anything about it other than it was the film on a flight I was on (back when the only option was what was showing overhead) and I briefly had the thought I'd rather parachute out than keep watching -- I know I hated him, I just don't remember why.

[blugirlami21]

Ah Fools Rush In is one of my favorites! Alex can definitely be an ass at times but he gets humbled throughout the movie enough to balance it out.

I rewatched the To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy again and I still love it ;)

I rewatched Falling Inn Love, still cute. That Adam Demos

I watched him again in Perfect Pairing which was way better than I was expecting. Very friendship first heavy. The leads had amazing chemistry.

I also watched Love Guaranteed. Which was unexpectedly funny and charming. I thought their relationship was a little rushed but it was still super cute.

[Ms Blue Jay]

All good ones you mentioned.  I still have to see Perfect Pairing.

8 hours ago, blugirlami21 said:

I rewatched the To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy again and I still love it ;) 

I think the first one is great but I wasn't crazy about the sequels.

[blugirlami21]

The first one is definitely the best one, I dislike the second one and love the third almost as much as the first.

So many cute relationship beats we get to see. I wanted to smack Lara Jean in the second one.

[twoods]

Thank you for the Perfect Pairing suggestion. I forgot that I never watched this movie last year and agree that it was better than I thought it was. The chemistry was nice and I always like Victoria Justice, and very happy she had an excuse to finally sing in a Netflix movie.

I also caught Rosaline on Hulu and I really liked it. It was charming and the lead actor was hawt.

Edited February 26, 2023 by twoods

[Kel Varnsen]

On 2/18/2023 at 9:52 PM, Artsda said:

I liked Your Place or Mine, but more the Ashton side with her son.  Reese's character wasn't the most likeable at parts, Ashton's comes across more sympathetic.  But I guess it's the neurotic type A over bearing mom they were going for. 

Watched this a few weeks ago with my wife. Thought it was ok but pretty much forgettable. My favourite part was all the Cars songs in the soundtrack. A little surprised they didn't use Moving in Stereo, although I guess that would require Reese Witherspoon to take her top off.

I also watched Shotgun Wedding a few weeks ago, and I liked that way better. Can't believe I had never seen a "Die Hard at a Wedding" movie before.

[Ms Blue Jay]

I finally set aside time to watch "Your place or mine".  Unsurprisingly, I loved it!

I tried to read some reviews but people were just so nasty and negative.  It made me really sad.

On 2/16/2023 at 1:05 AM, blugirlami21 said:

I watched Your Place Or Mine tonight and I liked it. It thought it was pretty funny and I bought the friendship between Debbie and Peter. I thought the stuff with Peter and Jack was very cute and I loved the relationship between Minka and Debbie as well.

Well I'm glad someone else liked it.

On 2/26/2023 at 8:30 AM, Kel Varnsen said:

I also watched Shotgun Wedding a few weeks ago, and I liked that way better. Can't believe I had never seen a "Die Hard at a Wedding" movie before.

This one I liked too, but I was surprised that I liked it.  I didn't expect much.

[blugirlami21]

Yea it wasn't that bad at all imo. I've definitely seen worse.

I also surprisingly liked Shotgun Wedding. It was way different than what I was expecting, in a good way lol.

[Ms Blue Jay]

I'm kind of pushing things to call "Murder Mystery 2" a romantic comedy - it's more of an action comedy - but I had a lot of fun watching it and I liked it better than the first movie (which I was really disappointed by). The ratings have not been good, but I definitely liked it enough. It was a short, easy watch with a lot of scenery porn.  Oh, and 

Spoiler

an absolutely gorgeous Indian wedding.

 

[Spartan Girl]

4 hours ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

I'm kind of pushing things to call "Murder Mystery 2" a romantic comedy - it's more of an action comedy - but I had a lot of fun watching it and I liked it better than the first movie (which I was really disappointed by). The ratings have not been good, but I definitely liked it enough. It was a short, easy watch with a lot of scenery porn.  Oh, and 

  Hide contents

an absolutely gorgeous Indian wedding.

 

I thought both movies were fun, though the second movie was sillier.

[Scarlett45]

I’m watching Someone Borrowed on Netflix. It didn’t realize it’s Brazilian (not a problem, I prefer subtitles so the lips match!) but the concept seems cute.
 

Guy hired actress to pretend to be his fiancé for his dying mother. Hijinks ensue. 
 

https://www.netflix.com/us/title/81175173?s=i&trkid=14170286&vlang=en&clip=81623322

[twoods]

That’s on my list of movies to watch. Glad to see it was decent.

I hear Rye Lane on Hulu is good. Has anyone watched it?

[blugirlami21]

Netflix recommended I watch She's Dating the Gangster which features the filipino love Kathniel. Super cute movie. Of course I then had to watch all of their other movies too. Falling In Love is also quite adorable.

Just watched Ghosted on Apple. Really good. Lots of marvel cameos. Apparently Scarjo was supposed to be the love interest originally which would have been even more hilarious.

Edited April 24, 2023 by blugirlami21

[Scarlett45]

10 hours ago, blugirlami21 said:

Netflix recommended I watch She's Dating the Gangster which features the filipino love Kathniel. Super cute movie. Of course I then had to watch all of their other movies too. Falling In Love is also quite adorable.

Just watched Ghosted in Appletv. Really good. Lots of marvel cameos. Apparently Scarjo was supposed to be the love interest originally which would have been even more hilarious.

Ghosted is a movie? I am only finding it as a series staring Adam Scott, I must be looking at something different!

[twoods]

I liked Netflix’s new offering A Tourist’s Guide to Love. Vietnam was gorgeous and the leads had good chemistry, and it was nice seeing a couple not be so nasty to each other at first for a change. 

Edited April 23, 2023 by twoods

[Irlandesa]

I was kind of bored by A Tourist's Guide to Love.  It was okay as a travelogue but there wasn't really a love story there besides the two of them being told how much they dug one another.  And while they were nice to one another in the beginning, it did have a stupid misunderstanding and she also just broke up with her long-term boyfriend against her will.

[blugirlami21]

On 4/22/2023 at 10:50 AM, Scarlett45 said:

Ghosted is a movie? I am only finding it as a series staring Adam Scott, I must be looking at something different!

It just premiered on Friday. I feel like it was on the first page of the Apple app? I thought it was quite nice to see Chris Evans return to his romcom roots.

[memememe76]

I enjoyed Tourist’s Guide to Love. The couple had a nice chemistry, but the beauty of Vietnam got me. It was basically my itinerary when I went to Vietnam 15 years ago except in reverse. It is kinda funny that the tourist guide provided an alternative tour of the country, because the actual tourist areas would be too expensive and impossible to shoot, heh. But that’s fine too. Something like the Golden Hand Bridge was too new for me. 
 

The grandma (Ba Noi) was a hoot. 

[akiss]

I saw What's love got to do with it,  and it was cute, sweet and had some surprises here and there. I'd change some things if I had wrotethe script, but overall I  enjoyed it very much. Shaman Latif has a lot of charisma imo.

[Scarlett45]

I’m watching The Wedding Year on Netflix. Sarah Jane Hyland (Modern Family) and Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris) are the stars.

So far it’s charming and safer sex is promoted so I’m enjoying it. 

[Anela]

On 11/9/2014 at 3:30 AM, backformore said:

Reviving this thread to recommend a romantic comedy -   While You Were Sleeping.  Sandra Bullock convinces herself she's in love with a guy, saves his life, he wakes up with amnesia, is convinced they are engaged, and ......   the rest you have to see.  

it's a great Christmas movie too - Set in Chicago.  

I’m watching this right now. It’s one of my favourites. 

[Bastet]

On 4/27/2023 at 6:24 AM, akiss said:

I saw What's love got to do with it,  and it was cute, sweet and had some surprises here and there.

I had no idea there was a new film with that title out, so I thought this description was of the Tina Turner biopic, and was quite confused until I read the rest of your post.

[akiss]

9 hours ago, Bastet said:

I had no idea there was a new film with that title out, so I thought this description was of the Tina Turner biopic, and was quite confused until I read the rest of your post.

On the opposite, I had completely forgotten the Tina Turner movie and that it might cause confusion. And I've seen it!

[Bastet]

Prime was promoting Ticket to Paradise, and I remembered that the trailer looked pretty good to me -- well, the Julia Roberts and George Clooney parts; I knew I was going to hate the daughter's storyline -- so I decided to give it a whirl. 

I hated Lily's stupid story even more than I expected; it's so ridiculous as to be unwatchable if not for the gorgeous scenery.  And I didn't like Georgia and David's story as much as I thought I would from the trailer - and, wow, was the ending stupid - but they were still quite charming together.  They were at their best when giving each other shit, but them having a blast at beer pong was absolutely hilarious.  I enjoyed the gag reel during the credits, as you can tell the actors had a blast working together.

The actor playing Lily is pretty bland, but I liked Billie Lourd as her best friend.  This is the first thing I've seen her in, and she has a nice presence.  I could have done with more of her in the film.

It drove me nuts that they started out talking as if Lily had graduated from law school, calling her a lawyer and saying she'd be working for one of the top firms in Chicago when she got back from vacation.  That would make no sense, since you head off on a month-long vacation after you take the bar exam, not after you graduate law school; you graduate and turn right around and start bar prep.  Then later they talk about her having graduated from college, which makes a lot more sense - except for her being 25, since an achiever like her wouldn't have taken that long to get through university - but she's still calling herself a lawyer. 

[Scarlett45]

I saw some cute Rom Coms on my flight from London to Chicago-

1. About Fate- for everyone who said I would love it since I loved Holidate, they were right! The film is set the last few days of the year but I don’t consider it a holiday movie (think While You Were Sleeping). I gave it a B+. 
 

2. The Order of Things (Netflix)- a Nigerian Rom Com with a fun sibling relationship (older brother must be the first to marry). The writing could’ve been a little sharper but I loved the premise. Solid B  

3. Maybe I Do- I had no idea about this one! Staring the protagonists of Holidate, as a couple considering marriage, but the film is 25% about them, 75% about their parents, portrayed by Diane Keaton, William H Macy, Richard Gere and Susan Surandon. I gave it an A. 
 

[Shermie]

I just watched My Best Friend’s Wedding for the first time in forever. Lots to comment on…

Julia Roberts was absolutely stunning, my god, that hair. So jealous! Cameron Diaz was cute and wholesome, although I realize that was a styling/character choice. I loved all her pastel dresses, not so much the matching cardigans.

What’s with Dermot Mulroney being able to be a male lead in those days with such an obvious scar on his lips? Not that I care, but there’s no way a woman could be a romcom star with a “flaw” like that.

I hate how he lost his shit with Cameron when she casually asked him to work for her father for 6 months. He got so angry right away, going on about how much he loves his job, blahblahblah but of course, Cameron wanted to be an architect but was giving it all up to traipse around the country with him. A 6-month hiatus from his job would have been a great compromise so she could finish her education and he could help out her father with marketing (the reason he was asked to work for him). But no, he yells and she ugly cries and begs for forgiveness. Blech.

One of the nutty cousins looked so familiar to me so I googled it and yes, Carrie Preston! The nutty lawyer from The Good Wife/The Good Fight. I also learned that the younger brother/best man was NOT Neil Patrick Harris, which is who I thought he was. ::shrug::

I don’t understand the concept of the wedding day on this show. It looks like all the guests are there all day as the caterers, florists, etc are setting everything up. The bride and groom are just wandering around the mansion’s grounds, with no worries about seeing each other before the wedding (which is always a big f’in deal in these movies). The mother of the bride and all the aunties and whatnot are sitting around in nice dresses having tea or whatever. Why aren’t they off getting their hair and nails done like people actually do? If nothing else, get out of the way of the setup, so weird.

Then of course, there’s the actual plot. Julia’s character is just a terrible person. She’s not even invited to the wedding until 4 days before, with the excuse that she and Dermot both know that she hates formal events. Well okay, but at least tell her about it. Instead, he calls her 4 days before and it becomes a Big Thing which, I know, is the whole point of the movie, but at least make the premise semi-believable. I’m glad that in the end, Julia and Dermot did not go off to live happily ever after, so there’s that.

I always get a kick out of seeing old tech on these movies. Julia’s giant cell phone, good lord, how did that fit in her tiny cocktail purse? And when she wanted to get back into the Dad’s office to erase an email she faked, her excuse was that she had a work emergency and needed to get into the office to send something, which Dermot totally agreed to. File that under “things kids today don’t understand”. 

Finally, there’s the concept of money. Everybody lives in a mansion and drives a fabulous car. When they stay in hotels, the rooms are always sumptuous, with so much space, often suites with sitting areas. I’ve travelled a lot and we’re doing pretty well, but I’ve never stayed in hotel rooms like even the middle class do in the movies. 

Anyway, it was interesting to see an old school romcom through my 2023 lens. I’m not going to criticize some of the social mores, since the movie is a product of its time, but it certainly is an interesting view of what was once considered such a romantic movie.

Edited May 20, 2023 by Shermie

[twoods]

I thought that Cameron Diaz’s family was wealthy, which is why all that grandeur made sense to me. Also, Julia’s character was successful as well. I’m just happy that the ending wasn’t the “typical” happy ending and was more realistic, and the “other” fiancé wasn’t a bitch like Hallmark movies would have made her be.

[Shannon L.]

I'm glad that her best friend was so honest with her.  He didn't carefully tiptoe around the fact that maybe this wasn't the best idea, he told her outright that she lost him and to stop it. In fact, iirc, even from the beginning, he warned her not to do anything stupid.

[Bastet]

21 hours ago, Shermie said:

I’m glad that in the end, Julia and Dermot did not go off to live happily ever after, so there’s that.

Me, too, but I wish Cameron Diaz didn't marry him, either; he was a shithead.

[Scarlett45]

I watched The Perfect Find on Netflix last night. And while Gabrielle Union is a goddess forever and ever, as is Gina Torres- I was mad. 
 

1. Why can’t women ever play their age? This happened to J.Lo in Marry Me, Gabrielle Union is 50- let her be 50! (And they give the older women roles to young women….umm no)

2. I just can’t take it, the “surprise” pregnancy trope turns the guy around (which is why they had Gabrielle’s character playing 40 not 50) if a guy says he doesn’t want kids, BELIEVE HIM. If you’re a man who doesn’t want kids wear a condom or get a vasectomy. They never actually worked out their issues it was just “the baby will bring us together”.
 

3. The childfree Black woman in me was ANGRY. I thought a more relatable perspective would’ve been her love interest saying he did want kids, and with her age it was “we need to commit now or never, because I can’t wait around at 40 to decide.” (I was fine with Gabrielle’s character wanting a baby, that wasn’t an issue)

4. It was visually stunning. 
 

5. Ginna Torres didn’t get enough to do. 
 

6. The couple was charming and had amazing chemistry which saved it from being horrid. 
 

I just wanted more and my little feelings are hurt. 😕

[Bastet]

3 hours ago, Scarlett45 said:

Why can’t women ever play their age?

This drives me batshit crazy.  Hollywood does not get to pat itself on the back for casting middle-aged and senior women when they only cast those who can play a decade younger! 

[Scarlett45]

1 hour ago, Bastet said:

This drives me batshit crazy.  Hollywood does not get to pat itself on the back for casting middle-aged and senior women when they only cast those who can play a decade younger! 

Gabrielle Union is extraordinarily beautiful. As is J.Lo- but let them play their fucking age! I’d have no problem with her playing a 40yrs old in this movie if she got to play 50 in other movies. I didn’t have a problem with Justin Hartley playing younger in The Noelle Diaries this holiday season (and he did in Senior Year ) because he gets to play his age in other movies/series etc. But why must women always be between 20-40, unless you’re Meryl Streep or Diane Keaton- at least Viola Davis gets good roles but she’s not really a rom com actress. 
 

35 isn’t 50. (I am 37) This is one of the reasons I liked Maybe I Do so much (the story was about older people for the most part). 

[memememe76]

The best thing about Tye Perfect Find was reintroducing me to The Jets’ You Got it All during the party scene. Takes me back.