Nov. 30, 2023
Darkly Funny Connection: Shiva Baby
There's no way to exactly describe the dark and hilarious debut dramedy Shiva Baby except to say: you giggle at what should be sad, feel heartbroken for what should be exciting, become annoyed with the emotional meddling, and...
Nov. 16, 2023
Shipboard Romance
How I love a romance set aboard a luxury cruise ship or ocean liner, especially classic movies set on ships in the early to mid 20th-century, a heyday of ocean travel. The coziness, the leather luggage with a separate toiletr...
Nov. 2, 2023
Gothic Romance: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde/Mary Reilly
It's Halloween week, and time to confess that I'm strangely attracted to Gothic horror stories and creepy "romance," especially the many interpretations of the fascinating classic 19th century novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyl...
Oct. 19, 2023
Romance in the Buff: Naked Attraction
Selecting potential mates based strictly on physical attributes is definitely a vibe —as seen on the UK dating show Naked Attraction, which has recently started streaming in the US. As expected with a TV show that features fu...
Oct. 5, 2023
Romance Replay: Love Over 40
I just saw Book Club: The Next Chapter, a frothy, fun and flirty sequel to Book Club, a movie I talked about in this episode, and I'll feature the sequel in an upcoming episode. This time, the besties end up in Italy and it'...
Sept. 21, 2023
Quick Look: the Trope-y Romcom Goodness of Love at First Sight
I'm not a snob when to comes to romantic tropes. I don't discriminate: the more outlandish the better, and I love them all. Every beat might be as familiar as the back of my hand, but my attitude is: bring it on again. It's e...
Sept. 7, 2023
Romantic, Painterly Psychological Thrillers: The Essex Serpent/The Beguiled
Is it Halloween yet? If it's getting cooler where you live, too, let's brew some tea or pour some hot chocolate or hot cider and snuggle on the sofa with two of the most atmospheric, painterly, creepy yet oddly feminist and r...
Aug. 24, 2023
Love Bomb: You Hurt My Feelings
I'm a huge fan of the films of Nicole Holofcener, and her latest is another lo-fi, funny, thoughtful story for anybody who's ever tried to make a romantic, platonic, sibling or parental relationship thrive. Is it ever okay to...
Aug. 10, 2023
Surf's Up: the Sensual Romance of Surfing
Ever since I first saw 1959's Gidget rerun on TV, I thought surfing and beach culture looked like the most fun you could have all summer. I might be an outsider still but my surf crush continues with every surfing movie or do...
July 27, 2023
Romance Replay: Year Round Holiday Magic: The Bishop's Wife
Summer is kicking my butt, and I desperately need to chill. Let's celebrate Christmas in July and enjoy a replay of one of my favorite episodes, about one of my favorite classic holiday movies: the romantic and spiritual The ...