Shows
Rom BombsEp 63 - My Secret SantaUnlike Vanessa Williams, we went and saved the worst for last! In our final holiday episode (don't look at the upload date) we discuss "My Secret Santa," Netflix's return to form after 3 holiday original movies that were actually good. If you thought the heist in "Jingle Bell Heist" didn't make any sense, wait until you see how one mom attempts to save 50% on her daughter's snowboarding school tuition.Follow us on Bluesky!Theme Music: "Our Big Adventure" by Scott Holmes (Xmas remix by E)
2026-01-061h 05Rom BombsEp 62 - Jingle Bell HeistAnother episode already?? Well, for one thing, E is trying to churn out the rest of these holiday episodes. For another thing, this episode is only half an hour long, because it turns out Jingle Bell Heist isn't actually a romcom and also we didn't have THAT much to say about it. But we did still have some things to say about it, and J wants credit for watching the movie. So enjoy this extra-short episode of Rom Bombs!Follow us on Bluesky!Theme music: "Our Big Adventure" by Scott Holmes (Xmas remix by E)
2025-12-3034 minRom BombsEp 61 - Champagne ProblemsLook, Christmas may TECHNICALLY be over, but E was lazy and we still have two more Netflix Holiday Movie episodes in the can after this one, so we're extending the holiday season a little bit. In this episode we discuss "Champagne Problems," the rare Christmas romcom whose title isn't a Christmas-related pun. Minka Kelly is sweet, a French guy is bad at communicating in ways that go far beyond a language barrier, and Flula Borg steals the show. Come for E's mediocre French pronunciations, stay for Chekhov's pants-shitting.Follow us on Bluesky!Theme music: "Our Big Adventure"...
2025-12-271h 18Rom BombsEp 60 - Merry Little Ex-masHoliday romcom season has begun once again! Okay, it actually began a month ago, but E has been too busy to edit any episodes until now. This year Netflix is blessing us with FOUR holiday romcoms (or THREE depending on how you count them), so the next few weeks will be busy. For our inaugural holiday 2025 episode we're talking "Merry Little Ex-mas," a lovers-to-exes-back-to-lovers movie that somehow makes the trope work. Join us as we discuss our newfound love of Pierson Fode, stay for another classic "E hallucinates a character name" blunder.Follow us on Bluesky @rombombs!...
2025-12-161h 22Rom BombsEp 59 - The Wrong ParisNetflix romcoms starring former Disney Channel child stars are back, baby! In this episode we discuss The Wrong Paris, a new Miranda Cosgrove vehicle that parodizes reality dating shows. And J has THOUGHTS about what they got wrong and what they got right. Along the way we also discuss:-Whether spraying yourself in the face with a hose can be sexy-Too much abs?-The nature of the Hulk's genitals-Werewolves and partial werewolves-The Man of La ManchaFollow us on Bluesky!Theme music: "Our Big Adventure" by Scott Holmes
2025-10-181h 25Rom BombsEp 58 - The Hating GameWhat does it take to make an enemies-to-lovers story work? Ideally, Colin Firth in a soaking wet shirt, but instead "The Hating Game" offers up Temu Ryan Reynolds in a towel, which doesn't quite get the job done. A book J liked was transformed into a movie neither of us liked, but we have lots of ideas about how it could have been fixed. We're not angry, just disappointed.Topics covered include:-What's the best angle for a butt shot?-What's the line between "romantic" and "serial killer"?-What's the most popular ship in the...
2025-07-041h 12Rom BombsBonus - You're Cordially InvitedWe're talking about "You're Cordially Invited," the new(ish) Reese Witherspoon/Will Ferrell romcom that's a bit heavier on the com than the rom but nonetheless qualifies. Why is this a bonus episode instead of a regular episode? Well, two reasons. One: we both really enjoyed this movie, so this episode is less us picking apart its flaws and more just us talking about what we liked about it. Two: we've already established that if we reach episode 100 we'll be covering "Love Actually," and we'd like to postpone that eventuality for as long as possible.We recommend watching...
2025-03-1639 minRom BombsEp 57 - Our Little SecretWe did it! We've made it to the end of the Netflix holiday season! Like marathon runners, we limp across the finish line, wobbly-kneed and hopefully not having pooped our pants. In this episode we discuss "Our Little Secret," the last of Netflix's 2024 holiday romcom releases. Lindsay Lohan, Kristen Chenoweth, a guy who played a creep on Pretty Little Liars, and a bunch of other people (and a Yorkie) engage in implausible hijinks at Christmastime, and somehow, despite a couple of near-fatal flaws, we both thought this movie was okay?
2024-12-231h 38Rom BombsEp 56 - The Merry GentlemenWhat if Magic Mike, but Christmas, and also even less of a plot? In this episode we discuss "The Merry Gentlemen," Netflix's third holiday romcom offering, in which Chad Michael Murray plays a carpenter who gets roped into performing in an all-male topless dance revue in order to save Christmas. Join us as we discuss ugly necklaces, floor humping, city girls, and hair that may or may not be a wig.Follow us on Bluesky @rombombsTheme: "Our Big Adventure" by Scott Holmes (Xmas remix by E)
2024-12-121h 16Rom BombsEp 55 - Hot FrostySince the dawn of time, made-for-TV holiday romcoms have featured women bringing snowmen to life and then falling in love with them. In this episode we discuss "Hot Frosty," the second of Netflix's holiday romcom releases, which was truly a breath of fresh air after the debacle that was "Meet Me Next Christmas." Come for the discussion of the practicalities of having sex with a snowman; stay for the part where E completely misunderstands the denouement of the movie and J only makes her feel a LITTLE dumb for it.Theme music: "Our Big Adventure" by Scott Holmes (X...
2024-11-251h 21Rom BombsEp 54 - Meet Me Next ChristmasIt's the holiday season again! And in the midst of the hellscape we find ourselves in, Netflix has decided to grace us with not one, not two, not three but FOUR new holiday romcoms. In this episode we discuss the first release, "Meet me Next Christmas," a Christina Milian/Pentatonix vehicle that... okay, you know how, without the occasional rainy day, you can't really appreciate the sunshine? Well, you'd better have some galoshes if you're going to watch this movie.Follow us on BLUESKY @rombombsTheme music: "Our Big Adventure" by Scott Holmes (Xmas remix by E)
2024-11-171h 15Rom BombsEp 53 - The Idea of YouIs "The Idea of You" a romcom? We don't know, but we watched it, and by golly we're going to talk about it! It's a story about ancient, withered crone Anne Hathaway falling in love with a young(?) boy-band star played by Nicholas Galitzine, and while we do spend a lot of time discussing age gaps, we also make room to talk about really important topics like: the world's ugliest dress, the various ways someone could get into trouble in New York, E's cat's butthole, and why Reid Scott only plays characters named Dan.Follow us on Twitter...
2024-06-271h 12Rom BombsEp 52 - Irish WishWe're back! And so is Lindsay Lohan, continuing her Romcomnaissance with another Netflix holiday romcom. But this time the holiday is... St. Patrick's Day? Join us as we discuss "Irish Wish," covering such topics as the definition of "wish," cobblestone streets that look exactly unlike New York City, and the fact that movie writers never seem to understand how the world of publishing actually works.Follow us on Twitter @rombombsTheme music: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2024-05-221h 33Rom BombsEp 51 - ExmasWe're back, just in time for Christmas! New holiday romcoms were thin on the ground this year, but we managed to find the Freevee original "Exmas," starring Robbie Amell and Leighton Meester as ex-fiance(e)s who reunite. One of us watched the movie in 5-minute chunks with a toddler kicking them in the ribs, and the other of us watched it like a normal person watching a movie; can you guess which of us liked the movie more?Join us as we discuss terrible bangs, romcoms continuing to not understand how baking works, romcoms continuing to not...
2023-12-241h 14Rom BombsEp 50 - Love AgainHoly moly, we've reached episode 50! To honor the occasion, we went out and actually PAID to see a movie in theaters. That movie is "Love Again," a fever dream of a romcom that will make you ask "did I hit my head and wake up in 1997, a year when it might actually make sense for everyone to be obsessing over Celine Dion?"Join us as we discuss such important topics as:-Sam Heughan's butt-Emotional support basketballs-Chekhov's journalist-Boy Meets World-Celine Dion, licensed OB/GYNFollow us on Twitter...
2023-06-151h 27Rom BombsEp 49 - Ticket to ParadiseIn this episode, we discuss "Ticket to Paradise," the movie that reunites romcom mainstay Julia Roberts with a George Clooney who has gradually abandoned his suaveness and embraced his wackiness. We all love an enemies-to-lovers story, but can we love a lovers-to-enemies-back-to-lovers-again story? Maybe not?Join us as we discuss the world's most disappointing wardrobe, the real dangers of swimming with dolphins, Balinese(?) wedding traditions, Schrodinger's yoga pants, and the fact that the creators of this movie clearly did not understand how law school, art curation, or graduation ceremonies work.Follow us on Twitter @rombombs...
2023-03-131h 27Rom BombsEp 48 - Christmas With YouHo ho ho! Meeeerry Christmas! What's that in your stocking? It's another holiday episode! In this one we talk about "Christmas With You," the incredibly generically-named Netflix original romcom that marks Freddie Prinze Jr.'s return to the screen. If you enjoyed "Marry Me" then you'll probably enjoy this one, since it's essentially a store-brand "Marry Me" with a slightly more plausible premise. Join us as we discuss FPJ's Just For Men hair, emotional support guitars, whether the Christmas song in this movie was written by an AI chatbot, and sensual tamale-making.Follow us on Twitter @rombombs...
2022-12-251h 11Rom BombsEp 47 - Falling for ChristmasIt's holiday season, baby! And you know what that means: another Vanessa Hudg— (touches earpiece) Sorry, I'm being told that... this can't be right... Netflix didn't put out a Vanessa Hudgens Christmas romcom this year?Well, we'll just have to settle for "Falling for Christmas," the movie that marks Lindsay Lohan's return to the screen as well as millions of people learning for the first time that there's a guy named "Chord Overstreet." Join us as we run down the checklist of Christmas romcom clichés, consider the movie's threatening undercurrent, and talk about bidets a weird amount con...
2022-12-031h 06Rom BombsEp 46 - Blast from the PastIn this episode, we discuss "Blast from the Past," the classic 1999 "fish out of water" romcom that itself constitutes a blast from the past, but in case that wasn't enough, we actually recorded this episode a year ago and then E never got around to editing it, so the episode itself is a blast from the past! INCEPTION.Anyway, join us as we talk about the "born sexy yesterday" trope, proper Air Force bailing-out behavior, the disservice this movie does to Sissy Spacek, and, for some reason, Vanessa Hudgens, even though she is very much not in this...
2022-07-121h 01Rom BombsEp 45 - MoonshotIn this episode, we tackle "Moonshot," a straight-to-streaming young adult romcom set *~*in the future*~* when humans live on Mars and yet nothing else has changed. Although we have surprisingly different opinions about this movie, we still manage to tackle lots of important issues, including:-Cole Sprouse's confusing career and tonsorial choices-Cat welfare-What the Big Bang looked like-Whether it's possible to enjoy a movie without realizing itPlus J introduces a great new party game: "What DIDN'T happen on Riverdale?"Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure"...
2022-06-271h 04Rom BombsEp 44 - Marry MeWe're baa-ack! (Actually, we recorded this episode a while ago, and then E took an embarrassingly long time to finish editing it.) In this episode we talk about "Marry Me," the new social-media-infused heir to the golden age of romcoms (the late 1990s). Join us as we talk about JLo's seeming inability to age, Owen Wilson's hair, Central Illinois geography, and the logistics of marrying a stranger pulled out of a crowd.Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2022-04-2055 minRom BombsEp 43 - Single All the WayAt last, we reach the end of the holiday season, and our final Netflix original romcom: "Single All the Way," a movie we both unironically enjoyed. Join us as we unpack what exactly makes this movie succeed where so many others have failed, engage in some light nitpicking, and go off on a bunch of tangents because we didn't have enough to complain about.Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com (Xmas remix by E)
2021-12-2755 minRom BombsEp 42 - A Castle for ChristmasContinuing our marathon of Netflix Christmas romcoms, in this episode we discuss “A Castle for Christmas.” It’s yet another British-adjacent royalty-adjacent Christmas movie, but this time without any Vanessa Hudgenses and with a middle-aged couple at the center. Brooke Shields is an “author,” Cary Elwes is a “Scottish” duke, and a big stone house is the “castle” at the center of their romance.Join us as we tackle such hard-hitting questions as:-What, exactly, is a castle?-What crime-related word starts with B?-Did Myles date Kate Middleton?-Is Cary Elwes a good actor?...
2021-12-181h 06Rom BombsEp 41 - The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the StarIt's that time of year again: the chill in the air carries the scent of roasting chestnuts and the sound of multiple Vanessa Hudgenses giggling, so it must be Christmas season! We return to the Princess Switch well to discuss the The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star, aka The Princess Switch 3: Still Switchin'!, aka The Princess Switch 3: This One's About Fiona. Join us as we consider character trajectories (who's getting hotter with each movie? who's getting stupider?), the practicalities of laser grids, and the fact that a basketball is almost but not completely unlike a giant diamond-encrusted tree-topper....
2021-12-031h 10Rom BombsEp 40 - One Small HitchWe're going indie for the big four-oh! In this episode, we discuss "One Small Hitch," the 2013 small-budget romcom that's almost good. Join us as we pinpoint the moments it gets right and the moments where it veers off course. Talking points include: mystery pills, our love of the "fake relationship" trope, how not to get sex-trafficked at the airport, the Jewish version of "blackface," what "The Big C" could stand for, and accidental nude encounters.Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2021-10-121h 13Rom BombsEp 39 - He's All ThatNetflix made a gender-swapped version of the teen classic "She's All That," and you'd better believe we watched it. Join us as we discuss "He's All That," asking a wide range of questions including:-Does Addison Rae's TikTok dancing fame translate into a strong on-screen acting presence? (Spoiler: no)-What constitutes a good promposal?-Why did they write a movie about an influencer without bothering to do even a modicum of research about the influencing economy?-Horses — how do they work?-Is it possible to replicate the magic of She's All That's infamous synchronized da...
2021-09-211h 18Rom BombsEp 38 - Resort to LoveIn this episode we tackle the new Netflix original romcom "Resort to Love," a movie we both... actually liked! Christina Milian (of "Falling Inn Love" fame) returns, this time joined by a staggeringly winsome Sinqua Walls and a bafflingly out-of-place Jay Pharoah. Tune in to listen to us discuss proper hiking apparel, karaoke etiquette, gecko romance, and emoji acting. Then take a trip to Mauritius, because it looks really beautiful.Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2021-08-131h 08Rom BombsBONUS: Two Weeks Notice LIVE COMMENTARY!Have you ever wanted to watch a movie with us? Well, now you can! We were recently together in the same room and took the opportunity to record a live commentary track for the 2002 Sandra Bullock/Hugh Grant classic "Two Weeks Notice." Just cue up the movie and press play when we tell you to, and you'll get to hear all of our thoughts on "woman orders takeout" scenes, conniving romcom redheads, some confusing costuming and hairstyling choices, and That Infamous Traffic Scene. You could also listen to this without watching the movie, but you might be somewhat confused, and...
2021-07-261h 49Rom BombsEp 37 - What a Girl WantsIt’s summertime, and that can only mean one thing: it’s teen comedy time! This time we discuss “What a Girl Wants,” the 2003 Amanda Bynes vehicle wherein she plays an ordinary American teen who finally meets her aristocratic British dad (Colin Firth) and just doesn’t fit in. You might call it a “fish out of water” scenario, but that incorrectly implies that there is a milieu in which Amanda Bynes’s character would be at home. It’s more like a “fish out of water but also the fish is allergic to water and falls down a lot” scenario.J...
2021-07-051h 05Rom BombsEp 36 - New in TownWe're back, baby! With worse audio quality than ever! E messed up her audio inputs so it sounds like she's recording at the bottom of a well, and J got a new microphone and is still adjusting. But you won't care about our sonic peccadilloes once we dig into "New in Town," the 2009 romcom that, like an Olympic diver scoring perfect tens, made no splash whatsoever. Renee Zellweger is the workaholic city girl who moves to a small Minnesota town, and Harry Connick Jr. is the laid-back country boy who teaches her how to loosen up, via hunting trips, tapioca...
2021-05-301h 13Rom BombsEp 35 - The Wedding PlannerIn this episode, we tackle The Wedding Planner, the 2001 Jennifer Lopez/Matthew McConaughey romcom that asks “what if a wedding planner fell in love with the groom of the wedding she’s planning?” and, secondarily, “what if Jennifer Lopez were Italian?” Join us for a lengthy discussion that includes such important topics as:-What a wedding planner’s job duties do and do not include-“Italian” accents that really feel like revenge for our complaints about Richard Gere’s accent in the previous episode-First-draft quirks that should have been replaced in rewrites-Blatant medical malpractic...
2021-04-101h 16Rom BombsEp 34 - Runaway BrideAh, Spring. The time when a young woman's fancy turns to abandoning yet another man at the altar. In this episode, we discuss Runaway Bride, the 1999 movie wherein Garry Marshall tried to replicate the magic of Pretty Woman and instead pulled a dead dove out of his sleeve. Join us as we discuss Richard Gere's needlessly bad New Yawk accent, what a journalist is (and isn't), and our undying love of Joan Cusack. Stay as we worry about the welfare of Richard Gere's character's cat. Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2021-03-2759 minRom BombsEp 33 - Home AgainWe're still alive! It's a new year, which means a fresh slate, which means a new opportunity to talk about a Reese Witherspoon movie. This time it's "Home Again," a 2017 romcom in which a divorcee takes in three wayward young filmmakers and... some stuff happens? I guess? Join us as we try to diagnose where exactly this movie went wrong, and in the process discuss our favorite Nancy Meyers movies, E's continuing distrust of tall characters, our surefire crying triggers, and yet more bad American accents.Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic...
2021-02-131h 03Rom BombsBonus: Christmas musicHere’s a little holiday gift for you! In this bonus episode, we discuss Christmas music: the songs we like, the songs we hate, and what Christmas music in general means to us, two women who do not celebrate Christmas. Plus, E debuts a new version of “Santa Baby” that is sure to fill your heart with holiday joy.Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: “Our Big Adventure” by scottholmesmusic.com
2020-12-2439 minRom BombsEp 32 - The Princess Switch 2: Switched AgainIn this episode we go back to our roots, as we discuss the sequel to "The Princess Switch," which was very first movie that we covered, two whole years ago! "The Princess Switch 2: Switched Again" has it all: unrequested matchmaking, a flour fight, a recast child role, a Christmas decorating montage, magic(???), a bland white guy wandering around pointlessly, a coronation, a strangely aggressive balloon drop, a spacetime paradox, and THREE — count 'em, three — Vanessa Hudgenses. Truly we are blessed. This is our fourth Vanessa Hudgens movie so far and we won't stop. This is now the Hudgecast.Foll...
2020-12-201h 11Rom BombsEp 31 - HolidateIn this episode, we discuss “Holidate,” the Netflix original romcom that coasts on its stars’ charisma like a brick on a dry Slip’n’Slide. Join us in our bafflement and outrage as we attempt to answer questions such as:-Is Emma Roberts a bad actress?-Was this screenplay written in the 90s and tabled for 25 years?-Which holidays actually call for a date? Probably not St. Patrick’s Day, right?-How?-No, really, how did this movie happen?Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: “Our Big Adventure” by scottholmesmusic.com
2020-11-241h 23Rom BombsEp 30 - Never Been KissedIn this episode, we return to the font of bad romcoms that was 1999 to talk about "Never Been Kissed," the movie about a 25-year-old woman who pretends to be a 17-year-old girl but acts like an 8-year-old, and the 30-year-old man who falls in love with her. Romantic, right?Join us as we ask why this movie thinks proms are costume parties, marvel at the chemistry between Josie and her brother, and reminisce about our own prom and for some reason our elementary school plays.Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by...
2020-10-301h 08Rom BombsEp 29 - Love, GuaranteedIn this episode, we tackle "Love, Guaranteed," a new Netflix original rom-com that blew its budget on 3 semi-famous actors and had nothing left over for other cast members or any sort of script editing. It's from the same team who brought us "Falling Inn Love," but this movie will make you long for what by comparison was an ensemble cast and intricate plot twists. Join us as we critique the screenwriters' understanding of the law, enumerate the movie's many clichés, and wonder whether it's possible for a rom-com to NOT frame being single as a fate worse than death.
2020-10-0851 minRom BombsEp 28 - Six Days, Seven NightsIn episode 28, we continue to plumb the depths of 1998 and revisit "Six Days, Seven Nights," the Harrison Ford/Anne Heche screwball romcom that we all need right now. E reveals her adolescent obsession with Harrison Ford, J reveals her familiarity with vacation packages, neither of us reveals a thorough understanding of how small aircraft work, and we both question the logic of casting Danny Trejo as a Polynesian pirate.Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2020-09-121h 02Rom BombsEp 27 - Can't Hardly WaitIn this episode, we return yet again to our adolescence, with the 1998 teen romcom "Can't Hardly Wait." Join us as we discuss Seth Green's jeans, Ethan Embry's accent(?), Jennifer Love Hewitt's nothingness (and hair), giant keychains, stupid nerds, and unfortunate homophobia. Stay for a heated debate about whether a stranded angel stripper has the right to requisition a pay phone.Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2020-08-1156 minRom BombsEp 26 - HitchIn episode 26 we discuss “Hitch,” the 2005 romcom that coasts on Will Smith’s charisma and falls flat on Kevin James’s Kevin James-ness. Join us as we debate the ethics of tricking women into relationships and question whether a first date should ever involve ingesting water from the Hudson River. Stay to find out which actors J would get a moon roof for.Find us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: “Our Big Adventure” by scottholmesmusic.com
2020-07-161h 06Rom BombsEp 25 - Forces of NatureIn episode 25, we discuss "Forces of Nature," yet another 1999 romcom (was there something in the water that year?). This one features Ben Affleck as an extremely boring dude, Sandra Bullock as a manic pixie dream woman, a hurricane as a metaphor, and an ending we didn't expect. Even after recording our longest episode yet, we're still not sure how we felt about this movie!Find us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2020-06-251h 21Rom BombsEp 24 - High School Musical 2In episode 24, we discuss High School Musical 2, a movie that has left an indelible mark on American culture — a mark shaped curiously like Zac Efron dramatically dancing across a golf course.We recorded this episode several weeks ago, and it feels a little weird to be releasing it right now, but if you need a little mental break, hopefully an hour of us discussing this dumb, silly movie will fit the bill. Please consider donating to a community bail fund; we've retweeted a thread full of links to them (@rombombs).Music: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.co
2020-06-021h 14Rom BombsEp 23 - The Bounty HunterIn this episode, we discuss "The Bounty Hunter," the 2010 Jennifer Aniston/Gerard Butler action romcom that asks "is it possible to root for a couple after one of them locks the other one in the trunk of a car?" and answers it with a resounding "Jesus Christ, NO." Join us as we try to figure out why Jennifer Aniston never really made it in movies and very quickly figure out why Gerard Butler never really made it in romantic comedies.Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2020-05-031h 04Rom BombsBonus - J and E Analyze Jeremy Renner's New SingleGood news, everyone: Jeremy Renner has finally released the female empowerment single we've all been waiting for. It's called "Every Woman" and it teaches us that women can be anything they want to be, as long as what they want to be is someone related to and/or sleeping with Jeremy Renner. Join us in this bonus episode as we unpack the song, raising questions like:-Is Jeremy Renner flirting with his sister?-How does he think flowers work?-How many lawsuits should be spurred by this song?-Is this the least empowering female empowerment...
2020-04-1734 minRom BombsEp 22 - Someone Like YouIn this episode we discuss “Someone Like You,” a 2001 Ashley Judd/Hugh Jackman romcom that brings home a report card full of Needs Improvements and with “fails to live up to its potential” written in the comments section. J brings her expertise on neuroanatomy, E brings her expertise on what is and is not anthropology, and we both bring our expertise on what treasures are lurking underneath Hugh Jackman’s baggy, baggy slacks. Come for the first ever musical plot summary (performed by J’s sister, D); stay for our intensive analysis of what may be the worst kiss ever committed to...
2020-04-101h 08Rom BombsBonus: E and J Reverse Engineer RomComsIt's bonus episode time! We're doing what we can to help distract you from, well, (gestures to everything). And what we can do is make up hypothetical romcom titles and challenge each other to come up with plots. Join us for masterpieces like "Thyme for Love" and "It's Better to Have Loved and Flossed." Stay for the gay pirates. Are we losing our minds? Maybe!Follow us on Twitter @rombombsMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2020-03-2834 minRom BombsEp 21 - Get Over itIn episode 21, we discuss "Get Over It," yet another late 90s/early 2000s teen romcom that's based on a Shakespeare play, except this one isn't ACTUALLY based on a Shakespeare play, it just... includes it? Sort of? A proto-psychotic Ben Foster is paired with a sleepy Kirsten Dunst as they sing and dance their way through a Midsummer Night's Dream, finding love along the way (also getting shot with a crossbow and accidentally getting naked at a basketball game). J takes issue with Kirsten Dunst's singing face; E comes up with a new invention that's sure to take the world...
2020-03-221h 06Rom BombsEpisode 20 - How to Lose a Guy in 10 DaysIf you've been wishing we'd do a movie everyone has seen, episode 20 is for you! We tackle everyone's favorite basic cable staple, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," a movie that posits the question: what if there was a girl, but she wasn't like other girls? And what if she had to PRETEND to be like other girls? And what if Matthew McConaughey was there too and sometimes took his shirt off?Join us as we interrogate plotlines that make no sense, compare relative levels of assholery, analyze inappropriate song choices, and, as always, critique wardrobe choices.
2020-03-071h 10Rom BombsEpisode 19 - The Family StoneHow much effort does it take to make a sibling swap work? More than the makers of "The Family Stone" were willing to put in! In this episode, we discuss the 2005 Sarah Jessica Parker/Dylan McDe-- uh, I mean, Dermot Mulroney vehicle that takes the "uptight career woman" trope to the next level. Join us as we get outraged on SJP's behalf, put forth a reading of the movie that was almost certainly not intended, question screenwriter culinary knowledge yet again, and consider whether a Christmas movie should include mastectomy scars. (Hint for that last one: no, it should not.)
2020-02-1357 minRom BombsEpisode 18 - Can You Keep a Secret?We’re back! After a slightly-longer-than-usual break, we dive back into the deep end with “Can You Keep a Secret?”, a surprisingly charming 2019 direct-to-video romcom that only came to our attention because it stars Tyler Hoechlin, an actor E is endlessly fascinated by, for both obvious reasons (I mean, look at him) and not-so-obvious ones (which we get into in the podcast).Tune in for that mystery and many others: What happens when a woman spills all her scandalous secrets to the handsome stranger sitting next to her on an airplane, only to discover that he’s her boss...
2020-01-191h 08Rom BombsEpisode 17 - The Knight Before ChristmasIn episode 17, we dive into The Knight Before Christmas, a Netflix original holiday romcom that asks, "what if a 14th-century knight became patient zero for a new Black Death by bringing his germs into the year 2019?" Okay, it doesn't actually ask that, because he's too busy speaking anachronistically modern English and falling in love with Vanessa Hudgens. But WE ask that, along with such questions as:-Is "Sir Cole" the worst name for a knight?-Is cannibalism technically illegal?-What the hell is going on with the Netflix romcom wardrobe department? Are these sweaters a cry for...
2019-12-131h 00Rom BombsEpisode 16 - Holiday in the WildIn episode 16, we talk about the new Netflix Christmas(ish) rom-com "Holiday in the Wild," a movie wherein Kristin Davis gets a second start at life and for some reason falls in love with a pointlessly cocky safari pilot. This movie has it all: Elephants! Confusing character development! Casual racism! Regionally inappropriate accents! Baffling makeup and wardrobe choices! Baffling Rob Lowe's nude torso! Tune in and hear our many thoughts. Music: "Our BIg Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2019-11-2250 minRom BombsEpisode 15 - Teen WolfIn this very spoooOOoooky Halloween episode, we discuss "Teen Wolf," the 1985 Michael J. Fox cult classic that was surprisingly difficult to track down. Join us as we compare this gung-ho eighties comedy to the gritty MTV teen drama, sometimes favorably and sometimes not-so-favorably. This movie has everything: Baffling fashion! Extremely flammable hair! Truly insane foley! A girl named "Boof"! The only thing that's missing is any kind of complex plot surrounding, y'know, the existence of werewolves.Music: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2019-10-2751 minRom BombsEpisode 14 - The Decoy BrideIn Episode 14, J indulges E’s David Tennant kick and we discuss “The Decoy Bride,” a 2011 British rom-com that pairs the aforementioned Tenth Doctor with Kelly Macdonald and the rocky moors of the Outer Hebrides. Although we both enjoyed the movie, this episode is our most contentious yet! Tune in as we disagree on a wide variety of issues, including:-Was the ending of this movie a surprise?-How good does David Tennant’s butt look in tight plaid bellbottoms?-Is it romantic or condescending to describe someone as a “chapter”?-Just how bad is it to threaten...
2019-10-1456 minRom BombsEpisode 13 - Chances AreIn this special celebration of our 30th friendiversary, we discuss a movie that came out the year we first met: "Chances Are," the 1989 Robert Downey Jr. vehicle that asks the question "what if Marty McFly and his mom had made a real go of it?" The answer, unsurprisingly, is: it would be profoundly emotionally disturbing, which is what this movie is, despite its framing as a PG-rated romantic farce. Join us as we unwind this tale of reincarnation, judicial corruption, Schrödinger's incest, and the most unflattering haircut we've encountered yet.Music: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2019-09-2458 minRom BombsEpisode 12 - Falling Inn LoveIn episode 12, we discuss the brand new Netflix original rom-com “Falling Inn Love,” a movie that pushes the limits of filmmaking by asking “how many clichés can you pack into a single film?” Join us as we discuss the ups and downs of Christina Milian’s performance, ponder the irresistibility of widowers, question various financial and renovation decisions, and bring to bear our respective areas of expertise, goats (J) and driving stick (E).Music: “Our Big Adventure” by scottholmesmusic.com
2019-09-031h 09Rom BombsEpisode 11 - Mamma Mia! Here We Go AgainIn episode 11, we tackle “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” the sequel to “Mamma Mia!” that was pretty much the opposite of what we thought it was going to be. For one thing, it turns out it isn’t actually a rom-com! But it’s too late for us to do anything about that now, because we poured several hours of our lives into this and there’s no way we’ll let that be wasted.Join us for a marginally-more-somber-than-usual discussion that includes:-Attempting (and failing) to make sense of the movie’s supposed timeline!-Debating proper p...
2019-08-2053 minRom BombsEpisode 10 - This Means WarIn this deluxe* episode, we discuss the long-awaited (by E) and long-dreaded (by J) “This Means War,” the 2012 rom-com that made Tom Hardy swear he’d never do another rom-com. Chris Pine and Tom Hardy are CIA-agent best friends fighting over Reese Witherspoon, and in the process they abuse their authority and waste millions of taxpayer dollars. Tune in as we critique the protagonists’ spy skills, interrogate baffling character names, and are forever changed by the worst sentence ever uttered in the English language. *longer than usual because a) we have a lot to say about this movie, and b) E...
2019-08-071h 07Rom BombsEpisode 9 - Chasing LibertyIn this episode of Rom Bombs, we discuss Chasing Liberty, the teen rom-com that… wait, this can’t be right… we actually ENJOYED? Mandy Moore helms this 2004 movie about the president’s daughter falling in love — not to be confused with First Daughter, the 2004 movie about the president’s daughter falling in love — and we couldn’t help but be charmed. Join us as we question the protagonist’s situational awareness, perv on Matthew Goode (just a little), and reminisce about how terrible early 2000s fashion and music was. Follow us on Twitter: @rombombsMusic: “Our Big Ad...
2019-07-1251 minRom BombsEpisode 8 - Just FriendsIn this episode, Ryan Reynolds rockets to the top of our list of personae non gratae with 2005's movie "Just Friends." This film has it all: Ryan Reynolds in a fat suit, copious mentions of the "friend zone," a protagonist violently assaulting a group of small children, and a flaming reindeer hitting a man in the balls. You should not even think about watching this movie; consider this episode us throwing ourselves on a grenade for you.Tune in and find out all of the ways we think this movie should be eliminated from existence and all of...
2019-06-2246 minRom BombsEpisode 7 - She's All ThatIt's the end of the school year, which can only mean one thing: time for a classic teen romantic comedy! In episode 7, we dip into the pantheon of nineties teen movies to talk about "She's All That," the makeover movie starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Rachel Leigh Cook, and an all-star cast of background characters Did this movie age well? How does it compare to its fraternal twin, "10 Things I Hate About You"? Why do rom-com writers not seem to understand what aprons are for? Listen and find out!
2019-05-2747 min
Rom BombsBonus Episode - E and J chat about Avengers: Endgame!In this special bonus episode, we discuss a movie that was neither a rom nor a bomb. This was originally supposed to be a hot-off-the-presses tide-you-over episode recorded right after we saw the movie on opening weekend, but then E procrastinated on editing so you're getting it two weeks late. Hope you still care about Avengers: Endgame! If not, you won't have to wait too long until the next, normal episode comes out.
2019-05-1640 minRom BombsEpisode 6 - The Perfect DateIn this slightly unhinged episode, we discuss “The Perfect Date,” the brand new Netflix original teen rom-com that drove us both to drink. Can a movie about a teenaged escort be wholesome? Tune in as E takes issue with the protagonist’s height, J takes issue with the protagonist’s college application essay, and we both take issue with the name “Delbert.” Music: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2019-04-1544 minRom BombsEpisode 5 - How Do You Know?In episode 5, we take on “How Do You Know?”, the 2010 Reese Witherspoon/Paul Rudd/Owen Wilson love triangle movie by film auteur James L. Brooks. Listen and find out whether Reese Witherspoon was a believable professional softball player, which reptile would have been a welcome addition to the movie, and what one easy step will help prevent UTIs.
2019-03-2844 minRom BombsEpisode 4 - Who Gets the Dog?In episode 4, we take on the 2016 indie romcom “Who Gets the Dog?” starring Alicia Silverstone, Ryan Kwanten, and a remarkably uncharismatic dog. Tune in to find out what behavior E finds totally unredeemable, why you shouldn’t let your dog off leash, and why you should avoid making frivolous calls to 911. Things we know about: behavioral training, rhotic and non-rhotic accentsThings we don’t know about: how much crack costs; how minor league hockey is structuredMusic: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2019-03-0545 min
Rom BombsEpisode 3 - Valentine's DayIn episode 3 of Rom Bombs, we take on the 2010 ensemble romantic comedy "Valentine's Day." Amazingly, even though we are both single women, we were able to have a full conversation without either of us having a nervous breakdown -- a feat which this movie seems to think is impossible. Find out why Jennifer Garner is an irresponsible teacher, how Jessica Biel's character is basically a Cathy comic come to life, and which interchangeable handsome white men had excellent chemistry even though they were only on screen together for five seconds.
2019-02-1244 minRom BombsEpisode 2 - Playing it CoolIn our second episode of Rom-Bombs, we tackle “Playing it Cool,” the 2014 Chris Evans rom-com that nobody has heard of. Oh, how we wish we could be back in those blissfully ignorant times ourselves.Join us as we talk about how this movie is a part of rape culture, establish that yellowface was definitely not acceptable in 2014, and take a brief, bewildered detour into how the screenwriters seem to think waves work. Don’t watch this movie, folks. It’s real bad.Music: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2019-01-2046 min
Rom BombsEpisode 1 - The Princess SwitchIn the inaugural episode of Rom Bombs, E and J tackle the Netflix original "The Princess Switch." Baking competitions! Fictional countries that are actually just England! Vanessa Hudgens playing two characters! Tune in as we discuss bad accents, rom-com wizards, bitchy villains, and the ethical problems with pretending to be another person. Stay for our collective bafflement at what the writers seem to think a stand mixer is used for.Music: "Our Big Adventure" by scottholmesmusic.com
2018-12-1955 min