romcom – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

YOU, ME & TUSCANY – Review by T. J. Callahan

April 7, 2026April 9, 2026 T. J. Callahan Halle Bailey, kat coiro, Me & Tuscany, nia vardalos, Rege-Jean Page, romcom, Will Packer, You

The plot of You, Me & Tuscany is written all over the grape leaves in the family vineyard…culinary school drop out turned house sitter, Anna, travels to Tuscany, squats in the empty villa of a man she’d recently met at a NY bar, pretends to be his fiancé, but falls for his cousin who’s also his brother. A Hallmark movie ensues, complete with a tell it like it is best friend, an overbearing, but loving family, a gorgeous couple, and beautiful scenery. What’s not to like?! There’s a lot of crushing under the Tuscan sun and it isn’t just grapes.

Reviews

SOLO MIO – Review by Susan Kamyab

February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 Susan Kamyab kevin james, Nicole Grimaudo, romcom, Solo Mio

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Kevin James returns to the romantic comedy scene in Solo Mio, a light-hearted, charming tale surrounded by the scenic backdrop of Italy. James stars as Matt Taylor, a man who finds himself at a loss when his fiancée leaves him at the alter in Rome. With their honeymoon already planned and paid for, he moves forward with the trip and tries his best to take pleasure in the all-inclusive honeymoon package. Solo Mio is a breezy, heartfelt watch that’s sure to bring a smile to your face.

Movie of the Week

MOVIE OF THE WEEK September 26, 2025: FRENCH LOVER

September 21, 2025October 10, 2025 Jennifer Merin betsy bozdech, Cate Marquis, french films, French Lover, jennifer merin, leslie combemale, Lisa-Nina Rives, liz whittemore, loren king, motw, Movie of the Week, nell minow, Omar Sy, romcom, sandie angulo chen, Sara Giraudeau, sherin nicole

Kind of like a reverse, more empowered Notting Hill, director Lisa-Nina Rives’ appealing French romcom tells the story of the unlikely connection between a mega movie star and a regular person who is a matter-of-fact waitress/chef who’s not particularly intimidated by the trappings of fame. While you can’t exactly claim that it reinvents the romcom wheel, French Lover is sweet, fun, and refreshing in the way that Rives portrays her leading lady a clearly in control and rarely compromises who she is or what she wants.

Reviews

THE IDEA OF YOU – Review by Susan Granger

May 28, 2024May 28, 2024 Susan Granger Anne Hathaway, Ella Rubin, jennifer westfeldt, May December, Michael Showalter, Nicholas Galitzine, romcom, The Idea of You

The older woman/younger man romantic concept has not been explored like this in a contemporary rom-com – which is what makes The Idea of You unique. Smart, savvy Solene Marchand (Anne Hathaway – at her charming best) is a divorced, 40 year-old mom who owns an art gallery in the trendy Silver Lake section of Los Angeles. When her feckless ex-husband flakes out on a promised trip to Coachella, Solene agrees to chaperone their 16 year-old daughter Izzy and her friends. Based on Robinne Lee’s popular novel, it’s adapted by Jennifer Westfeldt and director Michael Showalter, who deftly hone in on what happens to a middle-aged woman who defies societal expectations and how its ramifications affect her teenage daughter.

Reviews

THE IDEA OF YOU – Review by Nadine Whitney

May 13, 2024May 16, 2024 Nadine Whitney Anne Hathaway, Ella Rubin, jennifer westfeldt, May December, Michael Showalter, Nicholas Galitzine, romcom, The Idea of You

Michael Showalter’s adaptation of Robinne Lee’s almost fan fiction novel The Idea of You is much better than it has any right to be. Starring Anne Hathaway as Solène Marchand, a recently divorced mother of sixteen-year-old Izzy (Ella Rubin) who finds herself falling for Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine) a twenty-four-year-old boy band heartthrob. Showalter knows his rom-coms. He’s done satirical rom-com, tragic rom-com, and almost tragic but not rom-com, and now with The Idea of You he’s adding in spicy to the recipe. The Idea of You is a sexy and wise movie.

Reviews

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

May 9, 2024May 4, 2024 Valerie Kalfrin Benjamin Bratt, Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove, Mother of the Bride, netflix, Rachael Harris, romcom, Tasneem Roc, Thailand honeymoon

It’s fitting that the new Netflix romantic comedy Mother of the Bride revolves around an influencer’s wedding full of pretty images and sponsorships. The film looks like a travelogue for Thailand, with stunning skylines, sunsets, and loads of tropical beaches and cocktails. That’s fine if you’re in the mood to coast on the company of stars Brooke Shields and Benjamin Bratt, but it’s meh if you want more substance.

Movie of the Week

MOVIE OF THE WEEK May 10, 2024: THE IDEA OF YOU

May 5, 2024May 5, 2024 Jennifer Merin Anne Hathaway, betsy bozdech, Cate Marquis, Ella Rubin, jennifer merin, jennifer westfeldt, leslie combemale, liz whittemore, loren king, May December, Michael Showalter, nell minow, Nicholas Galitzine, nikki fowler, Pam Grady, romcom, sandie angulo chen, sherin nicole, The Idea of You

If you can suspend your disbelief about the fact that anyone would wonder why a straight man in his 20s would find Anne Hathaway attractive, The Idea of You is a sweet, thoughtful romantic comedy about seizing your joy where you’re lucky enough to find it and ignoring the haters. And the film is undeniably Hathaway’s, thanks to her appealing performance as a 40-year-old divorced mom who’s scared to believe in her own happy ending.

Reviews

THE IDEA OF YOU – Review by Loren King

May 1, 2024May 4, 2024 Loren King Anne Hathaway, Ella Rubin, jennifer westfeldt, May December, Michael Showalter, Nicholas Galitzine, romcom, The Idea of You

There are many reasons why a formulaic May/December romance like The Idea of You might end up as nothing more than an eye roll of a cliche-ridden film. That it not only works but is surprisingly fresh and touching is due to the textured lead performance by Anne Hathaway who brings such an appealing mix of self-awareness and vulnerability to 40 year-old divorced mom and Los Angeles art gallery owner Solène that it feels revelatory.

Reviews

AT MIDNIGHT – Review by T.J. Callahan

February 10, 2023February 10, 2023 T. J. Callahan At Midnight, Diego Boneta, Monica Barbaro, paramount, romcom, Whitney Cummings

At Midnight is the bewitching hour for a secret romance between a hotel manager and the newly single action hero movie star filming at his resort in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. It’s love at first bite for actress Sophie, when the ambitious Jr. Executive, Alejandro, makes her a late night sandwich. At Midnight is sometimes cute, mostly harmless and really not worth staying up late for. It’s rated R for brief bad language, not because it’s spicy. Only hopeless romantics will make it through the full 1:40.

Reviews

TICKET TO PARADISE – Review by Susan Granger

November 8, 2022November 7, 2022 Susan Granger Billie Lourd, george clooney, julia roberts, romcom, Ticket to Paradise

Booking Ticket to Paradise is for those of us who yearn for an old-fashioned romantic comedy, starring two of the most appealing movie stars from yesteryear who still have impeccable chemistry. Bali is certainly beautiful but is living in paradise enough to sustain a marriage over the long run? It’s predictable and formulaic but there are enough amusing chuckles along the way to justify a visit.

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