Podstruck: Fools Rush In (with Chelsea Devantez)

Summary

Glamorous Trash: A Celebrity Memoir Podcast

Podstruck: Fools Rush In (with Chelsea Devantez)

Release Date: March 17, 2026
Host: Chelsea Devantez (guesting on Podstruck, hosted by Chelsea Davison and Elena Crivello)
Episode Theme: Revisiting Fools Rush In—a culture-clash 90s rom com—through a pop culture and memoir lens, focusing on representation, rom com structure, and how female-led love stories can change storytelling.

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Episode Overview

In this crossover episode—originally from the Podstruck podcast—Chelsea Devantez (Glamorous Trash) joins hosts Chelsea Davison and Elena Crivello for a lively book club-style discussion of the 1997 rom com Fools Rush In. They dissect the film’s strengths and flaws, debate its influence, and share personal connections to the themes of cultural identity and romance, filtered through a feminist and screenwriter’s lens.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rom Com Form & Female Stories

• Trope-busting: The hosts reflect on how Fools Rush In both upholds and cleverly subverts classic rom com tropes: culture clash, parental interference, and “signs from the universe.”
• Female-led storytelling: Chelsea Devantez connects the genre’s focus on female stories with her own filmmaking, aspiring to center not just romantic love, but also friendship and self-love.
  • “I pitched it as it has the shape of a rom com, but it’s actually about female friendship, which I love.” —Chelsea Devantez (06:05)
• Changing expectations: Elena and Chelsea D. note how their own preferences have evolved, appreciating bittersweet endings and stories that stray from strict “happily ever after.”

2. Cultural Clash & Representation

• Stereotypes vs. Authenticity: The group debates whether the portrayal of Mexican-American family life is authentic or veers into stereotype, eventually agreeing that both sides—the WASP and Latino families—are exaggerated for comic effect, but fairly balanced for a 1997 film.
  • “It is equally stereotypical of his WASPy Connecticut family. And that’s what I enjoy so much... you root for Isabel’s family.” —Chelsea Devantez (25:51)
• Rare Latina Leads: The hosts praise the rarity (and boldness) of a Latina actor like Salma Hayek headlining a 90s rom com as a fully fleshed out character.
  • “Name your Latina lead rom com stars…in the past 30 years.” —Chelsea Devantez (31:17)
• Industry barriers: Discussion on the lack of role models and casting limits for Latinas and women of color in rom coms, with real-world examples of Hollywood’s narrow thinking.

3. Chemistry and Character Dynamics

• Chemistry Debate:
  • Chelsea D. and Devantez defend the pairing of Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek as endearing and funny, prioritizing humor over hotness, while Elena (having read Perry’s memoir) grapples with Perry’s off-screen baggage and physical presence.
  • “He doesn’t deserve Salma Hayek in any way. No, no. He’s not even as handsome as Chewie, and Chewie’s fucking hot.” —Chelsea Devantez (44:09)
• Character Flaws:
  • The team explores whether the male lead’s “asshole” moments detract from the romance, or are necessary for character growth.
  • “I love dark, deeply flawed characters in rom coms... so that by the time they change, you’re like, oh my God.” —Chelsea Devantez (67:19)
  • They debate if the love story is truly “earned,” especially as Isabel’s affection seems rooted in little beyond circumstance and lust.

4. Cultural Details, Humor, and Tropes

• Jet Ski Saga: The infamous Matthew Perry jet ski accident is recounted, both for its behind-the-scenes drama and for how it influenced the film’s production tightness. (60:57)
• Colorful Details: The hosts delight in the film’s Southwest setting, bold use of color, and family dynamics—including accurate details like the prevalence of chihuahuas and religious iconography.

5. Plot Recap & Structural Breakdown

• Act 1 (19:20):
  • Meet-cute in a bathroom line, one-night stand, surprise pregnancy, culture clash set up with both families.
• Act 2 (48:48):
  • Marriage tension, in-law warfare, family dinners, secret job moves, betrayal, and dramatic fake-out miscarriage.
• Act 3 (76:23):
  • Both leads separated, “signs from the universe,” mad-cap dashes across the Southwest, a baby born on the Hoover Dam, and a heartfelt wedding with both families united.

6. Comedy and Chemistry Check

• Banter: Repeated callouts for the importance of on-screen banter in rom coms—and wishing for more between the leads before their initial hookup.
• Side Characters:
  • Judy Greer Award goes to Lainey, Isabel’s best friend, for her standout comic reactions (72:50). Other favorites: Isabel’s brothers (especially for group chemistry), Chewie.
• Pop Culture Sidebars: From Real Housewives to Posh Spice to jet ski injuries, the conversation is peppered with tangents about 90s/2000s pop culture and current celebrity news.

7. Theme of Signs and Fate (77:07, 78:19)

• Magic vs. Skepticism:
  • The motif of “signs” (fate vs. self-determination) is unpacked, with Elena sharing a personal anecdote about following signs that profoundly shaped her career.
  • “If you are not paying attention to the signs, you are fucking your life up.” —Chelsea Devantez (78:31)
• Link to Religion:
  • “Isn’t signs actually a part of the Catholic religion? And that’s why I give this a huge pass.” —Chelsea Devantez (79:02)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You're everything I never knew I always wanted.” —Alex to Isabel (21:08)
• “She gets to be funny in this scene that is filled with so much titty. So that is just a feat.” —Chelsea Devantez, on Salma Hayek’s intro (29:54)
• “I would never write it, but in this movie I think it doesn’t bother me. Again, Southwest representation: innertubing down a dirty river. Come on!” —Chelsea Devantez (29:54)
• “I can’t believe you would wish Kathy on Chewy. That is so diabolical.” —Chelsea Devantez (82:06)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Main episode intro / guest context: [00:34]–[05:47]
• Rom com structure/ending discussion: [06:01]–[09:28]
• Fools Rush In IMDb summary & creative team: [11:13]–[12:25]
• Chemistry check: [43:15]–[45:38]
• Act 1 review: [19:20]–[34:10]
• Act 2 review: [48:48]–[64:27]
• Jet ski accident story: [60:57]
• Act 3 review: [76:23]–[84:34]
• Judy Greer Award nominees: [72:01]–[74:15]
• Signs and fate theme: [77:07]–[79:58]
• Love Note / Final thoughts: [87:41]–[92:54]

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Conclusion & Final Thoughts

• Chelsea Devantez: Argues for the film’s importance in representing Latina leads and culture, despite some 90s flaws and Matthew Perry’s miscasting. Wishes Perry were "hotter" but defends the odd couple’s chemistry, emphasizing the rarity of two funny leads and authentic flaws.
• Chelsea Davison & Elena Crivello: Enjoy the culture clash premise, but are split on the electricity between the stars, wishing for deeper emotional beats and more agency for Hayek’s character. Both express affection for the film’s color, warmth, and inclusiveness, but less so for its narrative shortcuts and loose-end supporting characters.
• Universal sentiment: The hosts agree Fools Rush In has more value than many current rom coms and remains a nostalgic, if imperfect, representation of non-mainstream love stories.

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Useful for Listeners Who Haven't Seen the Episode

• Get a clear breakdown of the film’s structure, themes, and cultural significance.
• Enjoy spirited debate on character chemistry and authenticity.
• Appreciate the ways pop culture, representation, and “signs from the universe” intersect in romantic storytelling.
• Hear writers reflect on how Hollywood’s biases shape who gets to be a main character in a love story.

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Further Listening / Promotion

• Listen to Chelsea Devantez’s Glamorous Trash for deep dives on female celebrity memoirs and pop culture.
• Check out the Podstruck back catalog, especially episodes about female-led rom coms and culture clash comedies.

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Closing

For more heartfelt, hilariously honest takes on movies, books, and pop culture, follow Podstruck and Glamorous Trash, and keep leaving those (possibly one-word) reviews—unless it’s “murder.”

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(For ad-free content, bonus episodes, and the chance to vote on future movies, check the Podstruck Patreon.)

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Hi, it's me, your host, Chelsea Devantez. I am at south by Southwest premiering my feature film. I wrote and directed a feature film. It stars Leighton Meester and Ashley Park. It's my lifelong works culmination. Anyways, we are at our big movie premiere. However, I did not want to leave the feed without some juice and so I am dropping an episode I love doing on the podcast Podstruck where we discussed Fools Russian, which is one of my favorite rom coms. I defended it to the death. Please enjoy this episode. And if you love rom coms, you love movies starring women. Go listen to Podstruck. I've really been enjoying their episodes.

[C]

Hello and welcome to Podstruck, a rom com rewind with Chelsea Davison and Elena Crivello, two TV and movie screenwriters obsessed with rom coms because it's one of the only genres that actually focuses on women.

[A]

Each week, we'll take a look back at a romantic comedy to appreciate the

[C]

good, the bad, and the totally sexist with fresh eyes. And we'll comment on all the things we were way too lovestruck to see the first time. Come with us as we revisit the

[A]

chick flicks that taught a generation of

[C]

women, you're not ugly, you just have glasses. This is Podstruck.

[A]

Cause I'm really in love with you.

[B]

When I'm looking at pictures of you,

[A]

I remember moments and my heart feels like you.

[C]

You've been a big surprise.

[A]

My so. Hello.

[C]

Today on Podstruck, we are talking about Fools Rush in a rom com about the high pressure of the nightclub biz in the 90s and how it was tearing families apart. Oh my God, who knew that's what businessmen were up to? I thought they were like dealing with Wall street, but they were just opening clubs.

[A]

Left they're just opening clubs violating workers regulation.

[C]

Yeah, it's crazy. But before we dive into this movie, we wanted to shout out a listener who really brought joy to our little hearts. Recently, LA Fatma left us a review that's short but oh so sweet. And it just said, love this Refreshing podcast. Highly recommend it.

[A]

Aw, I love that.

[C]

Me too. Sometimes you don't need much. Sometimes you just need a little. Hey, guys. Like this one, right?

[A]

I do think that's the thing that sometimes people feel like leaving a review is intimidating. You're like, I don't know what to write.

[C]

I don't know what to say.

[A]

It doesn't have to be long. Could just be a line. Two lines. Maybe one word.

[C]

One word? Yeah, just say heart.

[A]

Great. Fun. Love obsessed.

[C]

Down. Oh, let's get some one word reviews up in here.

[A]

I'm trying not to do my usual thing where I end up hitting on our listeners and our supporters.

[C]

No, I think they like it.

[A]

Elena always gives me shit when I'm like, ooh, you listening out there? I can tell you're doing it for me. Yeah, okay. I guess it's a rom com podcast and the romance is really me and our fans. Yeah.

[C]

I mean, this could be its own rom com movie where somebody has a rom com podcast and ends up meeting one of the fans and falling in love.

[A]

I like it.

[C]

But then that person becomes a murderer. So it's a little bit of a rom com. Why is it a thriller?

[A]

Why do you bring murder into it?

[C]

Those are hot right now. Rom coms and murders are very hot.

[A]

That's true. That is very true. Drop and companion and all of that. But you know what? That's not my vibe. I want to keep it old school. I just want it to be a nice little story of love.

[C]

Okay, okay. Someone could just write murder as their one word review because killing it.

[B]

You.

[C]

Murder.

[A]

I would not take that as a compliment. You would. If someone just wrote murder, you wouldn't think that means they want to murder us?

[C]

No, not at this point. I think they'd say, I listened to that one word review episode, and that means I love it.

[A]

Wow.

[C]

I dare someone to write a one word, five star review that just says murder.

[A]

Oh, my. Like, now I feel like that's what we're gonna get, and I'm just gonna get spooked out. I'm just gonna go. I'm just gonna be just shaking in my fuzzy blanket that I wear as a cloak. I'm like one of those, like, little dogs that, like, needs a thunder jacket.

[C]

I feel like when I get scared,

[A]

I'm just like, someone swaddle me.

[C]

I'll swaddle you, Chelsea.

[A]

Thank you. Thank you. All right, well, let's talk about fools. Russian. This is the second rom com in our culture clash category which cover where two people from different cultures fall in love. And joining us today is a very special guest, Chelsea devontez. Chelsea is an Emmy nominated writer, comedian, and filmmaker who most recently wrote and directed her first feature film, basic, starring Leighton Meester and Ashley park, which is premiering at south by Southwest. You guys. Oh, my God.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

She also was the head writer of the Problem with Jon Stewart, and she's written on a ton of your other favorite. And of course, she has a phenomenal podcast that covers celebrity memoirs and pop culture called Glamorous Trash. Welcome, Chelsea.

[B]

Thank you so much for having me. I am so thrilled to be on this podcast right now and also terrified to be deconstructing rom coms as I work on finishing my own film. Like, I'm curious what this is going to do to my brain, but I'm also excited for it.

[A]

I mean, so your film is both not a ROM com, but is a ROM com.

[B]

Okay, so here's how I pitched it. And Chelsea Davison saw, like, a really, really roug early cut. So you kind of know if this is correct or not. But I pitched it as it has the shape of a ROM com, but it's actually about female friendship, which I love. Okay, cool.

[A]

Because I feel like so often love stories, and I think this has changed in the last, like, decade. Now more rom coms are exploring other types of love, but for so long, it would just be about CIS love stories that are like, well, at the end, the girl has to fall for the boy, and otherwise we don't care. And it's really cool to see these types of movies explore other love or

[B]

even, like, love of self.

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

Yeah, it's interesting because I came to that talking to a producer about how much I love First Wives club, which, to me, I'm like, oh, it feels like a ROM com. But if you look at it like that is not a ROM com. Like, there's no love stories.

[C]

Right.

[B]

Unless you're seeing this friendship group come back together is your rom com. And I'm curious what you guys think, because in the book genre world, if you don't have a happily for now or a happily ever after, it is definitively not not a romance. It becomes a saga or an epic or something like that. But in movie world, I sort of feel like we have these rom coms that don't have love stories in them. And those tend to be my favorite ones. Like, 500 Days of Summer. It doesn't have a happy ending, but it is a ROM com. Or does it because he meets Mika Kelly? I don't know.

[C]

Well, my best friend's wedding doesn't end with her getting together with Dermot. So, I mean, that's another rom com that everyone loves and it doesn't have that. Also, centering women more, centering female stories is so important and it is harder to get them and sold. But I am just like, at this point where I'm like, I don't fucking care. It's a show with all women. Maybe there's a guy in there somewhere, but he's not the main character.

[B]

You're so right, though. It is so hard to get it done. But I hope it's happening more.

[C]

Me too.

[A]

I really have come a long way on my opinion on those because we've talked on the podcast how I used to actually really hate, like, bittersweet endings in rom coms. And, you know, yeah, My best friend's wedding, 500 days of summer. Even like, Roman Holiday. I was like, but why don't they end up together? You should go on tour with her as a princess. And like, I think it's like a lack of maturity in myself that I really just wanted it to be this one thing. And then I think as I grew up and got more experiences and realized how fulfilling these other types of love are, oh, I don't know. They satisfy me in a different way. I think, especially now with this podcast, watching some of them, some of them do end in a happy ending love story. At times I'm like, who cares?

[C]

Yeah. Or like, that wasn't earned the truth

[A]

about Cats and Dogs. I'm like, okay, so Janine Garofalo and this dude end up together. I just want her to be hanging out with Uma. Like, that's the movie.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I'm not a fan of bittersweet unless the technical bittersweet ending is truly what's the best. Like, Julia Roberts is not meant to be with him. And my best friend's wedding, like, she was a psycho the whole time and he wants to marry a college age student. So, like, he should go do that. That's what's for the best. Therefore, it's happy. We're like 500 days of summer. It's like, you're a loser. You know nothing about this woman. You just, like, stop chasing her and, like, you get Minka Kelly' so you're fine. But I don't like it when it's purposefully unhappy or bittersweet. When you're, like, rooting for them and then they're not together. I'm like, Give me the rom com.

[C]

Right, Agreed, agreed.

[B]

We did love in basketball. If that ended with them not together, I'd be upset.

[A]

Oh, I do agree with that.

[C]

That would be fucked up. Okay, well, this is our Valentine's Day episode, which is very exciting because Valentine's Day is also my birthday.

[A]

So it's two holidays, actually.

[C]

Two holidays in one. It's exciting that we're covering Fool's Russian because I gotta say, growing up, I loved this movie. And upon rewatching, I was like, w really doesn't hold up.

[A]

Oh, you're just diving in. Wow. Okay. Well, this was my first time watching Fools Rush in, and I had a real mixed experience in that There were parts where I was like, this is a classic. How have I not seen this? How are people not talking about this movie? This movie is magical and funny and romantic. And then there were parts where I'm like, what are we doing?

[C]

Throw it out.

[A]

Throw it in the garbage.

[B]

I cannot wait to fight you both to the death. Loved this movie growing up. It also extremely speaks to me because I grew up in the Southwest and this is like a rom com where the set piece is like the Southwest, the desert, like Las Vegas, Lake Mead, Lake Powell. Like, all of that is like the Hoover Dam. Like, that is where I spent many unhappy childhood years. And seeing it turned into a romance, I love, and I've watched it a ton, which I think it fully holds up.

[A]

Wow.

[C]

Okay, well, we're gonna have to get into it first. Let's go over the IMDb line. After a one night stand with Alex, Isabel realizes that she is pregnant and they decide to get married. However, along with the marriage comes compromise of one's own cultural traditions. And this movie stars Matthew Perry, Salma Hayek, and John Tenney.

[A]

Who is John Tenney?

[C]

I don't know, but he was listed in the as one of the stars.

[B]

He's the friend.

[A]

Oh, he's Jeff.

[C]

Okay, he's Jeff.

[B]

I thought he did a great job as the friend for the dude. Friends in a rom com were like, you do nothing but like, support Matthew Perry's storyline. I thought he worked every joke, hit every moment well.

[A]

And they gave him a lot of character, which I like. Often male friends in rom coms are just sort of like, I'm here, I'm a dude. Whereas, like the women friends are like, I'm quirky or neurotic or whatever. And then the men are just like, I golf. So it's nice to have a big swing character.

[C]

Yeah, that's true.

[A]

All right, this was written by Joan Taylor and Catherine Reback, and it was directed by Andy Tennant, who has directed a ton of rom coms, A bunch of ones that I think we will cover on this podcast in the future. Fool's Gold Hitch. Sweet Home Alabama Ever After.

[B]

Oh, you gotta do Sweet Home Alabama.

[A]

I know that. That's one that I have strong opinions.

[B]

I can't believe you haven't either, because it has an abortion storyline in it that clearly the studio tried to write around, and the movie falls apart because of it. And I can't wait to hear all your thoughts.

[C]

So this movie was released February 14, 1997, and the top songs in the US were Unbreak My Heart by Toni Braxton, which is so good. Wannabe by Spice Girls, and Don't Let Go by En Vogue.

[B]

That is my favorite song.

[C]

It is so good.

[B]

The amount of times I have sang that at the end of a comedy show and people are like, what's happening? Like, I'm singing my favorite song with my friends.

[C]

This is how all comedy shows should end. No.

[A]

What's it gonna be? Cause I can't pretend. No.

[C]

Thank you. I could keep going. I love it so much.

[A]

Well, I was excited about the Spice Girls. That was the first album I ever bought. I, like, saved my money and I went and I bought that Spice Girls album.

[C]

That's cute.

[A]

Spice World. And.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And it really inspired me with Girl Power in fifth grade. I said, woo hoo. We can do it too. Oh, boy.

[B]

And then a year later you're like, actually, we can't.

[A]

Actually, it seems like we can only do it in, like, bikinis and platform heels. I'm a little confused.

[C]

Those were our role models.

[A]

Yeah. And, you know, obviously, Posh Spice, totally unproblematic. Her family life is chill.

[C]

I'm very grateful for Posh Spice, though, and all of the Brooklyn Beckham stuff, because it has really been such a great escape for me these past few weeks when things have been going.

[B]

It really has been the Justin Baldoni Blake lively case of 2026. Like, the way that was just such a gift of something to extremely care about where the stakes touched none of us.

[A]

Right?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And people could take sides and, like, neither side Nazis.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

Everybody bad in all of them. But let's debate and have fun.

[C]

Yeah. Also speaking of Justin Baldoti and Blake Lively, they were like, no, we will not go quietly into the night. We're coming back. And with the whole Taylor Swift text message saga, which has also been fabulous.

[B]

Anyway, the way I want to talk about this case right now with you two and I know we have to talk about full tradition is actually physically painful.

[C]

It's been so helpful for me though, all of this. So thank you to our trash stars.

[B]

This is how I feel towards reality tv. I say thank you. Thank you for your service, for your gifts.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Everyone's like, oh, they're trashy. I'm like, thank God they're fucking up on screen.

[A]

Right?

[C]

Exactly. I watched all 10 seasons of Real Housewives of Potomac during the first month with my newborn baby.

[B]

So good.

[A]

Wow, what a ride.

[C]

So good.

[A]

Why was I not watching it?

[C]

Okay. Anyways. Okay, we gotta get to this movie.

[B]

We gotta get to this movie because I'm gonna fight you both.

[A]

Well, I just want to call out that this movie does fit the podstruck theory of rom coms because it has 33% fresh from crit. That's it. Critics hate it, but 64% fresh from audiences, which is positive. We always say that's how you know it's going to be a good rom com. Critics don't like it. And audiences do because critics don't like movies that are not for them. I've seen it before. I don't care. It's not important.

[B]

Critics in the late 90s, up until about three years ago, were all dudes and they didn't consider this cinema in any way.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

I feel like if the movie came out now, we would see a very different Rotten Tomatoes rating just because there. There's more critics and reviewers of like different identities.

[C]

That's a great point. Well, let's get into the recap after a short ad break.

[A]

But if you want ad free episodes, you can always join our [e-mail] podstruckpod for $5 a month, you get to listen without ads, you get bonus episodes, extra content. You can chat with us and our other meet cuties. That's our Patreon supporters. And you also get to vote on which movies we will cover. We're pretty much always voting on something.

[C]

Yeah. Check out Patreon during this quick break.

[A]

Wait, first we gotta shout out one of our meet cuties. So shout out to our latest meet cutie Nicole Gregory for joining.

[C]

We.

[A]

We can't let Nicole not get some props here.

[C]

I am so sorry, Nicole. You're right, Nicole. Thank you so much.

[A]

Thank you. Thank you. You know what? That's why I keep it running. Is for you, Nicole. You in particular.

[C]

It's just for you.

[A]

Is this the rom com? I don't know.

[C]

Well, check out our Patreon during this quick break break.

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[C]

So Alex, played by Matthew Perry, is a businessman who lives in New York City and opens nightclubs for a living. He is sent Vegas to open a new club when he meets Isabel, a beautiful Mexican American photographer played by Salma Hayek, while in line for the bathroom at a Mexican restaurant. So romantic. He lets her cut the long line and they strike up a convo where she tells him that she believes everyone's life is predestined. You just have to follow the signs. Sparks fly. Or do they? And the next thing we see is her waking up in his bed the next morning. She. She steals away while Alex is still asleep without saying goodbye. And then we cut to three months later. Alex is trying to get the club's alcohol license over a work drinks thing when Isabel shows up at his front door and reveals she's three months pregnant with his baby and she has decided to keep it. Alex is stunned and not exactly excited about this news, and he puts his foot in his mouth. Isabel speeds away in her car, and he decides to ditch this work obligation and follows her to the Hoover Dam, where he apologizes. She then tells him she'd like him to meet her family just once. So when they later ask, hey, who's the father of this baby? She can say, you met him that one night, remember? So Alex agrees. He goes to the family dinner, which is that night, and he meets her entire family and her ex, Chewie. And he's charmed by how close her family is and how warm and welcoming they all are, except for her father, who is not impressed. Impressed with Alex. And at the end of the night, Isabel drops him back off at his car where he tells her, you're everything I never knew I always wanted, and I think we should get married right now. And so they do, at a Vegas chapel, with Elvis walking her down the aisle.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

I could sit here and tell you why every part of it is perfect. So I'm really curious what didn't work for you.

[C]

I have to say, overall, I think act one is pretty strong. I like it. I'm into it. I think the stuff that doesn't work for me is more based on, and I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, chemistry. And perhaps a miscasting of Mr. Matthew Perry, who at the time was a hot, hot star. But upon rewatching it, I'm going, huh? I'm not feeling Him. But maybe that's because I have read his bio, and I was like, this guy sucks.

[B]

As someone who has also read it, it's tough to rebound from that memoir. Okay. But so I'm hearing in, like, the first act. Because I actually think the first act has so many perfect elements to it in that their meet cute standing in line at the bathroom, I think is a really, really unique one.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And you get to see her be funny and he's funny. You see how they are opposites but have that, like, banter that brings them together. You're already culturally kind of moving into a Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas. Like, what the crowd is, like, what he's eating. How, like, fish out of water he is. I also think the intro of him coming home and, like, being ready to go to tok, then he's got to go to Vegas. There's one, like, gay panic joke that actually does not hold up in the beginning. I forgot about that. That was the one that bothered me the most, where he's, like, hugging his best friend, and they're like, what are you doing?

[C]

They open the closet door, and the whole office is witnessing this. And they're like, oh, my.

[A]

Literally, the party goes silent. Every background extra they have stops and stares. Like, mouth open. Be like two men in a room hugging.

[B]

Yeah, I'll kind of give it to them in that. They were stuffed in broom closet. And the joke is we have conference rooms. So it's not as egregious as it could have been in 1997, but definitely not great. But then I will say the Hoover Dam is such a romantic setting. And if you grew up around this place like I did, it's disgusting.

[A]

Why do you think it's a romantic setting? Because all I know about the Hoover Dam, it's a big dam, it's concrete, it's a tourist trap. And a hundred people or more died building it. So it's like a place of death. What is romantic about the Hoover Dam?

[C]

Okay.

[B]

History of it not included. I wasn't going back into, like, how it was built. What I loved is that they turned it romantic. Like, she's sitting on the ledge. They're, like, overlooking this huge, vast desert wilderness. It also symbolically identifies the lines between the world she meets him in and the world she's about to take him into. It's this meeting place. It's Sex and the City. We'll meet you on the bridge. And then so many things are gonna happen on the Hoover Dam that are, like, key points in this movie. And I feel like it's a very working class rom com in that she's gotta drive that thing to get back to home every day. So it's. To me, it then becomes, like, super romantic that this story is happening as she's driving in her, like, Jeep that's also a convertible, but that's also, like, $2. But also it's cool. That's what I love about the first act. And I also think, like, her family is, like, so fun, so sweet. Like, when in 1997, were you watching, like, Latino families, like, take the big screen and have, like, 30 leading roles in a rom com?

[A]

No.

[C]

And I do think that is part of why I loved this movie growing up, because I am Mexican American. And I honestly, there's a lot in this movie that does remind me of my family and, like, having these giant get togethers. And as I was watching it, I was like, this is kind of. John and I, we had our biggest fight over what traditional Christmas dinner was like one of our first fights. Because I was like, it's tamales. It's pozole. And he's like, no, that's not. What was he like?

[B]

It's seven fishes.

[C]

No, he was like, it's turkey and ham. That's not a Dickensian. And I was like, no one said Dickensian is the dominating Christmas dinner. Anyways, whatever. We don't need to get into that.

[B]

No, I. I think that's it exactly. That's what I love most about the movie, is that it does a true cultural clash in ways. And maybe this is what we'll find about later. I never feel like it's really punching down on the culture clash. Like, it's making fun of his background. It's jokes for the sake of, like, here's what happens when two people from different backgrounds clash. And then we have a lot of comedy versus, like, taking swings at his culture or her culture. And her culture would be the one they would do in 1997. I don't have a Mexican American family, but being from New Mexico and in the Southwest, it did feel like they got a lot of things.

[C]

I don't know. It does still feel pretty stereotypical in a lot of parts where I'm like, I'm sure maybe some Mexican American families are like this, but I just feel like most Mexican American families, at least, I guess I'm more of like, my family's from la. It's more like Dodgers. They're, like, more American than this was kind of.

[B]

What I'll counterpoint with is that it is equally stereotypical of his WASPy Connecticut family. And that's what I enjoy so much, is that it's doing the rom com tropical. But it's doing it for both of them in 1997, which a year I find shocking. You know what I mean? I'm like, his mom shows up with like the coat over her shoulders and a Hillary Clinton headband and is like, hello.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And it's like, oh, you've got a great housekeeper. I mean, to be honest, I think they are far worse.

[B]

Yeah. You root for Isabel's family. You're like, you're on their side. Which I think is completely.

[A]

The first time he meets her family. He is, is shitty. He's like making annoying el gringo cuckoo. Yeah, the line Chewie Luke Skywalker immediately making fun of her ex's name, yelling about how the good the tamales are and thinking the volume will help this woman understand English.

[B]

Wait a minute, wait a minute. She said my aunt is deaf in her left ear. You have to talk to her in the right ear.

[C]

That's why he was shouting.

[A]

Oh my God, I missed that. And I was just like this racist.

[B]

No, no, he just, he was just talking to the wrong aunt. And then she's like, in Spanish, she's like, why is he shouting at me? And she's like, he thinks you're Rosa. And then she plays along.

[A]

Was I dead at the time? How did I.

[C]

She plays along and she goes, eh. Which was very funny.

[A]

Well, I saw that she was doing that, but I thought she was just like messing with him because she's like this idiot.

[B]

I think the chewy joke is great because he's a white nerd loser. That's his reference, right? Chewy Chewbacca. But like, that is a common name for them. And it's like, not funny. I feel like that is a joke he makes in his little office. And they're all like, hahaha, you're so funny, Alex. You should open another club. And he goes to her family and they're like, you're a loser. That's why I liked it. Because we don't laugh at him. We laugh at everyone laughing at him.

[C]

Right. And his. His awkwardness.

[A]

All right, well, you convinced me.

[C]

Ding.

[A]

Yeah. Okay. Well, speaking of rom com tropes, though, I do want to highlight. I thought it was interesting that this movie. Movie starts with, it's Christmas, it's New York City. And so it's almost this thing where you're setting it up like, oh, it's gonna be One of these traditional rom coms. All the setting that we are used to. And then it immediately is like, nope, we're going to the desert. And I liked that. I thought that was really interesting. It did make me wonder if there was some kind of studio thing to be like, make sure Christmas is in there.

[C]

It was strange. I was like, I did not remember that this movie started with Christmas. And then I was quickly, that goes away. So it didn' not feel necessary.

[A]

No, but it was interesting and subverting. Or one of our usual tropes. Usually in rom coms, one of them is an orphan or a half orphan. This is another movie where we have all parents alive. And this is the second in a row. And it seems to be something that is more true with these culture clash rom coms because we just did My Big Fat Greek Wedding that has all of the parents and these big families. And I think it's so interesting that usually in rom coms they're like, eh, it's just more convenient.

[C]

Her parents are dead.

[A]

His mom, who knows, he's, you know, whatever.

[C]

Well, also it's like, oh, they have romance issues.

[B]

Vulnerability.

[A]

Right, right. But in this, it's so interesting to see their issues directly come from their parents and those relationships. I actually find it a lot richer.

[B]

The obstacles are the parents, not the couples. So, like, while they are gonna accidentally push each other away. And at the end of Act 2, for the most part, they're trying to be together the whole movie. And other people are pushing them apart, which I think helps you really root for them as a couple.

[C]

I hadn't thought of it like that, but that's a really good point. One thing I have to talk about is how we meet Isabel, which is floating down a river in an inner tube on Christmas, wearing this little white shirt with her cleavage out, which, by the way, I'm not against. I'm like, salma Hayek.

[B]

It's Salma Hayek.

[C]

Looks amazing. You need to have her like that. But it is such a funny introduction. I couldn't imagine myself writing something like this. But it's Salma Hayek and she's hot.

[B]

That's a good point. Like, I would never write it, but in this movie, I think it doesn't bother me. Again, I'm just for Southwest representation, innertubing down a dirty river. Come on, put it on camera. This is our shit, man. Like, that is it. And then I think that again, she gets to be funny in this scene that is filled with so much titty. So that is just A feat. And then the two little kids really set up that she's like unhappy with the policeman, that he's a big deal, that everyone's in love with her, that she's the belle of the ball, that obviously the worst thing she could do is go marry fucking Matthew Perry.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So. And then also she actually's hot and beautiful. I think this is one of her best roles.

[C]

She's great in this. I think she's so fun and charming and funny. I don't know. Did she do many more rom coms? I feel like, no.

[B]

No. I mean, it's like, obviously she does like 30 Rock and later, the worst Magic Mike and. Yeah, she's not funny in them. This is. This is like a. She's a full fleshed out character in this.

[C]

Yeah, she's so charming in this. Yeah.

[A]

I feel like more often she is a love interest, interest in an otherwise not rom com. Like Wild Wild west or she's in Dogma. You know, it's like she gets to be funny and hot, but not really as a fully fleshed out character ever, aside from, you know, roles like this where she gets to do comedy and. Yeah. Have a story again.

[B]

Name your Latina lead rom com stars. I mean, in the past 30 years.

[C]

Jim Jlo.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

J.

[A]

Lo.

[B]

And what? Selena. Where she gets murdered like.

[A]

No, no, I'm kidding.

[B]

I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Made in Manhattan.

[A]

The Wedding Planner.

[B]

In the Wedding Planner, they're like, you're Italian.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, that. Nope. That is true.

[B]

In the Wedding Planner, she very loudly is like, I am Italian. So, like, this was. I don't know. To me, it's like, again. And I think maybe because I weigh this movie with the year 1997 all the time, I'm like, this. This is a. This is unbelievable. It's unbelievable that she got to hit all these cultural notes while being fully fleshed out while not being a one note trope, while being gorgeous, while being like a short, curvy lead in a rom com. Like, I don't know. I'm in awe.

[C]

It's so true. And one of the frustrating things that I run into a lot in like the writing world and trying to get stuff made is people are like, well, we don't really have a huge Latina star who can carry this show.

[B]

You're writing Gina Rodriguez or the End.

[C]

Yeah, that's it right now. And it's frustrating cause I'm like, well, yeah, because you don't make these stories that I'm trying to sell you because you tell me there are no stars, but if you made these shows, there would be stars. Like look at heated rivalry. These guys came out of nowhere.

[B]

Cause it's a great show. 100% show. 100%. And Jean is amazing. It's just like she can't do every single movie. And again, I have a movie and there is one role that is not for a white lady. And they were like, the only person who could get that done is Rihanna. And I said, rihanna's not even making music. You think she's gonna play the dowdy girl in my movie? Like, are you outta your mind? But yeah, they have those weird metrics.

[C]

Yeah, it's literally America Ferrera or Gina Rodriguez and it's good luck.

[B]

And then now we've got two up and comers. Jenna Ortega, Rachel Ziegler.

[C]

Yeah, yes, yes.

[B]

But that's the weird thing of like they have to be cast young enough in their twenties, so by the time you are writing a 30 year old ROM com lead, they have Rihanna power. And it's not on them, it's on the industry. But I just wholly agree with you.

[C]

Yeah, it's very, very frustrating. And by the way, I had Jenna Ortega in my decks for something before she was Wednesday and then the second she was Wednesday, I was like, well, great. Goodbye to the potential of her actually being in my show.

[B]

And there's so many, I think of Amy Carrera all the time who is in stuff, but I think should be the comedic lead in everything. And there's so many actresses like that.

[C]

Oh, I'm sure there are so many funny Latina actresses who just we don't get to see.

[B]

Which all to say, this movie's incredible. I think for that reason, like to have a rom com lead like her.

[C]

You're right, you're right, you're right. You're making me come around.

[A]

I know, Chelsea, you're really like convincing.

[B]

I told you I'm gonna come hard. But listen, we're gonna get into the second act and third acts and I know you'll have some stronger reasons.

[A]

One thing I don't like about the first act is I feel like they set up this thing with this girl, Kathy Stewart, who is trying to like find him in Las Vegas and he's avoiding her. We don't know why. We never get a peek into that. Like did they date? Were they engaged? He just hates her. He's literally diving under desks to avoid her. But also she's beautiful. And then we find out, very understanding and nice. Like there's nothing hideous about her.

[C]

Okay?

[B]

That's who you think. Cat, look at Kathy's hairstyle and you tell me that's a cool, laid back chick. She's clearly like a rich busybody who is like, I'm supposed to marry Alex and have a perfect WASP life. And he doesn't want that. He wants an Isabelle life.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

I feel like that's a totally fulfilling character.

[A]

He could just say that she's like, he's not here.

[B]

Okay, you're, like, upset that he's ghosting?

[A]

Yes, I felt like. Well, and especially narratively, I was like, why is that in there? There just felt like there were a lot of little dangling things that I don't like.

[B]

Oh, really? Okay. But then how would his parents come visit him later if it wasn't for Kathy? And then how would you dangle. Oh, maybe he's not gonna get back together with Isabel because the woman, the WASP cultural woman he's supposed to be with, he's about to get on a plane with her. He's gonna walk away from the love of his life. Like, who would be there to dangle that third act? Maybe it's not gonna work out because he has another woman in his life if it wasn't for Kathy. And how would his parents show up?

[A]

Okay, so I feel like you have another woman kind of being dangled, which is this, like, weird sexually har business liquor license lady. So I'm like, hypothetically, those could be combined. Or I think you could just rewrite it so that he's just not so vehemently, like. Because when at the end, when he's like, oh, I might go off with Kathy, I'm like, you were avoiding her before you even met Isabel. She's like, he's been not returning my phone calls for years.

[C]

That's how we know he's really at a rock bottom. Because he's like, fine, I'll go with Kathy Stewart.

[B]

If at the end of the movie, he's like, yeah, you know what? I'm not going to be with a mother. My child. I'm going to be with the woman who's been sexually harassing me the whole movie.

[A]

We would not be like, oh, no,

[C]

I think a rewrite.

[A]

Because that also that plot line, I'm like, where is this going? This is crazy. Like, this woman who's hitting it goes nowhere.

[C]

And to clarify, because I didn't really get into it in the Act 1 recap, essentially his friend is like, we've got to flirt with this woman to get our liquor License. And then she ends up wanting to sleep with Alex, and he's like, no, thank you. It's strange. Also, this woman I realize was Aunt Zelda in Sabrina the Teenage Witch with Melissa Joan Hart. I don't know if you guys watched it, but I kept thinking, this woman's so familiar. Yeah, I loved that show.

[B]

Anyway, okay, all right, let me counterpoint, okay? He is supposed to get this liquor license because he's the club maker, man, right? And this is the night to do it. And the woman, specifically, is like, I want Alex. I don't want that other guy who we've never heard from again. So it has to be him. That's how high the stakes are. It's his whole job on the line, because he's not gonna go to din, and he's gonna chase after Isabel over the Hoover Dam and not even meet up for later. He's gonna go all the way to Mexico to, like, meet her family that night. I feel like that puts the work stakes on the line, which is his whole drive, which is like, my job, my job, my job, my job. Secondly, if Isabel wasn't in his life, this club would be happening. That's the big thing. And because Isabel is in his life, he can't wine and dine this woman. He can't wine and dine all the people. He can't overlook the construction, and so everything falls apart. So if she wasn't there, what. What would the stakes be for him walking away that night to follow Isabel over the Hoover Dam?

[A]

I think it could have been a work thing. That wasn't him being sexually harassed, especially because the rest of the problems that come with the club are not to do with the liquor license and this woman. It's like cranes are dropping things. It honestly seems like he is bad at his job. Like, the OSHA guy comes and is like, this seems like an unsafe work environment. He's like, it's fine. And then things are falling.

[B]

Imagine if all they had was things are falling. Things are falling. Things are falling. You'd be like, oh, this is, like, overdone. At least the liquor license thing is new. And secondly, we get another funny female cameo role. Like, if I was up for Aunt Zelda, I'd be like, fuck, yeah. I cannot wait to come in and tickle Matthew Perry's dick with my foot and make him feel good. Like, that easily could have been. You know, John Goodman's there and, like, doesn't want this many square feet. Ha ha ha.

[C]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's true.

[A]

No, I'M all for more female roles. I just felt like both of them could have paid off more if because he ditches this woman that then she makes trouble and then he has to try to make it up to her by having some meeting later, which then spirals like, I want to see it more pay off.

[C]

Oh, like he ends up having to take her to dinner and he doesn't want Isabelle to know. And Isabelle somehow sees them.

[A]

You know, something like, I felt like you were setting this up as a ball in the air and then they're just like, nevermind, it dropped. Nevermind. And then Kathy. I wished that they had just given a little context. Like if. When Jeff is like, you're hiding from that she's gorgeous. If he had said, like, yeah, we dated, but she was totally wrong for me. And I know if I end up in the same room with her, I'm going to fall into my old habits.

[B]

Okay, so he would deliver the lesson at the beginning of the movie.

[A]

I need some justification as to why he's diving at her desk to be around this one. Or just have her be a little bit more like Janice from Friends, where she's like, where is he? If she's outwardly annoying, I could be like, okay, I buy it a lot

[C]

of high, but she seemed kind of outwardly annoying. Like, she seemed. No one wants somebody who's chasing them that hard.

[A]

I don't know, man. I got a good vibe from Kathy.

[B]

I think that's the craziest part of all of this.

[A]

That's insane.

[C]

I have to agree with Chelsea devonte on this. She seemed bananas because she also was like, just sitting, having lunch and overhears Isabelle and is like, I'm sorry, did you say Alex? She is so hungry.

[A]

If they really are childhood friends, which you find out that's not a lie. They really were childhood friends. I feel like if I just found out, like, oh, my God, my best friend from childhood got married. They're not actually best friends.

[B]

They're rich. Families hang out.

[A]

That's their equivalent of best friends.

[B]

I'll give you liquor license, lady. Because that could have paid off in a joke later of like, there's no alcohol tonight. Or at least something to just button up. He didn't give her what she wants.

[A]

But you don't want any justice for. For Kathy.

[B]

Not at all. Because I think it's so much more powerful to make her beautiful. Waspy. Like, she's not cuckoo. She's not out of her mind.

[A]

Just, why is he hiding?

[B]

Because she's not the right person for him. That woman looks like the woman who should be chosen in the rom com, right? And she symbolizes his culture, his upbringing, the right thing to do, all of it. And he doesn't want that life anymore.

[A]

And I am on board for all of that. I just want to see, not react like Bugs Bunny.

[B]

If she comes in, they have to get dinner because he has to be super polite. He can never say what he feels because again, this is like WASPy culture, blah, blah. And he, like, doesn't want to go to dinner with her because he finds her fucking boring and annoying. So he hides behind his desk.

[A]

I would rather that he gets trapped into going to the dinner. It's boring.

[B]

She's like, you are making the page count of this script way too fucking long. And one of the reasons I love this movie is because it's right and tight and gets out.

[A]

Chelsea is the line producer of this podcast and she's like, we don't have the budget for that. We need to cut that scene.

[B]

I think I really am way in Supo's. But when I hear you be like, and then there should be a scene with Kathy, I'm like, what?

[A]

We don't need that.

[B]

No, we got the story point across perfectly. She shows up, she overhears, then she's on the plane.

[A]

It confused me.

[B]

No, I actually disagree. I think you're horny for Kathy and that's making me upset.

[C]

I think maybe you are. Chelsea, you want Kathy.

[A]

I don't want him to be with Kathy. I love your point that, like, that is the lut that you would expect him to want that. His parents think he should want that. Everyone in society is pushing.

[B]

It's a key point in the movie. It's a cultural clash movie.

[A]

I want to see her be the wrong choice.

[B]

Not about her, but you can see

[C]

she is the wrong choice in who Alex is actually drawn to, which is Isabel, who is the opposite.

[B]

If she was extremely wrong for him, you'd be like, of course it's Isabelle. She's got the annoying laugh. Instead, it just has to be like, yeah, a life with Kathy is nice and fine. It's just not his true destiny. It's not his true happiness. But if you make her Janice, then it's easy peasy. Gotta be Isabel.

[C]

Yeah. And just from the beginning, like, we have the whole thing where he's practicing Japanese. Like, we get that this guy wants to go out and be in a different environment. He's adventurous, you know, he doesn't want to just be stuck like every man

[B]

on Tinder, he loves to tramp.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Well, guys, let's move on to the chemistry. Chemistry check.

[A]

Chemistry check.

[C]

Do these leads Alex and Isabel, Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek, do they have chemistry? What do you think?

[A]

Okay, so I'm thrown because, Elena, you were like, I think it didn't work for me because of the chemistry. I actually did think they had chemistry. I was pretty into it. I mean, I guess it's just tough because I find Matthew Perry extremely charming. I did not read his memoir, so he's not ruined to me.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And, you know, Salma Hayek is the most beautiful woman on earth, so it's hard to not be like, oh, my God. And so seeing them together, I don't know, I felt that pull, especially in scenes where they were kind of mad at each other. I was like, oh, this is sexy.

[B]

Yeah, their chemistry works for me, which is probably my personal taste, which is, like, funny over everything. Like, he's not hot. I'm not lusting after him. He doesn't deserve Salma Hayek in any way. No, no. He's not even as handsome as Chewie, and Chewie's fucking hot.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So I don't like that. I will take a funny male lead and a funny female lead any day over just, like, a hot dude being like, I'm not meant to do this. And so then I love their chemistry because I think they're both extremely funny, and I think he's funny with her.

[C]

When I was younger, I was like, these two have chemistry. And spades. I was all in. Something about this viewing and the way they dressed Matthew Perry.

[B]

It's because you read his memoir.

[C]

It's because I read his memoir.

[B]

You also know he's, like, fully in addiction right now and crashes a Jet Ski and almost ruins this movie, so.

[C]

Which, by the way, was shocking because I was like, oh, yeah, he had to be on a Jet Ski in this movie. And then I watched the scene, and I was like, he's never on a Jet Ski.

[A]

Yeah. So what is the Jet Ski story?

[B]

Oh, my God, it's so good.

[C]

I feel like we have to get to that when we get to that part.

[A]

You're right. You're right.

[C]

Back to what I was saying. They dress him. And maybe this was just the look in the 90s. He looks like a child wearing his father's suits the whole movie, but that was the look.

[B]

Baggy, pleated khakis.

[C]

I kept thinking, I don't want to see this guy's butt.

[B]

Well, he's also extremely thin because again, he's in the throes of addiction. And so I think the costume designer might have gotten some different measurements when he showed up. I think that's hurting it too.

[C]

Well, maybe. Well, so I was struggling. And also I do have to say that jump from the moment in line at the bathroom to them just sleeping together. I wished they had filled it in a little bit more. I wish we had seen a little bit more between them. Leading to the one night stand. Add more pages that I would be down for them to add more pages.

[B]

I would definitely be down for the half page ad of like, he kisses, she kisses, we see a shirt come up, blah, blah. However, I do think if they had filmed that, we would all agree that there's no chemistry. Oh, I actually don't need to see Matthew Perry kiss Salma Hayek and I don't need to see his shirt come off.

[C]

I don't need to see his shirt come off. But I would have loved to have like, maybe a little more banter, a little more like after she pees, she goes and sees he's ordered 20 things off the menu, which he had like every plate. And she's like, are you meeting someone?

[A]

You know, whatever.

[C]

I'm not writing the dialog here, but a little moment there between them would have been nice.

[A]

It's interesting with the meet cute because it actually has a lot of connection to any Anyone but you, which we covered on the podcast with the like meeting in line, the girl needs the bathroom, he helps her get the bathroom, they hit it off and then have a one night stand together and then she leaves.

[C]

Right, right, right. I forgot.

[B]

The difference is that this one was 1997.

[C]

Right.

[A]

Well, I'm just saying, I think the difference is that this one, I am immediately like rooting for them and I did not necessarily feel that pull with Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney.

[C]

I was rooting for them. Well, I think we need to move on to act two after this quick break.

[B]

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[A]

Not great.

[B]

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[C]

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[A]

diving into Act 2 Alex and Isabel are now married and her dad is pissed. He shows up at Alex's job with a baseball bat and tells him he's not a man, he's a thief. But Alex and Isabelle are in love and things are going well until Alex tells Isabelle that their plan will be to move back to New York City once the Vegas Club is opened. Isabelle wants to stay in Vegas because she's about to start working on a photography book about the desert. And then we get this montage that shows how she's shaking up his boring life with her passionate Mexican ways. Her family paints his bland house a rainbow of colors, she brings her Chihuahua to live with them, and when Alex's parents show up up unannounced, they are shocked to discover that he is married to the woman who they assumed was just the housekeeper. And he kind of went along with that lie and also having a baby. Both sets of in laws meet on Cinco de Mayo and tensions are high when her parents insist their kid should be raised Catholic, but Alex's parents want the baby to be raised Presbyterian. The dads get into a shouting match that ends with Alex's dad yelling the white people are melting here. After this horrible get together, Alex is contemplating divorce until he shows up to an Ultra ultrasound and hears his baby's heartbeat for the first Time, he and Isabel make up, and she agrees to move to New York City if they can stay in Vegas through the pregnancy and the birth. He agrees things are back on track until OSHA threatens to shut down Alex's construction site. With good reason. So Alex promises his boss that he can get things back on track and open the club in three weeks. His boss tells him if he does then then he will get put in charge of the Midtown club, the big promotion he'd wanted. The only hitch is that he would need to be back in New York City in July instead of October. And Alex promised he had stayed in Vegas. But he agrees and gets to work opening the club without telling Isabelle the new plan. On opening night, Isabelle shows up to the club to celebrate. But when she meets his boss, she discovers that they are supposed to move to New York City next week. Isabelle is blindsided and so storms off. They get into a huge fight and Alex tells her he isn't going to sacrifice this job opportunity just because he gave her a ring in front of an Elvis impersonator. Isabelle is so mad, she ends up in the hospital and tells him that she thought fate brought them together. But she's realizing there's no such thing as signs, and she tells him that she lost the baby and they break up. Alex leaves and heads back to New York City while Isabelle drives down to Mexico to visit her great grandmother who baby again.

[C]

Perfect.

[A]

Okay, we'll go through all of it, but I just have to comment on the end, which is this. Rock bottom. I was floored. I fully believed they had lost the baby. And spoiler alert for the next act, they did not lose the baby. But I was like, pretty gutted by this and was shocked that this was the move the story was taking.

[C]

Wait, Cuz Chelsea, you had never seen this before? Is that what you said?

[A]

Never. And then I was so upset about it. I was like, there's no way. And then my husband. I were watching it together and he's like, I don't know. She probably didn't. I was like, right. That's why she turned over when he came in her hospital room. That's why we keep seeing all shots of just her face. And then I was like, okay, I'm gullible. She definitely didn't lose the baby. We're gonna find out. But for that first couple minutes there, I was shocked. I was really horrified.

[B]

Okay. And to that I say, good story telling. Yes. You're like, oh my God.

[A]

Oh no. And then the surprise.

[B]

Now she's in Mexico with Her great grandma. Oh, my God.

[C]

Yay.

[B]

She still has the baby. They crushed it, by the way.

[C]

They didn't even bother to give her, like, a pregnancy belly. She's supposed to be, like, six months pregnant at the club opening and she's walking around. She looks incredible. She doesn't look pregnant at all. And she just holds a little purse over her belly as if that's fooling us.

[A]

It was so funny. It's like what they do in sitcoms when an actress gets pregnant and they're always carrying, like, laundry. They did the reverse here where they're like, we don't need to give her a belly as long as she holds, like, a little person. For.

[B]

She does have a belly, though, right?

[C]

If you are that far along, you do not look like that. I mean, maybe. Maybe some people.

[A]

Some people do. Not me, friend of mine, it was crazy. I have pictures of her. She's nine months pregnant. It's like the week before she's giving birth. And me, not pregnant, looked way more pregnant. It was crazy. She looked not pregnant at all. And we started to, like, doubt her. We're like, monica, are you sure the baby's next week? We're like, maybe you did your math wrong. Like, maybe the doctors are wrong. Maybe you're only six months pregnant. And then the baby came out and we're like, where was it hiding?

[C]

I feel like the studio did, like, test shots of her and they're like, nope, make the belly smaller. Make it smaller. We gotta keep her hot. She's like the hanging fruit of this whole movie.

[A]

Yeah. I do think it's interesting, though, that they're willing to take that big swing of faking out the audience, gullible people like me to be like, the baby's dead. And that they also, in the early part of it, are so casually pro abortion, where like, he's like, yeah, okay, maybe we'll get it taken care of. And then she's like, no, I'm keeping it. It is interesting that. I think in a lot of ways, 1997, we were talking about abortion more openly than we are today.

[C]

No, it's because in 97, abortion was, like, cool, go get an abortion. I mean, obviously there are people who are against it, but I also want

[B]

to push back on that and say, no, this movie's just fucking cool. When in a rom com, do you get to have dialogue about abortion the way people who believe in abortion rights have dialogue? Like, that would be cop. Cut out of so many rom coms. Yes, definitely today. But also, like, back Then again, you're gonna get into the dead baby storyline in Sweet home Alabama. And so like, it was always very cagey. I also think, like hitting all the demographic quadrants, you've always got the south, which is staunchly anti this. Also, she's Catholic in the movie, which we all know very anti abortion. This could have easily been a two line joke they refused to allow in the movie. And instead they allow us to live in a world where, where we have choice. I love, again, it's real stakes of losing a baby. Where in so many rom coms they're like, no, that's too sad. How about she's just. She just loves to work too much. Right?

[A]

Right.

[B]

I loved that she was like, she was testing him. The only reason you're with me is because I got pregnant. And if I'm not pregnant, you won't want to be with me. And that test proves true. Until the happy ending where he's like, without a baby, I don't care. I just need you. I love you. Like, I think it's the coolest test of the relationship. I think it does make you really emotional, which I really like in a rom com.

[C]

Although it doesn't seem like he passes the test. Cause he's like, okay, you're right, I'm going to New York.

[A]

He needs some time. But I don't hate that.

[B]

Cause also, as someone who is fucking obsessed with work, if these roles were gender swapped, I absolutely see me being like, bitch, I'm shooting a movie. I'm not gonna like, stay here with you. I gotta go to set and you're coming with me. Like, I can see myself doing those same moves. So maybe I wasn't as mad at him. Cause I do understand, like, working your whole life or something. Also, as someone who grew up poor, he should have a fun job and take care of that baby.

[C]

Yeah, you need this job. You can't just be floating about. Yeah, what is he gonna do, open his own clubs?

[B]

All of the stakes were real. You've got. You have to take care of a child. There's money on the line. This is his dream. But then also, like, he doesn't know what a family is. He doesn't know what sacrifice is because his family sucks and hers is amazing. I think it hits all the notes.

[C]

I will say some stuff that felt extremely accurate to me was the very colorfully painted house. My mom, like, our house has always had many colors on all of the walls. And the Chihuahua, my mom has two Chihuahuas. I was like, God, these are Such stereotypes. And then I was thinking about my life, and I was like, or not. This is maybe just very accurate. Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

Also, my husband's family is black, but the crosses in their house are passed down. And so, like, turning the corner and having, like, a wall of crosses, which is not something I grew up with. You're like, whoa, Completely.

[C]

I one time counted how many images of Jesus were in just my nana's living room. And I am not kidding when I say I was at 55. And I'm sure I could have found more. Oh, yeah. Also, in the bathroom, I'd sit down to go pee, and I look next to me and there is, like, a Jesus calendar, but it's a picture of him wearing his crown of thorns with the blood coming down his face and him just looking pained. It is the bathroom.

[B]

That's actually kind of makes it funny if you're looking at it the right way.

[C]

I have it in a script because it's just so funny to me. These, like, intense images of Jesus bleeding to death everywhere, which is so morbid.

[B]

Okay. I really, really curious. Both your opinion and especially you, Elena, because you can relate to it in some ways, is that one of my favorite parts of the movie is the way they do cultural jokes between him and her in a way that I feel like if we turned in the script now, someone would be like, this isn't PC. Or like, oh, no, this is bad, because there's so much fear around it. Oh, comedic versus, like, yes. While they both leaned into stereotypes, I felt like it was the way you do comedically lead into any stereotype. And I, for the most part, I would say, like, 95% of it. I felt like, oh, wow. I feel like you wouldn't be able to do this script today. Even though it doesn't feel offensive. Like, I would say the thing that was most on the line was the housekeeper thing, but they have her literally holding a rag, scrubbing the count.

[C]

Like, yes.

[B]

It didn't come out of nowhere. They could have just had them be like, oh, she's Mexican. She's your housekeeper.

[C]

Right.

[B]

Again, I felt like it really made the joke on the parents, not on her completely.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I was like, oh, wow, this is really how diversity should be done in a rom com. And I feel like I haven't seen it in a while.

[C]

I always have a hard time with that kind of stuff because I'm always like, oh. Like, it's so annoying that there's this stereotype of, like, Mexicans are just housekeepers, and it's like, there's nothing wrong with being a housekeeper. That is a great job. But I'm just saying, like, it's annoying that we don't get representation of Mexicans being more than that. But I had a moment where I was like, oh, this is so annoying. But you're right, it is also played on them. It's on them for being kind of these asshole idiots.

[B]

She's a photographer at Caesar's Casino. Again, these are, like, jobs I grew up around. So I'm like, I think it's so cool to see that. But then she has this beautiful artistry. And, like, Chewie's a cop. And, like, to me, I'm like, they get to do all of the nuance and reality of people's lives while being able to do the big joke of why his, like, Protestant loser parents would be upset at this.

[A]

Yes. I do also like the culture clash when he goes out with her brothers. I found that really great because it's not just the kind of trope of, like, the intimidating, scary dad, which they did a lot during the movie. But then by having the brothers be like, okay, they're intimidating, but it's not just like, don't hurt our sister, which we get a little bit. It's like, literally, they all like to shoot guns and go into the desert where there are rattlesnakes. And then when it matters, they all save him. And I just like that it's not just played as, like, a quick passing thing. We actually get to spend some time and kind of have this. It's, like, hazing in a way that feels very real.

[B]

Yeah. And when they bring him home and she's like, you were supposed to give him a good time, and she's, like, smacking them and pushing them out, it's. That also felt like you got to see her relationship with them, and also you're rooting for him and her. And then also, like, all the comedy of, like, the cactus in him. Yes.

[C]

Although the moment when he's lying face down on the ground and, like, knocks over some alcohol and licks it off the floor, I was, like, dark because

[A]

of his real life.

[C]

Yes. It's very hard for me to watch Matthew Perry now. I'm just like, after reading that memoir, all I can think about is how he calls himself Batman. Like, he had a giant Batman emblem on the bottom of his pool. Like, this guy. I mean, I feel for him.

[B]

No, I still think the alcohol thing's funny.

[C]

The alcohol thing is funny. But I also, while watching it, was like, this is just too real. I can see him being at this kind of a low.

[B]

Yeah, I can see me being at that kind of low. And I don't suffer from addiction, and I totally have drank some alcohol off the floor in some bad times, so.

[A]

All right, well, here in this part, we get the families on the boat and the jet skis. So I want to hear about this jet skiing incident where Matthew Perry got injured.

[B]

They're like, we have this fun jet skiing set piece that we're going to do. Here's your set man. And Matthew Perry says, I don't want a stuntman. I want to do it. And they're like, absolutely not. You're the lead of this movie. You've got to return to friends. Insurance surely wouldn't cover that. If something happened to you. You have a stuntman. And then he says, I'm Matthew Perry. I'm the most famous man in the world right now. You don't get to say no to me. And then all these people who can't say no to him watch as he gets on a jet ski immediately crashes. Everyone's job is on the line. Money is on the line, movies on the line. It's already been struggling with his performance and him showing up like they already barely made it. Then everyone's like, oh, my God, the movie is over. He's taken to the hospital. And then he writes in his book, whether this is true or not, that while he may have already been suffering from other addictions, he was given a Vicodin for the pain in the hospital. And that's when the Vicodin addiction started, because that's what they gave to him after the jet ski accident.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yeah. And the movie almost, like, wasn't finished because of how much money and time this took. Which I gotta say, I think is part of. Of why the movie is so tight. And.

[C]

Right. They were like, we just cut some stuff.

[B]

They were like, we can't film all this.

[C]

But there is no part where he is on the jet ski.

[B]

Yeah, exactly. Because the day they were all out on the water, oh, my God, I can't get my head out of production. Imagine getting on the water with an entire production. You have one day to get this, and your lead crashes. You're never fucking going back.

[C]

Yeah, you're right.

[B]

I don't know if they actually shot on. I can't remember if it's Lake Mead or Lake Powell, but, like, there's no way they got permits to easily go back within the next 10 days and finish the movie.

[C]

Well, thank God they filmed all this on the boat beforehand, because that would have been a nightmare. And it is good stuff. Isabelle's parents are like, you guys should put on some more sunscreen. And they're like, we're fine. And then they get super burnt at the end.

[A]

I once got so badly sunburnt while skiing, I had to go to the hospital.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

This is why you're a fan of Kathy. Because this is something that would happen to Kathy.

[A]

Finally. Sunburn representation.

[B]

Skiing sunburn representation. Yeah. Cause the light bounces right off that snow, baby. Right onto your face.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And same with the water. The water is really bad. And even in the water, it, like, refracts and is really bad for you and burns more. So anyway, there you go. I was confused. The scene where he is coming to the ultrasound and he's like, I have to tell you something. I have a secret. And then he doesn't tell her what the secret is.

[B]

It's that we have to move to New York next week, not at the end of October. He doesn't want to upset. And he's in love with his baby. He doesn't, like, want to lose her, so he keeps the secret longer. This is like the white person culture. Keep the secret. Don't be honest. Yep.

[C]

Oh, so true.

[B]

Then she gets mad about at the club opening.

[A]

No, this is before that happens. This is before that plot point.

[C]

No, it's not that.

[B]

No. Because we're in the second act.

[A]

We're in the second act, but this is before the OSHA stuff happens and that they threaten him and they have to move up the top timing of the club.

[C]

Oh, you're right. This is.

[A]

This is before that. Was he gonna break up with her?

[C]

I thought he was gonna break up with her. This meeting with between the parents goes terribly. And then his friend is like, yeah, that's why you should get divorced.

[B]

Right?

[A]

Just end it.

[C]

Yeah, end it. And his friend has been divorced and he's like, I'm telling you, like, get out.

[A]

You think he's showing up at the hospital being like, I'm gonna end it?

[C]

Yeah. But I think they just needed to, you know, combine plot moments. And we're like, well, have it at the hospital. That's what's gonna keep him well.

[B]

And also, he's gonna see their baby'?

[A]

I did love that. I loved his, like, awe and love at seeing the baby.

[C]

He's so excited. And he's describing it to his friend. He's like. It's like, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. That was Cute.

[A]

I felt like I kept going back and forth on him as a character because there were times like that where I felt the love. The times where I felt like he was so charmed by her family, and I felt, like, so much heat between him and her that I was like, yes, I'm on board. But then there are things like the fact that he is letting his parents think she's the housekeeper and is refusing to tell them the truth when they're there. He just became such a scumbag. And I felt like they kept doing this throughout the movie where he just is so horrible. And she's like, I'm just in love with you. And I kind of was like, why? I get why he would be in love with you. Salma Hayek, who's a cool photographer and carrying his child and gorgeous.

[C]

It's because he's the lead of Friends. He's the apex.

[B]

I was gonna say this is a rom com where the man is the lead. It even starts on him. He has to learn the big less lessons, which is, like, work isn't everything, which is what they usually make the lady learn. I love to work, but I guess love matters.

[C]

This is him.

[B]

I love to work, but I guess love matters. I think that's why I forgive it more, because in a normal circumstance, when the woman's doing all the work, you're like, fuck this. But in this circumstance, I feel like they're flipping the rom com trope on its head. Therefore, I think I judge it less.

[C]

Also, he doesn't lie to his parents for very long. It's just in that moment that they think, this is the housekeeper is him too.

[A]

He's, like, going along with it.

[C]

He's not close with his parents. He's kind of avoids his parents. He has a weird relationship with them. He feels judged by them. That's why he didn't want to tell them.

[B]

That's the whole thing. She can speak out, he can't. Like, she's big and loud. He's, like, quiet and repressed.

[C]

And in a weird way, she's helping him.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Become more himself.

[A]

Yeah. I guess I wanted to see more of that because it did just feel like he was, like, ashamed of her or something.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Because he was.

[C]

I don't know if I felt like he was ashamed of her. I feel. Felt like he was ashamed that he wasn't more in charge of his life. Like, it was kind of a little bit like of a masculine, feminine thing. Like, yes, she has come in and now painted the entire house and it's more her style. Like, I'm not calling the shots.

[B]

Like when your parents your whole life are like, you're going to be a doctor. You're going to be a doctor. You're going to be a doctor. Deep down you don't want to be a doctor, right? You want to be a lumberjack. And this is the day he has to tell them, I'm going to be a lumberjack. So it's not that he's ashamed of her, like, I don't love her. It's just, this is the day that you're going to tell your parents you're not going to do the thing they raised you to do. I also think, Chelsea, I love having these conversations with you and we discuss film a bunch. I'm finding out something, I think specifically about us and I'm curious if you agree, which is like, I love dark, deeply flawed characters in rom coms and like, where you do go like, no, bad. That fucking sucks. You suck.

[A]

Right?

[B]

So that by the time they change, you're like, oh my God. But then you have those moments where like, oh my God, this guy sucks versus a more lovable, likable guy.

[A]

I think you might be right. I think this is something that we've talked about. I mean, the one that comes right to mind is Tom Hanks in Splash is kind of a bad guy. And there's a lot of rom coms where they just kind of have the guy, usually the guy be a dick. Actually there are some with women too often the queer rom coms where they have one of the women just be an asshole kissing Jessica Stein Happiest season and then at the end they're like, yeah, they were an asshole, but now they're really, really sorry and they'll not be bad. And I think there's part of it to me that I'm like, we've seen their true colors. We've seen that they are toxic and self centered and yes, they're on a journey. But I'm kind of like, like in My Best Friend's Wedding after what we've seen. No, they should not be together. This person should be alone and work on themselves.

[B]

I hear what you're saying, except I feel like you want them to be together in this movie. And I think I'm sick of. Did you guys see people we meet on vacation?

[A]

Yes, but we both loved it. Oh,

[B]

well then, yeah, never mind.

[C]

No, I want to know. I want to hear what you have to say.

[B]

I'm sorry. You loved all of it.

[A]

I loved Quite a bit of it. I also read the book and loved the book.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay, well, I guess here's what I'll say about that. I think that proves my point that I love really dark, complicated, flawed people who feel very authentic. I don't like the poppies that are like. And quirky. And he's like, I'm kind of an asshole, but also I'm nothing. Yeah, that's what they feel like to me. They don't feel like real people that I know and see. Whereas, like, these two feel more like real people. Harry Met Sally feels like an actual, like, asshole in real life who you love. Listen, I guess this is a podcast where we argue, but, like, to me, that was a really watered down couple.

[A]

Well, look, we did agree. My point in that episode was that I am filling in a lot of the holes because of the book, so I feel like I was bringing a lot of like. Well, yeah, they don't say what his hopes and dreams are or his fears or why he's like this. But I know because I read the book.

[B]

Yeah, I did not read the book.

[C]

I also feel like that movie, for me, just felt just kind of like a fun little, like, romp. There's something I really loved about that

[B]

movie, but I would agree with you where it's just, like, fun, frothy romp. Like, absolutely. That's just not my taste. I don't want froth. I need you to stab me a little bit as we go. That.

[A]

That also makes sense why this movie, why you came on for Love and Basketball. It's like, you want it. It's not our typical rom com, though. I would say this one is. And also, for the record, I do root for this couple. I just felt like there were moments where he is so horrible, and it felt like they didn't really, like, call him on it enough.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

I think you kind of talked about, like, because it is a male lead in a rom com, they just kind of do the shorthand of just like, everyone's in love with him. It's magic. It's rom com magic. She loves. And I just wanted it to be a little more earned.

[C]

I don't know if he seemed like an asshole to me, though. I don't want to say you reminded me of my husband, but there was a lot in here that I was like, this reminds me of my husband. Like, the thing at the end where she says to you, family is just something you put up with on national holidays. That, to me, feels so much like what my husband's family dynamic is he actually over the past years has been like, you know, you've really brought me around on family. Like, I actually enjoy being around family now more. I mean, I guess I'm just amazing is what the moral of this is. But I think there's just like a different cultural thing about enjoying family or it's okay. Like, people don't have to act a certain way. You just are yourself. Everyone could just relax and let loose. It's not about being proper or I don't even know what.

[B]

Yeah, that's where I really relate to it too. Even though in my relationship I would be the Matthew Perry. Like, my husband is. Like, every birthday party, my mom is there, my sister is there. Their partners are like, everyone does everything together all the time.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And I'm like, what? You know what I mean? We're at a bar dancing. Like, it's 10pm like, what do you mean? Your mom's here and she's like, what's up? And so I think maybe I also really like this movie because I can relate to, like, being in an interracial relationship and like, those types of, like, clashes and like, how you do have to grow and change together or you can't be together.

[C]

Agreed.

[A]

I just.

[C]

I guess I don't find him to be such an asshole.

[B]

Yeah, I don't either. Cause I guess he's me.

[C]

I just have a problem with Matthew Perry. That's my biggest issue. Well, I think we better move on to the Judy Greer Award. Unless there's anything else you want to touch on.

[A]

No, no. I was going to say the same thing.

[B]

Fabulous.

[C]

You earned it.

[B]

You deserve it.

[C]

The Judy Greer Award.

[A]

This is the Judy Greer Award where we give out the award for the quirkiest side character who stole our hearts. Elena, will you read us today's nominees?

[C]

So there's Jeff, Alex's cynical co worker, played by John Tenney. Tomas, Isabel's overly protective father, played by Tony Moss. Million Amalia, Isabel's mother, sweet, supportive lady, played by Anne Bettencourt. Isabel's wise great grandma, played by Angelina Torres. Lainey, Isabel's quirky best friend, played by Siobhan Fallon. And Kathy Stewart, Alex's childhood friend, played by Suzanne Snyder. Donna, his secretary, played by Debbie Shively. And Tracy, the late who Alex needs to sleep with for an alcohol license, played by Beth Broderick.

[B]

It's Lainey. She's so funny. She's so good. She's such a good friend. And she just has like three facial reactions to that. Kathy Scene. And each one is a big laugh because she knows Kathy's being an underhanded, subtle bitch to Isabel, Even though she's doing it politely. She's being like, oh, that's nice. And Lainey knows she's being a bitch and is like. And I think she really for, you know, the rom com girl who always gets a quirky best friend, I think this is one of the better ones.

[C]

Yeah, she is great. Also, shout out to Siobhan for being in Men in Black. And she's the woman at the beginning who goes, edgar, your skin is hanging off your bones. You know, her husband's what's his face who drinks the sugar water. And she is so good in that sense. Scene two. She has like three lines in that movie and you remember her forever. And she does much the same thing here.

[A]

So, Elena, are you giving your Judy Greer award to her as well?

[C]

Yes. I love her. I love this actress.

[A]

I want to give my award to. It's not one person, but I want to give it to the group of Isabel's brothers. I felt like the group of brothers as a collection when we first meet them at the party, when they go on this bonding trip into the desert, I just felt like all the different facial reactions, them as a collective, I found so fun. Again, maybe I just wish this were a three hour movie. I mean, if Scorsese can do it, why can't we? I wanted more time with them. I loved them.

[B]

Chelsea, I think that is such a good pick. I totally agree with you. And is this also redhead on redhead hate, maybe?

[A]

No, I did like Siobhan. I liked the friend. Maybe I didn't get enough. I don't know.

[C]

Also, I got to say, I'm embarrassed that I didn't even put the brothers in there. Sorry, brothers and Chewie?

[A]

No, because it would just be a collection.

[C]

There's just so many. All right, well, let's move on to Act 3. So we see Alex. He's sad in New York City, and Isabel is sad in Mexico. And surprise, she's still very much pregnant. And he's working on this new midtown club when he is served with divorce papers. And while wandering around the city, he starts to see signs everywhere that seem to point him back to a life with Isabel. And meanwhile, she gets into a huge fight with her great grandma, who tells her she's listening to her fears instead of listening to her heart. And Isabelle's like, whoa, Granny is right. And when Alex is about to go sailing with childhood friend Kathy and both sets of parents he sees a little Latina girl whose name is Isabelle, and he's like, wow, this is the sign I needed. And so he ditches the sailing date, flies to Mexico, rides a bus, takes a donkey, and finally arrives at Isabel's grandmother's hacienda, only to realize Isabel has left and she is heading back to Vegas. So he flies back, waits for her at the Hoover Dam, and when she's driving over it in the pouring rain, he jumps out in front of her car and tells her he has not given her a divorce. And she's like, no, Alex, this is over. But then her water breaks and they have the baby right there on the dam, surrounded by strangers who just watched the entire birth from under their umbrellas. And the baby's born, and Alex and Isabelle are over the moon. And as she's being carted into the ambulance, Alex realizes they're officially divorced. And the movie ends with them getting remarried in the desert overlooking the Grand Canyon, with both families in attendance as

[A]

fools rush in plays okay, I did love this third act.

[B]

I think this is like just when they get back together, they wrap everything up so perfectly where she's like, the baby's gonna love school in New York. And he's like, not as much as camping in the desert. And then cut to this drone shot overhead of this beautiful wedding, but there's no close ups. We're like, not down below. And you realize, like, her dad and family get to be present and do it right this time. I think it's like the perfect ending and you go out on a big high. Whereas I feel like a lot of rom coms overstay there. Their happy ending.

[C]

I will say this is a great ending. You do get the warm fuzzies and everyone's together. It's the compromise. It's. The culture is coming together. His white parents are there and look happy.

[A]

This whole, like, you just gotta look for signs. Magic is in so many rom coms. It's in Sleepless in Seattle, Serendipity. There are so many where it's just like, look around. And Elena knows. As someone who doesn't believe, I often find it a little corny.

[C]

Okay, I have to say, I had an insane series of events that changed my life. And it's all about Georgia o' Keeffe and Santa Fe. And in the course of a week, I had a million weird signs pointing me to take this road trip to Santa Fe. The weirdest one, it ended in a woman handing me my coffee at a coffee shop. And she said, whoa, that Looks like a Georgia o' Keeffe painting. And this was after a week of Georgia o', Keeffe, Georgia o', Keeffe, George Joe Keefe popping up. And I go home that night, and I said to my husband, I think I'm supposed to go on a road trip to Santa Fe. And he's like, oh, okay. I get in the bath, I open up this book. First sentence, mention Santa Fe. And I was like, that's it. I'm going. I go on this road trip. It's amazing. I go by myself 10 days. I come up with an entire script while driving. I come home, I write it in three days. That script has gotten me every job it is at Amazon. I'm hoping it gets picked up to series.

[A]

Who knows?

[C]

But, I mean, this whole thing about signs, it's real. You gotta follow the signs, Chelsea.

[A]

Maybe I just haven't been given signs.

[C]

You have been given signs. You've been given signs. You haven't looked at them.

[B]

This is the third act of this podcast where you are Salma Hayek and she is Matthew Perry. And you need to get her to believe in something larger than herself. Because, Elena, I am so with you. I am a girl of the Southwest, of crystals and dreams and what wishes and hopes and angels. And if you are not paying attention to the signs, you are fucking your life up. And also, if you're like, yeah, signs, and you're not doing it right, you're fucking your life up. Like, it's signs. Wait, I have a question, though, Elena.

[C]

Are.

[B]

Is your family Catholic?

[C]

My parents were both raised Catholic and then were like, no, but my grandma was hardcore Catholic.

[B]

Aren't signs actually a part of the Catholic religion? And that's why I give this a huge pass over serendipity and other where they're like, there's a sign that's like a cheap writing trick in this movie. And I always thought it. It was Catholicism, so I'm glad I'm right. But I was like, oh, no. It's still part of the culture clash. She believes in something more and signs. And this is a part of her life that he'll take on and not just, like, a shitty way to get them together.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

I was just gonna say, usually I do find it a little corny. And this movie, I didn't find it corny at all. I thought it really worked because it wasn't one moment that he's like, the sign I've been waiting for. Like, the fact that he. He denies it. Like, he keeps being like, it's not enough. It's not enough. But we can see it in his face, and we can really feel like he wants to believe, but he can't let himself. This was really beautiful. And by the end, I was, like, so rooting. It makes you believe in magic watching this.

[C]

And he makes a wish. He throws that silver dollar over the dam just like she's done from the beginning. Which is a. A sweet little moment.

[A]

Guys, I hate that you are so anti Kathy, because I was so rooting for him to go back when he's gonna get on the chels need to

[B]

go to fucking therapy, and you need

[A]

to tell them what you're dealing with

[B]

here, because there is something so dark underneath this. I cannot with you.

[C]

I was rooting. I was like, yes.

[A]

When he, like, ditched his parents and her parents and Kathy. And then I was just like, okay, so now he's getting his love story and thank God. But then they're just, like, on this helicopter, like, so Chelsea, she's been forcing

[B]

him to be with her their entire lives. If Kathy was a male character with the trad wife hair that she has, you would be rooting for his death.

[A]

Yes, because she's the Bill Pullman.

[B]

No, she's not.

[A]

No, she's not. Because they're not engaged. I don't know. It was just weird. I laughed thinking about what that helicopter is like after he runs away. And then the parents have to just be like, well, sorry about our son.

[C]

Sorry about that, Kathy.

[B]

I have never been more concerned for you, Jason.

[A]

Like, this is. You're concerned over the rich, white helicopter family.

[B]

Like I am.

[C]

So this makes sense. Chelsea is identifying with Kathy because her dad, he's a pilot.

[B]

We're all subtly saying, chelsea, this is hitting too close to home, and you need to explore it.

[A]

Here's my pitch. And you guys are gonna hate this. I can tell. I thought this was gonna be a cute pitch. But my pitch was that that his parents, Kathy, and the family friends, they all come to the wedding at the end. And if we had seen any of the wedding, you see, like, people mingling. Kind of like at my Big Fat Greek wedding, where you see kind of these little, like, mingling moments that maybe Kathy and Chewie meet and there's a spark. Because I also felt bad for Chewie. I feel bad for all the exes who get left in the dust.

[C]

I'm fine with that. But no part of me was ever thinking, what about Kathy?

[A]

What about Chewy?

[B]

I can't believe you would wish Kathy on Chewy. That is so diabolical. I agree. Like, Chewie's handsome and great. He takes the breakup well. He even becomes his friend. Takes him on the hunting trip. Chewy's so fucking fine. He's going to be okay. Kathy is a nuisance, and she's probably gonna die a shrew, as she is meant to.

[A]

Oh, my God. Okay.

[C]

Wow, guys, I'm shocked at how much you clung to Kathy throughout it.

[A]

They kept bringing her back. They brought her back in every act. They were like, this is a big part, but it's.

[C]

It sounds like you wanted even more of her.

[A]

No, I didn't want more. I just was confused by it, which

[C]

was not something that ever crossed my mind.

[B]

You know why I hate Kathy? I realize she reminds me of Maureen Dowd.

[A]

Isn't she like the New York Times?

[B]

Yeah, she was the one who was like, monica Lewinsky's a fucking whore.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Democrat ladies. Hillary Clinton's a stupid, stuck up bitch. She could never win. I'm a feminist.

[C]

She does have that vibe. She has like the headband that's then pushed forward to get the little poof.

[B]

So, like, I'm nice and polite, but. But I'm voting against your human rights.

[C]

Yes, she does have that.

[A]

She reminded me of the lead from Can't Buy Me Love. She's a popular girl who needs to learn a lesson. But, like, I don't know.

[B]

I think you want the chewy Kathy rom com.

[C]

Well, I think that was our Act 3. Is there anything else?

[A]

Oh, this was just a technical complaint that the pouring rain, I thought, made it very climactic, but also I was like, it's hard to hear them. Like, we needed some better sound design with that rain.

[B]

That's so funny.

[C]

Okay. Also, I have a question. Were there subtitles for the conversation between her and her grandma or. No, because mine didn't have subtitles, so I was just. I can understand Spanish, so I could understand them, but mine didn't have subtitles. Did yours?

[A]

I turned on closed captioning, but no, it did not automatically have it in the version I watched, which I think

[C]

is an interesting choice.

[B]

That was gonna be my extra thing I loved, which is the grandma character, which, again, hugely cultural. I didn't grow up with grandmas, and I feel like those scenes just made me want one so bad. And that also just felt like the truest form of, like, back to your roots and who you are. And you're like your divine fe. Female, like, maternal magic. And, like, I just loved that that's where she went for the third act, which is, like, supposed to be the low point, but, like, being in your third trimester with your grandma, like, it was just kind of beautiful.

[A]

Oh, I love.

[C]

It was beautiful. And like, just her hanging laundry outside, which is something my grandma did. It is very comforting, that third act with her being there.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All right, well, I think we gotta do or creep cringe.

[C]

The part of the podcast where we go through rapid fire things from the movie we liked or didn't like. And my pitch for this week is Perry or scary or hi Yak or hi Nak.

[A]

We just did one like that. We gotta do Perry or scary. Perry is good or scary bad. Okay. Grace Papaya Perry or scary. We all lived in New York at one point.

[B]

I'm a vegetarian, and I'm still going Perry. Because it's like a cute New York touch point. I remember getting in New York City and being like, grace Papaya brunfels Russian. And be like, I gotta go there.

[C]

Okay, I'll go. I'll go Perry as well.

[A]

Okay. I said scary. I don't like hot dogs. But also, I thought it was wild that they shipped it for his birthday. She had it, you know, sent in, and then they open it, it's presumably on ice, and they eat it right there. It's cold. And they're both like, mmm. I was like, that is disgusting.

[B]

Now we're like, oh, postmates, Gold belly. People ship things all the time. I think again, in 1997, I feel like you watched that scene, you thought, oh, my God, how the did she do this? She heated them at home in her little jeep, prepared them, and blah, blah, blah, blah. Like, because there would be no way to have done it back then unless you really went to great lengths to support your boyfriend's culture.

[A]

So it's showing just like, wow, what an effort she put in.

[B]

Yeah. How the.

[C]

How the did she get that?

[A]

I know. I just wanted again, I'm like, why don't we see him doing some more effort for her? I guess we do at the end when he travels all over anyway. Okay. Getting married in Vegas, Perry or scary Scary. I agree. Scary.

[C]

I'm gonna go Perry. Under the right circumstances. Although most people I know who have gotten married in Vegas are now divorced. But I do think it could be fun to do a little elopement. I'm going Perry.

[A]

Yeah, the elopement sounds cool. I wish I'd saved money. Weddings are expensive.

[B]

Fully disagree. I think it's fully scary, and I think it's why the end of the movie Works so well is because that wedding sucks so much.

[A]

No, you're right.

[C]

They get to do the redo.

[A]

The redo is so good.

[C]

Okay. An insanely colorful, beautifully painted house interior. Perry or scary Perry?

[A]

Perry. We have a bunch of accent walls, and, like, a couple friends have been like, it's a little outdated. And I'm like, I don't care. We have, like, a bright yellow canary painted wall. I'm like, good. I need color in my life. Oh, yes. Oh. Chelsea is turning her camera to show us her brightly colored walls.

[B]

Red, baby.

[A]

Yeah, I agree.

[C]

I'm going, Perry. Because our house was white, and now that we're rebuilding, I'm like, oh, already, like, picking out colors for every room. And I'm like, I never want to live in a white house again.

[A]

Yeah. The listeners can't see, but on the zoom, I am in a totally blue room. I love color.

[C]

Yeah, we need to bring back color, because right now everyone's very into, like, white everything, and it's too much.

[A]

Yeah. All right, well, let's move on to the love note. This is the final thing we loved. And one final note. Something we would change for the movie. Chelsea, you mentioned the grandmother, but do you have any other final love?

[B]

I also mentioned my love of Couvre Dam in the setting. I also loved her outfits, again, like, Southwest girly. Like, you know, miniskirts, tank tops. I love that she wore a fucking shawl to the club. I really love the adoration of the Southwest in this movie. And I'm always trying to pitch the Southwest as a set piece on screen, and I feel like this is one of the few places I still see it done beautifully. That's not the Landman. Is that in the desert?

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

Final note. I do wish Matthew Perry was hotter. Like, I wish he filled out that shirt a little. Again, like I would say in any other circumstance, a man who visually looks like Matthew Perry, like, shouldn't be allowed within 20ft of Salma Hayek. And I really don't stand for her dating someone nowhere near her level. Like, I. I really wish he was hotter, but I will give it to them for two funny leads in a rom com because I feel like normally only one gets to be or none of them if you watch people on vacation. Just kidding.

[C]

Oh, wow. Wow. Shots fired. Which, by the way, it is crazy because Matthew Perry did date Julia Roberts amongst, I'm sure, a million other hot, gorgeous women.

[B]

He was batting out of his league for a long time.

[C]

Yeah. What about you, Chels?

[A]

One Final thing I loved is this is yet another Alan Silvestri score that we've covered several movies with his work, Made in Manhattan, Practical Magic. I just feel like it makes it special. And I feel like that's part of why Act 3 works. Is like, I don't know. You do get swept up in the emotion. And I definitely did feel swept up. And I think part of it is all the stuff we talked about, but then part of it is the music. So I loved that. And then my final note is, I mean, kind of what I've said where, like, I felt like a lot of it was built on lust. And I just, again, tying into yours, Chelsea, of he's not that hot. I kind of was like, what is she so into? She's like crying to the grandmother being like, I just love him. I'm like, why? Why do you love him besides pregnancy hormones? Tell me. So I just wished there were a little bit more him being right for her, not just the she's the manic pixie dream girl he needed.

[B]

She is not a manic fixie dream girl. How fucking dare you.

[A]

I'm just saying from his perspective, he's this buttoned up guy who. Then she's this free spirit who he's

[B]

like, wow, she's not a free spirit. She's like, raise a baby. Go to family dinner every Friday. Like, I have a book.

[A]

I'm working on his buttoned up perspective. The fact that she says how she feels, she's like, loud. She's this big family. It's chaotic.

[C]

She's artistic. She's out on the canyon taking photos.

[B]

I don't think we should put that anywhere near Mammoth Pixie dream girl because I hope to have more female characters. And I feel like manic pixie dream girls, like, make a mockery of interesting.

[A]

Well, I think it reduces her where she is this big, bold character. And instead it's really just like, wow. She is the missing piece that he needed because he needed to loosen up instead of showing her life seems very full. What is he bringing her?

[B]

He brings her fate. Because she has the perfect man, Chewie, and she's not satisfied. She needs something spicy, different, more interesting, more sarcastic, more humorous. She also needs him. But I agree, Chelsea, they could have showed that more.

[C]

He also brings sperm.

[A]

She. I don't need sperm.

[B]

But yeah, okay.

[C]

But that's what he brings. Okay. The final thing I loved, I really do love that they had, like, a positive representation of this Mexican American family and, you know, just this different culture. It's so nice to see. And I realized how rare that is in movies in general. I remember going to see Selena when it came out in the theaters and being, like, so emotional because I was like, oh, this is like seeing, like, my Mexican side of my family on screen. So I want more of that. I'm trying to make it happen, guys. Don't worry.

[B]

You're doing it. You're doing it.

[C]

I'm doing it. My final note, I do wish we had a little more banter chemistry leading up to their sleeping together. It just felt so sudden to go from them in line at the bathroom to her waking up in his bed. I want a little bit more there. That's it. Otherwise, it was overall enjoyable.

[A]

Yeah, I really liked it. I didn't love it, but parts of it, I'm like, wow, I'm so glad we watched it.

[C]

I loved it as a kid. I thought this movie was so good. Watching it now, I'm like, it's not as good as I remember. It's still enjoyable.

[B]

I think it's one of the best.

[A]

Kelsey, you really did convince me. There are things where I'm like, okay, you know what? Maybe this is better than I thought. So I think on my note, next viewing of it, I might like it even more because I'll be colored with your commentary.

[B]

I think also like the criticisms of where it could be better. I think you are right. When I still compare this to modern rom coms, I choose this over a lot of the modern ones, which I think makes me give it even more credit than maybe it deserves. But I feel pretty disappointed by, like, rom coms in the last five years. So when anything is even, like, kind of good and funny all the way through, I'm like, what a masterpiece.

[C]

I feel you on that.

[A]

I love that. Well, thank you for listening as we looked back at Fools Rush In. And thank you to Chelsea Devontes for joining us. Chelsea, what would you like to promote? Oh, I would love it.

[B]

If you listen to my podcast Glamorous Trash anywhere, you get your podcasts. We cover female celebrity memoirs and sometimes men's mores. And yes, our Matthew Perry episode is still up, and it is 100% worth the listen. And I will promote that. We're gonna do a collab episode of my podcast and yours that we will drop on both feeds. Maybe having a little something to do with Nanc.

[A]

Ooh, can't wait. We love your podcast so much. We have been on your podcast. I would like to say we are your official Matthew McConaughey correspondence now.

[B]

You guys cover all things Matthew with me, I guess.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, so I'm sure he'll, like, release some other book soon. You know, a fantasy novel. I don't know. He has unlimited confidence.

[B]

Oh, no way. He's gonna release his thoughts on the Constitution and how he's running for president. And yes, you guys will be back.

[C]

Terrifying.

[A]

I just love it. But anyway, thank you. And if you want to hear more Chelsea beyond her podcast, you can also check out her Love and Basketball episode of our podcast, where she also gave incredible commentary and really enriched that movie for me as well.

[C]

Yes, and I will make sure we link to the Matthew Perry episode of Glamorous Trash in our show notes, because it is a good one.

[A]

I'm glad I didn't listen to it before watching this movie because I needed him to not be ruined.

[B]

Oh, yeah. Chelsea, there's no way you would put up with this movie if you had read that book. Wait, did you guys cover people we met on vacation on this podcast?

[A]

We did, but as a bonus episode. But we'll probably take it behind off of the paywall at some point.

[B]

I gotta go run to listen to it. I need to be convinced on that one.

[C]

Yeah. I want to hear what you think.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

All right.

[C]

Thank you so much, Chelsea.

[B]

Thank you both. You're the best. Bye.

[C]

Bye. And thank you so much to Nick Duke for editing this episode. Next week, we will be finishing up our collection of Culture Clash romcoms.

[A]

But till then, follow us on social media at Podstruck Pod.

[C]

Email us your thoughts and [e-mail] we love to hear from you guys.

[A]

We really do. I mean, we use. Warms our heart a lot, but it

[C]

brings us joy and warms our butts, too. Our butts and our hearts.

[A]

That's better. Yeah. Also leave a review for us on Apple and Spotify A little. One word. I mean, Elena dared you to say murder, but I think you could come up with something fun better on Apple or just five stars on Spotify.

[C]

Yes. Or leave some comments. We do read the Spotify comments and really do love getting them. And, hey, maybe check out our Patreon. Become a meet cutie. Support the pod. Support independent artists.

[A]

Oh, my God. Yeah. That's what we need, man. You know, art. Art can fix this broken world. And we're trying to do it. So thanks for supporting us. All right, till next time.

[C]

Time we're just two girls standing in front of a podcast asking you to subscribe.

[A]

Bye.