Latest news with #romanticComedy
Wall Street Journal
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘Too Much' Review: Lena Dunham's Languid London Rom-Com
An alleged romantic comedy that's neither, 'Too Much' is the co-creation of its director and primary writer, Lena Dunham, author of 'Girls.' It has intellectual ambitions. It will bewilder critics. But it really seems, at best, like the dark side of 'Emily in Paris.' 'Too Much' will certainly generate far more consternation. Or at least conversation. Like 'Emily,' it involves an American pursuing career opportunities in Europe, committing faux pas, struggling with an unfamiliar culture and looking for love. And finding it. And fouling it up. The challenge for the viewer is finding a reason to emotionally invest.
Wall Street Journal
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘High Society': ‘The Philadelphia Story' Remade, Not Recycled
In present-day Hollywood, movie remakes are too often initiated without any consideration for how a past project might be meaningfully improved. The goal seems to be to present a facsimile with modest modifications rather than a thoroughgoing reimagination, but in the absence of such changes, why bother? Nearly 70 years ago, however, one of Hollywood's most honored romantic comedies was retooled in ways that remain fresh and surprising. Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in July 1956, Charles Walters's 'High Society' had its roots in Philip Barry's 1939 play 'The Philadelphia Story,' which, the following year, was turned into a motion picture starring the triumvirate of Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart—the last of whom won an Oscar. That earlier picture was an instant classic for its affectionate but barbed portrait of the marital challenges of inhabitants of the Philadelphia Main Line.
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
First look at Good Sex! Lena Dunham and Natalie Portman film romcom after $55MILLION Netflix deal
Lena Dunham and Natalie Portman were seen on set of their upcoming romantic-comedy Good Sex in NYC on Wednesday. Portman, 44 - whose rarely seen teenage son called in his mom to impress a YouTuber - was spotted filming multiple scenes throughout the bustling city as production officially kicked off. The actress has been cast to play a couples therapist named Ally - while Dunham is both the writer and director on the anticipated project. The Oscar winner put on a leggy display in a black ensemble which was layered with a stylish gray blazer as she mingled with Lena in between shooting portions of the movie. She slipped into a pair of sleek, black shoes and allowed her brunette locks to flow down past her shoulders in light waves. Natalie completed one of her many looks of the day by sporting a pair of fashionable black shades and accessorized the ensemble with a necklace. The star was seen chatting with Dunham as they walked alongside each other on a crowded sidewalk. The Girls alum donned a black and white-polka dot dress in the warmer summer weather as she held a paper and pen in her hand. Some of the crew were also spotted setting up equipment nearby a row of apartments ahead of filming a scene. Portman later flashed a small smile as she showed her phone to Lena who was sitting in a chair off camera. The actress further showed off her chic style wearing a white blouse with black ribbon tied around the neckline and a black miniskirt. The Black Swan star additionally donned a pair of black loafers and sipped on a refreshing drink in her hand. Natalie's second outfit was completed with a small black purse which she easily carried. She was also seen holding a conversation on the phone in a light gray dress on set of the Netflix film. The Oscar winner was spotted filming multiple scenes throughout the bustling city as production officially kicked off Portman put on a leggy display in a black ensemble which was layered with a stylish gray blazer as she mingled with Lena in between shooting portions of the movie The Girls alum donned a black and white-polka dot dress in the warmer summer weather as she held a paper and pen in her hand The premise of Good Sex is: 'A 40-something couples therapist ventures back into the world of dating in New York. 'Between two very different romances - a young hipster and a successful fifty-something - she must discover what she really wants in love,' per an IMDB synopsis. Along with Portman, other stars that have been cast in the movie include Mark Ruffalo, Meg Ryan, Tramell Tillman, Rashida Jones and Tucker Pillsbury. Dunham is writing and directing the rom-com, and Natalie is both acting and producing the project. Earlier this year in March, it was reported that Netflix won a $55 million bidding war for the film, per Variety. Lena is known for creating the hit HBO series Girls - which she also starred in and wrote. The Golden Globe winner additionally directed some episodes of the show. Dunham has also written and directed films including Sharp Stick (2022) and Catherine Called Birdy (2022). When Girls concluded in 2017, the star stepped away from the spotlight and opened up about taking an 'intentional break' from acting during a recent interview with The Times. She was also seen holding a conversation on the phone in a light gray dress on set of the Netflix film 'Between two very different romances - a young hipster and a successful fifty-something - she must discover what she really wants in love,' per an IMDB synopsis Lena is known for creating the hit HBO series Girls - which she also starred in and wrote. The Golden Globe winner additionally directed some episodes of the show; seen far right in Girls with Jemima Kirke Lena had been embroiled in past controversies, including when she supported Girls writer Murray Miller who was accused of sexual assault. 'I didn't really understand how to distinguish between what was and wasn't necessary for the public. I felt confused about how I was supposed to respond,' she explained. 'I thought if I explain properly who I am, or give a glimpse of who I am, people are going to have a different perception of me, that we would be friends. But no one cares - and that's fine.' She also reflected on her time in rehab due to her addiction to prescription anxiety medication and said it 'felt like all the maturing and changing that had been kept at bay by the experience of being in that cocoon of the show was suddenly happening at a speed that was overwhelming. 'It was a painful metamorphosis. I definitely took an intentional break [from public life].' Along with her new movie Good Sex - which does not have a release date as of yet - Dunham's new Netflix series Too Much is set to premiere on the streaming site later this month on July 10. The show - which stars Will Sharpe and Megan Stalter - was created by both Lena and husband Luis Felber. The premise is: 'After a breakup, New York workaholic Jessica moves to London planning on being alone. She meets Felix who causes her to reconsider finding love again,' per IMDB. Natalie has also been keeping busy and recently starred in the action movie Fountain Of Youth - which dropped on Apple TV+ in May. The film - which was directed by Guy Ritchie - had also starred John Krasinski, Eiza Gonzalez and Domhnall Gleeson. Portman currently resides in Paris with her two children Aleph, 13, and Amalia, eight - whom she shares with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied. Her eldest child recently interacted with YouTuber star Marlon LuGu, and the pair had a lighthearted exchange when the teen name dropped his famous mom.
CBS News
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
United Kingdom play brings rotating stage, and rom-com to Cambridge theater
New romantic-comedy play from the United Kingdom comes to Cambridge New romantic-comedy play from the United Kingdom comes to Cambridge New romantic-comedy play from the United Kingdom comes to Cambridge After several productions in the United Kingdom, "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" is now entertaining the crowds in Cambridge. The production at the American Repertory Theater is the first in the U.S, highlighting how quickly one person can make a giant impact on your life. "It's about unimportant people, doing unimportant things, that mean a lot to them," explains Olivier Award-winning actor Sam Tutty. He portrays Dougal, who is visiting New York for the first time to attend his estranged father's wedding. Tutty says, "He's just this absolute whirlwind of optimism and unshakable happiness." "He is a ball of life," says co-star Christiani Pitts. "Him being dropped into my world, it seems like it could be a catastrophe, but it's also the most amazing thing. It's so unexpected." Pitts' character Robin is a jaded New Yorker and sister of the bride, who reluctantly picks Dougal up from the airport. The musical takes place over the next 36 hours, as the two travel across the city to pick up the wedding cake. Along the way, they sing pop songs about everything from Christmas to looking for love on Tinder, learning about each other along the way. Pitts says, "A theme of our show is layers and baggage and constantly unraveling and opening yourself up and closing yourself back up when you're uncomfortable." Rotating set changes at the same time as the relationship Reinforcing that idea is the rotating set, made from luggage pieces of various sizes, which open up and become something new. "It's so malleable," explains Tutty. "There's so many little crevices and cupboards and drawers and it's just so exciting." As the set transforms, so does the relationship between the two characters. "They evolve because of the interaction, not because someone told them to," says Pitts. "These two people have no desire to change one another. They just want each other to be the best versions of themselves. And I think that's why you root for them." You can see "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" at the Loeb Drama Center in Cambridge through July 13th.
New York Times
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
How a Salary Figure Changes Everything in ‘Materialists'
Almost everyone who sees 'Materialists,' the writer-director Celine Song's new spin on the old romantic comedy formula, seems to want to talk about one number: $80,000. That's how much Lucy (Dakota Johnson) says she makes in her job as a matchmaker. She brings it up to goad Harry (Pedro Pascal) into revealing his own salary, but he will only say that he makes 'more' — which, as a finance guy working in private equity and owner of a $12 million bachelor pad, he certainly does. The viewer conversations are over whether Lucy's salary is realistic for her lifestyle: she wears relatively nice clothing, and lives alone in what appears to be a peaceful and brightly lit apartment, though we don't see much of the interior. The film's production designer revealed in an interview that her home is a teeny-tiny studio on the edge of the affluent Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, with a rent that Lucy probably shouldn't be paying relative to her salary. Yet this matches her character's single-minded aspiration: to be surrounded by wealth. We could debate whether the rest of her lifestyle, like her clothing, is realistic on her salary; I tend to think it could be, but in a Carrie Bradshaw, leveraged-to-the-hilt way. After all, we live in a world where direct-to-consumer brands sell decent silk slip dresses, and everyone's thrifting or renting outfits — not to mention that anything looks good on Dakota Johnson. But the fact we're even debating that specific number is remarkable, and hints at what makes 'Materialists' feel so very 2025. At my screening, the salary detail provoked a collective gasp that briefly sucked the air out of the room. It wasn't even the amount, really: It was the fact that someone had said a number at all. Nobody talks salary in rom-coms — or really in movies at all. That's probably in part to avoid dating a film too much. But it's also because concrete numbers are startling, even distracting. Suddenly you're tabulating Lucy's lifestyle, trying to conjure up a mental balance sheet. And for 'Materialists,' money is in every frame, in a way we've rarely seen in the modern romantic comedy. It says something interesting about our cultural moment. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
