The success of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is built around the chemistry and star-power of its two leading actors: Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. To truly understand this film, we have to understand the way movie stars operate in Hollywood, what casting these two actors meant in 2003, and what it means today. Helping us in that task is Russell Meeuf, a professor in the school of Journalism and Mass Media at the University of Idaho. His work focuses on celebrity culture, popular cinema,...

After talking about setting last episode, we wanted to dig even deeper into the physical space inhabited by Ben and Andie. How does the design of their workplaces, apartments, and date-nights affect how we perceive each of their characters? To help us tackle this topic, we're joined by Production Designer Stuart Blatt. Stuart walks us through the role of Production Designer, how he works with other crew members, and what he noticed specifically when watching How to Lose a Guy in 10...

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, like many Rom-Coms, is set in New York City. It’s got fire escapes, taxi cabs, and a dramatic Manhattan Bridge scene.  In order to understand this film, we have to understand: What is it about New York that is so ripe for romance? And what parts of the city are highlighted in this movie and why? To help us answer those questions, we’re joined by Eric Hynes, the Curator of Film at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York.  --- If we give you butterflies,...

For our annual fundraiser at Not Sorry, we are again supporting the wonderful organization On The Rise. On The Rise’s work begins with individuals experiencing homelessness in Cambridge, Massachusetts and continues if and when they secure housing. From their origin as a women’s organization, their programs have evolved toward inclusion of those historically and structurally oppressed on the basis of gender. In today's episode, Vanessa sits down with On The Rise’s Director of Clinical...

For our next deep-dive into How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, we wanted to better understand the story structure of a Rom-Com. We called up the delightful Hannah Giorgis, a film critic for The Atlantic, to help us break down the three-act structure and how it operates in this film. Hannah brought some great citations and resources to the show: “You’re So Vain”: An Oral History of How to Lose a Guy in 10 DaysThe Big Sleepover:The fatal flaw of How To Lose a Guy in 10 DaysThis tweet about romcom...

For our first deep-dive into How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, we wanted to look at the history of the rom-com genre. To help us dig into it, we called up the incredible Kathleen Karlyn, the founding director of the Cinema Studies program at University of Oregon and author of The Unruly Woman: Gender and the Genres of Laughter. We wanted to know: Where does the history of the rom-com start? What do people mean when they say something is a ‘battle of the sexes’ movie? and how do gender norms and...

We make Hot & Bothered because we are interested in the way that love stories have impacted our lives and culture. For our fifth season of the show, we’re turning our attention to romantic films. We're starting this season with 10 episodes on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, an iconic film of the early 2000s rom-com oeuvre. It has a perfect yellow dress. It has a karaoke battle. It has Matthew McConaughey on a motorcycle. It’s basically the epitome of everything people consider ‘silly’ about...

Hot and Bothered is back for Season 5 with a brand new host! We're thrilled to be joined by Hannah McGregor to help us analyze all our favorite Romance movies. New episodes bi-weekly on Tuesdays. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth and Darcy spread the news of their engagement in Chapters 59 and 60 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss Mr. and Mrs. Bennet's different reactions and the delicious flirting between Lizzy and Darcy. Dr. Sharon Marcus joins us at the end of the episode to discuss the model of sisterly love. Our next episode is June 16th, covering the final chapter – Chapter 61.  --- Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on...

Mr. Darcy returns to Longbourn to propose (again) in chapters 57 and 58 of Pride and Prejudice. Vanessa and Lauren discuss the romance that Austen leaves off the page and the deep self-reflection of these two characters. Dr. Stephanie Paulsell joins us at the end of the episode to discuss her thoughts on the proposal. Our next episode is June 2nd, covering chapters 59 + 60.  --- Don't spend your daughter's dowry, but if you can spare $2/month, we'd love to have your support on Patreon! ...