Bromancing The Stone

This year's Valentine's Day movie is the ubiquitous Marry Me, which was released this past weekend! Rene and Max want to completely discount the premise of the movie... but it kinda still seems plausible... in any instance, this Romcom is a throwback to Romcoms with an unbelievable premise and good times, which Rene and Max discuss. Have a listen!

This podcast episode is urgent as a M***** F*****. Rene and Max watched the 1997 Romantic Dramedy Love Jones and they talk about how cool Chicago is, how nice a change of pace this film is, and how much Rene loves the musical montage in this film. There's also a podcast announcement at the end, so listen for that!

Rene and Max continue down the Nancy Meyers road with another one of her Romcoms. This time, they watch 2009's It's Complicated and ask the question "why is it so complicated?" Give a listen for the answer!

Rene and Max watched the Nancy Meyers 2003 Romcom Opus Something's Gotta Give. They remark on the décor of the film, but mostly they rue the fact that Meyers wrote, produced, and directed this film solo, which often leads to a muddled mess... Have a listen and see what the guys mean.

This week Rene and Max are joined by Max's lovely girlfriend Gabi Crowley to discuss the 2004 Romcom Win A Date With Tad Hamilton! Gabi explains her history with the film and why she likes it, then Rene and Max share their thoughts, which are interesting because the director of this film is a familiar name on this pod and not in a good way. Have a listen and enjoy!

Rene and Max are convinced that Ocean's 11 is a Romcom and they will convince you too! Have a listen!

Rene and Max come back from a mini vacation to give their final episode of 2021 reviewing 2020 Holiday Romcom Happiest Season. In the midst of the episode, you also get updates on a fantastic 4th quarter of the Music City Bowl. The podcast contains multitudes! Enjoy!

Rene and Max watch the third and final part of Rene's personal Holiday Romcom Trilogy, The Family Stone. Rene admits to have seen this film for as many times as years its been released, and he explains some parts to Max that Max may have needed additional info. Max also questions who is even the main character of the film and there is not a simple answer. This movie requires discussion in the best way, so join Rene and Max as they discuss the film.

This week Rene and Max dive into Netflix's 2021 Holiday Romcom offering Love Hard. They remark on the generic title, the formulaic plot, and how it all still works together because it's hard to mess up a Romcom if you are competent (which these filmmakers appear to be). So get cozy and enjoy the episode!

This week the podcast returns to its normal rhythm, by watching a movie and then discussing it for the TENS and TENS of listeners! Rene and Max focus on the 2008 Raunchy Romcom Zack And Miri Make A Porno and discuss the great performance by Elizabeth Banks, the vulnerability of the main character Zack, and just how raunchy the jokes are in this film. It's a nice return to form for the podcast, so have a listen!

Rene and Max continue their celebration of reaching 100 episodes within the podcast by discussing their favorite Male and Female performances of all the movies that they have watched so far. The discussion does run a bit deeper in the middle as the discussion turns toward why sharing one's opinions on these movies feels the way it does and why Rene and Max do this at all. Then they finish up by sharing their Top 5 favorite films from the first batch of movies they've watched. Lots of content here to tide you over until next week, so enjoy!

Somehow, Rene and Max have completed 100 episodes of the podcast! Technically there have been some bonus episodes along the way as well, so it's been a little more than 100, but no one is counting that accurately! Rene and Max discuss their thoughts on Romcoms as a whole after watching so many movies, Max goes through the history of cold opens throughout the podcast, and then they give their Top 5 Least Favorite Films that they have watched so far for the podcast. So strap in and enjoy the beginning of these special episodes!

Rene and Max celebrate their last episode in the double digits with the 2009 Romcom Thriller Duplicity. They discuss the talent of Clive Owen and Julia Roberts (for once, a movie she is in that they actually like) and how phenomenal every line reading Paul Giamatti provides in this film and life in general. Have a listen!

This week, Rene and Max watched the Coen Brothers Romcom Intolerable Cruelty. They speak about how funny the line "Nail Yo Ass" is, how good the chemistry is between the leads, and how absurd the final turn at the end is. It's a fun one so have a listen!

Rene and Max watched the 2001 Romcom Serendipity this week. They differ in opinion. They talk a lot about food. They have a good time. You should join them!

We've made Crabby Snacks and Homemades! Come join us as we discuss Silver Linings Playbook and review just how far we've come with discussing mental health in public settings. Also, Rene and Max discuss the lead actors in the film and how well they work together. Have a listen!

This week Rene and Max stick around 2006 for another Romcom, Last Holiday. The movie is extremely corny and Max and Rene debate whether it's good enough to overcome that... Have a listen!

This week, Rene and Max venture into something new by watching the 2006 Romcom Something New! They discuss the racial politics in the film, how they were written and directed, and how it all worked because the lead actors were so damn good together! Have a listen!

This week Max and Rene have to call an audible and change the movie that is reviewed due to unavailability. Max decided on Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, the 2010 Action Romcom that is "super inventive" according to every Rotten Tomatoes review. Rene and Max have slightly different opinions about the movie... Have a listen!

Welcome to the world where love means zero and yet it also means everything! Rene and Max review Wimbledon, the 2004 Romcom starring Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst. The bros marvel at the leads' chemistry, the merits of the film as a sports film and as a Romcom. It's a fun conversation, so have a listen!

This week Rene and Max... wait... I forgot... Oh yeah! They review 50 First Dates, the 2004 Romcom about memory loss and Hawaii. There's discussion about how Lucy is an easy character to root for, how Henry is not an easy character to root for, and the podcast provides their official stance on Rob Schneider. Have a listen!

Rene and Max watched 2004 Romcom Chasing Liberty and they discussed how well done the multiple kisses in this film are and how cool Europe is. They also discuss the similarities between this film and the Romcom Roman Holiday. This is a good one, so give it a listen!

This week Rene and Max review the 2019 Netflix Romcom Someone Great. They discuss the discrepancies between the writers of the positive and negative reviews for the film in Rotten Tomatoes and how that might signify the intended audience for the film. They also dive deep into the feels of breaking up because, quite frankly, that's what this movie does. Plus the usual discussion of what happens after ever after and so forth. So have a listen!

Rene and Max conclude "S*** List Month" by watching the 2010 Romcom Life As We Know It. The bros examine the deep feelings that the movie brings out of them and how surprised they are by it. They also fully crush on Josh Lucas as Dr. Sam in the film. But the romance... it may be lacking. Have a listen to find out what they mean.

Rene and Max go over the 2009 Romcom Couples Retreat in the latest installment of S*** List Month for the podcast. This week's episode is recorded during the Chicago Air Show, which can be heard in the background. It's actually pretty funny... unlike the film itself. Have a listen!

Part Romcom, part Thriller, part Horror film? Yeah, Rene and Max are as confused by 2009's All About Steve as anyone would be. There's so many questions about the choices the filmmakers made for this film which all devolve into one overarching question: why would you release this film? That is an interesting question that Rene has a strong theory about. Have a listen to the episode and find out more about this chaotic film.

Rene and Max continue the "S*** List" month by reviewing 2008 Romcom What Happens In Vegas. Rene has one particular adjective that he would use to describe the performances of the leads, Max has a bone to pick about the dialogue writing within the film, and both Rene and Max heap praise upon the only positive part of the film, which are the performances of Rob Corddry and Lake Bell. Give the episode a listen, we promise it's not as forced as the chemistry between Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz.

Rene and Max start off "S*** List Month" with a doozy as the bros watch the 2001 Romcom Summer Catch. They marvel at how bad the movie is and why that's so enjoyable. There's also a discussion as to the impact 9/11 on filmmaking in comedy. We contain multitudes here, so give it a listen.

This week Rene and Max finish off wedding season with the 2011 Romcom Bridesmaids! Have a listen!

Rene and Max continue with wedding season by reviewing the 1991 Romcom remake, Father Of The Bride. They discuss how not being parents shaped their view of the film, and Rene divulges why he thinks his Mom liked this film so much and why he likes brunettes so much. Have a listen!

Max's microphone is a bit hot on this episode (feel free to turn down the volume a little bit). There's a lot of talk about sports, including the opening question (feel free to tweet your thoughts to us on Twitter @BroTheStonePod). There's also a discussion of the origins of the song "Coming Home" that English soccer fans sing at their matches (unfortunately, a title still did not come home). You'll notice there isn't a lot of discussion about the movie that was watched this week, 2016's Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates. Well... The less said about it, the better (as you can see by the episode length). Still worth a listen, though, so join in!

This week, Rene and Max watch the 2012 Romcom/RomDram Stuck In Love. Max realizes early into viewing the movie that he actually had seen this before and just completely forgot about it, which goes to show the quality of script we're looking at here. The podcast episode should be a bit more memorable, so give it a listen and enjoy!

This week Max and Rene watched (500) Days Of Summer and it brought a lot of feelings. You can see that from the length of this episode. But there's also a Wander Franco reference, an explanation of the song "Country Grammar" by Nelly, and copious other tangents that the you know and love them for. So listen and enjoy!

This week, Rene and Max review the 2020 Sci-Fi Romcom Palm Springs, which stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. This episode, more than any other, is filled with SPOILERS, so we strongly suggest watching the film before partaking in the podcast episode. Rene and Max suggest that because the movie is very good and they also believe this episode of the pod is pretty good. So watch the movie, listen to the pod, and enjoy the content!

This week Rene and Max talk about real life things in conjunction with the 2015 Romcom, Sleeping With Other People. Some of those real life things are deep, like knowing one's worth in a relationship, and other real life things are shallow, like the summer weather patterns in Chicago and Oregon. Have a listen and enjoy the breadth of real life discussion that occurs!

Usually Rene and Max watch the worst Romcoms that they can find in the month of August, but this week they were served up this treat unexpectedly. Did You Hear About The Morgans? is a flawed film with a title that is just as flawed. Rene and Max give the 2009 Romcom its proper due in this week's episode, so give it a listen!

Rene and Max continue their run of Action Romcoms by reviewing the movie that created a resurgence of the genre in the late 2000s, Mr. And Mrs. Smith. The bros discuss how hard it is to separate reality from fiction regarding the movie and its protagonists, as well as how the movie resonates now that Rene and Max are in their 30s and not high schoolers. It's an interesting discussion and worth a listen, so press play and enjoy!

Rene and Max watched the 2010 Action Romcom Killers. It is directed by Robert Luketic, who also directed Legally Blonde, Monster-In-Law, and The Ugly Truth... You can see where this episode is going... Have a listen as the Bros go over this failed Improv scene that is elongated to 100 minutes.

It's Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler at their aesthetic peaks! What could go wrong? Well... Allow Rene and Max to dive into that. They watched 2010 Action Romcom The Bounty Hunter and there is not much to discuss... but there is plenty to complain about. So have a listen!

Rene and Max journey to the Caribbean for the 2008 Romcom Adventure film, Fool's Gold! Rene and Max discuss how 4/20 friendly this movie is, how there is a lot going on and none of it makes sense, and how it doesn't matter because the water is soooooo pretty to look at! Have a listen and enjoy!

Rene and Max continue their jaunt into the Romcoms of John Hughes by watching 1986's Pretty In Pink. They notice that once again, there is a brooding rich boy who seeks to be with a girl who is not popular in school, another outcast friend whose love goes unrequited, but this time we get 1980's villain James Spader! Have a listen and gain a reminder that in John Hughes teen movies, the lesson as always is that BOYS ARE DUMB.

Rene and Max want to make sure that if you are to learn one thing from this episode and the 1984 Romcom Sixteen Candles, it's this: BOYS ARE DUMB. That is all. Have a listen!

Baseball is back and the bros are excited! Because of this, Rene and Max watched the 1999 Romantic Dramedy For Love Of The Game. They discuss how fantastic of an actor John C. Reilly is, how fantastic the baseball scenes are, and how fantastic of a storyteller that Vin Scully is. So grab some peanuts and Cracker Jack and have a listen!

Rene and Max review 2019 Romcom Plus One. They reminisce about going to weddings and they discuss the similarities between the main male character in the film and Max. They also discuss how the main female character and Rene also act the same when they're drunk. It's a fun episode, so come listen!

Rene and Max review the 1961 Romcom Breakfast At Tiffany's in this episode. They have a very different opinion of the film compared to critics and the vast majority of the general audience. Have a listen and hear just how different their opinion is.

As the weather gets warmer and the vaccine supposedly becomes more widely available, it seemed like now would be a great time to watch a timeless movie about taking a holiday! Rene and Max watched the 1953 Romcom classic Roman Holiday and they discuss the incredible quality of the direction, how beautiful Rome is, and the emotions that run through them during the ending. It's a great film and a pretty great episode, so give a listen!

Get ready to time travel with Rene and Max as they discuss the 2018 Netflix Romcom When We First Met! They start out by going over which days in their life that they would be interested in re-living, then they talk about the movie and how it is a bit lacking in the romance department. It's a fun episode, as always, so give it a spin and let's go!

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... except for unplanned pregnancies. Rene and Max watched the 1997 Romcom Fools Rush In and start off the pod by remembering their own Vegas stories before discussing the commendable dialogue and directing of the film. There is a bit of a technical snafu that is edited, but you won't miss a bit of the conversation, which is good because this is a fun one. Enjoy!

Rene and Max conclude their viewing of the To All The Boys trilogy with the recently released final installment! Max discusses how much more emotional this movie is compared to its predecessors, Rene goes deep into the interpersonal dynamics between sons and their estranged fathers, and both Rene and Max fawn over Noah Centineo one last time. Give the episode a listen and know that we love you always and forever!

First off, there is a change in the sound quality of this episode early on that we would like to apologize for. It's still listenable, but you may notice it and we just wanted to acknowledge it up front and be honest. See, being up front and honest about things leads to no drama and good times, a lesson that is learned the hard way by LJ and Peter in To All The Boys P.S. I Still Love You! Rene and Max discuss that along with their continued excitement over quality filmmaking within the story and Rene also goes on some tangents about certain Tik Tok posts that he hates. It's a fun and wild ride in this episode.

Rene and Max embark on the soon to be concluded trilogy of the To All The Boys I've Loved Before series on Netflix! They start with the first one and talk about how well-written the details in the film are and how well-cast the film is. Next week, they will review the second film, then the following week they will review the third and final film, which will be released three days after the film is released! So let's join LJ and Peter on this journey through high school romance!