And with this, Titanic part 2, we gleefully (and finally) finish all our wrapping. 

We wrap our six-episode (okay, seven) theme-song series, we wrap our first-ever 2 part episode, and we wrap our 2017 calendar. 

Special thanks to Emily Bennett for proposing the brilliant and collaborative theme song you hear in this episode. 

The warmest thank yous to our talented contributors, our beloved podcast family:

Intro

Singers: Emily Bennett, Ollie Brady/Jason Statham, Laura B., Frances Chang, Malcolm Nygard, Vanessa Riley

Finnish translation and recitation: Juha Heikkil

Electric guitar: Bill O'Donnell

Outro

Bass: Ryan Lynch

Piano: Bill O'Donnell

As we bid adieu to this year we take with us, hold dearly, and will never let go of the beautiful friendships we've made. 
Happy New Year, friends! 

*This episode is lovingly dedicated to the memory of GiGi 

20 years ago tomorrow, people poured into theaters to see James Cameron's epic romance-disaster film, Titanic.

Just last week, Helen, Valerie, and two fellas named Matt shelled out a ton of cash, donned some serious 3D shades, and relaxed into their reclining movie theater seats for 195 minutes of Helen preciously reciting every line of Titanic. For the record, this is the preferred way to see Titanic.

What happens now is part 1 of a very special 2 part episode, closing out FiLM's six-episode theme-song series, and our 2017 schedule. 

Don't let go! 

The penultimate episode of our six-episode theme-song series has arrived and—if you're looking at your DVD packaging—its got a freaking bow on it. You're welcome!
Best Acquaintances Podcast co-host and greatest person currently alive, Emily Bennett, joins us for a jovial conversation about one of the most irritating and (yet somehow) endearing of all romantic holiday films. And if that didn't give it away, it's Love Actually folks. We're talking about Love Actually.

While this episode is the fourth in a series of like episodes, i.e. our six-episode theme-song series, it is the first of its kind in many ways.

1996's Jerry Maguire is both our first 'sports' film and our first time welcoming two guests. FiLM favorite, Ariel brings charm, wit, and also her fiance, Ryan Lynch of We'll Get it Right Next Year: An Adventure in Cinema, and Comrade Radio's own Divisive Issues and Oops, I Talked Politics  to this decades-old tale of being a better person than you were yesterday while still making a shit ton of money for yourself and other people. It's a classic. 

We now interrupt our regularly scheduled six-episode theme-song series to bring you this special holiday message: "Hell is a teenage girl".

No tricks, just treats for our devoted listeners. Happy bonus episode day/Jennifer's Body day/Halloween(?) Stay salty! 

Third in our six-episode theme-song series is 2004's Mean Girls. Joining us in this almost completely on topic, never meandering discussion is Vanessa Riley of the Square Roots podcast.
I know you expect me to now work in some memorable lines from the film, but relax Glen CoCo, we do that plenty in the episode. 

Be silent. Be still. Be silent. Be still. Be silent. Be still. 

For the second episode in our theme-song series, we took on the archetypical teen rom-com, She's All That. For this one we've returned to our classic format -- meaning it's just Helen and Valerie and a Matt, and the episode itself is at least 20% longer than the movie we were talking about. 

Check out Matt LaStar's podcast, Bill and Matt are Losing It, on iTunes, Stitcher, and Facebook!

If you've ever wondered what the hell Helen is singing about in her original Falling in Love Montage theme song, then be buggin' no longer. 

Starting with episode 45, Clueless, we will tackle all six movies referenced in the theme song. 

It's going to be Phat!

We've called a truce and brought Val's Matt back (after he was totally wiggin' on Bridesmaids).

Also joining us is our *official* Jane Austen correspondent, Tracy Tanoff!

For our first (but not last) time covering a Jane Austen adaptation, we knew we needed to rope in someone better read, smarter, and generally superior to us -- so we nabbed Superfan Tracy Tanoff! We rode through the rain* to tell you about the Gwyneth Paltrow Emma, easily the second-best adaptation of the novel Emma made in 1995-1996.

*metaphorically.**

**No, not even.

Ladies' man, man's man, man about town, Ollie Brady (one-half of the Best Acquaintances Podcast) joins Helen and Valerie for a double dose of *'60s sex comedies. They talk the Pillow Talk and walk the Down With Love **walk.  
Tune in 'a la carte' for this v. v. good time. 

*in theory (1959/2003)
**basically walking with an erection

Last year we were listening to Rae Sremmurd and doing the Mannequin Challenge. Thirty years ago we were listening to Starship and watching Jonathan Switcher do the Mannequin. 
FiLM is joined by special guest MC Williams of the Myths Your Teacher Hated podcast to discuss the 1987 re-telling of Pygmalion. 
Join us for a healthy dose of chick-flick-nitpicks and Greek-geek-speak.

Is it hot in here or is it just August? If you're looking for a breakout summer comedy that's got everything from urinating on a crowd to bootyhole-kush to sploshing, then look no further than 2017's Girls Trip. Oh, we should also mention it's a remarkably grounded narrative about friendship and a powerful portrayal of black women that audiences everywhere desperately want and deserve. Ryan, Sasha, Dina, and Lisa are characters we want to spend more time with.           

Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, snow sister  

In our first ever clean* episode, sisters Helen and Valerie talk about Disney’s 2013 Frozen. Our special “guest Matt” will melt you like an Olaf by an open fire.

*an earnest attempt to not say F**k and S**t

Helen and Valerie are once again joined by their mother, Karen Wurl, for this belated Mother's Day treat. The three of them, now fully recovered from the emotional trauma of watching last year's Mother's Day (may you rest, sweet Garry), venture to Venture Cinema to watch 2017's comedy caper Snatched.

Falling in Love Montage is packing up the moon and dismantling the sun 
for the Never-A-Bride™ June series is now over and done. 
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Owen Choules came by to put the podcast to bed. 

The honor of your presence is requested by 

Helen & Valerie

together with their comrade family

featuring Owen Choules of Classic Schmassic

Here we are, week 3 of our month long Never-A-Bride spectacular. It’s a little on the nose, but we’re talking about <em>Bridesmaids</em>. Not as divisive as current U.S. politics, but Paul Feig manages to cause turbulence once again. That reminds me, “There’s a colonial woman on the wing, there’s something they’re not telling us!”

My Best Friend's Wedding is the second film in our four-week bonus, antithetical bridal month bonanza. That's right, every Monday in June we're going to deliver fresh cut podcast bouquets straight to your internet door. This is our vow* to you.

*inconspicuous details or conditions printed in an agreement or contract, what I'm saying is "we'll probably honor this vow"

It's 1997 again so remember, if you've got to make a call, we brought our flip-phone.

Helen and Valerie are joined by the divine and consummate Erin Gambrill of the Ladies Who Library podcast. We answer this burning question, "can you write a super bowl campaign and like a boy at the same time?"

20 years ago, two impressionable young women walked into a movie theater to watch Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion and they pretty much haven’t stopped talking about it since.
Seeing as you might not have 20 years to listen to them talk about the film, they graciously condensed their discussion to just under 2 hours.

Now, would you excuse me? I cut my foot before and my shoe is filling up with blood.

Your FiLM podcast hosts are not completely on board with the much dated and gender awkward title of our thirty-third episode, Man Up.
However, what they do like is the charming, thoughtful, and deliberate screenplay found in between the title page and FADE OUT.  
Tess Morris sought out to make a clever and enjoyable romantic comedy and we think she succeeded. And to 'one up' her Man Up movie, she cast Simon Pegg—making a sturdy gamble that a few men would likely watch along as well. 

Give it up for the one and (likely) only time we'll get to discuss a Coen brother's film on Falling in Love Montage.
We like to stay flexible, and this is a very comfortable stretch for us as we, and special guest Malcolm Nygard, have a rich and uproarious conversation about Intolerable Cruelty.

Are you asking yourself where you have heard Malcolm's intoxicating voice before? Maybe you recall it from our new bumper? (Psst! We joined a podcast network earlier this month!) Or maybe you are already a fan of or subscriber to the Comrade Radio Network? If you aren't already, you can hear more from Malcolm on his show Apoc Radio and the Comrade Radio Podcast.

In this, our third clip episode, you'll hear bits and pieces from Ghostbusters, Jane Eyre, Bridget Jones's Baby, Crank, While You Were Sleeping, and Overboard. 

I feel it is only fair to remind you that we absorbed a whole lot of acute sexism during our Ghostbusters research and then, the next thing you know, it was November and our fragile little female bodies and minds were very, very weary. 

One of my favorite podcasts recently made a disclaimer about choosing to be neutral when it comes to politics. I was very happy for him that he and his co-host were lucky enough to feel they had such a choice. Listeners, for as long as females are marginalized, we do not have that choice and I truly hope you can enjoy our programming and our points of view. 

Welcome to our thirtieth episode—and our first episode as part of the Comrade Radio family! We are majorly, totally, butt-crazy in love with this new undertaking. 
Also of equal excitement is the announcement of our special guest, Nicole Kemper of 'The Feminist Mistake podcast' and 'Critical Crop Top'. Nicole writes, directs, produces, and stars in some of Atlanta's premiere sketch comedy and web series. 

Can you guess the name of this film solely from a peak at Helen's note taking? 

1) She's shaking her vag-heart right at him

2) Coughing equals death

3) Was he the most masturbated about man at this time? (look that up!)

Give up? Need context? 

Well, it's Moulin Rouge of course! 

I've pulled these two quotes that, I believe, fully color the movie, Bend it Like Beckham. "There is a history of seeing difference, in terms of culture (...) as problematic. For me, difference is celebratory." - Gurinder Chadha (writer, director) "This movie kicks balls" - Matt LaStar (Ask A Matt)