Rom-Com Couple's Therapy and Fun News!
Oh hi everybody,
This week I saw three of the paramount romantic comedies of the last 30 years: She’s All That, She’s the Man, and Morbius.



Each one provides a deep understanding as to cultural norms throughout our communities and within our expectations of love.
However, something happened while watching these films that I have only mildly experienced previously. I kept asking myself “Where are the adults?" and “Why is such a lack of honest and direct communication between the characters?”
In She’s All That I even missed the punishment if Freddie Prince Jr. could not make the unpopular girl into prom queen. Thus, when he arrived at graduation naked (and thenceforth became a registered sex offender for indecent exposure) I thought his manic episode had culminated.
In She’s the Man, I noticed the Amanda Bynes inflection that has permitted our speech patterns and our understanding of how to sell a joke.
In Morbius, I couldn’t help but think about all the MTA announcements they’d need to make in reaction to his Morbin activities: “All A trains will be running on the express track due to reports of two people Morbin” or “New Yorkers are asked to avoid the Lower East Side due to a Morbius-related bat swarm.”
With mild extrapolation, I have developed a new bit that I am very excited to test tomorrow on the clock app and perhaps the other media companies.
If I’ve learned anything about trying to start a relationship after a whirlwind romance (some might say these romantic comedies reflect manic episodes even) is that the foundational communication skills you develop in a relationship are often cast aside for the squal of lust.
Therefore, I find it exceedingly likely that these characters would need to seek couples therapy at some point in their happily ever after.
That’s where I come in. I finally have consistent use of my new brown unconstructed blazer!
Do you think I should wear a collared shirt under the jacket? Maybe a shirt and tie?
While I don’t have a version of the sketch to provide you here, I do have other news that is quite exciting.
I will be on The Moth on February 13 on NPR across the world on the World Wide Web. There I share a story about the time I gave myself scruvy in college. I hope you tune in and listen.
In addition, I’m heading to Boston to film another story for Stories from the Stage at WGBH! That story is about my long and deep love of dinosaurs.
Here are some other places you can see and here me.
Shows:
Stories from the Stage Smitten - Feb 14 (WGBH Boston)
How Was It Storytelling - Feb 17
Little Orphan Guitars - Feb 22
Mattsplaining:
This week on Mattsplaining, I talked to Bryan Berlin about candlemaking and I DO NOT confirm that I own a human skull.
On February 12, I speak to Death Doula Jill McClennen about death dying and grief.
I appreciate you and your reading of this set of words very much. Thank you.
Respectfully yours,
Matthew Storrs