Ehh, It's-A Italy

I have never been to Italy. And honestly, it's not that high on my list of places to go. I'm much more drawn to a misty Irish moor than a sun-drenched Italian villa. I prefer whiskey to wine and potatoes to pasta, and I've got a little too much American get-er-done-itis to settle properly into the leisurely lifestyle I've been led to believe Italians live. But that doesn't mean I'm not susceptible to Italy-porn. I like a good tomato sauce montage as much as the next girl, and I wouldn't say no to a Vespa ride through an olive grove. I don't have any fun travel on the books until next year, so I scratched the itch last night with two Italy-centric rom-coms on Netflix.

There is No Creature on Earth More Beautiful Than Jennifer Lopez

She's been iconically hot since 2000, when she showed up at the Grammys in a filmy green dress that was instantly seared into the popular consciousness. As a singer and dancer she's had her fair share of incredible looks, but it's her career as an actress that has really solidified her into one of this generation's hottest women. Her movie career seems to have guided by a single principle: is there an opportunity for me to look smoking hot in this film?

Jane Austen is the Benevolent Matriarch of All Romancelandia

Her novels form the basis for the entire genre, and they contain tropes that are still wildly popular today. If old Jane could see the sprawling proliferation of media created from her works, I think she'd be proud...if shocked at how far we've come from hand-holding. This week I watched two very different Austen remakes, and y'all, I have thoughts.

Sweet Teen Babies in Love!

I've been having a stressful week, so when I finally had a chance to fire up the old Netflix machine I was looking for something sweet and easy. I found it in the very charming new series Heartstopper, about a group of British teenagers navigating the complications of gender, orientation, and relationships.

My Husband Picked This Movie

We don't get as much TV time together as either of us would like, so when we sat down last night to watch something, I expected Hubs to suggest the new season of Stranger Things or The Boys. Instead, he really wanted to watch Sneakerella, a gender-swapped reinterpretation of Cinderella on Disney+ that featured a lot of choreographed dance scenes, and you know what, that's why I love him.

Gay Pirate Romance, Yes Please!

I have so much to watch and a decreasing amount of time in which to watch it. My calendar has been filling up with concerts, vacations, art exhibits, brunches, weddings...when am I going to find the time for my one true love, sitting on the couch in my pajamas?

But when I found out that there was a pirate comedy romance starring Taika Watiti on HBO, I knew I had no choice but to bump it to the top of my priority list. Who cares about spending time with your friends and family when you could be watching hilarious New Zealanders fall in love?