In this very special episode of The Letterboxd Show, we ditch the watchlists and awards shows to talk to filmmaker Peyton Reed about directing one of Mia Lee Vicino’s Four Favorites: Down with Love (2003). That’s right; it’s the 20th anniversary of this Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor-starring ode to the Doris Day-Rock Hudson sex comedies of yore, such as Pillow Talk (1959) and Lover Come Back (1961). Mia and Peyton chatted about the difference between Barbie and Barbara Novak shades of pink, which classic romances inspired screenwriters Eve Ahlert and Dennis Drake, the origin of that grand finale musical number and the belated cultural embrace of this misunderstood feminist masterpiece. Even if you haven’t seen it, if we did our jobs right, maybe you’ll end up adding it to your own watchlist. Cheers, here’s to twenty years of Down with Love!

Credits: Recorded in Los Angeles. Edited by Slim. Theme music: “Vampiros Danceoteque” by Moniker. Editorial producer: Brian Formo. Production manager: Sophie Shin. The Letterboxd Show and Weekend Watchlist are TAPEDECK productions.

Lists & Links: Lists of movies mentioned

Reviews: Sean Baker & Sree⁠ & Ayo Edebiri⁠'s Down with Love reviews