Episodes

  • 40. Don't Worry, We’re “Keeping the Faith”
    Jan 2 2026

    Torsten and Sabrina are following the adventures of religious throuple Jenna Elfman, Ben Stiller, and Edwart Norton (the latter in his directorial debut to boot!)

    They talk about a few things you may want to check out:

    – The New York Times Review of the film when it came out: https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/14/movies/film-review-religion-and-hormones-surrounded-by-a-triangle.html

    – Variety’s review of the movie: https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/keeping-the-faith-2-1200460816/

    Welcome to “In Front of Ira,” the podcast in which historians, friends, and lovers… of romcoms Sabrina Mittermeier and Torsten Kathke discuss how the romantic comedy genre has evolved, what it can tell us about society, and whether this movie is worth watching.

    Find us @infrontofira.bsky.social on Bluesky and @infrontofira on Instagram or drop us a line at infrontofirapod@gmail.com

    Our music is “Night in Venice” by Kevin MacLeod.

    – "Night in Venice"

    Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ –

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    59 mins
  • 39. You’ve Found This Episode, What “Serendipity”!
    Dec 26 2025

    Torsten and Sabrina are not writing down the title of this John Cusack/Kate Beckinsale movie in hopes that fate will let them see it anyway down by the ice skating rink in Central Park.

    They talk about a few things you may want to check out:

    – Kate Beckinsale giving an interview about the movie: https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/kate-beckinsale-answers-all-our-questions-about-serendipity.html

    – Director Peter Chelsom talks about the impact of 9/11 on the opening of the film: https://www.businessinsider.com/harvey-weinstein-twin-towers-erased-from-serendipity-peter-chelsom-2021-10

    Welcome to “In Front of Ira,” the podcast in which historians, friends, and lovers… of romcoms Sabrina Mittermeier and Torsten Kathke discuss how the romantic comedy genre has evolved, what it can tell us about society, and whether this movie is worth watching.

    Find us @infrontofira.bsky.social on Bluesky and @infrontofira on Instagram or drop us a line at infrontofirapod@gmail.com

    Our music is “Night in Venice” by Kevin MacLeod.

    – "Night in Venice"

    Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ –

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 38. We Go “Round and Round” for Hanukkah
    Dec 19 2025

    Sabrina and Torsten want the Dreidel Extended Universe to be a thing as they accompany Vic Michaelis and Bryan Greenberg through a holiday time travel romcom.

    They talk about a few things you may want to check out:

    – Decider’s review of the movie: https://decider.com/2023/12/10/round-and-round-hallmark-channel-review/

    – Another review from NPR: https://www.npr.org/2023/12/15/1219585032/one-last-hanukkah-gift-from-hallmark-round-and-round-is-a-really-fun-romcom

    – Vic Michaelis’s show “Very Important People”: https://www.youtube.com/@veryimportantpeopleshow

    Welcome to “In Front of Ira,” the podcast in which historians, friends, and lovers… of romcoms Sabrina Mittermeier and Torsten Kathke discuss how the romantic comedy genre has evolved, what it can tell us about society, and whether this movie is worth watching.

    Find us @infrontofira.bsky.social on Bluesky and @infrontofira on Instagram or drop us a line at infrontofirapod@gmail.com

    Our music is “Night in Venice” by Kevin MacLeod.

    – "Night in Venice"

    Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

    Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ –

    Show more Show less
    46 mins
  • 37. What If “The F-Word” Was Also Called “What If”?
    May 2 2025

    Torsten and Sabrina are charmed by Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan (and Adam Driver and Mackenzie Davis and Megan Park…) in an indie romcom out of Toronto that more people should have seen, but also more people than we thought have seen. Ok, a medium amount of people have seen this. It’s great, be one of them.


    They talk about a few things you may want to check out:


    – Variety’s review of the movie: https://variety.com/2013/film/global/the-f-word-review-toronto-1200607906/

    – Another review from The Wrap: https://www.thewrap.com/what-if-review-daniel-radcliffe-zoe-kazan-adam-driver/


    Welcome to “In Front of Ira,” the podcast in which historians, friends, and lovers… of romcoms Sabrina Mittermeier and Torsten Kathke discuss how the romantic comedy genre has evolved, what it can tell us about society, and whether this movie is worth watching.

    Find us @infrontofira on various social media apps and drop us a line at infrontofirapod@gmail.com


    Our music is “Night in Venice” by Kevin MacLeod.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • 36. “Never Been Kissed” by the Teacher (Thank God)
    Apr 25 2025

    Sabrina and Torsten have never been kissed by Michael Vartan, which is a thing they have in common with Drew Barrymore’s character in this teen movie that can’t quite decide what it wants to be, except somehow both charming and problematic. The 90s, man…


    They talk about a few things you may want to check out:


    – IFoI mainstay Roger Ebert’s review of the movie: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/never-been-kissed-1999

    – The cultural reckoning the movie had post Me Too: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/04/229220/never-been-kissed-anniversary-teacher-student-relationship-controversy


    Welcome to “In Front of Ira,” the podcast in which historians, friends, and lovers… of romcoms Sabrina Mittermeier and Torsten Kathke discuss how the romantic comedy genre has evolved, what it can tell us about society, and whether this movie is worth watching.

    Find us @infrontofira on various social media apps and drop us a line at infrontofirapod@gmail.com


    Our music is “Night in Venice” by Kevin MacLeod.

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    55 mins
  • 35. “The Proposal”: Escapism Is a US–Canadian Love Story
    Apr 18 2025

    Sabrina and Torsten go to Alaska with Canadian Sandra Bullock and American Ryan Reynolds so she can get a Green Card. High jinx ensue, except all jokes about the U.S. immigration system hit different these days.


    They talk about a few things you may want to check out:


    – IFoI mainstay Roger Ebert’s review of the movie: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-proposal-2009

    – A few more facts about the movie: https://www.movieinsider.com/m2964/the-proposal


    Welcome to “In Front of Ira,” the podcast in which historians, friends, and lovers… of romcoms Sabrina Mittermeier and Torsten Kathke discuss how the romantic comedy genre has evolved, what it can tell us about society, and whether this movie is worth watching.

    Find us @infrontofira on various social media apps and drop us a line at infrontofirapod@gmail.com


    Our music is “Night in Venice” by Kevin MacLeod.

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    51 mins
  • 34. Remodeling, Having an Affair? “It’s Complicated”
    Apr 11 2025

    Torsten and Sabrina tackle another Nancy Meyers romcom in which the stars are not in their twenties. There is, of course, a kitchen, but there’s also Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin.


    They talk about a few things you may want to check out:


    – Reviews of the movie: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/its-complicated-200R

    – The lost art of director’s commentary: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/streaming-killed-the-video-star/


    Welcome to “In Front of Ira,” the podcast in which historians, friends, and lovers… of romcoms Sabrina Mittermeier and Torsten Kathke discuss how the romantic comedy genre has evolved, what it can tell us about society, and whether this movie is worth watching.

    Find us @infrontofira on various social media apps and drop us a line at infrontofirapod@gmail.com


    Our music is “Night in Venice” by Kevin MacLeod.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • 33. Steal a Boat and Go to “Fire Island”
    Apr 4 2025

    Sabrina and Torsten are still in Sabrina’s kitchen, but really they're on Andrew Ahn’s “Fire Island” (2022) watching Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang put the Pride in “Pride in Prejudice.” They hope not to catch Lyme disease in the outdoors while looking for constellations.


    They talk about a few things you may want to check out:


    – Author/Star Joel Kim Booster on his romcom journey: https://ew.com/movies/joel-kim-booster-fire-island-pride-cover-story/

    – Actor Bowen Yang on the movie: https://representasianproject.com/features/bowen-yang-fire-island-interview/


    Welcome to “In Front of Ira,” the podcast in which historians, friends, and lovers… of romcoms Sabrina Mittermeier and Torsten Kathke discuss how the romantic comedy genre has evolved, what it can tell us about society, and whether this movie is worth watching.

    Find us @infrontofira on various social media apps and drop us a line at infrontofirapod@gmail.com


    Our music is “Night in Venice” by Kevin MacLeod.

    Show more Show less
    46 mins