This week on Every Rom Com, Sophia and Jen take on the definitive Gen-X rom com as we discuss 1994’s “Reality Bites.” We’ll talk about Helen Childress, the 20-year old writer tasked with defining her generation; Ben Stiller, directing his first feature; and a cast of Gen-X icons led by Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke. We’ll discuss the advent of reality TV and how this movie satirized the genre before it took over our screens. We’ll also cover the hit soundtrack, the influential fashion, the history of the Big Gulp, and much much more as we talk about a favorite from our teenage years that still resonates today!

0:00 -9:29 Introduction, Spring News, The Gen-X Post-College Experience

9:29-19:58 TRAILER, Basic Info, Interesting Facts, General Opinion

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/03/reality-bites-captured-gen-x-25-years-later-helen-childress/583870/

https://uproxx.com/hitfix/20-years-later-an-oral-history-of-reality-bites/

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75479/14-facts-about-reality-bites

19:58-28:25 Cast & Crew In-Depth

28:25-33:55 “Reality Bites” As The Definitive Gen-X Rom Com

Tribeca Film Festival “Reality Bites” Reunion Panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOLu7UQy4vg

What Makes A Gen-X Rom Com? https://www.everyromcom.com/post/what-makes-a-gen-x-rom-com

33:55-51:06 Graduation, Lelaina’s Speech, Character Intros, Graduation Dinner, Getting Ready Montage

51:06-1:02:02 Lelaina’s Job, Lelaina Meets Michael, Troy Moves In, Lelaina’s Documentary

Money In 1994 & Today: https://www.dollartimes.com/inflation/inflation.php?amount=400&year=1994

Gregory Corso Poem “Marriage”: https://www.northiowa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/POETRY-MARRIAGE.pdf

More Making Of Info: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jul/24/how-we-made-reality-bites-ethan-hawke-janeane-garofalovodka-freezer-my-sharona