I Loved The Notting Hill Reference And More In Maintenance Required, And Madelaine Petsch Shared Details Rom-Com Fans May Have Missed

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Romantic comedies are always popular, and recently, Amazon Prime subscribers got a new one called *Maintenance Required*, starring Madelaine Petsch. Known for her role in *Riverdale*, Petsch also produced the film and plays the main character, Frankie, in a story that’s a modern update of the classic tale *Parfumerie*. I especially enjoyed the nods to films like *Notting Hill* and *You’ve Got Mail*, and Petsch revealed there was even a hidden detail I didn’t catch!

I just finished watching *Maintenance Required*, and even though it’s a new movie, it felt surprisingly familiar! As a total rom-com fanatic, I kept spotting nods to classics. There’s a direct quote from *Notting Hill*, and honestly, the whole vibe reminded me a lot of *You’ve Got Mail* – you can definitely see the similarities. I was curious if there were more hidden references, so I actually asked Petsch about it (check out the video above!). She pointed out one I totally missed, and it was pretty cool!

As a huge film buff, I noticed a really cool detail in the restaurant date scene. The way the actors are positioned – the ‘blocking,’ as they say in filmmaking – is a direct nod to a classic fifties movie called *Shop Around the Corner*. If you’ve seen that film, you’ll immediately recognize we intentionally tried to recreate that same visual arrangement in our scene.

I was really surprised to learn that the movie *Maintenance Required* includes a direct nod to the classic 1940 film *The Shop Around the Corner*. That earlier movie, in turn, was based on *Parfumerie*, a story about two coworkers who unknowingly fall in love. It’s clear the filmmakers behind the new Amazon Prime movie are fans of this type of story and wanted to honor the romantic comedies – and their roots – that came before it, even going back decades.

You can watch “Maintenance Required” with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. New subscribers can get a 30-day free trial. After the trial, the monthly cost is $14.99, or you can pay $139 for a full year—saving 22%. See the deal here.

The idea of a captivating scent has been a popular theme in many films and stage productions, like the Broadway musical *She Loves Me*. The new romantic comedy *Maintenance Required* continues this tradition, and it’s great to see how it pays tribute to classic scent-inspired stories. It’s quickly become popular on Amazon, suggesting many viewers are recognizing and enjoying those nods to the past.

I also asked Petsch during our conversation which other romantic comedies she wished she could have featured in the playful world of *Maintenance Required*. She immediately responded, saying:

Crazy, Stupid, Love is the best movie ever made?

You’ve made a great pick! *Crazy, Stupid, Love* is a classic romantic comedy, and it’s largely because of its fantastic cast – featuring stars like Kevin Bacon, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and Marisa Tomei. It’s a shame Madison Petsch couldn’t include a little nod to that movie in *Maintenance Required*.

I’m so excited that *Maintenance Required* is now available on Amazon Prime! It’s part of their 2025 movie lineup, which is awesome. And with *The Strangers – Chapter 2* currently in theaters, fans like me have a fantastic chance to see both movies and enjoy a Madelaine Petsch double feature – it’s a dream come true!

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2025-10-10 18:08