Weird mediocre week with shark movie 47 Meters Down, raunch-com Rough Night, and Cars 3. Drink every time someone mentions The Bends and you will die. Not enough sharks (or scares) in this shark movie. Stupid ending. Rough Night is about women, but in the end the insecure fiance is the hero? Should’ve been more funny given how great the cast is. Cars 3 is terrible for the first hour, then gets kinda good. We spoil the hell out of it, so beware. You can read the written form of Andy’s comments here. The short Lou before the movie is the best part. That we don’t spoil because it’s beautiful.
Studios try to revitalize once-beloved franchises with Baywatch and Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Then we take a swear-filled rant about the “controversy” over the women-only screenings for Wonder Woman at the Alamo Drafthouse. And next week a (returning) special guest will join us to talk Wonder Woman! Stay awhile and listen!
Another big holiday movie weekend with Bad Santa 2, Rules Don’t Apply, and Moana. Bad Santa 2 is a pale imitation of the first, but at least we get more Thurman Merman. Rules Don’t Apply is overstuffed and too long, but it’s great seeing Warren Beatty play crazy Howard Hughes. The best of the week is Disney’s Moana. Adam has a problem choosing between it and Kubo. Lin-Manuel Miranda, David Bowie, and Jermaine Clement.
It’s a weird assortment of movies this week, with Pete’s Dragon, Florence Foster Jenkins, and Sausage Party. We go in order from most kid-friendly to adult and tell you where you can find us at Salt Lake Comic Con Sept 1-3.
The big movie of the week is Finding Dory, and stick around to the end for our late-breaking In Memoriam to Anton Yelchin. Random topics in this episode: better than popcorn but not as good as caramel apple sucker, Octodad. Pixar sequels and best Pixar movies, judging on the Spider-Man scale, seeing The Shallows and Jaws on the water, and buy your tickets for The Killing Joke for July 25th.
Don’t listen to the cynical critics about X-Men: Apocalypse, which is out this week and Andy and Adam previously gave a 7 and an 8 to, respectively. Did you not hear that episode? Stay a while and listen!
Alice: Through the Looking Glass – The Hatter is Madder and only Alice can help him. Time Travel. It looks nice! Johnny Depp’s vocal affectation. Sacha Baron Cohen’s accent. Adam is meh on it and gives it a 5. Andy holds all time travel movies to a higher standard and gives it a 4. Brooke says we’re entirely too harsh and kids will love it and gives it a 6.
Also don’t forget that the Sundance movie The Lobster is out this week in theaters– but you can also catch it at home on video on demand or dvd if you’d prefer that. Adam gave it a 7, and if you’re complaining about Hollywood not doing enough original, then go support this.
London Has Fallen is a sequel/lazy rehash of the first movie. The production delays and “creative differences.” Laughable script. Ridiculous premise. “Time of the month” jokes. A dick flick, not a chick flick. But stuff blows up, and there’s Gerard Butler, so there’s that. Brooke gives it 2/10.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is Tina Fey producing an adaptation of a memoir of a television journalist about her time on Afghanistan from 2003-2007. It’s not a comedy– it’s real life, with real humor interjected to lighten the mood. Like M*A*S*H. Lots of talk about Afghanistan. Tina Fey delivers an amazing performance that’s both emotional and funny. Andy and Brooke both give it 7/10.
Zootopia is possibly the best movie of the year so far. A cute story about a bunny who wants to become a cop becomes “48 Hours” when she gets paired with a streetwise fox. Sooooooo much deep meaning in this movie about prejudice, bullying, etc, but maybe too much? Andy’s pancake analogy– Adam prefers waffles. Trump. Hillary. Not quite as good or straightforward as Wreck-It Ralph, but almost. Andy gives it 8.5/10, Brooke gives it 9/10 and says Andy is wrong about Tangled.
Oscars wrap-up! We were mostly right! Except that Best Picture thing. Andy’s idea about Spotlight– we need a new Oscar category for acting or “Best Ensemble” and one for “Best Special Performance in Motion Capture, Voice Over or Animation” and how it would be good for diversifying the Oscar nominees and winners.
Next week! Cloverfield sequel and Andy will be at SXSW!
This week we review Mockingjay Part II, Victor Frankenstein, The Good Dinosaur, and Creed. We continue our countdown to The Force Awakens by talking about the movie that started it all: Star Wars – A New Hope.
Mockingjay Part II – It’s the final Hunger Games movie! Everyone gets a moment to shine. We forget Jennifer Lawrence can actually act. You finally won me over, Josh Hutcherson. Veteran actors Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Donald Sutherland, Julianne Moore all shine. Has too many almost endings — like Return of the King. 7.5 out of 10.
Victor Frankenstein – This cast could read the phone book and it would be entertaining. They should’ve stuck to reading the phone book. More style than substance. Why was this released at Thanksgiving instead of Halloween? 5 out of 10.
The Good Dinosaur – It’s a “A Boy and His Dog” movie. Except with a dinosaur and the dog is a little human. Jaws references. It turns into a Western with Sam Elliot. Sure to be a crowd pleaser but Pixar is usually capable of more than just pretty animation and a good story. We expect more. Andy gave it 8.5 out of 10 and Adam gave it 7 out of 10.
Creed – Watch this review by Scott Stapp of Creed. It’s a Rocky movie! And almost exactly what you’d expect. Maybe a little long. Maybe too many training montages. But the last few minutes are amazing.
We review Jem and the Holograms, Rock the Casbah, and Steve Jobs, then Andy presents his favorite Disney Halloween scary movie and Adam presents his favorite funny horror movie.
Jem and the Holograms – Who is this movie for? Not Jem fans. Not the rising generation. Not a bad film, just not a very good one. And not really a Jem movie. And why did it turn into The DaVinci Code and a heist movie for 30 minutes? Andy gives it 5/10
Rock the Casbah – This movie doesn’t know what it is or where it’s going. Pick a theme and go with it. Bill Murray tries to do some schtick and it’s somewhat entertaining, but not enough to carry the movie — only one or two legitimately funny moments. Adam gives it 4/10, Andy 5.5/10.
Steve Jobs – It’s a Shakespearean Drama in 3 acts– and it’s just like Julius Caesar isn’t the history of Caesar’s death. So very Sorkin-y. Fassbender disappears into the role of Steve Jobs. And Seth Rogan can act! Who knew?!? Adam gives it 9/10, Andy 7.5/10- great movie but maybe not for all audiences.
Andy’s recommendation: Disney!! The Black Hole!!! Scary scientist! Cute robots! SUPER Scary robot! Trippy ending.
Adam’s recommendation: Horror Comedy!! Tucker and Dale vs. Evil! Hillbillies get mistaken for ax murderers, college kids keep accidentally falling into wood chippers, etc. Super gory and also just really funny.
PS– sorry for the lateness of this week’s episode. We both had hell for work.
We review A Walk in the Woods, Learning to Drive, and recommend movies “based on a true story”: Milk and All the President’s Men. Journalistic ethics. The shakeup at Marvel Studios.
A Walk in the Woods is nice, beautiful shots of nature, but as charming as Redford is, it just doesn’t work. Adam give it 5/10, Andy gives it 6/10.
Learning toDrive is incredibly thin. Adapted from a magazine article and it feels like it. Ben Kingsley is great, but it thinks it’s deeper than it is. 5/10
Movies “based on a true story.”
Adam chose Milk, Andy chose All the President’s Men.
Journalistic ethics. At 29:30 we make a joke about sweater vests.
Why the shakeup at Marvel Studios/Disney is a good thing.
The podcast so you don't end up bored as hell at the movies
