It seems like the laughs will come in bundles with the three leads playing fast and loose at the top of the film, but the warmth shared between the leads that could excuse all the crude behavior of a stoner comedy wears away leaving a less than pleasing mixture behind.
Krampus is the “Christmas Devil”…here in the States, creative minds (and, some not-so-creative) deliver not one, but four tales of this yuletide terror.
Showcast Episode 131: The Movie Guys’ Sixth Annual Holiday Special! “Star Wars”…holiday special…this stuff writes itself. It’s a full-on party in The Admiral’s Club as The Movie Guys welcome The Phantom Editor Mike J. Nichols and The Christmas Ewok to give a full once-over to “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and longtime friend of the show Steven Lewis, telling the tale of the Christmas classic, “Concussion”. The Boobé Sisters give expert analysis to the movie “Sisters”, being sisters themselves, and they blow the roof off the joint with their rendition of “Christmas in Hollis”. Plus, a “Daddy’s Home” gift exchange, a “Point Break” re-gift exchange, a “Joy” informercial, a “The Hateful Eight” Tarantino-laced holiday poem and previews of “Anomalisa” and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip”! Also, The Scrooge Tracker, a look at “Star Wars” marketing and more ending 2015 with a bang.
It’s probably the most common thing said about movies of this type – I liked it when all hell broke loose, but the characters otherwise weren’t that compelling.
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen…but you’ve probably never heard of Krampus.
Showcast Episode 130: Nothing says the holidays like chunky pee. Find out what The Movie Guys are talking about when special guest Sarah Burns (“Slow Learners”) hits The Admiral’s Club to preview “In the Heart of the Sea” and “The Big Short”. Plus, a round of Retractions involving one incident…a year and a half ago…and The Soup Dragons.
If “Creed” is launching a new franchise in the boxing genre, it’s doing it the right way – with nostalgia.
Showcast Episode 129: Everything about why movies are great is in this episode. Actor Dan Bakkedahl (“Trumbo”, “The Heat”) joins us the whole show for a preview of “Krampus” and a lengthy look at movie news. Plus, a trailer for another Christmas horror movie about your parents’ parents visiting over the holidays – “Grandpus”! And Bakkedahl’s Banksy and “Harold and Maude” stories are for the ages.
What Roach does best is take a film that should no doubt feel “important” and make it feel entertaining.
Showcast Episode 128: The holidays are upon us, so…Frankenstein? The Movie Guys tear through previews of “Victor Frankenstein”, “The Good Dinosaur” & “Creed”, then talk movies at length with “Secret in Their Eyes” producer Jeremiah Samuels.
Showcast Episode 127: It’s a big weekend of movies trying to get a jump on the holiday weekend and The Movie Guys take a look at them all – “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part II”, “Legend”, “The Night Before”, “Spotlight” & “Secret in Their Eyes”. Special guest Lisa Minzey from TheReelCritic.com sits in the whole show!
Showcast Episode 126: November is overloaded with movies, and The Movie Guys give you the lowdown on a big, four-film weekend of new releases, including “The 33”, “By The Sea”, “My All American” & “Trumbo”. Then the writers and co-stars of the new slasher film “The Funhouse Massacre”, Renee Dorian & Ben Begley, stop by The Admiral’s Club to talk about their film opening in theaters on Friday the 13th.
Danny Boyle’s “Steve Jobs” is the second biopic of the Apple Computer founder in the past three years. But it’s not unlike something involved with Apple to have to be rebooted to operate correctly.
Self-congratulation is still the rage in TinselTown. Who are we to not report on it? Agree? Disagree? It doesn’t matter, the awards will go out week after week until the Oscars, February 28nd, 2016.
Odd today to think that kids would be expected to attend a movie that did not involve peril or violence or parents being offed – and love it.
Showcast Episode 125: Bond is back and The Movie Guys celebrate with a full preview of “Spectre” as well as previews of “The Peanuts Movie” and “Room”. Actor and comedian Jon Barinholtz sits in the whole Showcast on the eve of his appearance on the new Bob Odenkirk/David Cross sketch show, “w/Bob and David”, premiering November 13th on NetFlix.
Wishing you all a Happy Halloween and vicious viewing pleasures from my dark, dank basement where no one can hear you scream.
Showcast Episode 124: With the 30th anniversary, America’s going “Back to the Future” crazy, and The Movie Guys want in, welcoming Harry Waters, Jr. and Don Fullilove to The Admiral’s Club for a rousing interview (Waters, Jr. & Fullilove played Marvin Berry and Goldie Wilson in the classic movie). Plus, previews of new movies “Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse”, “Our Brand is Crisis” and “Burnt”.
Showcast Episode 123: Movie talk meets music talk as special guest director Denny Tedesco joins The Movie Guys in studio to talk about his new documentary “The Wrecking Crew”, chronicling the legendary studio musicians of the ’60s and ’70s. Plus, previews of new movies – “The Last Witch Hunter”, “Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension”, “Jem and the Holograms” and Karen’s head explodes at the thought of Bill Murray in “Rock the Kasbah”.
Somehow, Zemeckis has taken a story known to many (especially how it ends) and has made it fresh, exhilarating, and full of surprises.
Showcast Episode 122: Three big box office contenders get the preview business from The Movie Guys, including “Goosebumps”, “Crimson Peak” and “Bridge of Spies”. Then homegrown L.A. stand-up comic Ryan Clark stops by to chat more movies and music with busy rounds of “What Did You See This Week?” and “Karen’s Birthdays”.
Collectively, the young women of “The Keeping Room,” director Daniel Barber, and writer Julia Hart take us on a journey that is intense, beautiful and melancholic.
A slow burn foreign horror, that for some, may not fulfill their thriller/horror needs, but for those with more patience that do not mind the long shots that build suspense, trying to throw you off balance, it can be rewarding.
Showcast Episode 121: The Movie Guys rip through previews of new films “Pan” and “Freeheld”, as well as “Steve Jobs”, which prompts a look at other real-life figures have had multiple biopics made about them. Then filmmakers Bryan Carberry & Clay Tweel hit The Admiral’s Club to discuss their award-winning documentary “Finders Keepers”, now in theaters and video on demand everywhere.
What makes “The Martian” exceptional is how the high-production, Damon’s personality and the rescue mission tension all feed into what is essentially a “figurin’” movie, and make it widely appealing.
“Sicario” is easily Villeneuve’s best film, and one of the best of the year.
Showcast Episode 120: Actor Jeff Meacham of “Black-ish” joins The Movie Guys fresh off the season two premiere the ABC sitcom. The movie talk flies about new releases “The Walk”, “Sicario” and “The Martian”, as well as a film that also featured Meacham, “Love & Mercy”. Plus, a look at how Hollywood has ruined overseas tourism.
Showcast Episode 119: It’s another big weekend of new releases as The Movie Guys preview “Hotel Transylvania 2”, “The Intern”, “The Green Inferno”, “Pawn Sacrifice” and “99 Homes”. Plus, special guest writer/director Liz Manashil hits The Admiral’s Club to talk about her new film now out on V.O.D. – “Bread and Butter”, and Bill Murray takes up most of ‘Karen’s Birthdays’.
The performances in this new gangland tale are brilliant from Johnny Depp to the minor characters, but the film itself suffers in pacing and tries your patience.
Showcast Episode 118: For some reason, the studios have chosen the seemingly unimportant day of September 18th to release a bunch of potentially interesting movies, and The Movie Guys are all over them – “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials”, “Everest”, “Captive” and “Black Mass”. Plus, filmmakers and comedy troupe Dr. God cast members Brian James O’Connell & Justin Ware discuss their new horror/comedy “Bloodsucking Bastards”, now on V.O.D.
Let’s rank and review 6 Star Wars villains, narrowed down to the darkest of the Dark Side
M. Night Shyamalan returns to fine form delivering another thriller worthy of a lot of post-screening discussion with “The Visit”.
Showcast Episode 117: The Movie Guys are joined by great guest and rapid-fire story machine Doug Jones (“Hellboy”, “Pan’s Labyrinth”) for tales from movie sets and red carpets. Plus, previews of “The Visit” and “The Perfect Guy”, which has Karen conjuring up her own vision of the perfect guy, cobbled together from Hollywood celebs.
I wish that coaster had a home stretch and finale that matched the liveliness of the beginning.
Showcast Episode 116: This week’s Showcast has talk of new studio releases (including previews of “The Transporter: Refueled” & “A Walk in the Woods”) and talk of indies (with special guest Nic LaRue of FilmSnobbery.com). All this and there’s still time for a round of “What’s Nick Nolte Saying?” and a look at movie news.
Imagine, if you will, a romantic comedy minus all the romantic notions, minus all the cute or beautiful looking actors (young or old), and still delivering all the goods with a very strong resolve.
I worry about Ritchie’s signature as a director. Coming on the scene with films like “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch”, he lately seems like a director-for-hire
Showcast Episode 115: Summer’s ending, but Hollywood never stops with the movie-making, and The Movie Guys are there to preview new releases “No Escape” and “We Are Your Friends”, which prompts an EDM/trailer noises mash-up. Then actor Adam Pascal, who originated the role of Roger Davis in “Rent” on Broadway, stops by to talk about his new movie musical, “Alleluia! The Devil’s Carnival”.
“No Escape” is a smart and harrowing journey through a third world hell.
Showcast Episode 114: With the air conditioner humming along in The Admiral’s Club, The Movie Guys preview “Sinister 2”, “American Ultra” and “HItman: Agent 47”, plus take a look at the upcoming “Star Wars”-themed lands coming to Disney theme parks. Then prolific writer/director Adam Rifkin joins in for a full once-over of his career and a look at his newest film now available on VOD – “Shooting The Warwicks”.