We go big on the podcast this week as the biggest movie week of the year is upon us. Neal Pollack and Stephen Garrett, childhood best friends turned mortal film-critic enemies, come together to discuss 'Wicked),' the blockbusteriest blockbuster of the year. Battle lines draw immediately as Neal favors the performance of Ariana Grande, a theater kid who is clearly playing her dream role. Stephen prefers the more nuanced performance of Cynthia Erivo, who Neal finds a bit pretentious. They both agree that there's no reason on Earth why this needs to be two movies, and that there's a lot of filler set in a "Hogwarts without magic." But some of the musical numbers are lavish and fun. Neal is also disappointed that the monkeys do not wear diapers.
There's no such disappointment when it comes to 'Gladiator II).' Stephen thought the sequel was fun but unnecessary. Neal, on the other hand, really appreciates a movie that features CGI baboons, sharks, an angry rhino, Denzel Washington, *and *a monkey wearing a diaper. He calls star Paul Mescal an "angry barista". An instant camp classic, that's what we say.
Bobby Hilliard joins Neal to discuss something very disgusting, the 'Terrifier)' movies, which Neal is too scared to see. Bobby worries, and with good reason, that the antics of Art the Clown are desensitizing audiences to the worst possible violence imaginable. There are things in the 'Terrifier' movie so horrible, you couldn't begin to imagine them. Bobby warns Neal that there's nothing even remotely humanizing about Art the Clown. He has no Freddy Krueger, Jason Vorhees, or Michael Myers backstory. It's irredeemable gore, with absolutely no reason to exist other than to make audiences go "ewwww". Terrifier 3 made more than $80 million at the box office. Someone is digging it.
Our podcast is unlimited. Enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving!
