Ep 69: Step Brothers

Nate and Ryan revisit the widely loved comedy Step Brothers to talk about what is so appealing about the team of Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, and Adam McKay. With Ferrell and Reilly back in theaters to much uninterested shrugs, and Adam McKay nominated for his 5th Oscar after winning his first three years ago, Nate and Ryan examine what about Step Brothers works and what hasn’t aged particularly well.

FAIR WARNING: Just for good measure, there’s also a pretty significant tangent on the current state of comedy that meanders a bit from the Step Brothers conversation, but ultimately looks at why things that were funny stop being funny.

Where does Step Brothers rank for you among all-time great comedies? What comedians never fail to make you laugh? Let us know!

Ep. 64: Bull Durham

Nate and Ryan escape the summer heat by watching Bull Durham, a sports classic from 1988 that helped catapult Kevin Costner into Hollywood super-stardom.  Bull Durham is often hailed as the best sports movie of all time, so Nate and Ryan decided to weigh in for themselves.  After 30 years, how does this tale of small-time baseball players, small-town romancers, and has-been talents hold up?  Nate and Ryan discuss if Bull Durham has any life left in it.

Where does Bull Durham rank for you?  Is there another sports movie that takes the top spot for you?  Do you believe in opening presents on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve? Let us know!

Also, let us know your thoughts on our next movie: Vertigo.

Ep. 63: Can’t Hardly Wait

As the school year winds down and summer brings life-long change (or so teen comedies would have us believe), Nate and Ryan discuss Can’t Hardly Wait.  Released 20 years ago, some of the hallmarks of late ’90s and early ’00s teen comedies can be traced back to Can’t Hardly Wait, yet it doesn’t quite hold a place among the “Teen Comedy Classics.”  Nate and Ryan discuss whether it belongs there, and what qualifies a film for a place among the beloved. They also get unexpectedly serious in discussing whether a movie that accurately depicts the troubling social dynamics of its day has a place in today’s culture.

Was Can’t Hardly Wait a part of your teen years?  What is your favorite teen comedy?  What makes a “great” teen comedy in your mind? Let us know!

Ep. 62: The Big Lebowski

Nate and Ryan talk about The Big Lebowski (one of their favorites), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.  They welcome back their good friend Tim Yoder to discuss what is so special about this movie and what the expansive cult fan base indicates about its appeal.  Grab a white Russian and lay out on your best rug as we wax philosophical about this cult favorite.

What is your history with The Dude?  What are your favorite lines?  Which lines are you sick of hearing?  Let us know!

Ep. 58: Elf

For our fourth annual Holiday Extravaganza, we’re re-watching Elf, the 2003 Will Farrell comedy hit that has become a must-see for many people each year.  Our feelings for Elf have deteriorated over the years, so we wanted to watch it again to see if there’s something we’re missing.  This is the first time we’ve watched a Christmas movie that neither of us are big on, and we know that many of our listeners do like this movie. As the spirit of the season dictates, we watched with a generous mind and an open heart.  Though we can’t say that it made much of a difference…

Share your thoughts!  Are we just being Grinches?  What do you love about Elf? If you’ve never liked it, how have you managed to stay under the radar so the Elf fanatics don’t forcibly decorate your house?  Let us know!