Ty Watches "Let's Start a Cult"

I took a break from watching scary movies last week and opted for what looked to be an interesting comedy on Prime the other day. The movie is called "Let's Start A Cult".

What piqued my interest was Stavros Halkias. I like his comedy and his appearances on podcasts have always made me laugh. I knew he was an actor, but to that point I only really knew him from podcasts. I recently saw he has a role in the new Yorgos Lanthimos movie "Bugonia", so maybe he is more of a big time actor than I had ever perceived. But "Let's Start A Cult" is a starring role for him. This is his movie and he owns the entire thing.

The plot is, Halkias plays a cult member that many of the other members actively dislike. He's rude, he takes what he wants, he doesn't follow any of the rules and, when they decide to meet their maker, they leave him out. After he finds out that he was not part of the mass suicide, he moves back home, where he hates it. His family has all gotten thin, he doesn't like his job and he is constantly goofing off. Then he sees the former leader of his cult one day, dressed as a clown, and he attacks him. They come to terms, form an alliance and they decide to start their own cult. This is when the movie gets funnier and funnier. I really liked seeing them do their thing. They prey on the weak and feeble minded. They try to take whatever they can from them. Well, I should say, the former leader is preying on the weak, but Halkias really believes in this cause. He wants to start his own family. He feels like, if he can pick his own family, he will be a happier, healthier person. He forms legit friendships with these new people. They all seem to like him too. But the former leader is jealous and unconcerned with what the new cult members actually want to do. He just wants to take advantage of each and everyone, including Halkias. One night he performs a song for everyone, and they start to kind of buy in. This is where Halkias gets to do a little dramatic work, but he always has some kind of comedic take which buttons the scene with some solid humor. Eventually Halkias saves the day and he becomes the leader. This is all part of the former leader's plan. He leaves and then they see him on the news saying that Halkias was the leader of the former cult and that he was the one who made them commit suicide. Halkias has to clear his name to the media and his new friends. He goes so far as to try and drown himself. When he comes to, after being saved by his new friends, he realizes that the whole idea of a cult is nonsense. And then he is out to clear his name. They find the former leader and confront him while he is being interviewed. Everything comes to a head, and the former leader tries to take over the whole ordeal. He gets hurt pretty badly and Halkias' name is cleared. We see them a few months out and everyone seems to have achieved their goals. Two of the members are a couple. The other member has quit his job as a spy and can live a normal life now. And Halkias is married to a former pro wrestler and they have a daughter. Halkias is also an in demand motivational speaker now.

This may all sound weird and maybe formulaic, but they do such a good job making it funny. The movie never takes itself seriously and that is the best way to go about doing something like this. This movie reminds me a lot of "On the Count of Three", but even less serious. "On the Count of Three" touches on some very real stuff throughout with some jokes sprinkled in here and there. "Let's Start A Cult" is funny all the way through. I found myself cracking up throughout the 90 minute runtime. It was a nice break from all the scary stuff I have been watching lately. I definitely recommend checking this movie out. It is a nice little gem that will make you laugh. I really enjoyed it. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "The Chair Company"

Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin are on a hot streak right now. I absolutely love "I Think You Should Leave". It is one of the best sketch comedy shows there has ever been. I know that Kanin didn't direct, and I don't even think he is in the movie, but you could see his fingerprints all over "Friendship". He and Robinson had to have written a bunch of that movie together at one point or another. And now they have "The Chair Company" on HBO.

Look, I was predetermined to like this show. I remember hearing about it awhile ago and I was already in at the mere mention of Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin's involvement. Then I saw a teaser trailer and I loved it and had no idea what I saw. It was just a clip of Robinson hanging out in the bathroom and then some shots of him at a computer. I was super intrigued by that 30 seconds alone. Then I saw some people talk about it online, some people got early screenings of the first episode and they had nothing but good things to say about it. I did not watch the premiere on Sunday, but I did watch it pretty much as soon as I woke up on the following Monday. And I loved it. This show is fully inline with the work these guys have done before, but they are taking it a few steps further than they have with their other stuff. You could see this coming, but the way they have pulled it off to this point has been right up my alley.

The whole idea of the show is, Robinson plays a middle America worker at your run of the mill company. He gets promoted for a big job, and on the day he is announcing everything to everyone who works in the office he goes to sit down and the chair breaks into a bunch of pieces. He is clearly embarrassed. Others at the job seem to have moved on from the incident, but not Robinson. He is consumed by what happened to him and this chair. He starts to dig deeper and deeper into the company that makes the chairs and some revealing stuff has already happened in the first two episodes. The show is hilarious, as one would expect, but it is also dark. There are some heavy undertones attached to this simple premise. But what I have loved the most about this show is how insane Kanin and Robinson make the mundane everyday life stuff. Robinson is meeting some shady individuals, but they are old and pretend gangsters. He is always on edge when he is having conversations with this family. His wife is very busy planning their daughter's wedding and their son is focused on getting a basketball scholarship. They manage to take this stuff and make it funny to me. There's a scene where Robinson is trying to sleep at night and he makes some blanket statements about his pillow being the issue. I love that he says it is the worst pillow in the world. I cannot count how many times I have said that about the pillows I used to own. I also like how Robinson is constantly trying to get out of this conspiracy he started himself and simply cannot. It appears he has gone a little too far and has dragged himself far too much into this chair company. And speaking to the mundane, the scenes where he is trying to figure out more about this chair company by doing some internet research have some of the best and funniest facial reactions. This is the stuff I have come to adore about Robinson's acting. He can make these wild faces that never cease to crack me up over and over again. And when he talks to himself, I find myself laughing harder and harder.

"The Chair Company" is off to a great start so far. I am really interested to see where this story goes, and if they will make more when it is all said and done. Robinson seems to be on an upward trajectory similar to what Nathan Fielder has going on right now. They both have unique and awesome comic minds. They make comedy unlike anything else that is out there today. And I'm here for it. I want it to continue. From "The Rehearsal" to "The Chair Company", Fielder and Robinson's version of comedy is better than anything else out there at the moment. Check this show out. It is pretty great. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "KPop Demon Hunters"

My daughter was finally able to get me to see "KPop Demon Hunters". She has seen it a ton, and my wife has watched it a couple of those times with her. I would pop in and out of the room while it was on, but I never actually sat down and watched it from start to finish. We had some free time last Saturday and she asked if I wanted to finally see it. I said yes, and sat back to see what the fuss was all about. I did know most of the songs going in, but I wanted to see them within the story of the movie.

First things first, this is a solid movie. I get why my daughter and her friends all seem to like it very much. This is very much a movie for kids that really like pop music, which is my daughter to a T. I have never listened to much, if any, Kpop, but my daughter has started to listen to it a bunch since her first viewing of this movie. The music is good and catchy. I find myself singing it around the house when I'm alone. The songs have been stuck in my head ever since watching the movie. I genuinely enjoy listening to the soundtrack. That helps this movie a ton for me. I don't know how much I would have liked it if it weren't for the songs and dances. The animators did such a great job making the songs come to life on screen. The singers are all pros and it shows. They know what they're doing.

The story of the movie is interesting. Huntrx, the girl Kpop group, are superstars who also happen to be demon hunters. There is a thing called the "honmoon", and these powerful people have been in charge of keeping it free of demons. Throughout history there have been these Kpop girl bands that also happen to be the best hunters in the world. That duty has now fallen on Huntrx. I like this whole idea of these superstars having an extra job that they have to do constantly. They did a good job of showing how tiring and hard a life like this would be. But, the girls in Huntrx smile throughout and they make some solid jokes during the movie too. Like any movie, there's a few conflicts. One of the Huntrx girls has a past that she will not tell her bandmates about. There is also a new boy band, Saja Boys, that may have ulterior motives in their quest to become the biggest pop band in the world. This movie takes these tropes and runs with them. There is the will they won't they with the two main singers from the two groups. You want to see how Runi, who is the main girl in Huntrx, is trying to come to grips with telling her bandmates about her past. We see her past and what is going on with her. The Saja Boys have a "boss" that they have to answer to throughout the movie. There are some great set pieces and very cool dances in this movie. Look, "Kpop Demon Hunters" is very formulaic. But, when you have good writers and a dedicated cast, you get a good movie, tropes be damned.

There's a reason why this movie has become so humongous, and now seeing it for myself, I get it. This is a good movie. It is fun to watch with your kid if they like it. I don't think I'd watch it on my own, but I'm glad my daughter was so persistent because I had a very good time watching. I recommend you see it too if you have kids. It's fun. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "One Battle After Another"

I was able to get out yesterday with a buddy of mine and see "One Battle After Another". Let’s discuss.

I am a Paul Thomas Anderson fan. I have seen pretty much all of his movies to this point. I have not watched "Phantom Thread", "Licorice Pizza" or "Hard Eight". Every other movie of his, I can check off my list, and "There Will Be Blood" is my favorite of his, and one of my favorite movies of all time. By design I avoided any news of "One Battle After Another" besides watching one preview. I didn't want to read anything or know anything going into the movie. I did see that it was getting great reviews, but I made sure to read zero of them. That's why I'm glad that I went to see it on opening weekend. I think I may have spoiled it for myself had I not seen it this weekend. I will go about my review spoiler free because I feel like this is a movie that everyone needs to see, and if you can swing it, go see it in a theater with other people. Now, onto the review.

This movie is as good as the critics have been saying it is. I had super high expectations going in and they were all exceeded. This is one of the best movies I have seen in quite some time. After sleeping on it, I do believe that this movie jumps ahead of both "Sinners" and "Weapons" as my favorite movie of the year. It is a true work of art. I feel like PTA is at the top of his game in this movie. He has complete control over everything he is doing and it shows on screen. There's one scene with a car chase that is an incredible thing to see on screen. The acting in this movie is tremendous from everyone involved. Leonardo Dicaprio gives my favorite performance of his ever. He is funny and rundown and I found myself rooting for him throughout. Chase Infiniti is a total revelation. I believe this is her first movie and she does an amazing job. Teyana Taylor gives a gripping performance in her role. I didn't know much of her, but damn is she great here. Sean Penn is evil incarnate and he does some of his best work ever. I was watching him and this performance reminded me of how great an actor he is. James Downey, former "SNL" writer and Adam Sandler collaborator, plays a very menacing role which is totally different for him. Regina Hall continues to prove how reliable an actor she can be. She is so moving and gives the viewer some wonderful acting to watch. Benecio Del Toro is quickly becoming one of my favorite actors, and the calm demeanor he shows in this role was much needed and a breath of fresh air. And the rest of the actors in bit roles do the most they can with the small amount of screen time they may have. The story is haunting and relevant. The writing is top notch. The acting, as previously mentioned, is the cream of the crop. I truly loved everything about this movie. The runtime is 2 hours 41 minutes, and it felt like the time flew by. I could have watched a few hours more and been totally happy.

"One Battle After Another" is why I love the movies. The fact that a movie like this is being made, in our current climate, makes me hopeful for the future and proves that unique content can still be made. I cannot recommend this movie enough. I want everyone to go see it and then have a conversation about it afterwards. It truly is the movie of the year. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Warfare"

I'm a fan of Alex Garland's work. "Ex Machina" is one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. I think about that movie a lot, and to me that is the sign of a modern day classic. "Devs" was hard to understand at times, but it was a very provocative and interesting show. I kind of appreciate that it only lasted one season. "Men" wasn't great, but it had its moments. And "Civil War" is one of the most harrowing modern war movies out there. All of this led me to his newest movie "Warfare".

I had heard about this movie before, but it slipped my mind. Now it is streaming on HBO Max, so I sat down and watched it last weekend. This is an intense, bleak and tough movie to watch. It is also very, very good. I thought that what they were able to achieve was pretty incredible. "Warfare" focuses on a group of Navy SEALs that embark on a dangerous mission during the Iraq war. The movie is told by the memories of the involved soldiers. I do not know if any dialogue used in the movie was written. I believe that they went with what the soldiers' memories told them. This is a very interesting and unique way to tell this story. This isn't an old war either. This war took place only 19 years ago. This is all still pretty fresh for these soldiers I'd have to imagine. So, getting to hear it being told from them is the best way to do something like this. The dialogue is very much military speak. They talk about locations and coordinates. I heard them ask for backup and help many times. They had people doing voice overs that were all about what they were seeing from their monitors in the sky. The whole "story" of this movie is the mission. There's no love story or anything like that. This movie is about the SEALs. We see them coordinate and work alongside one another. You get a sense of camaraderie and understanding. The soldiers know their jobs and they do them to the best of their ability. They work as a team and they do what is best for said team. Being a team sports kid growing up, seeing that method used in another aspect of life was pretty neat. I really liked how well they did their jobs. When the mission starts to get hairy and go awry, I read after the movie that this particular mission was one of the bloodiest in the war, the movie gets even more tense and anxiety riddled. But, seeing each member of the team continue to do what they had to do was very harrowing. Guys were brutally injured, important members of the team, and the next guy stood up and took their place. Guys who may be having panic attacks or were frozen by fear, they were pretty much forced to snap out of it and continue to get the help they needed. When other soldiers showed up to help, seeing them all work together was fascinating. But, make no mistake, this movie also wants us to see the brutal side of war. These were kids for all intents and purposes. They must have mostly been in their twenties. They must have PTSD, and will for the rest of their lives most likely. "Warfare" doesn't shy away from showing us the brutality that war has on the people fighting it. I said to my father when talking to him about this movie that it is the most realistic fiction movie I've ever seen. It felt like you were right there with these soldiers. I was terrified the whole time. I was tense while sitting on my couch and watching this movie.

I feel like "Warfare" should be required viewing for high school students. This is an important movie that shows all the ins and outs of war. I recommend everyone watch this movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches “The Long Walk

This afternoon my dad and I were able to go out and see "The Long Walk". I went into this movie knowing very little about it. That was my goal. I read a few reviews that were spoiler free, and watched one trailer. I will keep this review as spoiler free as possible. But I wanted to go in cold. I wanted to let this movie wash over me and form my own opinion about it. I did also know that it was based on a Stephen King novel. Fun fact about me, I have only seen a few movies based on Stephen King books, and I have only read one of his books. But, I do like what he does and I agree with and enjoy his persona online. Stephen King seems like an ally and I like the work he does.

Anyway, "The Long Walk" was great. I told my dad afterward that I didn't want to say things like, "I liked what I saw" or "that was a fun movie" because, make no mistake, this movie is bleak. There are a few redeeming things in it though. They show the value of friendship and what the human body may be able to go through when faced with dire consequences. But this movie is intense and relentless.

The whole idea of the movie is you go to a thing called The Long Walk and you walk until you cannot anymore. There's only one winner and there's no finish line. That is it. But the way this story unfolds was pretty damn great. The friendships and bonds made along the way make this a movie worth visiting. The world created in the book and movie doesn't seem so crazy in times like these in America right now. This is a police state and a police run game that they're playing with these kids. My dad and I both agreed that this movie is akin to something they'd do on "Squid Game". The movie doesn't let up, and I think that's the point. The people who made this wanted to show how bleak and upsetting something like this could be if it were to come to fruition. The actors were incredible. The side characters do a great job of doing things that make me like and root for them during their time on screen. The creepy people watching them walk adds a real creepiness to the movie. The unnamed and zero dialogue police officers make it even scarier. But this is a star turn for Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson. These two are the two main guys in the movie and they do an amazing job. Hoffman has an idea going into this and he wants to win. But he also cares about his other contestants. He also shows the rigors that a contest like this can do to a person. He does a very good job of trying to be even keel while living through a nightmare. Jonsson is a revelation for me in this movie. I had never seen him in anything before today, and he is the true star of this movie. He does so much with his ample screen time. He is the good and the hope that this movie portrays. He is so easy to root for and I wanted nothing but good things for him. And he is never corny or saccharine. He tows the line perfectly every instant he is on screen, which is pretty much the majority of this movie.

I cannot recommend this movie enough. It ranks right up there with "Sinners" and "Weapons" for me. It is going to be on my year end best of list. "The Long Walk" is very much worth your time. Go see it. 

Ty 

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "King of the Hill"

I was kind of unaware that they were going to do another season of "King of the Hill" until one of my brothers mentioned it to me at coffee a month or so back. Then it dawned on me that they did announce an updated season. We were going to see what the Hill family and friends were up to since they were last on tv.

I loved "King of the Hill" during its initial run. It was funny, made great observations and had some poignant and moving episodes. I always sided with Bobby because he was the kid in the family and he was, for me, the funniest. I often think about the episode where he gets gout to this day and it still makes me laugh out loud. Hank and Peggy Hill were great too, but Bobby was my guy. The rest of the cast held a place for me too. The Supennewsinpons, I'm sure I misspelled that, always fought with the Hills and it was always pretty funny. Dale, Boomhower and Bill were great side characters as Hank's buddies. John Redcorn and Dale's wife's relationship had tons of jokes that made me crack up. Joseph, Dale's kid, although it is clear that John Redcorn is his real father, was a nice mix of his folks. And everyone else did a great job. I will say with this new season, it was kind of a bummer that Brittany Murphy tragically died so young because that meant no Luanne. And it was pretty obvious that they were going to address Hank's dad passing, but they did do it in a very funny way, and then heartfelt way, throughout this new season.

Going into this season I really didn't know what to expect. I also had my guard up because I really do not like all the remakes or retelling or bringing back old shows for a new season. Right from the jump though, I enjoyed what I saw. It had the same cozy feeling of the original "King of the Hill". The way they explained the reason for taking a break was that Hank and Peggy moved to Saudi Arabia for Hank's job. This led to some funny stuff throughout the season. The way Peggy announced Saudi Arabia was great. Hank found out that he loved soccer. There were times when they missed the life they had overseas. I thought they explained that really well. They did great with Bobby, making him a chef that co-owns a restaurant. He does Japanese/German fusion food, and that is so perfect for his character. He also has the same voice from the original, and it was wild to hear that voice come from a 21 year old Bobby. And I loved it. Hank's buddies are back, although Dale is now voiced by Toby Huss, who I thought did a serviceable job. The stuff with Bill and COVID was great. Dale is as wacky as ever and Boomhower is just living his best life. The task rabbit episode featuring Boomhower does a great job of explaining his whole vibe I felt. And having Joseph and Connie back, and hanging with Bobby, it was just great.

This season did a very good job of coming back because they did a good job of sticking to what made the original series so wonderful. They update some jokes and talk about all that has been going on in the world, but in the end this is a show about a typical family in Texas. And is it clear that Hank Hill is still the main character. This show revolves around him and I'm here for it. And the way it ended definitely lends itself to more episodes, which I hope they do.

If you liked the original "King of the Hill", check out this new season. It is well worth your time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Imported"

Yesterday I was scrolling through streaming services trying to find something to watch. I started to search sports docs because I enjoy watching those types of movies. They're informative and I find them relaxing. I wound up watching a sports doc on Hulu called "Imported".

“Imported” is a movie about overseas professional basketball players. I'm a sucker for any sports doc that focuses on basketball. Basketball is my first love when it comes to sports. I was intrigued by this one because I have always been interested in the life of an overseas professional athlete. It helped that the movie was less than 90 minutes long. So, I clicked on it and sat back and watched.

Now, is this a great sports doc, not really. A great sports doc is a movie like "Hoop Dreams". That is the blue ribbon of sports docs. I also enjoy stuff like "Last Chance U" and "The Battered Bastards of Baseball". "Imported" is not on that level. But it was pretty damn watchable as a movie. I found myself interested in hearing directly from the athletes themselves. And some of the stories they told were wild. One guy talked about warming up for a game and all of the sudden his shorts were on fire. Apparently the fans were throwing flares in the crowd. A few of the pros talked about playing in Greece and how they never got paid their full salary. They would go and ask the owners of each team and there was always some kind of excuse or workaround. That would have driven me nuts. A few of the female professionals would talk about people in other countries that would just stare at them when they walked down the streets. Some said it was because their team was in the playoffs, but others said it was their size and the way they looked. It was shocking to hear all of this. What really got to me was the fact that some of these players said they preferred to play overseas. Some of these players are stars in the country they currently play for. Others, namely the women players, said that they make so much more money overseas.

"Imported" was very interesting with some of the facts they put out there. The doc did focus on one guy who helps players find teams and sets them up overseas. And while I appreciate what he is doing and how hard he works, I could have used less of him and more of the players. The players' stories interested me the most. So while "Imported" may not be the best sports doc that has ever been made, it kept my interest and had some good information. I was intrigued by what I watched. I would recommend it to anyone that is a basketball junkie such as myself. This is not for the casual fan, you need to be hyper interested in basketball to watch "Imported". 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Twisted Metal" Season 2

I finished season 2 of "Twisted Metal" last week and boy oh boy did I love it. I thought the first season was solid, but you could kind of tell that it was made on a razor thin budget, and we were still dealing with COVID to a degree. That being said, they did a very good job with what they had. I thought the story of season 1 was great and when it ended I was fully interested in where they could go from there, especially after what they did to Thomas Haden Church's character, which was much deserved in the world of the show.

Well, with season 2 they clearly got money and a runway to kind of go full steam ahead. And they most certainly did this time around. Season 2 was bigger, grosser, funnier and a total blast. I don't usually go back and rewatch seasons of shows this new, but I will most definitely be doing that with "Twisted Metal". We have some people from season 1 back, and they were much needed. Quiet, Stephanie Beatriz, and John Doe, Anthony Mackie, are back and they get back together pretty quickly in this new season. Stu, Mike Mitchell, is back and even funnier and the writers kind of go the distance with his character. Sweet Tooth, played by Joe Senoa and voiced by Will Arnett, is just as violent as he was in season 1, but he is also way funnier this time around. But it was the inflection of a bunch of new characters that really made season 2 sing. Patty Guggenheim plays Raven, who is one of the many people that run New San Francisco. She had a rough time in the past, which has made me the hardass she is in the world of this show. She is badass and willing to fight anyone in her way. Tiana Okoye plays Dollface. She is the leader of a movement of women that want to make things fair in this world. They have an odd way of going out and showing that they are brutal, but she does have good things in mind to make the current world a fairer place. Saylor Bell Curda plays Mayhem. She is younger and has only lived in the world of the show, so she is incredibly green. But she is also feisty and crafty and is somewhat of a fast learner. Richard De Clerk plays Mr Grimm. This dude is pure evil and he and Sweet Tooth have a past. When he shows up on screen this season, things get serious. Tahj Vaughans returns as Stu's best buddy Mike. But he has a new friend, former cannibal Dave played by Johno Wilson. These three are the comedic relief for the most part and they are both hilarious. Lisa Gilroy plays Vermin. She was unrecognizable, gross and brutal. Michael James Shaw plays Axel, my favorite character from this season. He is totally badass, and the episode when he has an intervention was very funny. But the best addition this season was Anthony Carrigan as Calypso. He is so eerie and so evil and fits this horrendous world so perfectly. He creeped me out everytime he was on screen, but I have to assume that was his job in this role. If so, he absolutely nailed it. Having all these new people show up could have been a problem, but the writers and actors knew exactly what to do and they nailed it.

I really liked season 1 of “Twisted Metal”, but season 2 went above and beyond and they totally nailed it. I really hope they get a third season. This show can do so many more things in the world of "Twisted Metal". And I really want to see how they take the ending of season 2 and make a whole new season out of that story. I fully recommend this show. I have thought about getting the video game just to see how the two compare. Until then, I'm going to go back and rewatch this kickass tv show. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "The Naked Gun"

My wife and I went out to see the new "Naked Gun" movie a week or so back. Let’s discuss.

I was hesitant to see this movie. I love the original. It was one of the first times I saw a movie that made me literally laugh out loud. Prior to the original "Naked Gun", I truly do not know if I knew movies could be that funny. I had seen comedies prior to it, but "Naked Gun" was on a whole other level. It also opened my eyes to spoof movies, which I enjoy most of them to this day. The sequels weren't great in my opinion, but that first one is a stone cold classic. So, with this new one, I had my guard up. But my wife really wanted to see it, and her enthusiasm kind of helped to get me amped up. I was also a bit more on board with the new one when I heard that Akiva Schaffer, from The Lonely Island, was tapped to direct. I adore his work, "Hot Rod" is one of my all time favorite movies, and the stuff he, Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone did on "SNL" was legendary. We did wait a few weeks to see the movie, full disclosure, because we were interested in the critical response. The movie got very, very good reviews and that was pretty much all I needed to finally go see the movie in the theater.

I'm here to tell you all that this version of "The Naked Gun" is incredibly funny. The jokes start from the jump and they never let up, much to my delight. I wasn't totally on board with Liam Neeson taking over the role of Frank Drebin, he plays Leslie Nielsen's son, which is hilarious to me. But he did a very, very good job. He was up for anything the writing team and Schaffer asked of him. What I liked most about his performance was how straight he played it. Neeson is more of an action guy, but he was so good at making the jokes land in this movie, doing so with a straight face the whole time. There are no winks at the camera, unless they were scripted. Pamela Anderson was incredible. She is the female lead, taking over for Priscilla Presley, and she takes this role to a different level. Anderson was all in. Even more so than Neeson. There's a scene where she does scat singing at a jazz club and it was one of the funniest parts in the entire movie. She gives it her all and it made me laugh very, very hard. There is another scene where she and Neeson are in a dream sequence with a snowman that was riotous. It may be one of the funnier things I've seen in a movie in a long, long time. Paul Walter Hauser does a fine job as Neeson's partner. He gets to do some funny bits and he is along for the ride with Neeson. And Danny Huston was tremendous as the villain. He gets to do some very funny stuff that I didn't realize he had in him. There is a fight scene between him and Neeson where Huston made me audibly crack up. He also has another scene where he is explaining his plan to some people, and the disdain he feels for those in the room with him was hilarious.

This version of "The Naked Gun" really worked for me. Schaffer and his crew did it the right way. They paid tribute but also made it their own movie. Neeson was a fine enough successor to Nielsen. Pamela Anderson was amazing and Danny Huston may be my favorite "Naked Gun" villain to date. I recommend this movie for sure. And I'd say try to see it in a theater with others. The jokes land so much harder with an audience. I enjoyed the hell out of it. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Weapons"

Now that I have finished my preseason football stuff, I have some movie and album write ups I want to get to. The first movie I want to talk about is "Weapons".

I wrote a blog a while back about the trailer and how much it made me want to see the movie. And I found a way to see it on opening weekend, going to see it solo on the Sunday it opened. And I absolutely loved this movie. I will be as spoiler free as possible moving forward by the way.

The story of the movie is as follows, 17 kids from one single classroom all leave their houses at 2:17am and "never come back". The movie then tells the story of the aftermath from different perspectives. Julia Garner plays the teacher of the classroom and we get her story first. It's clear she has some deep seeded issues, but in the end she is a person who cares about her kids. She wants what is best for them, she just doesn't really know how to go about it the right way. Garner does some great stuff in this movie, and after seeing her in "Fantastic Four: First Steps", which she is also very good in, she is amazing here. I was very impressed with her work. Alden Ehrenreich plays a local cop who isn't on the job about the missing kids, but he has insight because he works in the police office. Ehrenreich does some solid work too. He is always anxious and nervous about everything around him. He has an overbearing girlfriend.His girlfriend's dad happens to be the chief of police in this town and he may or may not have issues with alcohol. He is also a friend of Garner's, and they may or may not have a personal past. Ehrenreich was fun to watch. He also brings a little humor in an otherwise very scary movie. Josh Brolin plays a parent of one of the kids who left their house. Brolin is about as reliable as they come in Hollywood. He portrays the ache and anger of a parent whose kid is gone. He wants answers and he will stop at nothing to figure it all out. He is also involved in what I found to be the scariest part of the whole movie. There's a long scene with him that made me jump in my seat in the theater. Benedict Wong plays the principal of the school and he is incredible in the movie. He has to do a bunch of different things in his ten minutes on screen and boy oh boy does he nail it. He is probably my favorite part of the whole movie. I also appreciate how he handled the whole scenario as the principal for the school where the kids left. Austin Abrams plays a local junkie who is the catalyst for uncovering the mystery of the movie. But, since he is constantly high, no one will listen to him. It doesn't really end well for him. And then we have Amy Madigan, who gives a performance of a lifetime. She is top notch in this movie and I hope she gets some kind of awards consideration. I was absolutely blown away by the work she did.

"Weapons" worked on a ton of levels for me. I thought about how I would handle this situation if it happened to me. I thought the kid actors did good work. Zach Cregger knows how to make a scary and mysterious movie that always has me on the edge of my seat. "Weapons" is definitely scary, but it also has moments of humor and levity. I appreciate that it isn't entirely shot at night. They created a universe that I'm interested in seeing much more of.

Overall, I'm stoked I was able to see this movie on a big screen and I cannot recommend it enough. "Weapons" is amazing. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Jurassic World Rebirth"

I saw three movies this weekend, written about two that I liked, and now I'm going to talk about the one I wasn't so into.

My wife and I really love the original "Jurassic Park". It was one of my favorite movies growing up. I was obsessed with dinosaurs and seeing them "come back to life" was pretty important to me. They tried to make a few sequels that weren't so great. Although, I did find some things to enjoy in the third installment. Then Chris Pratt was tabbed to play the star in the reboot, "Jurassic World". These movies, especially the third one, were not for me. I am not the biggest Chris Pratt fan, the movies were dull, they had problematic storylines and they really phoned it in in the end. Hell, the third "Jurassic World" movie wasn't even really about dinosaurs. They decided to focus on giant mutated mosquitoes, and that was a bad, bad decision on their behalf. So, going into this new "Jurassic Park" movie, "Jurassic World: Rebirth", my expectations were very low.

And the movie delivered on those low expectations.

I told my wife after the movie was over that I actively disliked it. I couldn't find, for me, one thing that I really enjoyed. The story was slapdash and lazily put together. The direction was wonky and felt disengaged. Scarlett Johannson and Mahersela Ali are both way too good of actors to waste their time in a movie like this. It would have been better if they simply focused on Johnathan Bailey's character and just told his story. It's clear that the people behind Bailey are pushing to make him a star, and they should have given him the leeway in this movie to try out his stardom. He is already making a name for himself in "Wicked" and "Bridgerton" and this movie felt like another big shot for him. But he was not the main character, and I kind of think they should have made it all about him. But I also fully get it if you cast Johannson and Ali in a movie like this, they are going to be the leads. This was just another miss by the group making this movie.

As for the dinos, they were hideous and gross. This one, from what I can gather, was all about mutated dinosaurs, and I feel like they took that way, way too far. The D-Rex had what looked like a giant wart on the front of its head. It also had disgusting alien-like teeth that really bummed me out. I've always been a brachiosaurus guy myself, but they found a way to change these majestic creatures and gave them weird fin looking things on their necks. They also had some kind of hybrid pterodactyl-veliocraptor thing that was terrifying to see on the big screen, and not scary in a good way like the raptors in the first movie. They were gross and nasty and mean looking. I also very much dislike when an animal like a dinosaur can read human emotions and act on it. They did that far too many times in this movie. A guy threw a hammer at one, locked eyes with him and chased him down before eating him. The pterodactyl/veliocraptor thing was actively chasing down the humans in the movie. It was a total mess. And the whole family that got stranded at sea storyline was so pointless and added nothing but stress to the story.

I really do not like to sit down and bash stuff that I wish I had the audacity and intelligence to make, but this movie was very, very bad in my opinion. I do not recommend it. It does nothing to help the "Jurassic Park" movie. In fact, I'd say they may have to start all over because this was a total trainwreck. Clearly, I did not care for this movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

My son really wanted to see the new "Fantastic Four" movie when it came out, and we took him on Saturday. All four of us went. We figured this was okay enough for our 9 year old to see, even though she's not all that interested in superhero content.

I really didn't know what to make when this movie was announced. They have tried many times to make a movie from this material, and each and every one has been pretty bad. I saw the 2005 one when it came out simply based on curiosity. Superhero movies weren't really a thing back then and I wanted to see how they would try to pull it off. It wasn't a very good movie in my opinion. It was too dull and not as fun as I wanted it to be. The story was blah and I walked away not very impressed. I did not see the sequel. I had no interest at all. I watched the 2015 version when it came to streaming and that movie is out and out bad. It had a great cast and tried to go darker, both in content and color, and it seemed to have a good story behind it. That movie was unequivocally bad. It was a truly awful movie. Then, RD had me watch the very first one that Roger Croman made in the 90's. It was rough. The movie was boring, CGI and special effects weren't close to what we have today and the actors seemed like they never wanted this movie to see the light of day. So, having all of that in my mind heading into this version may not have been the best impression.

I will say, the casting was great. I love Pedro Pascal. I don't know much about Vanessa Kirby, but I know she is a highly regarded actor. Joseph Quinn has been a star in two main things, and this movie allows his star to shine through. And I adore Eben Moss-Bachrach from "The Bear". They nailed it. And, as the movie unfolded, I found myself interested in what was going on and following along with the story. They don't explain how they got powers, we are introduced to them as superheroes that the world already loves. I liked that. We don't need the backstory. Most people already know the Fantastic Four's backstory. And the rest of the way, the movie was a delight. The action sequences were great, especially the finale. I loved the whole idea of a pregnant superhero. Seeing people adore, then get mad at, and then adore them again felt as realistic as they can make a movie like this. And Vanessa Kirby gives a truly powerhouse performance. She is, hands down, the best part of this whole movie. I believed her character arc, how she reacted when she was giving birth, her refusal to bow down to anyone and how strong and powerful she proved to be in the end. She was awesome.

Overall, this version of "The Fantastic Four" finally found a way to make this group work on screen. I enjoyed this movie. I found it very solid and a good time. I wished they weren't going to make anymore of these, but we know that is not the case. I'd prefer if they just walked away knowing that they finally did it. I recommend this movie, especially for fans of superhero stories. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Happy Gilmore 2"

I watched “Happy Gilmore 2”. Let’s discuss

I was hesitant/excited for "Happy Gilmore 2". I was hesitant because they didn't have to do this. I know that the original "Happy Gilmore" isn't a great movie, but I love it. It is my childhood. I could, and still can for that matter, almost quote that movie line for line. I have tried to show it to my kids in the past, but they don't have the same fervor for it as me, and that's okay. Back in the day my friends and I loved it. We would watch it over and over again and I feel like they nailed it. This was a perfect movie for young me and for my fandom towards Adam Sandler. I loved him on "SNL", "Billy Madison" was massive for me and now he was doing a sports movie. Never mind that it was hockey and golf, two sports I have zero interest in. This was Sandler making a big sports comedy. That was all I needed. And I adored it. I was excited because it was like they were bringing the team back together. Pretty much everyone who is still alive from the first movie is back. And if someone has passed, it was rumored there would be some kind of tribute. They were also bringing in newer faces to the franchise, and some are people I like. And they got Kyle Newachek to direct the movie, and you all know that I really love "Workaholics". So, as my wife and I sat down Friday night to watch, I was amped, but I also had my guard up.

Look, much like the first movie, "Happy Gilmore 2" isn't in the pantheon of great movies, but I really enjoyed myself while watching. This movie is a love letter to the original, and I'm fully on board with that. The new cameos were plentiful. Some worked. I thought Bad Bunny was great. Travis Kelce allowed himself to be made fun of. Eminem did a bang up job taking on a major role from the first movie. Hell, I even thought Jon Daly did a fine job. There were a few cameos I was on board with, but Sandler is nothing if not loyal to certain friends of his. The golf was just as fun this time around. I still love to see how Happy swings that driver when he's on the course. The real pro golfers in the movie knew the assignment and had fun with it. Getting Benny Safdie and Haley Joel Osment to play the villain roles was quite the coup. And Haley Joel Osment was great. And the story of an aging former pro who stepped away from the game is the perfect role for Sandler at his current age. He can dress how he wants, cast friends and family and have a damn good time making a fun movie. But the star of the movie, and scene stealer for that matter was Christopher McDonald reprising his role as Shooter McGavin. The story they told about his current whereabouts was a perfect follow up after his end in the first movie. He was funny, he seemed to love this role and he was all in on every joke and every callback to the first movie. My wife said she saw someone say they want a lone movie about him now, and I'm here for that.

I liked this movie. I had a good time. I never felt like they were taking what they did in the first movie for granted. I am usually prepared to dislike sequels, but "Happy Gilmore 2" worked for me. It was everything I wanted it to be and they never tried to make it something different. I respect that and I recommend this movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Squid Game" Final Season

My wife and I just finished the final season of "Squid Game". Let’s discuss.

Much like everyone else, "Squid Game" showed up on my radar, was a massive hit and then they had to find a way to make more and wrap all that up in a neat little bow. I thought they achieved that with this last go round. I was talking to my buddy Kirk about it recently, and when I brought up the show, he asked me if it was worth watching. I kind of struggled with this question at first thought, but after a minute I told him I think it is good enough to check out. After saying this I thought about it even more, and I think they did the whole thing justice with how they ended the series. I feel like it was going to be impossible to please everyone watching it, but for me they were able to pull it off.

I do want to say, for those that haven't yet watched the new season, minor spoilers will be revealed today.

The final six episodes picked up right where the second season ended. The players that are still alive are now back to playing the games and player 456 is not in a good place. What I think makes this show work so well is that the writers have found a way to make me as a viewer care about people that I'm certain are going to die. I get invested in their stories, and when one goes it still kind of hurts watching it on the screen. But, the fact of the matter in this fictional universe is only one person can win the games. Everyone else is going to be killed, or off themselves because that is how violent the games get on this show. This time around they added the element of a baby being pushed into the games. One of the contestants is pregnant and in this third installment she gives birth. After she offs herself, the baby becomes a very integral part of the game. Player 456 is tasked with protecting the baby and he takes this job very seriously. But, the other players have different ideas. The sheer fact that I cared for that fake baby's well being proves how well made this show was throughout its run. I also liked that they changed the games that were played, with the lone exception being Red Light Green Light. The new games were just as wild and some felt even harder than the first time around. The hide and seek game was terrifying, brutal and tragic. The jump rope was even more frightening than the bridge from season one for me. And the final squid game was horrific in how easy and heartbreaking it was in the end.

My only gripe with the final season was the 6 months later addition at the end. I understand why they did this and why other shows and movies do it as well, but I like to imagine for myself what all these fictional people are doing now, or how their families are dealing with them no longer being there. But that is just a minor gripe and the last scene opened this show up to be made in different countries, which I find intriguing.

All in all I liked how this show went about its business and how they finished it all off. I thought they gave a solid ending that people shouldn't be upset about at all. They did it justice, they made me care and I was in on all six final episodes. "Squid Game" was really great and I think, years from now, we will look back on how awesome this show was and will appreciate it even more. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Eddington"

As well as seeing "Superman" last weekend, I was also able to get out and see Ari Aster's new movie "Eddington". It was a movie going kind of weekend for me. I feel like I'm paying for that now with how busy my week has been so far, and it's only Tuesday.

Anway, "Eddington" was a movie that came on my radar about two or three months ago. I like Ari Aster's movies that I've seen to this point. He makes interesting movies that can be scary, haunting and funny all at the same time. "Midsommar" kicked my butt and "Beau if Afraid" is a movie I still think about to this day. I haven't seen "Hereditary" yet, but that is only because I'm truly scared to watch it, regardless of how much people like that movie. Going into "Eddington", I was curious to see how he'd do a movie that takes place in May of 2020, right at the start of COVID and the pandemic here in America. I appreciate the fact that he wanted to make a movie about the pandemic and how it affected people differently.

"Eddington" focuses on Joaquin Phoenix's character Joe, who is a sheriff of a small town in New Mexico. Phoenix is incredible in this role. He takes this meager sheriff and turns him into a nightmare of the dark web and conspiracy theorist and someone who doesn't think before he speaks. He has a feud with the town mayor, Ted Garcia, played by Pedro Pascal. Whenever the two of them were on screen together it was this great blend of tension and anger and animosity towards one another. It's clear they each despise one another for similar reasons. Emma Stone plays Joe's wife, and she has personal issues. She is basically a homebody that thinks she always needs to rest. She has had past trauma and her doctor has told her not to get too stressed. This has turned her into a conspiracy theorist as well, and she kind of goes off the deep end. Austin Butler plays a cult leader. He has a small role in this, but man is he terrifying when he's on screen. Deirdre O'Connell plays Stone's mom, and she is as delusional as they get when it comes to COVID and conspiracy theories. Luke Grimes and Michael Ward play local cops who have different takes on protests and the pandemic. Cameron Mann and Matt Gomez Hidaka play high school grads trying to navigate life in early 2020. The cast is really good and they all do an admirable job in their roles. But make no mistake, this is Phoenix's movie. He is the star and lead here. Pascal has a big part too, but it is nothing compared to Phoenix. I feel like Phoenix and Aster have some kind of weird guy connection and they're going to see how far they can take it. So far it is working.

Like I mentioned before, the tension in the first 90 minutes of this movie is great. I would squirm and shift in my chair more than I thought necessary in that first part. I was invested in the feud and what was going to happen in the town and everyone starting their protests. Then there is a big shift that happens after a fundraiser at Pascal's house. This is where the movie kind of went off the rails for me. Don't get me wrong, I liked this movie. But this shift in tone is jarring and kind of comes out of nowhere. I feel like Aster had a really good idea and filled all of that within the first 90 minutes. But then he had to find a way to finish the movie and this is when he decided to go nuts. Some of the stuff in the last hour I still really like, but it pales in comparison with the first part of the movie. And the final 10 minutes is so depressing and so scary because it feels like what is going on today with politics, and that bums me out.

All in all I enjoyed this movie. It's the first movie that hearkens back to the pandemic in the right way so far for me. It tells that story best in my opinion. And if you're on the fence about seeing "Eddington", I say go just to see Joaquin Phoenix put on a masterclass in acting. His performance is worth the price of admission.. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Superman"

Last Monday I wrote about the alt right griping about the new "Superman" movie. I also stated how much I wanted to see the movie, even more so after all the complaining. Yesterday me and my family all went out to see it, and I really, really enjoyed my theater going experience.

I was going to like this movie from the get go. I wanted to see it, my son really wanted to see it and after seeing the "backlash", that made me more excited to see it. The movie is fun from start to finish. There isn't really a dull moment throughout. The battle scenes are fun, the villain is chewing scenery and the story is a fun and easy one to follow.

I really enjoyed the guy who played Superman. His name is David Corenswet. I didn't know much about him prior to this movie. I saw he was in "Pearl" and "Twisters", among other things. He was dynamite as Superman/Clark Kent. He had the look down pat. There were moments in the movie when he, to me, looked exactly like Christopher Reeves. It was uncanny to me. He played Superman great. He was sweet, he wanted what was best for the world. He fought injustice and he had some funny things to say throughout the movie.

Rachel Brosnahan was very good as an updated Lois Lane. I like how she questioned things and when she would get into crazy situations, like pocket universes, she acted like what was happening was nuts, because it was certifiably insane what she was seeing. I appreciate that from an actor.

I mentioned scenery chewing earlier, and Nicholas Hoult did just that as Lex Luthor, and he was awesome. He was so bad, with zero redeeming qualities, and that is exactly what I want from my villains. He was bad through and through.

My personal favorite part of the movie was the Justice Gang. Green Lantern, Hawk Girl and Mr Terrific made up the Justice Gang. Two thirds of the group did not like this name by the way. Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern was my favorite thing in the whole movie. He was gruff and mean and stupid and fun as hell. He seemed to be having a great time playing this character and that really came off watching him onscreen. Isabela Merced was Hawk Girl, and while she didn't have a whole lot to do in the movie, she owned the screen time she got. She was also pretty funny with her quips. And Edi Gathegi was dynamite as Mr Terrific. He was funny, the smartest one in the Justice Gang and had the most memorable performance of any of the side characters. I am stoked for him that he is getting to do more of this super cool, and new to me superhero. I really like what he did with this performance.

As for the story, and why I guess some alt right idiots are mad, it is all about big tech and how they are ruining our world. Luthor is out for nothing but clout and fame and fortune and will stop at nothing to get it. He even tortured poor Crypto by making him chase fake squirrels. Crypto was adorable by the way, but that also doesn't mean that people should be mindlessly adopting puppies right now, especially if they can't take care of them. Anyway, Luthor is your typical tech bro who has more smarts. Superman doesn't like what he is doing in other countries or on Earth. He is just trying to keep the world a nice, and as normal a place that it can be. And all along the way he and the Justice Gang have to fight in pocket universes, help fight wars that Luthor has helped to start, fight Earth breaking into two parts, fight the past and the present and everything in between.

When we left the theater I said to my wife that I like James Gunn's direction because he knows how to make "fun movies". And that is what this "Superman" movie is, a fun, sweet superhero movie. I really liked it and am curious to see where they go with this new vision. It is off to a very promising start for me. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Wants to Watch "Eddington"

Summer movies are going to be coming out every single weekend, and I'm here for it. This is the time I allow myself to watch trailers. In fact I seek them out this time of year. I want to know what is coming out and when. I also try to find indie movies because those tend to be more my style. But lately I have been going back and watching the trailer for Ari Aster's new movie "Eddington" a bunch.

Ari Aster isn't for everyone, but his work makes me think a ton. I still think about "Beau is Afraid" and "Midsommar" a lot. Those movies were incredibly challenging and long, but I cannot seem to shake them. That, for me, is a good sign. I like that his movies sit with you and, for lack of a better word, haunt my thoughts. There is some stuff in both "Midsommar" and "Beau is Afraid" that still scare me to this day when it pops into my brain. But there is just something about this new trailer for his new movie that makes me really, really want to see it.

I think, at least right now, "Eddington" is my most anticipated summer movie. Everything about it screams what I like in movies. The cast is incredible. We've got Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler and Pedro Pascal, among others. Phoenix is a mad man, but his work has always been a pleasant surprise for me. Even in movies I may not like, if Phoenix is in it, I'll watch. I despise "Joker", but his performance is a good one. Stone continues to do kick ass work. I love that she is taking on challenging material time and time again. I loved "Poor Things". "Kinds of Kindness" was bizarre, but she was great. Now she is doing an Aster movie. Keep these coming from her. I have not seen "Elvis", and probably never will. But, Butler was kickass in "Dune: Part 2" and he has some new movie with Matt Smith coming out that looks rad. He is having a moment and I'm here for it. And Pedro Pascal is just awesome on and off screen. He is such a cool dude, seems like a good person and I really enjoy his tv and movie acting. He is the driving force in the trailer that makes me want to watch this movie. And then we have what I can glean of the plot in the trailer. This is clearly a movie set in early COVID times. It looks like there's political stuff going on. I have to imagine social media and influencers are going to play a big, big part. And it all seems to delve into some kind of mental break for the main character/characters. I'm all in on this movie. I am sure I will be pounding the pavement for others to see it after I see it. I believe it comes out July 18th and I'm going to do whatever I can to see it in the theaters on opening day.

Ari Aster keeps pushing limits and trying new things. With "Eddington" it looks like he is going to do that in a more mainstream movie, and that is awesome to me. And anytime I can watch a harrowing drama that takes place in the modern day, I don't know why but I find myself enthralled by that type of story and material. I can't wait to see this movie. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Friendship"

I was finally able to get out and see "Friendship" over the weekend. I had heard mixed reviews on the movie, so I decided this was one that I wanted to go to on my own. I wanted to make my own decision without anyone else telling me what they thought. Selfish? Probably. But I prefer to do it this way with a movie like this.

From the start I knew I was going to like this movie. This was all about Tim Robinson and his style of comedy. Yes, Kate Mara is in the movie and plays a pivotal role. And the same can be said with Paul Rudd, who is clearly the biggest star here. But it was clear from the jump that the people involved wanted Tim Robinson to showcase his talent. And he absolutely delivered.

The whole idea of this movie, from my viewing, is what it is like to make a friend when you're an adult. It is hard and it can be uncomfortable. This movie excels because it lets us dwell in these moments. There is a scene early on when Rudd invites Robinson over to meet him and have a conversation. Robinson ends up looking at an artifact and gets a bloody nose. And we the audience get to watch Robinson yell and scream obscenities while Rudd offers to get him a new shirt and go on an "adventure". This happens early on in the movie. And we get more and more of these throughout the whole movie. Robinson and Rudd hang out in the woods looking for mushrooms and Robinson starts to sink in quicksand. It's loud and hilarious and uncomfortable. When Robinson meets the rest of Rudd's friends, we have to sit through a very uncomfortable hang out that ends with Robinson punching Rudd in the face and then putting soap in his mouth. Every interaction between Robinson and Mara is rife with cringey moments. Robinson invites some of his buddies to be in the movie and they all have issues with his character. Whitmer Thomas' character clearly despises Robinson. Connor O'Malley and Robinson have a very heated argument where they yell at each other very loudly and it is wonderfully hilarious. Carmen Christopher has one scene, where he only has one line, yet it is memorable for how uncomfortable it makes you feel as you watch. That is how this whole movie plays out, and it is done purposefully.

When I went into the movie I just wanted to see what Robinson could do with a movie role. He didn't disappoint. And I think it is because the guy who wrote and directed it just let him do what he does best. I found myself squirming in my seat, which was the point. The crowd and I laughed heartily at every joke in the movie. I wanted to watch more and more of the movie. I was pleasantly surprised at how game Rudd was to do this type of movie.

I would recommend this movie to fans of Robinson or fans of his previous work, mainly "I Think You Should Leave". "Friendship" is like a 90 minute long "ITYSL" sketch, in all the best ways, with a bit of a darker tone. I fully feel like this movie will become a cult classic in a few years and I'm stoked I got to see it in the theaters. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Shredder Orpheus"

Last night my buddy Kirk and I went to the Arkadin for Strange Brew night. Strange Brew night is a theme night where some weird, bottom of the bin type cult movies are shown. And when I saw "bottom of the bin", I mean hidden gems. These movies are delightfully weird and low budget and perfect for a spot like the Arkadin. Last night's selection was a skateboarding movie from 1990 called "Shredder Orpheus".

The host opened by telling us a few things about the movie, and then we were on our way. "Shredder Orpheus" was low budget, featured no big time stars, was clearly made amongst friends and it was gloriously ridiculous. I was pretty much all in from the jump. "Shredder Orpheus" takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where television runs society. We have the EBN, Euthanasia Broadcasting Network, who kind of runs the world now. They try to control all the viewers and they want everyone to become zombies basically. We also have the people who live in the Gray Zone. These are the gutter punks and people who tend to do their own thing. They don't conform to modern society and they're happy about it. This is where we meet Scratch, a young kid and a former soldier, the narrator of the movie. We see the movie through their eyes at the start. The world is bad. It is gross. There's nothing to really do besides skate and play music. Scratch and the young kid are pretty good on their boards. And Scratch is one hell of a percussion player. Scratch does play the "drums" on old oil drums, but it still sounds pretty solid.

After a little backstory, we finally get introduced to Orpheus. He is the frontman of his band, The Shredders. I do want to say, I really dug the music in this movie. The music was described online as punk, but I got much more of a prog/alternative rock vibe. The guitar was rad. The drums too. I wasn't too keen on the singing, but I couldn't really hear any lyrics anyway. But the music is besides the point. Orpheus is in love with a dancer named Eurydice, and they do eventually get married. At the party after the ceremony, Eurydice is killed by some bad dudes in all white makeup. Now, some of you may be thinking that this story sounds familiar, and you're right. This is the filmmakers take on the Greek Tragedy about Orpheus. I did not know this was the case until Kirk told me before the movie. I think they did an okay enough job telling this story too. Anyway, after Eurydice dies, the movie follows the Greek Tragedy pretty well, with its own twists. The skateboarding was pretty cool in the movie when they did show it. That was my biggest critique of the movie, I wanted more skateboarding. But, when skateboarding was onscreen, it was cool. I also thought the portrayals of the Greek figures were solid. Hades and Persphonne were so odd and so wild and I really enjoyed their crazy execution onscreen. The females who couldn't believe Orpheus didn't love them were terrifying and nuts. Cerberus was horrifying and I liked that he was an elevator attendant. Orpheus' parents were solid comic relief. The people who worked for the EBN really gave it their all. But, for me, Orpheus' manager was far and away the best. He was odd, funny, loud, boisterous and made the most sense of anyone speaking in the movie. It wasn't a total surprise to me when I looked him up and saw that he has been steadily working ever since this movie, appearing in a single episode of many procedurals.

Finally, when I really thought about it, when Kirk and I talked about it afterward, this was the exact type of movie I want to see when going to the Arkadin on Strange Brew night. The host was awesome. The crowd was perfect. The setting was ideal. And now I'm going to search out more and more movies of this ilk. I really enjoy these oddities and I'm stoked to have a friend and a place to go watch this stuff. And of course I recommend seeing "Shredder Orpheus" if you can get your hands on it, or if a cool indie theater near you shows it. It has to be seen to be believed. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.