Pop Culture Happy Hour

This show consistently cheers me up, especially when I’m trying to keep anxiety or depression at bay. I really like all of the hosts, but Glen is low-key probably my favorite. I hope nothing about this gem of a podcast ever changes. ❤️

This Moana review is lame. And wrong IMO. I’m not sure the reviewers actually watched the movie, but if they did they must have been watching it with an outline of their anticipated review and simply filled in a couple blanks to affirm their pre-release opinions. Maui shows up in the first 10 mins and his character is woven throughout, building to the epic showdown in the final scenes. Two women (and a man) set out to cut two talented women down. The new songs are catchy and distinct while carrying some degree of continuity to Moana 1, honoring not only the sound/character of LMM (a MAN who does NOT need to write on every Disney movie/kids movie this century) but also weaving in authentic-to-the-culture music… Can we celebrate how cool it is two VERY young adult women with no prior experience writing for a company like this had the talent to write this music which carried the emotion of each scene and moved the story forward? Can we celebrate how amazing it would be to hear them write more for Disney and other films?? Not these reviewers… if it’s not LMM or another man it’s only “fine”. The Chee Hoo song is WAY better than Make a Man out of you, and also is so empowering to a woman in her own female strength. It tells the story of what is to come and is preparing her for that specific battle. Beyond is an incredible power ballad… also driving the story forward… What could be better than this is delightful and catchy and fun-loving, and depicts how people can inspire others to be light hearted, brave, and break out of their tunnel vision. Get Lost is sooooo catchy! Try to get it out of your head once you’ve heard it a few times… l dare you. “Do you care about the being the best anymore?” Do YOU? These reviewers are affiliated with NPR and it seems like they didn’t even think to reach out and interview anyone affiliated with this movie to ask questions about the amount of work that obviously went into this movie. No mention of the BEST parts of the story… the love of family and community, the honoring of special traditions, the unification of a group do very different people/ personalities of varying ages, gifts, and intelligence levels, how they lift one another up, how they work together for a common goal and achieve it, how they empathize with and have compassion on one another, how they push each other to be a better version of themselves… or how are dreams can change and mature and our motivations can shift when we look beyond our personal ambitions and seek the best for the people we love. Or how the story didn’t involve/highlight horrible behavior like name-calling or belittling, like so many movies do. Any questionable content was extremely limited… and that is a win for any parent taking their kid to the movies. Our society would be better if more movies told stories just like this and if more parents demanded stories like this for their kids entertainment. The fact this movie started as a TV series should actually make it more impressive that it hits in such an epic way. Are people really excited about spider man… one of the most tired franchises in history? And ninja turtles? About another set of violent action films? About more male super hero role models? I say this as someone who LOVES men and having male protectors in own my life, but really, calling out the reviewers here for failing to take such important aspects of this movie into account and trying to make future audiences prejudiced against most aspects of this movie. The only thing I can agree with wholeheartedly in this review is that the animation IS AMAZING. Breathtaking. Mesmerizing. Don’t look away or you’ll miss something special. Do better NPR.

You guys just get me. I love Glen, Aisha, Stephen and Linda. Their opinions on pop culture are always interesting and entertaining. ❤️

that’s my review…