Hops and Box Office Flops

Hops and Box Office Flops

A film podcast dedicated to the underdogs — the disasters, the bombs, the much maligned! So sit back, grab a beer, and enjoy!

  1. 9H AGO

    Argylle – Poor Henry

    Argylle is a spy movie about mistaken identity that lacks a clear one itself. Full of convoluted plot twists and set pieces overrun by pastels and other insane imagery, Argylle is a film that clearly thinks it is far better than it actually is. One can forgive that self-assurance considering its director, Matthew Vaughn, has quite a track record of success—including in the genre. That said, the irrational confidence Vaughn displays throughout Argylle's painful 140+-minute runtime is mind-boggling—as are its increasingly stupid double crosses. Argylle, which was planned to be a trilogy, not only earned every bit of the hate critics heaped on it, it also deserved its massive flop status. So, sit back, jog your memory with a Strawberry Blonde Ale from SanTan Brewing, and don't forget the cat! The Thunderous Wizard and Bling Blake are whirly birding all over Director Ritter's secret hideout! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – The greater the spy, the bigger the lie! Lingering Questions – In a film that can't constrain itself, what scene was the most over-indulgent? (25:48) The "Strangers on a Train" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (42:25) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude our Catherine O'Hara series with another delightful Christopher Guest comedy, For Your Consideration! (53:45) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

    1h 7m
  2. FEB 27

    Waiting for Guffman – Still Waiting

    A cult classic, Waiting for Guffman is a mockumentary chronicling a small community theatre's production of its town's history. Boasting a host of exceptional improv actors — Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, and Fred Willard to name a few — the Christopher Guest written and directed feature is jam packed with laughs. Guest, who also serves as the films lead Corky St. Clair, is in his comfort zone here. He gets the material, letting the actors take command and playing to their immense comedic strengths. Although it is beloved now, Waiting for Guffman was not a huge hit. In fact, it barely made it to the big screen. Its critical success, however, did lead to several more films in the same vein — Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration. All of which are worth watching, as well. So, sit back, calm those jitters with a Fear.Movie.Lions Hazy Double IPA, and break a leg! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are done working for these bastard people! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – A Broadway-style musical... about a town that's not exactly on Broadway! Lingering Questions – Of the Guest films, which is our favorite? (36:13) The "Red, White, and Blaine" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:03:21) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our Catherine O'Hara series with Matthew Vaughn's bastard cousin to the Kingsman franchise, Argylle! (1:17:23) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

    1h 28m
  3. FEB 6

    Gemini Man – Enter the Uncanny Valley

    Gemini Man—directed by two-time Best Director winner Ang Lee—is a misguided exercise. Filmed in a format almost no theaters could play, Lee's insistence on pushing the technological bounds of cinema did little to help the movie. Instead of revving up the frames per second, Lee would've been better served to revise the script. Full of cliches and tropes, Gemini Man feels like a the retread of a film from the 90s. Considering it came out in 2019, that is not a compliment. Critics were not kind to its plot or the excruciating fully digital version of Will Smith. Turns out the higher the definition, the creepier it looks. Now, sit back, fight back the CGI tears with a Wrenovation IPA from Wren House Brewing, and don't donate your DNA to Clay Varris! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are planning to clone a better, less sleepy version of McCheese to hang out with! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Meet your match! Lingering Questions – Our favorite movies to feature an actor in dual roles? (29:20) The "Dolly the Sheep" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (57:20) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff our series dedicated to the late—an exceptionally great—Catherine O'Hara with Dick Tracy! (1:14:36) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

    1h 25m
  4. JAN 9

    Jack – Tree House of Horrors

    Francis Ford Coppola is one of the greatest directors ever. Period. Yet even his resume is not devoid of misfires and flops. Enter Jack, a dramedy about a 10-year old kid trapped in the body of a grown man. No, this isn't Big. In this 1996 film, the titular kiddo, Jack Powell, ages far faster than his peers. With that odd condition comes its own set of issues. As one may assume, yes, poor Jack would have a very short lifespan. Therein lies the problems. Not that a family film shouldn't include some moments of seriousness, but Jack generally doesn't balance the whimsy and the melancholy well. Hence its poor reception from critics. That aside, there is an earnestness to Robin Williams' performance, and the movie does have a few laughs. Are there enough for it to warrant a watch? That probably depends on the individual viewer's tastes. Now, sit back, age gracefully with a Buenos Tiempos from Belching Beaver Brewing, and save those red Gummy Bears! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are drunkenly hashing out all our problems with Paulie. This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – For some people, 40 is the new 10. For Jack Powell, it's the other way around — literally! Lingering Questions – What do we want to be when we grow up? (30:54) The "Real Rectal Rockets" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (47:42) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our Best Director Flops series with Steven Spielberg's Hook! (59:55) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

    1h 13m
5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

A film podcast dedicated to the underdogs — the disasters, the bombs, the much maligned! So sit back, grab a beer, and enjoy!