A Reel Pain

Storyline Multimedia
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Weekly

A Millennial and Gen Zer clash over what makes their movies a classic. A Reel Pain is a movie debate podcast hosted by John Choate and Matthew Pursell, where generational nostalgia meets fresh perspective—and not everyone leaves happy. John, a millennial with a deep love for iconic ’80s and ’90s films, introduces Matthew to the movies he grew up believing were untouchable classics. Matthew, a Gen Z movie fan shaped by more modern cinema, returns the favor by bringing films John somehow missed along the way. This is a debate that you don't want to miss! Subscribe today!

  1. 15h ago

    Tango & Cash | John’s 80s Buddy Cop Fever Dream

    This week on A Reel Pain, John brings one of his millennial-era comfort movies to the table: Tango & Cash. Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell team up as two “best cops in L.A.” who get framed, sent to prison, tortured, break out, clear their names, and somehow end the movie holding hands after a high five.Matthew experiences the full 80s fever dream for the first time, from the cartoony villain with pet rats to the random courtroom drama, the prison escape, the Cleopatra Club detour, and the movie’s very aggressive need to include explosions, one-liners, and questionable choices. The guys debate whether the chemistry between Tango and Cash saves the movie, why the actual plot feels stitched together, and whether there’s a better cut of this film hiding somewhere in the chaos.Was Tango & Cash a misunderstood buddy cop classic, or just half of a good movie trapped inside a very loud one? John and Matthew rate it, argue through it, and try to decide if Stallone in glasses was enough to make the whole thing work.

    46 min

  2. Jun 10

    The Maze Runner: A Gen Z Dystopian Classic?

    Matthew is bringing John into the Glade with his pick, The Maze Runner — the 2014 dystopian thriller that hit at the perfect time for middle school Gen Z kids, but apparently looked “pretty dumb” to John when it first came out. Now, John is watching it for the first time to see if the maze, the Grievers, and the whole YA dystopian era still hold up. The guys talk about being dropped into the story with Thomas, the surprisingly strong CGI, Will Poulter’s very punchable Gally energy, Chuck’s devastating ending, and whether a group of teenage boys could ever realistically build a functioning society that organized. They also debate if The Maze Runner should have been a series instead of a movie, whether the ending leaves enough mystery for the sequels, and why “the changing” might be the most boring name in a movie full of made-up slang. Is The Maze Runner actually a Gen Z classic, or just another relic from the post-Hunger Games dystopian craze? Welcome back to A Reel Pain, where two generations argue over whether their movies deserve to be considered classics.

    45 min

  3. Jun 3

    Masters of the Universe — Did He-Man Deserve Better? | Millennial vs Gen Z

    John brings his millennial pick to the table with Masters of the Universe from 1987, the live-action He-Man movie starring Dolph Lundgren, Courteney Cox, Skeletor, Castle Grayskull, and a whole lot of unexpected Earth-based chaos. Matthew goes in with almost no He-Man knowledge outside of the memes, while John revisits a childhood-adjacent universe that he quickly realizes may not hold up quite the way he remembered. In this episode of A Reel Pain, the crew debates whether Masters of the Universe works as a fun 80s fantasy adventure or if He-Man fans deserved a much better movie. They get into the Star Wars comparisons, the strange choice to spend so much time with Kevin and Julie on Earth, Skeletor’s makeup, Gwildor discourse, the surprisingly hard-hitting “destiny” quote, and why Detective Lubic might secretly be one of the most entertaining parts of the entire film. Is Masters of the Universe an underrated cult classic, a messy toy-commercial epic, or just a movie that needed way more He-Man? Watch as John defends his pick, Matthew tries to make sense of Eternia, and the ratings reveal whether this 1987 fantasy adventure still has the power. Subscribe for more movie debates, generational clashes, and questionable classic picks. #MastersOfTheUniverse #HeMan #AReelPain #MoviePodcast #MillennialVsGenZ #80sMovies #DolphLundgren #Skeletor #CultClassicMovies

    46 min

  4. May 27

    The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie — Does Goofy Goober Still Rock? | Millennial vs Gen Z

    Matthew brings The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie from 2004 to A Reel Pain, forcing John to experience SpongeBob, Patrick, Goofy Goober, David Hasselhoff, and peak early-2000s Nickelodeon chaos for the very first time. As the Gen Z host with deep SpongeBob nostalgia, Matthew makes the case for why this movie is more than just a kids’ cartoon — it’s the true ending of the original SpongeBob era, packed with absurd jokes, quotable moments, and surprisingly emotional stakes. John, meanwhile, comes in with almost zero SpongeBob history beyond memes and discovers a movie full of Dumb and Dumber-style humor, wild live-action cameos, and a rock opera finale that goes way harder than it has any right to. From the Goofy Goober guitar solo to David Hasselhoff’s heroic beach rescue, the “real boy setting,” Patrick in fishnets, and the emotional Shell City scene, this episode asks the big question: is The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie a genuine animated classic, or is Matthew just blinded by childhood nostalgia? Subscribe for more Millennial vs Gen Z movie debates every week. #AReelPain #SpongeBobSquarePantsMovie #SpongeBobMovie #MillennialVsGenZ #MoviePodcast #GenZMovies #2000sMovies #Nickelodeon #GoofyGoober #MovieReviewPodcast

    50 min

  5. May 20

    Kenyon Murray Defends Weird Science | 80s Nostalgia vs Gen Z

    Kenyon Murray joins A Reel Pain for a three-generation movie debate as he brings in his pick: Weird Science — the 1985 John Hughes comedy that was a full-blown nostalgic classic for 13-year-old Kenyon, but hits a little differently on a rewatch at 52. With John representing the Millennial perspective, Matthew coming in as Gen Z, and Kenyon bringing the Gen X nostalgia, this episode gets into whether Weird Science is still a chaotic 80s comedy gem or a movie that survives mostly because of the era it came from. The crew breaks down the wild premise, the unforgettable bar scene, Anthony Michael Hall’s comedy, Bill Paxton’s unhinged Chet performance, young Robert Downey Jr., the surprisingly ambitious practical effects, and the many moments that definitely would not fly the same way today. From “don’t ruin the fantasy” to the biker gang, blue kitchens, computer-generated dream women, and some very questionable age-gap scenes, this one becomes a hilarious debate about nostalgia, teenage fantasy, 80s movie logic, and what happens when you watch a childhood favorite with adult eyes. Is Weird Science a true 80s classic, or just a movie that made way more sense when you were 13? Watch the episode and decide where you land. Subscribe for more Millennial vs Gen Z movie debates, first-time reactions, nostalgic rewatch reviews, and special guest picks on A Reel Pain. #WeirdScience #AReelPain #JohnHughes #80sMovies #MoviePodcast #MillennialVsGenZ #GenXMovies #KenyonMurray #MovieReview #ClassicMovies

    48 min

  6. May 13

    Journey to the Center of the Earth: A 3D Fever Dream | Millennial vs Gen Z

    Matthew’s pick takes A Reel Pain back to 2008 for Journey to the Center of the Earth, the Brendan Fraser adventure movie built for red-and-blue 3D glasses, giant dandelions, flying fish, mine carts, questionable CGI, and pure roller-coaster chaos. John comes in with almost no attachment to the movie, while Matthew revisits a childhood favorite that somehow feels ridiculous, nostalgic, and way more fun than it has any right to be. In this episode, John and Matthew break down whether Journey to the Center of the Earth still holds up in 2026, from Brendan Fraser’s peak adventure-movie energy to Josh Hutcherson’s PSP-era sass, the extremely obvious 3D shots, the surprisingly emotional brother storyline, and the kind of campy dialogue that feels one Nicolas Cage swap away from perfection. They also debate the movie’s CGI, the weird romantic chemistry, the iconic mine cart sequence, and whether this is secretly the perfect “just have fun with it” movie. Does Matthew’s childhood pick survive the rewatch, or is Journey to the Center of the Earth just a goofy 2000s 3D gimmick? Grab your yo-yo, protect Brendan Fraser at all costs, and join the Millennial vs Gen Z movie debate. #AReelPain #JourneyToTheCenterOfTheEarth #BrendanFraser #JoshHutcherson #MillennialVsGenZ #MoviePodcast #MovieReview #2000sMovies #NostalgiaMovies #GenZReacts

    46 min

  7. May 6

    Is This Cult Classic Actually Good? | Millennial vs Gen Z

    Is Mortal Kombat actually a legit cult classic… or just a nostalgia-fueled fever dream? In this episode of A Reel Pain, John (Millennial) revisits a childhood favorite, while Matthew (Gen Z) steps into the tournament with fresh eyes—and zero attachment. What follows is a chaotic, hilarious breakdown of one of the most iconic video game adaptations ever made. From the instantly recognizable theme song to the over-the-top fight scenes, the guys dive into what still works, what absolutely doesn’t, and whether this movie earns its legacy or just survives on vibes. They unpack the strange storytelling choices, questionable CGI (looking at you, Reptile), surprisingly solid practical effects, and the undeniable camp factor that somehow makes it all… work. Along the way, they debate if this is a “so bad it’s good” situation or if there’s actually something more here beneath the surface. By the end, the ratings might surprise you—and raise the bigger question: are we judging this movie fairly, or are we all just victims of the Mortal Kombat theme song hypnosis? 🎧 Watch, then decide for yourself… is this a flawless victory or a total fatality?

    47 min

  8. Apr 29

    The Devil Wears Prada — Who’s the Real Villain? | Millennial vs Gen Z

    A millennial and two Gen Z voices take on The Devil Wears Prada—and what starts as a nostalgic rewatch quickly turns into a full-on debate about career ambition, toxic workplaces, and whether this iconic fashion film still hits the same in 2026. In this episode of A Reel Pain, Matthew and John are joined by Rachel Pursell (Gen Z) and Naomi Winder (Millennial) to break down a movie that defined an era—but lands very differently depending on when you first saw it. From Meryl Streep’s chilling performance as Miranda Priestly to the fashion montages, quotable one-liners, and surprisingly dark character dynamics, the group dives into what holds up—and what absolutely doesn’t. They unpack the generational divide behind the film’s message, including whether Andy’s transformation is empowering or concerning, why her friends might actually be worse than her boss, and if Nate is secretly the real villain of the story. The conversation also explores early 2000s culture, shifting workplace expectations, and how differently this story would be told today. By the end, the group has to decide: is The Devil Wears Prada still a classic… or just a relic of its time? 🎬 Watch, debate, and decide for yourself—and don’t forget to subscribe for new episodes every week. #TheDevilWearsPrada #MoviePodcast #MillennialVsGenZ #AnneHathaway #MerylStreep #MovieDebate #FilmDiscussion #AReelPain

    1h 13m
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Ratings & Reviews

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3 Ratings

About

A Millennial and Gen Zer clash over what makes their movies a classic. A Reel Pain is a movie debate podcast hosted by John Choate and Matthew Pursell, where generational nostalgia meets fresh perspective—and not everyone leaves happy. John, a millennial with a deep love for iconic ’80s and ’90s films, introduces Matthew to the movies he grew up believing were untouchable classics. Matthew, a Gen Z movie fan shaped by more modern cinema, returns the favor by bringing films John somehow missed along the way. This is a debate that you don't want to miss! Subscribe today!

Information

  • Creator
    Storyline Multimedia
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Storyline Multimedia
  • Show Website
    A Reel Pain

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