Hold Up

There's Something About Mary

In 1998, the Farrelly brothers followed up their third movie, Kingpin, with the smash comedy There’s Something About Mary. Starring Ben Stiller, Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, and Chris Elliott, audiences were captivated by the mix of over the top edgy comedy and deeper than typical relationships between characters. Taking many chances with jokes about intellectual disabilities, semen, pre-dick pic Brett Favre and humans drugging and fighting dogs, Mary pleased fans and critics alike, pulling in $370M on a budget of only $23M. But does it hold up? Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent lust after Mary and see if they can find enough heart in this 21 year old comedy film to have Mary win their heart, or if they will join the ever growing group of unsuccessful suiters, damned to dream what could have been and ready to kill for it.

Maverick

In 1994, Richard Donner teamed up with Mel Gibson for the fourth time (they worked together 6 times in total) to bring the TV series Maverick to the big screen with the western comedy, Maverick.  Starring Jody Foster, James Garner, Graham Greene, James Coburn, and Alfred Molina, Maverick is one of the few comedy westerns of the last 30 years. With an Oscar nomination for best costume design, Maverick was made for a considerable $75M, but pulled in $183M worldwide and satisfied movie goers and critics alike.  But does it hold up?  Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent revisit the old west and see if they can con each other to fall in love with poker, southern ladies, and money, or if the long arm of the law and unsavory types are too persistent to let them reach their ultimate goal of liking this movie.

Dumb and Dumber

In 1994, the Farrelly brothers wrote and directed the hit comedy Dumb and Dumber.  Starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, this outrageous comedy flick follows the trials and tribulations of Lloyd and Harry as they bumble and bungle their way to Aspen to return a briefcase to Lauren Holly.  What this movie lacks in story and character arc, it tries to make up with slapstick and over the top comedy.  Made for $17M (with $7M of that being Jim Carrey’s salary), D&D made $247 in the box office, spawning a prequel, cartoon, and sequel over the next three decades.  Love it or hate it, Dumb and Dumber has a cult following and while it did not win any major awards, it has won the hearts of fans all over the world.  But does it hold up? Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent discuss this 90’s comedy and see if their sides can withhold the strains from the non-stop comedy, or if they are too dumb to keep up with poop jokes and succumb to the lack of structure and story.

The Hunt for Red October

In 1990, John McTiernan brought us the Tom Clancy underwater spy thriller film, The Hunt for Red October.  Starring Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Sam Neill, James Earl Jones, and Scott Glenn, Red October was the first Jack Ryan movie to hit screens and Baldwin was the first of 5 actors to portray Jack Ryan.  Winning an Oscar for Sound Editing, THFRO was received well by fans and critics, raking in $200M off of a budget by $30M, and is widely regarded as the best Jack Ryan film.  But does it hold up?  Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent set to sea and find out if the caterpillar drive keeps them safe from rogue Russian subs, scathing acting, and plot holes, or if a failure in the cryogenic plant rips the hull out from under the ship, causing it to sink to the bottom of the ocean of disappointment.

Pretty Woman

In 1990, the team of Richard Gere and Julia Roberts set out to see if movie goers would be into a romantic comedy that features a down on her luck hooker and a wealthy businessman with daddy issues.  Turns out, everyone was, and the result was Pretty Woman.  Filled with charming performances, a fairly light look at prostitution, and Jason Alexander getting violent and frisky, Attractive Female is a movie that would make Roy Orbison proud.  Made for $14M, this hooker with a heart of gold fairy tale made $465M in the box office, making it one of the most successful RomCom’s out there.  But does it hold up?  Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent take a walk down Rodeo Drive and see if they are pleasantly surprised at the friendly faces and welcoming story, or if they are kicked out on their butts and beaten to a pulp by their pimps for trying to be something they aren’t.

Beverly Hills Cop

In 1984, Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer conceptualized and funded the fish out of water/buddy cop comedy Beverly Hills Cop.  With Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino, Richard Pryor, and James Caan in mind for the starring role, it eventually went to Eddie Murphy who plays the charming but over the top Axel Foley.  Well written by Daniel Petrie Jr. and competently directed by Martin Brest, Beverly Hills Cop was made for $15M, and went on to make $316M in the box office, making it the highest earning R rated movie until the Matrix Reloaded in 2003.  But does it hold up?  Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent live the high life in Beverly Hills and see if Axel’s antics can save our hosts from as much trouble as he gets them into, or if his smart mouth and risky choices leave them wanting more, sitting in a jail cell, or buried six feet under Rodeo Drive.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

In 1989, Stephen Spielberg went on a journey to see if the third time was a charm with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  With the second Indy movie disappointing critics and fans alike, Spielberg decided to tone down the gore and beef up the cast with Sir Sean Connery to play Henry Jones, father of Henry Jones Junior and proud owner of Indiana the dog.  The Last Crusade received mostly positive reviews, though it was widely accepted that it didn’t surpass the first film, but excelled compared to the second film. Made for $48M, the third Indiana Jones installment made nearly $475M, so whether you feel this is a good Indiana Jones movie or simply a good movie, the box office speaks for itself.  But does it hold up? Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent follow the Jones’ around the world as they try to fight off the Nazi’s and see if they choose poorly, crashing blimps, planes, tanks, cars, and horses, or if they choose wisely, picking the wooden cup and passing the test as a penitent man should.

The Abyss

In 1989, James Cameron brought us one of the most difficult movies to make in history, The Abyss.  Also known as The Abuse, The Abyss is a sci-fi drama that takes place mostly underwater, and so faced challenges that risked lives and put the project over time and over budget.  Starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn, this movie follows a team of deep core drillers as they are drawn into a Navy rescue operation and introduced to an underwater alien species.  Made for $45M, the Abyss received good critical reviews, but only grossed $90M, which is low for a James Cameron film.  But does it hold up?  Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent dive deep to find redemption in the alien species that save the day, or if they experience malfunction after malfunction, making their mixtures too rich and ultimately succumbing to the deep black abyss of crap.

Ghostbusters

In 1984, Saturday Night Live alum Dan Aykroyd brought his long percolating idea to life with Ghostbusters.  Originally conceived as a time and space travel movie for Aykroyd and John Belushi, some major changes were made after Belushi’s death and budget concerns.  Harold Ramis came on board to assist with rewrites, Ivan Reitman was brought on to direct, and Bill Murray was onboarded along with Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis, rounding out a stellar cast that delivered nonstop laughs. Ghostbusters saw a sequel 5 years after the original, two animated television series, a reboot in 2016, and another film planned for 2020, making this a hugely successful franchise.  While critics were not receptive to the sequel and reboots, the original Ghostbusters was a critical and commercial success, making $300M off of a $30M budget.  But 35 years later, does it hold up?  Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent revisit 1980’s New York to fight paranormal free roaming vapors and see if they are disgusted at the level of slimings, crossed streams and EPA stooges, or if they can survive the latest visit from Gozer the Gozerian and hear the magic words…when the light is green, the trap is clean.

True Romance

In 1993, Tony Scott brought together one of the most recognizable ensemble casts of all time to make Quentin Tarantino’s True Romance. Starring Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, and many more, True Romance is an often copied and highly praised for its dialogue, action, pop culture references, and style.  Regarded as one of the best romantic crime movies, True romance showed that love stories between a prostitute and her trick don’t have to look like Pretty Woman.  While True Romance received strong critical reception and now enjoys cult status, Tony Scott’s best movie cost $12.3M to make and only made $12.5M in the box office. Still, it will always be remembered for it’s strongly delivered dialogue and characters that go down as some of the best ever to hit the screen.  But does it hold up?  Listen as Jon, Colin, and Brent take a coke fueled roller coaster ride back to the 90’s and see if True Romance leaves town with no warning, never to return thanks to an aggressive hit put out by Blue Lou Boyle, or if it drives it’s purple Cadillac out of the cold and into a happy life on a beach…short an eye, but full of love.