Ep.#455 - Poolman, with Josh Gondelman

No, it's not a biopic about Jim Poolman, former insurance commissioner of North Dakota. It's a comic sunshine noir about an actual pool-maintaining Poolman, played (and written/directed) by fave Chris (Pine), who finds himself tangled in a criminal conspiracy... or maybe he's just whacked-out and paranoid? We're joined in this pool party by one of our most beloved returning guests, Mr. Josh Gondelman -- check out his new stand-up special, available for free, right now!Wikipedia page for PoolmanRecommended in this episode:Dan: I Like Movies (2022)Stu: 28 Years Later (2025)Elliott: Nightcrawler (2014), Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), Mulholland Drive (2001)Head to squarespace.com/FLOP for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, use OFFER CODE: FLOP to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Dan confuses Elliott by combining his beloved comic books with his hated fruit pies, in a discussion of Hostess's superhero-based comics ads.Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets!

Ah, here he comes, that son of a gun, that cat, that Garfield, that gigantic thing -- except... There's something different about him. It's weird. He just doesn't seem very... Garfield-y? Anyway, in honor of the birthday of one of our great Americans, Garfield the cat, and also maybe one other guy, we take on 2024's The Garfield Movie.Wikipedia page for The Garfield MovieRecommended in this episode:Dan: The Thief and the Cobbler "Recobbled Cut" (1993)Stu: Jack's Back (1988)Elliott: An Actor's Revenge (1963)Head to squarespace.com/FLOP for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, use OFFER CODE: FLOP to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

With The Fantastic Four: First Steps coming to theaters soon, listener Andrew asked the question "Galactus and The Silver Surfer -- what's their deal, man?" and Elliott gladly stepped up to answer.Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets!Aura has a great deal for Father’s Day. For a limited time, listeners can save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $30 off on their best-selling Carver Mat  frame. Promo code FLOP. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout! Terms and conditions apply.Get started at factormeals.com/flop50off and use code flop50off to get 50% off plus FREE shipping on your first box.

Love DOES hurt. For instance, we love and only want the best for Everything Everywhere All at Once comeback king Ke Huy Quan, but then we have to witness him struggle through a movie like Love Hurts. Fortunately he comes off all right. The movie itself? Not so much. But hey, looks like he's got Zootopia 2 and a movie from the guy who made Rare Exports coming up. Maybe those will be good!Wikipedia page for Love HurtsRecommended in this episode:Dan: Summer of 69 (2025)Stu: The Order (2024)Elliott: Pee-wee as Himself (2025)

There have been a lot of animals in movies, but which are the BEST animals? Stuart Wellington leads a highly-scientific investigation.Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets!

The Flop House is headed to Summer Camp! A few weeks of sun, swimming, hiking, crafts -- we're gonna make each other SO MANY FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS that our circulation is gonna cut off! We're gonna have so much fu-- what? It's just a movie? But... it stars Diane Keaton, Alfre Woodard, and Kathy Bates, so with those actors it's gotta be at least a little fun, righ-- it's not? Oh, poop.Wikipedia page for Summer CampRecommended in this episode:Dan: Final Destination: Bloodlines (2024)Stu: Bull Durham (1988)Elliott: Little Murders (1971)Head to squarespace.com/FLOP for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, use OFFER CODE: FLOP to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Hallie joins the Flop House gang once more, to discuss random topics selected by YOU, the listeners!Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets!Go to factormeals.com/flop50off and use code flop50off to get 50% off, plus FREE shipping on your first box. 

Robbie Williams is a chimp. That's not an insult, just an accurate description of Better Man, from the director of past Flop House subject, The Greatest Showman. This one's the rare FH movie that was a critical success while being a financial flop -- will we agree with the critics? Oh, and we buried the lede: HALLIE'S BACK!Wikipedia page for Better ManRecommended in this episode:Dan: Ninja 3: The Domination (1984)Stu: Sinners (2025)Elliott: They Cloned Tyrone (2023)Hallie: Dangerous Beauty (1998)Aura has a great deal for Mother’s Day. For a limited time, listeners can visit AuraFrames.com to get $35-off plus free shipping on their best-selling Carver Mat frame, with promo code FLOP. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout!Head to squarespace.com/FLOP for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, use OFFER CODE: FLOP to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

We're joined by longtime friend of the show (but first time on mic!) Alejandro Arbona, a 20-year veteran of comics editing and a comics writer himself, to discuss everyone's favorite extravagantly-perverse Italian thriller genre -- GIALLO. We discuss what defines a giallo and differentiates it from other sub-genres (and the slasher films it helped inspire), and then Alejandro runs us through a little giallo title quiz. It's so jam-packed with info we didn't have room for Elliott (jk, he had scheduling issues, that li'l scamp will be back next time!).If you'd like to support Alejandro's Kickstarter for Lake Yellowwood Slaughter, here's a link to the pre-launch signup, ya dirty slasher freaks!Subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, “Flop Secrets!”