Episode 142 - The Invisible Maniac (1990)

Cooper and Nolan are going up, up, and away this week, as they discuss SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE! Not only was this the movie that led to the downfall of Cannon Films, it also kept the Man of Steel off the silver screen for nearly two decades thanks to a forced storyline about the world's nuclear arms race. It's a heavy topic that the guys are NOT equipped to handle, which is why they've brought in a university professor with a P.H.D. in international relations (who also happens to be a HUGE DC comics fan) to provide an expert opinion. But don't worry, there's still all the usual silliness thanks to arguments about deep voiced children, Lois Lane's "faulty" memory, and whether or not Superman has a secret identity for his penis.  It's a quest for meaning that you're sure to enjoy; this episode (featuring a beer from Slake Brewing) is a super way to start your summer!

Cooper and Nolan are putting it out there for all the world to see this week when they meet THE INVISIBLE MANIAC! This VERY low budget 90s horror/comedy leans as hard as possible into gratuitous nudity, which it turns out is just one of many reasons the guys ended up getting on board with it. Throw in some hilariously awful special effects, questionable performances from actors who are clearly too old for their roles, and a plot that's ridiculous in all the right ways, and you've discovered the formula for a good time. So take off your lab coat and hit the showers; this episode (featuring a beer from Supply & Demand Beer and Pizza) is one you'll definitely be glad didn't stay invisible!

Cooper and Nolan are back in action this week when they cover DEATH WISH 3! This may be the shortest ever episode of this podcast, but when an extremely large portion of this movie is just Charles Bronson killing punks while thousands of completely ineffective bullets fly his way, how much is there to talk about? Still, the near-total absence of meaningful plot elements and characters doesn't stop the guys from covering college nicknames, criminal defense attorneys sleeping with their clients, and whether being invisible would make you a better police officer (stick around to the end to hear that part). At the end of the day it's a Cannon film starring Charles Bronson, so count on having a good time; this episode (featuring not one but TWO beers from Third Moon Brewing) will leave you wishing there was more. 

Cooper and Nolan are plugging in this week when they cover Wes Craven's SHOCKER! This supernatural serial killer story is heavy on action but light on details, which left the guys having to guess how or why a lot of stuff was happening. Maybe that's why they spent their time pulling from other movies like Poltergeist, Ghostbusters, and the director's own Nightmare on Elm Street to try to make sense of it. Still, with bigtime 80s horror vibes and a title that's easy to confuse with something else, you might want to find something to bite down on; this episode (featuring a beer from the Powerhouse Brewing Company) is 100,000 volts of fun!

Cooper and Nolan are reporting for duty this week when they cover Steven Spielberg's 1941! An over the top, madcap comedy with bankable stars, big set pieces and an anti-war (some say anti-American) message might have sounded good on paper, but unfortunately Spielberg forgot that comedies are supposed to be funny. Whether or not that was actually the goal or just a loose pretense for him to blow up a bunch of stuff we'll never know, but the guys were left trying to entertain themselves. Which, in addition to the usual assortment of silliness and d**k jokes, somehow ended up with Maggie Gyllenhaal catching strays.  Still, there's nothing to lose by enlisting in the conversation; this episode (featuring a beer from Eagle Brewery) might just make you want to stand up and salute!

Cooper and Nolan are ready to rock this week when they cover HARD ROCK ZOMBIES!  This musical horror/comedy is the kind of insane fever dream that's almost indescribable. Werewolf grandmothers, eyepatch-wearing little people, and zombie gas chambers are just some of the surprises you can expect to find - just don't hold your breath for any actual hard rock. Still, any movie with the Cannon Films logo in front of it is basically a backstage pass to fun, so rise up and press play; this episode (featuring a beer from Indie Ale House) has more life in it than you might think!

Cooper and Nolan are leaving it in park this week when they cover JURASSIC PARK III by special request! One of the earliest examples of fan service, this sequel features multiple actors phoning it in while CGI dinosaurs roam free in the background. It also asks the question: What if William H. Macy's character from Boogie Nights had his son go missing on an island full of escaped dinosaurs? That last bit might be an exaggeration, but it's not a stretch to say that this movie put the Jurassic Park franchise back in amber for over a decade. They say life finds a way, but can beer find a way to make watching this even slightly enjoyable? This episode (featuring a beer from Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.) holds the key to finding out - just make sure you lock the cage door when you leave.

Cooper and Nolan are ready to protect and serve this week, when they finally cover SGT. KABUKIMAN N.Y.P.D.! This trip to Tromaville (by way of NYC) has been a long time coming, and the guys are bringing in a noted tapehead and trash cinema fan to help them navigate all of the strange sights and sounds. And with some of the most ridiculous plot points, practical FX, and wigs you could possibly imagine, this special guest definitely has his work cut out for him - but not as much a Nolan trying to tiptoe around the movie's problematic stereotypes. Words won't do this one justice, you're just going to have to taste it, so grab your chopsticks; this episode (featuring a beer from Godspeed Brewery) is a comedy experience you'll want to dive into.

Cooper and Nolan aren't messing around this week when they meet FOXY BROWN! This Blaxploitation classic was meant to be a sequel to Coffy, and with the many, MANY things they have in common it really shows. Which is great news for the guys, since they both feel like they rated Coffy too low back in Season 2. Are familiar genre features and the welcome presence of Pam Grier enough to put this thing on top? Or will the absence of hooker fights and a questionable big bad send it straight downtown? The answer is floating around in here somewhere, so open the jar on this episode (featuring a beer from Amsterdam Brewing Co.) and find out!

Cooper and Nolan are bringing back Bond this week when they cover Roger Moore's first turn as 007 in LIVE AND LET DIE! Seeing as this movie - ahem - borrows heavily from the Blaxploitation film genre, it feels appropriate that the guys are talking about it during Black History Month. From the stereotypical occupation of main villain Dr. Kananga, to the flamboyant 70s style of Baron Samedi, to the less than flattering portrayal of certain southern characters, let's just say there's a lot that doesn't look great with the benefit of hindsight. Still, some things (like a kick-ass theme song or Jane Seymour's beauty) are timeless, so maybe it's better to live and let live. Either way, this episode (featuring a beer from the Silversmith Brewing Co.) proves one thing - nobody does it like Bond!