Episode 165 - Double Down (2005)

Cooper and Nolan are crossing one off of their bad movie bucket list this week when they take a gamble on DOUBLE DOWN! The guys have been waiting YEARS to cover a movie by infamous indie filmmaker Neil Breen, and with only one more episode to go until the Season 6 finale they're finally doing it. Will it live up to the (reverse) hype? Is the Neil Breen drinking game a recipe for trouble? And how much stock footage can a movie possibly have? Place your bets before you press play; what happens in this episode (featuring our second beer of the season from the Burdock Brewery) stays in this episode.

Cooper and Nolan are getting glittered up this week when they cut into THE APPLE! This enormous early 80s flop asks the question: what if the Cannon Films guys made a glam rock musical about Adam and Eve set in the futuristic 1990s? Somehow the answer is something stranger than you could possibly expect, and the guys have got themselves over a barrel trying to figure it out. The end result is a juicy conversation that's definitely worth tasting; this episode (featuring a beer from the Bad Apple Brewing Company) is one you'll want to sink your teeth into!

Cooper and Nolan are letting it all hang out this week when they cover CLIFFHANGER! This notable 90s entry from Sylvester Stallone was one of the last big movies of the bodybuilder action boom, and it pretty much follows the exact formula you'd expect. Still, between the hit-or-miss one-liners, extremely emotional closeups, and some VERY questionable casting, there's plenty for the guys to discuss - plus they're finally settling the chug bet they made back in February! So get ready to gear up for a good time; this episode (featuring a beer from the Blue Mountain Brewing Co.) definitely won't leave you out in the cold.

Cooper and Nolan are back with the pack this week, when they discuss HOWLING II: YOUR SISTER IS A WEREWOLF! After covering the original back in Season 3 (which Nolan completely forgot), the guys were thrilled to take a look at what is widely considered one of the silliest sequels ever made. Is this just a vampire movie that got re-purposed? How much did horror icon Christopher Lee get paid to show up? And is there such a thing as too much nudity? You won't have to wait for the next full moon to find out; this episode (featuring a beer from Bellwoods Brewery) is full of surprises for the whole family.

Cooper and Nolan are coming face-to-face with a legend this week when they finally cover SAMURAI COP! This gloriously awful piece of low-budget 90s action can be found on pretty much any list of the best bad movies of all time, and one watch is all it takes to realize why.  Between the terribly choreographed fight scenes, atrocious dialogue, and VERY questionable hat and wig choices, there's plenty to laugh at - and that's before you even mention the acting. No wonder it was BY FAR the most requested movie the podcast has ever had; this episode (featuring a total cop-out of a beer) is a straight-to-video disaster that might go straight to your heart.

Cooper and Nolan are going ape this week when they cover 1995's CONGO by special request! After the wild, unbridled success of Jurassic Park, studios were practically tripping over themselves to adapt more Michael Crichton novels. But whatever hopes Paramount Pictures might have had for this one went up in a cloud of talking gorillas, diamond-powered lasers, and VERY questionable European accents.  Are there enough action scenes and old-timey adventure elements to keep this thing interesting, or at least as interesting as Nolan found it as a 13-year-old? Or is this all just a shameless cash grab/theme park ride masquerading as a blockbuster movie? Much like the list city of Zinj, the answer may be hard to find, but either way this episode (featuring a beer from the Aquanova Brewing Company) is an expedition that's worth taking.

Cooper and Nolan are hitting the road this week when they cover MAD MAX by special request! This dystopian tale from down under was a landmark moment for Australian filmmaking, but the combination of those two elements is forcing the guys to wonder about what constitutes typical Aussie fashion, whether or not child endangerment laws are different there, and if female saxophone players actually exist. Throw in a young Mel Gibson and some effects of WILDLY varying quality and you've got a movie that might be hard to keep up with. Still, better start your engine; this episode (featuring a beer from the Full Beard Brewing Co.) is one you'll definitely want to chase down!

Cooper and Nolan are putting away childhood things this week when they discuss CHILD'S PLAY 3! This underbaked sequel was a complete rush job from start to finish, which probably explains the terrible dialogue, awful acting, and underwhelming special effects. But what was nearly impossible for the guys to understand is how this horror franchise became so beloved in the first place.  No wonder they spent more time talking about potato salad, anatomically correct dolls, and people living on the fringe than whatever the plot of this movie is supposed to be, all while crafting a better sequel.  Better leave your dolls on the shelf; as far as this episode (featuring a beer from Tusket Falls Brewing) is concerned, playtime's over!  

Cooper and Nolan are hitting the nail on the head this week when they cover HAMMER! This early Blaxploitation movie about a boxer who gets mixed up with the mob features many of the elements that would become staples of the genre, from flashy fashion choices to bizarre nightclub performances to the funky soundtrack. But it also features some genuinely good acting and a surprisingly nuanced take on early 70s social politics. You'd think that might cause the guys to take things more seriously than they normally do, but they still end up on tangents about soaking, hitting guys to death in the face, and what life was REALLY like in the 70s. All that plus a beer chug bet makes for a lot to look forward to; this episode (featuring a beer from Mascot Brewery) is ready to step into the ring!

Love conquers all this week when Cooper and Nolan tell the story of TROMEO & JULIET! This Troma-riffic take on The Bard's classic tale of star-crossed lovers features all the body piercing, kinky sex, and dismemberment you'd expect from a Lloyd Kaufman film, but what you might NOT expect is how close it actually is to the original. Despite being absolutely gobsmacked by what they're seeing, the guys still manage to make it a Valentine's Day to remember, with arguments about dating vegetarians, the relationship between body hair and creepiness, and whether or not raisins belong in any other food. No need to bring flowers or candy; this episode (featuring not one but TWO beers from the Shakespeare Brewing Company) is here and it's ready for love!