Hops and Box Office Flops

Jack – Tree House of Horrors

Francis Ford Coppola is one of the greatest directors ever. Period. Yet even his resume is not devoid of misfires and flops.
Enter Jack, a dramedy about a 10-year old kid trapped in the body of a grown man. No, this isn't Big. In this 1996 film, the titular kiddo, Jack Powell, ages far faster than his peers.
With that odd condition comes its own set of issues. As one may assume, yes, poor Jack would have a very short lifespan. Therein lies the problems. Not that a family film shouldn't include some moments of seriousness, but Jack generally doesn't balance the whimsy and the melancholy well.
Hence its poor reception from critics. That aside, there is an earnestness to Robin Williams' performance, and the movie does have a few laughs. Are there enough for it to warrant a watch? That probably depends on the individual viewer's tastes.
Now, sit back, age gracefully with a Buenos Tiempos from Belching Beaver Brewing, and save those red Gummy Bears! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are drunkenly hashing out all our problems with Paulie.
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – For some people, 40 is the new 10. For Jack Powell, it's the other way around — literally!
Lingering Questions – What do we want to be when we grow up? (30:54)
The "Real Rectal Rockets" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (47:42)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our Best Director Flops series with Steven Spielberg's Hook! (59:55)
And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

Batman v Superman – The Red Capes are Coming

After seven years and 299 episodes, it was only fitting we'd tackle the film that's been a lightning rod with fans—and the hosts of this podcast—since its release in March 2016.
Love it or hate it, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice remains in the comic book cultural zeitgeist; and it was the first in a chain of events that led to the eventual downfall of the previous iteration of the DCU.
Now, sit back, knuckle up with a Buffalo Nickel from Wren House Brewing, and smuggle all the sweet goods from the White Portuguese! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are hopping over to Metropolis to drink Lex Luthor dry.
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Son of Krypton versus Bat of Gotham!
Lingering Questions – Were we able to break Chumpzilla's spirit? (54:47)
The "Manors on the Wayne" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:38:09)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We will see you in the new year for the kickoff of season 8! (1:55:43)
And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter – The Trinity of B*****s

We've mercifully finished the fight! After four grueling pods and six movies, we conclude our Biohazard Flops series with Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.
Frankly, we don't have the energy to attempt to dissect how this made more than $300 million worldwide. We survived, and that's all that matters.
Now, sit back, give in to the T-Virus with a Harvest Zombie from KCBC, and sneak through that goddamn laser hallway again! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are finding the least annoying clone of Mayor McCheese to hang out with! It's going poorly.
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Back to the Hive!
Lingering Questions – It's done. It never made sense. But did some of the nonsense work? (29:20)
The "Final Chap-turd" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (52:54)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We our historical, monumental, shocking 300th episode with ... We're still not sure! (1:09:11)
And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

Resident Evil: Retribution – Undead Sims

Resident Evil: Retribution carries on the proud tradition of these movies making no sense.
The Red Queen is back, and she's an even bigger bitch; Leon shows up with Barry Burton for reasons; and Wesker is alive — which we knew — but he's defected from Umbrella now.
Things happen, Alice wakes up naked — again — and does backflips — again! And we, the audience, are left to wonder what crime we committed to earn it the penance we're paying.
Now, sit back, sterilize that bite with a Kirkland Lager, and don't get stuck in that Moscow department store! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are commandeering Umbrella's submarine to get the hell out of this nightmare simulator.
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Evil goes global!
Lingering Questions – Are we having fun yet? (31:04)
The "Red Queen" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (44:14)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude Hops and Biohazard Flops with the last entry in the series that stubbornly still refuses to die — Resident Evil: The Final Chapter! (55:38)
And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

Resident Evil 3 and 4 – There is No Why

Through bites and claw marks, we soldier on in our Resident Evil franchise retrospective by tackling the second pairing of movies — Resident Evil: Extinction and Resident Evil: Afterlife!
Like the T-Virus, the series has mutated to something indescribably heinous, devouring even more money than its first two iterations.
Now, sit back, toast to that infection with a Social Studies Pizza Party from Streetside Brewing, and protect your eyes from the crows! The Thunderous Wizard and Chumpzilla are having far too much fun watching Bling Blake struggle to climb the prop Eiffel Tower.
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Extinction! Experimentation! Evolution!
Lingering Questions – Honestly, what the hell is happening? (55:56)
The "If the Bus is Rockin', It's Probably Zombie Birds" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:10:36)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Hops and Biohazard Flops with the fifth entry in the series that, like its subject matter, refuses to die — Resident Evil: Retribution! (1:26:12)
And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

Resident Evil 1 and 2 – Enter Survival Horror

We come out guns blazing for our look at the Resident Evil film franchise by tackling the first two movies — Resident Evil and Resident Evil Apocalypse!
Now, sit back, search for the truth with a White Rabbit Hazy IPA from Pedal Haus Brewing, and do your best not to die in the Hive! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are genetically modified ass-kicking machines, and we're on a mission!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – A secret experiment. A deadly virus. A fatal mistake!
Lingering Questions – Which one of these did better justice to the games? (39:43)
The "T-Virus" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (57:51)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our Hops and Biohazard Flops series with another double feature — Resident Evil: Extinction and Resident Evil: Afterlife! (1:09:00)
And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

My Fellow Americans – Grumpy Ex-Presidents

My Fellow Americans is serviceable mismatched duo comedy starring James Garner and Jack Lemmon as two former Presidents on the run from some nefarious government agents.
As former political rivals, Russell P. Kramer (Lemmon) and Matt Douglas (Garner) are thrust together after Kramer is framed for a bribe he didn't take.
Some decent laughs and witty repartee ensue. This is very much Grumpy Old Men with Presidents and not neighbors.
But, hey, that's a winning formula after all! My Fellow Americans, however, did not attain nearly the success of its inspiration. Hence its appearance on this pod.
Now, sit back, reflect on your legacy with a Leinenkugel Summer Shandy, and buy that cook book! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are somewhere over the rainbow!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – A comedy about life, liberty, and the pursuit of two ex-presidents!
Lingering Questions – Who would get our vote: Kramer or Douglas? (25:38)
The "Hail to the Chief" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (40:45)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff our Hops and Biohazard Flops series with a double feature — Resident Evil and Resident Evil Apocalypse! (57:56)
And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

Primary Colors – Get Out the Vote

Primary Colors is a highly embellished take on the 1992 Presidential campaign of Bill Clinton.
Using that real life run as inspiration, it tells the story of long-shot democrat hopeful Governor Jack Stanton—a deeply flawed, though well-intentioned politician.
Yes, Stanton like his real-life counterpart is a dirty dog. And his wandering eye is a constant source of annoyance for his team.
That aside, despite its way over-exaggerated elements, Primary Colors is a solid movie on the machinations of politics. Thus, the awards praise it garnered was well earned.
Sadly, its status as a critical darling did not translate to box office success. This movie flopped about as hard as the campaign of Stanton's rival, Gov. Fred Picker.
Now, sit back, grab a Sam Adams from the hotel fridge, and pass out those flyers! The Thunderous Wizard,  Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are stumping for Stanton!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown –What went down on the way to the top!
Lingering Questions – If we were running Gov. Stanton's campaign, what would the slogan be? (30:28)
The "Dust Buster" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (41:15)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude our Hops and Electoral Flops series with My Fellow Americans! (55:44)
And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!

The Campaign – America, Jesus, Freedom

The Campaign is an outlandish look at two dimwits vying for votes on the local stump circuit, and it is quite funny.
Democratic candidate Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) duels with Republican Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) for what should've been an uncontested election. Hilarity ensues.
What's most shocking about The Campaign isn't the lengths Brady will go to ensure he maintains his seat; it's that the movie flopped. Starring two comedic heavy hitters in their prime, this should've been a no-brainer.
Alas, it wasn't, so if you haven't seen it, we recommend you do.
Now, sit back, ignore whatever is happening in that porta-john with a Truth from Rhinegeist Brewery, and cast your vote! The Thunderous Wizard and Bling Blake are pushing it real good!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Filipino tilt-a-whirl operators are our nation's backbone!
Lingering Questions – Why didn't this capture a larger audience? (28:26)
The "Tickle Shits" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (48:12)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our Hops and Electoral Flops series with Primary Colors! (1:00:48)
And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!