Hops and Box Office Flops

Hollywood Homicide – Stella!

Hollywood Homicide is a delightful mismatched buddy cop comedy. Unfortunately, everyone hated it, including its star—Harrison Ford.
Written and directed by Ron Shelton, of Bull Durham and Tin Cup fame, Hollywood Homicide channels the real life exploits of one-time Los Angeles policeman Robert Souza.
Judging by some of the movie's subplots, reality is indeed stranger than fiction. Speaking of those weaving narrative points, the abundance of them plague the film. There is just too much going on.
That is probably why critics and audiences had such distaste for it. At 30% on Rotten Tomatoes—with an even lower audience score—Hollywood Homicide is one of Ford's worst rated films.
It is also one of his lowest grossing. On a budget of $75 million, it failed to break even $52 million. Book it as a flop, Danno!
Now, sit back, get fancy with a Stella Artois, and practice your big monologue! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Capt. Cash are doing our damndest to sell this monstrosity on Mount Olympus!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – In Hollywood, no one is who they really want to be! (00:00)
Lingering Questions – Do Ford and Hartnett have chemistry? (32:03)
The "Mount Olympus" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (51:32)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Aging Action Star Flops with Killing Gunther! (1:04:44)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

The Great Christmas Movie Debate – Die Hard vs Lethal Weapon

Die Hard and Lethal Weapon are two of the great 80s action movie. That much is indisputable. But they are also both set during the Christmas season.
On this podcast, we debate which is the better Christmas movie. 
So, sit back, revel in the holiday spirit with either a Merry Monkey from Victory Brewing or an Abita Christmas Ale, and don't think you're too old for this shit! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and a special guest are eating Twinkies and doing our damndest to survive!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Round 1 – Do these movies—Die Hard and Lethal Weapon—have the hallmarks of a holiday film? (00:00)
Round 2 – We each present our irrefutable evidence that our movie is the superior Christmas Movie. (33:31)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff Season 6 with a series sure to be depressing for all action fans, Aging Action Star Flops. First up: Hollywood Homicide! (57:57)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Just Friends – Simply Hopsy

Just Friends is a charming little comedy starring Ryan Reynolds before he ascended into super stardom.
As Chris Brander, Reynolds plays a heavy-set high schooler whose love for his best friend Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart) is unrequited.
Flash forward 10 years and Brander is now fit and successful. He begrudgingly returns to his hometown in New Jersey and takes one last shot with his longtime crush.
Hijinks and hilarity ensue. Not well reviewed at the time of its release and with a middling box office, Just Friends has become a cult classic.
That is thanks in large part to a bonkers performance from Anna Faris as loony pop star Samantha James; and an incredible villainous turn from Chris Klein as Dusty Dinkleman—a fellow high school nerd who also loved Jamie.
If you slept on it in 2005, we don't blame you. But forgiveness is more than saying sorry. It's time to watch Just Friends now! It is a Christmas movie, after all.
Now, sit back, reminisce about old times with a Holly Days IPA from MadTree Brewing, and good luck in those rented skates! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Bling Blake are skiing in jeans as New Jersey's finest should!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – He loves her. She loves him not! (00:00)
Lingering Questions – Who of us was "Friend Zoned" in high school? (21:04)
The "Simply Dusty" Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (34:29)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We have the great Christmas movie debate — Die Hard vs Lethal Weapon! (44:11)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the Reynolds/Smart reunion and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Palm Springs – Life on Repeat

Palm Springs is a cinematic gem that went under the radar in 2020. Released at the height of the pandemic, it's an uproariously funny time loop movie, centering on a man stuck at a miserable wedding.
When said man, Niles played by Andy Sandberg, mistakenly drags a fellow guest into the unending cycle, the real fun begins.
Like Groundhog Day, Palm Springs is very much about our lead characters—the aforementioned Niles and Sarah played by Cristin Milioti—discovering what's truly important in life. Their chemistry and the hijinks they get into are the driving force of the movie.
Throw in an incredible supporting performance from JK Simmons as Roy, and you've got a recipe for one of the best films of 2020. Watch it! Then watch it again like it's the same day you first watched it. It's that damn good.
Now, sit back, get holly and jolly with an Alpha Klaus from Three Floyd's Brewing, and be on the lookout for Roy! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Bling Blake are brushing up on our quantum physics to escape this desert purgatory!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Live like there's no tomorrow! (00:00)
Lingering Questions – What's our Palm Springs? (22:14)
The "Trivia Springs" Challenge – Capt. Cash challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (34:08)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We finish off Bomb Coms by taking one last shot at love with Just Friends! (41:54)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the brilliance of The Lonely Island and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

So I Married an Axe Murderer – Head, Pod Now!

So I Married an Axe Murderer came hot off the heels of the mega hit Wayne's World. Unfortunately for Mike Myers, it could not replicate the famous skit's success.
Banking just north of $11 million, So I Married and Axe Murderer was a box office bomb. But any child of the 90s will tell you that it's still a damn good time.
This is peak Myers, a time when his oddball characters were still funny. It's also his attempt to play the generic male lead. Aside from his dual role of Stuart, the curmudgeonly Scottish father of Charlie, he's just your average joe.
The results of that attempt are mixed. Perhaps if they weren't, Myers wouldn't have made it his life's purpose to play increasingly bizarre characters. I guess, what I'm saying is: It's all our fault that The Love Guru happened. Damn us all to hell.
Now, sit back, hack open a Fireside Chat from 21st Amendment Brewery, and help resuscitate the downed piper! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, Mayor McCheese, and Bling Blake are hitting open mic night for some sick slam poetry!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – The honeymoon was killer! (00:00)
Lingering Questions – Shrek, Stuart, or Fat Bastard, which Mike Myers Scotsman reigns supreme? (38:32)
The "Whoa, Man" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:01:24)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Bomb Coms by living our lives in repeat with Palm Springs! (1:15:00)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the truth behind The Pentaverate and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Summer Catch – Strike’s Out Looking

Summer Catch came at the peak of Freddie Prinze, Jr. mania. He was sort of the king of sub-par romantic comedies in the mid-2000s, and like the rest of his films, this one, too, is mediocre.
Full of cringeworthy schmaltz and baseball scenes that strain credibility, Summer Catch is exactly what one would expect from a genre that feasts on the contrived.
It's got the local boy (Prinze, Jr.) trying to make it after experiencing a downward spiral; it's got the rich girl (Jessica Biel) who falls for him; and, of course, it has the bad actor, her father (Bruce Davison), who doesn't want his daughter slumming it up with a guy destined to cut grass for a living.
Even more obvious than all these stock characters is the fact that Ryan Dunne, the hometown pitcher, will not only achieve his baseball dreams, but he will also land the girl. Cue the corn!
Anyway, with a plot as stupid as that and a moronic script to match, it is no wonder Summer Catch was lambasted by critics. It sits at 8% on Rotten Tomatoes with 92 reviews. Its box office fortunes weren't much better. It earned just $19.7 million.
Now, sit back, clock a fastball with one hand while holding a cold New Grist Pilsner from Lakefront Brewing in the other, and hand us that cucumber! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Bling Blake are workshopping mascot costumes for our beloved Chatham As!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Baseball's a sport. Love's the game for Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Jessica Biel! (00:00)
Lingering Questions – Where does Ryan Dunne rank on the list of fictional pitchers? (24:47)
The "Shore Road Princess" Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie and Cape Cod Baseball. (34:44)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Bomb Coms with a large cappuccino and Mike Myers before he was so randy, baby, in So I Married an Ax Murderer! (47:48)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the era of Freddie Prinze, Jr. and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Werewolves Within – Guess Wholf?

Werewolves Within—which is as loosely based on a video game as possible—is a horror/comedy whodunnit that relies far more on humor than gore.
And, for the most part, it works well. Starring Sam Richardson as bumbling park ranger Finn Wheeler, Werewolves Within never takes itself too seriously.
Beaverfield, VT, is a small-town full of eclectic stereotypes of modern America. From the uppity gas pipeline executive to the moronic MAGA tandem to the yogi gay couple, it's a place already full of mistrust. The titular werewolf preys on those seeds of doubt; so, as a viewer, it is up to us to solve who is behind the sowing of the chaos.
Hilarity mostly ensues.
Now, sit back, gnarl an Imperial Amber from Great Lakes Brewing, and stay off of Emerson's porch! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Capt. Cash, and Bling Blake are throwing axes and dancing to Ace of Base!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – A whodunnit with teeth! (00:00)
Lingering Questions – This movie is a lot of fun. Are we surprised it didn't do better? (42:31)
The "Mr. Rogers" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about werewolves. (1:01:04)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff Hops and Bomb Coms with Summer Catch! (1:17:22)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the game it's based on and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Renfield – Wiccan Tumblr for the Win

Renfield is a delightful little horror comedy chronicling the titular character's toxic relationship with his master, Count Dracula.
Featuring Nicholas Hoult as Renfield and Nicolas Cage as that overbearing boss, it's a film that works despite its own confusion on what it wants to be.
Cage is phenomenal as Dracula and Hoult is charming as the nebbish Renfield. Their interplay almost universally hits. The other identity of the film is a smattering of over-the-top action and balletic gore. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed that, too. I just wish there was more of the former.
Why? Well, quite simply, Cage is the principal reason to watch Renfield. He is just so damn zany and fun. The fact that he disappears for large sections of the movie as Renfield makes googly eyes at a cop named Rebecca (Awkwafina) hurts the driving narrative of the film.
We're here to see Dracula gaslight and manipulate Renfield, so give it to us.
Anyway, as I said, this movie is mostly a good time. That sadly did not translate to box office success. On a budget of $65 million, it grossed a putrid $26.7 million. But with decent fan reactions (79% favorability compared to the 58% of critics), Renfield does at least seem destined for semi-cult status. 
Now, sit back, suck the flavor from Rhinegeist's Franz, and don't make it a sexual thing! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are scouring New Orleans for some nuns or a busload of cheerleaders to feed the Lord of Death's insatiable apetite!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Stop serving. Start living! (00:00)
Lingering Questions – Where does this version of cinema's most notorious vampire rank for us? (39:44)
The "I Deserve Happiness" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about Count Dracula. (56:33)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude Hops and Boo-Haha Flops with Werewolves Within! (1:12:02)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the history of Count Dracula on film and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

The Blackening – Enter the Game Room

The Blackening is a satirical take on the horror genre. Poking fun at the trope of the Black character dying first, it offers an interesting quandary for the killer: If every character is Black, they can't all die first.
Based on a skit of the same name, The Blackening makes good on that premise. It is often hilarious, has a ton of fun playing with that central theme, and features a great cast of actors on the rise.
Shockingly, despite its strong reviews, The Blackening only made $17.7 million at the box office. Considering its small budget, $5 million, that's not too shabby; but this is a movie we highly recommend, even if you're adverse to scary movies.
So, sit back, play some spades while sipping on a Make America Juicy Again from Heretic Brewing, and don't get that trivia question wrong ... or you will die! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are sipping on some Kool-yay and dodging some arrows!
This Week’s Segments:
Introduction/Plot Breakdown – We can't all die first! (00:00)
Lingering Questions – In a movie full of very funny scenes, which did we enjoy the most. (26:37)
The "Jim Crow Monopoly" Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (50:26)
Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Hops and Boo-Haha Flops with Cage going full Cage in Renfield! (1:08:23)
And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the original skit and more—from this week’s episode!
You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!