OVERHATED

Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #187: Men at Work (1990)

The only thing I remember about Men at Work is that critics hated it. That's all I recall! But thankfully, returning guest and podcast producer (and film critic) Jim Laczkowski selected this Estevez Bros. comedy... that's actually kinda fun.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #186: The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

The fourth chapter in the Matrix saga gets the Overhated treatment, thanks to writer / director / movie nerd Brian Duffield, the man who gave us Spontaneous, No One Will Save You, and a bunch of other fun genre flicks.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #185: Power (1986)

Richard Gere, Gene Hackman, and Denzel Washington? In a Sidney Lumet film? How could a movie like this be all but forgotten these days? I dig into it with filmmaker Rodney Ascher (back for his third episode) in this lengthy and very nerdy conversation full of digressions and Lumet sidebars.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #184: Showgirls (1995)

It's one of the most savagely derided films of the entire 1990s -- a decade that had no shortage of bad films -- but Showgirls has undergone something of a metamorphosis over the past few decades, despite still being full-bore trashy campy pulp. Join me and my guest, author / podcaster / film critic Kristen Lopez (of The Wrap), as we discuss all sorts of stuff related to the infamous disaster.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #183: The Black Cauldron (1985)

It's Disney animation's most infamous box office failure, and my old friend Brian Salisbury (of Junkfood Cinema infamy) has a whole lot to rant about, and in rather profane fashion I might add. (warning: F bombs!)

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #182: Mac and Me (1988)

It's one of the most frequently ridiculed movies of all time, but of course I found someone to defend it! That's what this podcast does! Big thanks to my guest Dottie D. (@DottieDinoRAWR) for sparking a lively conversation on this infamous piece of 1980s weirdness.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #181: Cats (2019)

Every once in a while we get a movie that virtually everyone enjoys trashing. And of course there are always a few sincere defenders, like my old friend, filmmaker, and frequent Overhated guest Laurel Vail! (aka @laurelvail) Big thanks to LV for forcing me to finally sit down with this insane film, plus we got a really fun conversation out of the whole deal.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #180: The Out-of-Towners (1999)

It seemed like a perfect pitch: Steve Martin covering similar ground to his hit Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and pair him up with the hilarious Goldie Hawn, with whom Martin struck some gold in Housesitter a few years earlier. So what happened? We talk to regular guest Andrew Carden (@awardsconnect) for some answers.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #179: Superman Returns (2006)

"The Superman movie that time forgot" is today's topic of discussion. Big thanks to screenwriter / Superman junkie Adam Mallinger (@BittrScrptReadr) for recommending this one. We ramble for over an hour!

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

EPISODE #178: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)

How did I find someone to defend one of the most detested musicals of all time? Listen in to find out! My thanks to author / film writer / Beatle fanatic Sarah Jae Leiber for choosing such an insane movie to talk about. (I challenge you to watch this movie before listening to the episode.)

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

EPISODE #177: Chappie (2015)

Sometimes this podcast is like therapy for me. Big thanks to old-school wise-ass film nerd Vince Mancini (of The Frotcast) for choosing one of my least favorite films of the last 15 years. And I mean that!

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #176: Pandorum (2009)

It's not easy being a sci-fi horror film. Even when you pull off something cool, people will always call you an Alien retread. But Pandorum writer/director Christian Alvart is here to set the record straight on all sorts of things, from how the movie got made to how it got dumped into theaters in rather unceremonious fashion.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #175: Popeye (1980)

Yes, it's basically a feature-length Nintendo commercial. That's never been a secret. But perhaps there's some actual artistry and humanity to be found in there too? Well, filmmaker Joe Russo sure seems to think so. (Not the Marvel director Joe Russo; the horror geek Joe Russo!)

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #174: The Wizard (1989)

Yes, it's basically a feature-length Nintendo commercial. That's never been a secret. But perhaps there's some actual artistry and humanity to be found in there too? Well, filmmaker Joe Russo sure seems to think so. (Not the Marvel director Joe Russo; the horror geek Joe Russo!)

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #172: Far and Away (1992)

For a movie that got a whole lot of press back in the day, Ron Howard's Far and Away seems to be virtually forgotten these days, despite featuring two of the biggest movie stars ever born. Big thanks to returning guest Stone Gasman for covering this one!

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

EPISODE #171: Clifford (1994)

A comedic spin on "evil kid" thrillers? Sounds fun to me! Oh what's that? The evil kid is played by a 40-year-old Martin Short? Plus Charles Grodin, Mary Steenburgen, and Dabney Coleman in one of the most widely derided comedies of the entire 1990s? Sign me up.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

EPISODE #170: Wise Guys (1986)

The prolific and controversial Bran De Palma was dealing with a few flops back in the mid-'80s, so he switched gears from dark thrillers to dark comedy, and the result was the loud, raucous Wise Guys. Longtime film critic Peter Sobczynski is on hand to defend this forgotten farce, and to remind us that at least a few influential folks went on record with a thumbs up on the flick.

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

EPISODE #169: The Quick and the Dead (1995)

Already I can hear the cries: "how the HELL is this awesome movie even remotely 'hated'?!?" Well, let's look at how it was received when it first hit theaters! Big thanks to returning guest and film critic extraordinaire Sara M. Fetters

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Erik Childress Erik Childress

Episode #168: Staying Alive (1983)

There was a time when lots of people really wanted a sequel to Saturday Night Fever (1977). And then they got one. And most of them were unhappy with the result. Like, a lot of people. But not my old pal (and veteran film critic) Todd Gilchrist! Big thanks to Todd for picking an essential "bad" movie, which I can now scratch off the list, and also for a great chat.

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