After a decade of raunchy teen sex comedies with a pubescent mentality and a momentary elevation through the work of John Hughes, the 1980s graduated with a teenage romance that took things to a new level. In the middle of Cameron Crowe’s tale of love between a directionless good guy and a driven valedictorian was a friendship rarely seen before or even since in the movies. John Cusack’s Lloyd Dobler and Lili Taylor’s Corey Flood were besties who advised and looked out for each other through past pain and the potential for future greatness and sadness. Erik & Morgan love these characters and so much more from the directorial debut of the writer who would eventually bring us Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous. They admire how the film embraces the insecurities of its characters and remembers how important economics can be to a long-term relationship. Is Diane Court’s father really the bad guy the people remember him to be or is he just looking out for his daughter’s best interests? And listen as Morgan tries to fix one of the most iconic cinema moments of the last century.

A perfect movie demands the perfect guests so Morgan Gire and Erik Childress invited colleagues Nick Digilio (of The Nick D Podcast) and Collin Souter (of the Christmas Movies Actually podcast) to join in their discussion of George Miller’s 2015 masterpiece. The central focus, as always, is on the evolving friendship of Furiosa and Max. How and when do they learn to trust each other? What silent communication is used to straighten their bond? How powerful is the bond between a woman and a man when not taken to the Hollywood standard of a final kiss? Beyond all that, the four of them go even further from the on-set relationship of the actors, the progressive nature of Miller’s vision, and what action films deserve mention in the same universe as this one. It is a packed episode that we hope only furthers your enjoyment of the film.

The search for positivity in male and female friendships on this podcast takes a dark turn this week with Nacho Vigalondo’s 2017 film. This tale of monsters and alcohol is not the typical lovey-dovey tale of old friends finding romance. Though the relationship between Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis starts off friendly, true feelings are not always manifested as a means for happiness. Erik and Morgan discuss the deceased toxicity inherent in trying to control a woman working through her own problems. Flowery proclamations are replaced by love-bombing and savior complexes in a film that does not always agree with the pair but whose personal experiences and inward examinations make some of the behavior all the more disturbing.

Hugh Wilson’s tale of frenemies played by Nicolas Cage and Shirley MacLaine was once a favorite of Morgan Gire and it has been even longer since Erik Childress has seen it. Like VHS-long. So does their relationship stand the test of time for both of them or does the film’s mix of comedy, drama and, ultimately, thriller shortchange each other? A lot is devoted to some of the nonchalance of the big finale and the secret service’s inability to rise to the challenge. But what can be done to expand upon the film’s central relationship? Why do Morgan and Erik keep sidetracking into other movies? What does it have in common with Tommy Wiseau’s The Room? And the most important question of all – can Shirley MacLaine knock out Nancy Reagan? We all want to remember the best of Nicolas Cage and maybe this is part of it, but does that mean it is good?

Kogonada’s debut film was a standout at Sundance in 2017. His rumination on grief, lost opportunities and the family members that contribute to them also feature a trio of friendships between men and women. Erik Childress and Morgan Gire break them all down while reconciling different opinions on the style of how their stories are told. Does a little go a long way or does the film’s meditative approach keep some of the hidden feelings too much at bay? John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson get an opportunity to shine here with first class performances along with nice supporting work from Rory Culkin and Parker Posey. Is this the rare film to elevate the absence of genuine male/female friendships in movies or does the emotional tension held within prevent these characters from being more than passing acquaintances?

If there is a romantic comedy than Morgan Gire and Erik Childress can agree about it is James L. Brooks’ 2010 film, How Do You Know. While they may clash with those that dismissed it and audiences that turned it into a genuine bomb, the hosts have a lot to say about it that makes it worthy of a re-evaluation. Whether or not Jack Nicholson phoned his role in for his friend is up for debate, Morgan and Erik find a lot to appreciate in the unique way Brooks handles his romantic triangle again with Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson. Three characters far more interesting than your usual romcom shtick. Then, of course, there is the friendship between Rudd and his assistant, played by the great Kathryn Hahn which is a focal point of the show and while there are caveats to distance them from being romantically linked, it is another genuine, sweet relationship that the show is always on the lookout for.

Peter Dinklage just brought new life to the tale of Cyrano de Bergerac, so Erik Childress and Morgan Gire went back and looked at the more comedic take on Edmond Rostand’s play that Steve Martin wrote in 1987. Fred Schepisi’s Roxanne put the big nose on Martin and cast Daryl Hannah as the titular character of his affection. His feelings are secret, but a friendship still develops that Erik & Morgan examine along with C.D.’s relationship with local business owner, Dixie, played by Shelley Duvall who may be a little closer to him than you might remember. As for C.D. and Roxanne, is it a friendship that could have survived unrequited emotions? Is Martin’s modern version of the legendary window scene creepy or romantic for the ages? Is the film itself one of the great romantic comedies of its era (or any) or is it just a lot of fluff with character motivations that do not ring true? Drink it all in and words do not fail either of your hosts on the 35th Anniversary of this film.

James Cameron’s legendary sequel holds special places in the hearts of Morgan Gire and Erik Childress who look deeper within its mastery at one of the friendships within. Even deeper than Erik anticipated. Is Corporal Dwayne Hicks indeed a feminist or is he merely a piece of a greater tapestry around the film’s timeless heroine? Does an agreed-upon backstory by the actors provide insight into two of the films baddest asses? And is Bill Paxton’s Pvt. Hudson in fact the greatest character that has ever graced the silver screen. Don’t be fooled that two admitted nerds who will not stop quoting his lines can’t look beyond the action, the terror and its endlessly watchable characters to answer these questions.

Remake is often a dirty word among cinema purists, but not only are Erik Childress and Morgan Gire discussing one of the best they have found a genuine friendship at the center. Donald Sutherland’s Matthew and Brooke Adams’ Elizabeth are work colleagues but clearly have become great friends. She tells him about her distant boyfriend and he takes shots at him in kind. Naturally anyone who knows this story is aware their bond is about to be put the stress test that may bring them closer together. Does Matthew harbor some secret feelings for her that she is not aware of? How does Leonard Nimoy’s Dr. Kibner stand up to psychiatric scrutiny? And are the pod people capable of learning genuine human emotion or are their feelings naturally suppressed? It’s all part of the discussion of the kind of unique love story that films rarely do anymore.

Penny Marshall was at the peak of her directorial career with her 1992 film about the first professional female baseball league. When she pushed back against the powers that be to take Dottie Hinson and Jimmy Dugan past a platonic level, she may have preserved just the kind of friendship that Morgan Gire and Erik Childress are searching for on this podcast. The center of this episode explores what makes the professional comradeship between a broken-down major leaguer and a star athlete whose heart may be elsewhere such a positive one. But there is also room for controversy involving Madonna and whether her casting distracts from the very thing her character is supposed to represent. Does its comedy or drama rise to the forefront? And is the film actually about baseball history at all? These questions and more surround maybe the best friendship they have found to date on the show.