Pulp Fantasy

Studio comedies (Dinner for Schmucks, The Ex, Year One, Fun Mom Dinner)

We are SO back! After months in the wilderness, Rochel (she/her) and Ruth (he/him) have returned to redeem some of Rudd’s foremost duds. This month, it’s all about studio comedies, long thought to be Rudd’s bread and butter. This slate of late-’00s/early-’10s Ruddies find him developing his persona as the ultimate yuppie. On the agenda: THE EX (2006) YEAR ONE (2009) DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS (2010) FUN MOM DINNER (2017) At the end of each episode, we make our draft picks from the slate of movies, predicting which films, performances, and behind-the-scenes work we think will win big during the Pulpy Awards season finale. Leave a comment down below, share the pod with your friends if you like it, and follow @pulpfantasypod on Instagram for the latest updates. Pulp Friction is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pulpfriction.substack.com/subscribe [https://pulpfriction.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The 5th Annual Pulpy Movie Awards

It’s the middle of March, and that means it’s time for the grand finale to a grueling awards season. That’s right, it’s the Pulpies! 2025 was an auspicious year for film, from beloved crowd-pleasers like Sinners and The Long Walk to underseen gems like Lurker and BLKNWS. Rochel and Ruth come together with one mission: to record a podcast episode longer and more discourse-rife than the actual Oscars. At a blistering 4 hours and 38 minutes, this one isn’t for the faint of heart. Are you ready to take the Pulpy Challenge? Leave a comment down below, share the pod with your friends if you like it, and follow @pulpfantasypod on Instagram for the latest updates. Pulp Friction is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pulpfriction.substack.com/subscribe [https://pulpfriction.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

The Early Days (200 Cigarettes, The Size of Watermelons, Two Days, The Locusts, The Baxter)

Who was Paul Rudd before he was Paul Rudd? This episode, Rochel and Ruth look at some forgotten gems from the pre-stardom days of Rudd’s career, when he was just “the guy from Clueless” or “the guy from Friends”, before he was “the guy from The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” This month’s films: THE SIZE OF WATERMELONS (1996) THE LOCUSTS (1997) 200 CIGARETTES (1999) TWO DAYS (2003) THE BAXTER (2005) At the end of each episode, we make our draft picks from the slate of movies, predicting which films, performances, and behind-the-scenes work we think will win big during the Pulpy Awards season finale. Leave a comment down below, share the pod with your friends if you like it, and follow @pulpfantasypod on Instagram for the latest updates. Pulp Friction is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pulpfriction.substack.com/subscribe [https://pulpfriction.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Rom-coms (I Could Never Be Your Woman, How Do You Know, The Oh in Ohio, Overnight Delivery, Over Her Dead Body)

If you asked someone, “What kind of movie star is Paul Rudd?”, rom-coms are likely to come up quickly. But as this episode explores, Rudd’s time in the land of meet-cutes and love triangles was surprisingly fraught. From release struggles to bizarre sexual politics, these five films have it all. This episode, we’re looking at: OVERNIGHT DELIVERY (1998) THE OH IN OHIO (2006) OVER HER DEAD BODY (2008) I COULD NEVER BE YOUR WOMAN (2008) HOW DO YOU KNOW (2010) At the end of each episode, we make our draft picks from the slate of movies, predicting which films, performances, and behind-the-scenes work we think will win big during the Pulpy Awards season finale. Leave a comment down below, share the pod with your friends if you like it, and follow @pulpfantasypod on Instagram for the latest updates. Pulp Friction is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pulpfriction.substack.com/subscribe [https://pulpfriction.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Based on a book (The Fundamentals of Caring, The Catcher Was a Spy, Admission, p.s., The Great Gatsby)

Picture Paul Rudd, reading a book. Pretty sensible, yeah? Now imagine if he was IN the book. That’s what this episode’s films explore, from WWII espionage thrillers to modern-day romantic fantasies. Is the kid applying to our college our son, our boyfriend, or both? Only one way to find out! This episode, we look at: THE GREAT GATSBY (2000) P.S. (2004) ADMISSION (2013) THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CARING (2016) THE CATCHER WAS A SPY (2018) At the end of each episode, we make our draft picks from the slate of movies, predicting which films, performances, and behind-the-scenes work we think will win big during the Pulpy Awards season finale. Leave a comment down below, share the pod with your friends if you like it, and follow @pulpfantasypod on Instagram for the latest updates. Pulp Friction is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pulpfriction.substack.com/subscribe [https://pulpfriction.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]