Talk Movies To Me

For a podcast that loved the last film written and directed by Alex Garland, Men was one of our most highly anticipated releases of the year. Unlike Annihilation, though, trying to make sense of Men feels like a losing battle. Still, that doesn't stop Luke and Rachel from devoting the majority of this episode to an analysis of that doozy of an ending (and why it felt so unsatisfying). We love horror movies that leave us thinking, but we can't help but feel like Men would have worked better if it didn't neglect its own story when transitioning to an art piece in the final 20 minutes.

Never has the act of watching two people eat a well-prepared meatball been so uncomfortable as it is in Hulu's Fresh. A solid horror-thriller that is best enjoyed without knowing the full premise beforehand, Fresh admittedly left Luke and Rachel wanting a little something extra by the time the credits rolled. That said, great lead performances, smart cultural commentary, and an intriguing spin on the genre make this movie well worth streaming (for those who can stomach it).

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent & Everything Everywhere All At Once have more in common than their equally wordy titles, although Luke and Rachel don't actually realize the similarities until midway through this episode. Regardless, it's another Talk Movies To Me double feature with two movies that include unhappy families, shifting genres, and ridiculous scenarios. You can probably guess which one does it better, but both films are more than fun enough to earn our recommendation.

Pixar's latest may have inspired a bizarre online controversy by telling a story that is specific and true to a certain upbringing, but Rachel and Luke believe that specificity is exactly what makes it so special. Yes, the film will be more relatable to those who were teenagers in the early 2000s, yet the universal themes of struggling with your own identity in the awkward transition between childhood and adulthood can be appreciated by anyone. By weaving authentic storytelling with common experiences, Turning Red stands out among its Disney/Pixar peers from recent years and is already one of our favorites.

The Lost City is a familiar story carried by fun performances and excellent chemistry between its leads (and also serves as a refreshingly light palate cleanser after The Batman's dark-as-can-be tone). It is not a challenging film nor an evolution of the action-romance genre, but entertaining characters and a regular supply of laughs create an undeniable good time nonetheless.