The Cannon Cruisers

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)

WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY (2022) – SATIRE PARODY MUSICAL COMEDY Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week, JD and Randy check out Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022), the satire parody musical comedy directed by Eric Appel and starring Daniel Radcliffe, Evan Rachel Wood, Rainn Wilson, Julian Nicholson, and Toby Huss. The film presents a heavily fictionalized, over-the-top biography of the legendary parody artist Al Yankovic, tracking his life from an accordion-playing kid to a chart-topping superstar dealing with drug cartels and a wild relationship with Madonna. Join JD and Randy as they break down Daniel Radcliffe’s intensely serious performance and how the movie plays as a perfect takedown of the typical Hollywood biopic genre. The guys chat about the absurdity of the action-packed third act, the massive cameo-filled pool party scene featuring characters like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, and the few actual truths hidden inside the script. They also talk about the credit song, Weird Al’s real-life career trajectory, and why this film works as an excellent double feature with UHF.

UHF (1989)

UHF (1989) – COMEDY SATIRE PARODY Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week, JD and Randy check out UHF (1989), the cult classic comedy satire directed by Jay Levy and starring Weird Al Yankovic, Michael Richards, Kevin McCarthy, David Bowe, Fran Drescher, and Victoria Jackson. The movie follows George Newman, a guy who cannot seem to keep a job until he gets the chance to manage a low-rated UHF station. He takes over the studio and turns it into a local powerhouse packed with bizarre public access programming and eccentric characters. Join JD and Randy as they break down the movie's zany humour, memorable bits like Spatula City, and how the writing stays tight without punching down. The guys chat about the film getting crushed at the box office in July 1989 by massive summer blockbusters, the stacked cast of weirdos, and behind-the-scenes trivia like Mark Knopfler playing guitar on the soundtrack. They also look at how Weird Al's long career kept this movie in the pop culture consciousness for nearly 40 years, making it a favourite example of the "save the TV station" plot.

Masterminds (1997)

MASTERMINDS (1997) – DIE HARD IN A SCHOOL Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! JD and Randy take a look at Masterminds (1997), a PG‑13 action film directed by Roger Christian and starring Patrick Stewart, Vincent Kartheiser and Bradley Whitford. The movie follows a rebellious teen who brings his stepsister to an elite prep school on the same day the campus is taken over by a security contractor demanding millions in ransom. They talk about how the film blends its “Die Hard in a school” premise with 1990s family‑friendly action, and look at the mix of traps, hacking moments and set‑pieces that shape the story. They also get into the tone, the PG‑13 limitations, and how the movie compares to other school‑siege films of the era. The conversation touches on the villains, the polished studio feel and the odd place the film occupies in the 1990s action landscape. Content Warning: This episode contains explicit content.

Spookies (1985)

SPOOKIES (1986) – HORROR CREATURE FEATURE Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! JD and Randy take a look at Spookies (1986), a horror creature feature directed by Brendan Faulkner, Thomas Doran and Jeanie Joseph, and starring Felix Ward, Alec Nemser and Maria Pechukas. The film follows a group of travellers who take shelter in an abandoned mansion, unaware that a sorcerer is using the house to trap souls while a series of monsters close in on them. They talk about how the film’s unusual production history shapes the final cut, and look at the mix of creatures, set‑pieces and ideas that appear throughout the story. They also get into the way the added footage changes the tone, the choices behind the effects work, and how the movie fits into the tradition of stitched‑together genre films like Ninja Terminator. They also bump into a few surprise zombies, something that never fails to keep Randy on his toes. Content Warning: This episode contains explicit content.

Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010)

TUCKER AND DALE VS. EVIL (2010) – HORROR COMEDY CULT CLASSIC Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we are checking out Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010), the beloved horror comedy directed by Eli Craig and starring Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, and Katrina Bowden. The film follows two well-meaning hillbillies who head to their fixer-upper vacation cabin in the woods, only to be mistaken for chainsaw-wielding killers by a group of preppy college students. Join JD and Randy as they break down this clever subversion of slasher tropes and the "comedy of errors" that drives the plot. The duo discusses the fantastic chemistry between Labine and Tudyk, the film’s brutal yet accidental gore, and how the story completely shifts depending on which character’s perspective you follow. They also touch on the film's desaturated 2010s color grading and why it remains a definitive cult favorite for fans who want to laugh at their horror. Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.