Hoppers (2026): "Cute Beavers, Confused Messages, and Pixar's Most Frustrating Near-Miss"

Hoppers (2026): "Cute Beavers, Confused Messages, and Pixar's Most Frustrating Near-Miss"

Matt and Sophie dive into Pixar's latest original film, Hoppers, a movie that left them surprisingly cold despite its glowing reviews and stunning animation. While the beavers are undeniably adorable, the visuals are beautiful, and supporting characters like Titus and George provide some genuinely funny moments, neither host can shake the feeling that something important is missing. The discussion explores Pixar's increasingly difficult challenge of creating new stories in a world where every theme feels familiar, from grief and environmentalism to family relationships and finding your place. They compare Hoppers to films such as Turning Red, Encanto and The Sheep Detectives, questioning why those stories connected emotionally while this one never quite lands. Along the way, they discuss anime influences in Pixar's animation style, the film's unusual "animal avatar" concept, whether George the beaver is actually the real protagonist, and why a movie can be visually spectacular yet still struggle to make you feel anything at all.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Fool's Gold (2008): "Shirtless Treasure Hunts, Questionable Logic, and Peak McConaughey"

Matt and Sophie revisit Fool's Gold, the 2008 treasure-hunting adventure that reunited Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson after How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. What follows is less a discussion about buried treasure and more an exploration of why McConaughey remains such a magnetic screen presence, even when the material around him is decidedly average. The pair discuss the film's sun-soaked escapism, questionable logic, paper-thin villains and endless shirtless scenes, before diving into the actor's transformation from rom-com king to Oscar winner. Along the way, they explore the origins of the "McConnaissance", the strange appeal of adventure movies, why some stars can carry almost any film, and how Fool's Gold fits into McConaughey's career. There's also time for a detour into Jurassic Park, Toy Story 5, and the unique talent Matthew McConaughey seems to possess for making people simultaneously want to hug him and punch him. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Sheep Detectives (2026): "Counting Sheep, Chasing Clues, and Crying in the Cinema"

In this episode of Can I Change My Score?, Sophie and Matt investigate The Sheep Detectives, the unlikely murder mystery that somehow became Hugh Jackman’s highest-rated film. What starts as a quirky tale of talking sheep solving their shepherd’s murder turns into something far deeper, tackling grief, memory, loss and the question of what makes a life meaningful. Along the way, they discuss why the film is much more adult than the trailer suggests, the surprisingly clever whodunnit at its heart, standout performances from a stacked cast, and how a movie about animated sheep managed to pull at their heartstrings. Sophie wonders if it’s really a family film, Matt dives into its unusual production history, and both try to decide if the emotional journey outweighs a slightly too-neat ending. Plus: British villages designed by Americans, police stations with neon signs, Amazon Studios’ unexpected hot streak, and why sheep suddenly look a little different after leaving the cinema. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Barbie (2023): “Pink Shoes, Beach Jobs, and the Ghost in the Mattel Machine”

In this episode of Can I Change My Score?, Sophie and Matt return to Barbie to see if the pink-powered phenomenon still works without the full Barbenheimer buzz. Sophie revisits the joy of Barbie Land, Margot Robbie’s perfect casting, Ryan Gosling’s full Ken-ergy, and that America Ferrera monologue, while Matt questions Ken’s “beach” credentials and whether the film is secretly more about Ken than Barbie (he's obsessed with Ryan Gosling, evidently). There’s praise for the sets, the soundtrack, the 2001: A Space Odyssey opening, Dua Lipa hiding in plain sight, and a surprising amount of confusion around ghost logistics. Barbie still has plenty of sparkle, but outside the 2023 hype machine, the plastic starts to bend a little. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Project Hail Mary (2026): “Space Panic, Science Jokes, and Peak Ryan Gosling”

In this episode of Can I Change My Score?, Sophie and Matt head straight home from the cinema to talk about Project Hail Mary, a big, funny, surprisingly heartfelt sci-fi adventure powered almost entirely by Ryan Gosling doing what Ryan Gosling does best. There’s a dying sun, a panicked scientist, a spaceship full of problems, and an alien friendship that somehow manages to be both ridiculous and adorable. Sophie weighs up the film’s length against its charm and and Gosling’s ability to make swallowing a tablet feel relatable, while Matt marvels at the comedy and the practical effects, and both agree that this is far more than just “a space film”. It’s funny, warm, weirdly moving, and one of the most entertaining cinema trips they’ve had in a while, even if a few repeated beats stop it from reaching full masterpiece status. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.