Newcomers: Scorsese, with Nicole Byer and Lauren Lapkus - Miracle (w/ Gareth Reynolds)

Episode Date: August 6, 2024

This week, Lauren and Nicole are joined by very special guest Gareth Reynolds (The Dollop, We’re Here to Help) to debrief the Kurt Russell-led hockey film, Miracle, just in time for the (summer) Olympics. The stakes are high, the character introductions are long, and the hockey stops are as satisfyingly crisp as ever. Also discussed: the icon Celine Dion, dating whilst skating, and star Eddie Cahill’s career spanning from Friends to Sex and the City. Follow Gareth: Instagram, TwitterJoin us next week for our episode covering The Karate Kid! Like the show? Rate Newcomers 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and leave a review for Nicole and Lauren to read on the pod!Follow the podcast on Letterboxd.Advertise on Newcomers via Gumball.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is a HeadGum Original. Want to hear an amazing story? Back in 1960, Coach Brooks was on the Olympic hockey team. But a week before the games, his coach cuts him and sends him home. And that team went on to win the gold medal. Without him. Herb Brooks had given up his dream of Olympic glory until 20 ordinary kids

Why'd you want to play hockey? This isn't obvious for the girls. gave him a second chance. The Soviets win. My goal is to beat them at their own game. Beat the best team in the world. Gold medalist in 64, 68, 72, 76. Aim. Mark Johnson.

Buzzard Schneider. Michael Rizzioni. You're missing some of the best players. I'm not looking for the best players, Craig. I'm looking for the right ones. They were bitter rivals. A lot of guys from Minnesota and Boston. Yeah, that's gonna work. But one coach had a plan to turn them into a team.

I got no time for quitters. You want me to play, huh? I want you to be a hockey player. I am a hockey player! Think that'll get them going? Oh, yeah. When you face the impossible, Russian's main weapon is intimidation.

These guys ever swell? They're Russians. They get shot if they smile. and you refuse to give up. I didn't think it was gonna be this hard. Yeah, you did. We start becoming a team right now! Miracles can happen. When you pull on that jersey, the name on the front is more important than the one on the back.

Michael Ruggione! Who do you play for? I play for the United States of America! Welcome to the Olympics, gentlemen. Walt Disney Pictures presents... This is something that this country is ready for. Great moments are born from great opportunity. If we play them ten times, they might win nine.

But not this game. This is it. We can beat these guys. Discover the story This is your time. behind the greatest moment in sports history. Wow, welcome to Newcomers playing for the home team. It's me, Nicole Byer and me, Lauren Lapkus. And of course we have coach Anya back with us finally to watch along from the sidelines. And this season, wow, we're covering 10 of the sports movies that people have said you

got to see them. They're the league MVPs that light the lamp on every rewatch. Today we'll be talking about the, I don't know, we just say things and keep going. Today we'll be talking about the legendary winter Olympics hockey film, 2004 is a miracle, which tells the story of what is often called the greatest sports moment of the 20th century. Now I don't know anything about sports, but I feel like I can name like four things that happen that are more exciting than this, but okay.

Yeah. And well, okay, Miracles streaming on Disney Plus, or if you are out of your mind, you can pay for it on any of the other major streamers. And we're gonna spoil it. We're obviously gonna spoil this film. We're gonna spoil it from tip to taint. And playing for the visiting team today, please welcome Gareth Reynolds.

Gareth is a comedian, writer, and podcaster who played hockey for 12 years in Wisconsin, but told our producer Anya that he had to give it up because he was just a C talent. Now he co-hosts the podcast, The Dollop with Dave Anthony, as well as his new show, We're Here to Help with Jake Johnson, which is also on Headgum. Gareth, we're so excited to talk about this movie with you, especially because you know about hockey. Yeah. So that's really amazing.

You understand this. Yeah, no, I'm definitely the expert of the show. That's for sure. Yeah. I also chose Disney Plus because I wanted all those Johnsonville-br brought commercials blasting. I didn't get commercials on my. I didn't get commercials. I guess I pay more than you.

You shamed me. I'm sorry. I mean, I have to pay for that. My child watches Disney Plus. And if I was hearing Johnsonville brought commercials every five seconds, I think I would lose your mind. Yeah, they're not good. I'll say that.

OK, did you this movie for you, was it good? We're getting right into it. Well have you seen it, have you seen it before? I've seen it before, it's been a long time. First of all, I forgot how long it was. I thought for sure going into this, I was like, this is gonna be a 90-minute-er. No, we're clocking in at two hours and 17 minutes

Many breaks I This movie okay, this is what I'll say about this movie Kurt Russell to me is really good in this movie And I like that I like the story, but I also it definitely feels like an away game because I feel like YouTube don't like this movie. But I agree that it is, I don't think it's the biggest sports moment of the 20th. I mean, basketball has to beat that in some moment. I mean, that's ridiculous. Or gymnastics, Carrie shrug landing on one foot. How about Kristy Yamaguchi on the ice? What about the hammer to the leg on that poor lady?

Do you guys, the ice skating? That was a great moment. USA. Those were the best sports moments. So wait, Gareth, tell me about you playing hockey and what that is and what that world is. Because I feel like I need some hockey kids. Yeah, but I'm from I'm from I'm from Evanston, Illinois. We had some hockey kids for sure. But Wisconsin is much more hockey, wouldn't you say?

Yeah, we were pretty hockey. And yeah, I mean, you know, hockey is basically Yamaguchi with a stick and a puck. And you know, it's just like it's I will say the hardest sport to play I found it is exhausting I played in like a rec league when I first moved to LA and I was like oh I forgot I played for 12 years I had a mullet I they thought I was a really talented female hockey player and then I would be like I'm just a guy and then I would never get put on any of the main teams so you had that thing where like you took off your helmet

and shook out your mullet and they're like, oh, I thought it was a woman. They still thought it, to be honest, they still thought it was a woman until I was like, I'm not a woman. And then they were like, oh, oh, this is, and I was like, thanks for doing that in front of everyone. But no, I mean, I really loved hockey.

And I mean, I remember when I was growing up, hearing about this story all the time, you know, through hockey is an amazing moment. So yeah, I mean, I, you know, I was not good though. How did you keep your equipment from stanking? I don't think I did. I don't think there was anything. Hockey equipment stinks so bad. It really is bad.

It's so funny you say that because when the movie started, I was like, I can smell this movie. Yeah. I could feel the ice smell and the sweat, all the combination, everything coming together. I was like, I can feel this. I think you would wash the shirts and shit, but I definitely don't think I did anything.

I mean, every time you'd open your hockey bag, it was like exhuming a body. It was like a waft. Yeah, I feel like everyone felt that. It was just, there was a waft. And were these guys your best friends ever? Yeah. No, I don't think,

I don't think, no, I don't think so. Although there's a lot of pressure to say, yeah. No, I don't think they were. I mean, we were friends, but I never took it that seriously. I mean, like you were sort of saying, Lauren, like the Wisconsin people took it very, I never cared that much.

You know, it was just kind of what everyone did. I was just kind of born into it a little bit. Yeah. So, okay, with hockey, did you learn how to ice skate first? And then they were like, here's a stick and shit? Or did you say, I want to do hockey and then learn how to skate? I think I learned skating first.

I think you really did in like Wisconsin and probably in the Midwest. I mean, you just, skating was just one of those things you just started doing. So I think I started doing that and I didn't want figure skates. Like all the boys were like, we were anti-figure skate until of course, you know, Toepick came around

from The Cutting Edge, that movie. I just watched 15 minutes of The Cutting Edge on a plane and fell right asleep. Sounds like you liked it. It was really good. Well, I want to finish it because I like that scene where she's like, toe pick. Toe pick was great. Yep. But it's just pretty toe pick. Is toe pick someone's name?

No, it's the thing on the front of the skates that is like, it looks like little teeth. And I guess you trip on it if you don't know it's there because he kept falling down. Oh, so they're saying toe pick, like don't fall on your toe pick. Yeah. He was a hockey player converted to figure skating for the Olympic. It's a rom-com, it's great.

It's an ice and rom-com. Nicole will tell you when she finishes it. Well, I've like seen it before, but I vaguely remember it. So he like gets injured playing hockey, goes to work in a factory, and then they recruit him for the Olympic figure skating. And I was like, if you're injured, I think you're injured across the board.

I don't think figure skating is easier than hockey. No, that's, no, you can do the Olympics if you're hurt for hockey. If you're hockey hurt, you can still figure skate. You still figure skate healthy. That's how it works. And did you ever get a really crazy injury? Yeah.

Like a broken elbow or something? You know, I wouldn't wear elbow pads just because I didn't like how constrictive they were. So I would fall and hurt my elbows all the time. And I wouldn't tell anyone. Yeah, I'm quiet. So it was like a secret. Yeah.

And I would just hear like bone on ice all the time when I was like 12 years old. Yeah, and I would just be like, eh, people would be like, it's okay. And I'd be like like bone on ice all the time when I was like 12 years old Yeah, and I would just be like People be like it's okay. I'd be like it is okay But I did see a guy one time get like his neck Like he didn't have his neck your neck guard was not You didn't have to wear the neck guard and he didn't wear a neck guard. There is a crazy one I say crazy one that I think is the greatest sports moment

of the 20th century. That's what I'm talking about. When was that? Wait, what happened? This guy died from- Playing hockey? The, whatchamacallit? The ice skate? Like hit his head.

It was last year. It was last year? I saw a video of that. In 2023? We haven't figured out how to not have that happen? It's a crazy thing to see. It was last year in 2023. We haven't figured out how to not have that happen. It's a crazy thing to see. It was horrible. I couldn't believe that was possible in this game.

Yikes. Your feet usually being down. Yeah, not up. No, it got tragic. Yeah. They canceled the rest of the game. It was bad. Well, I would hope so.

They should. If I get decapitated, you rest of the game. It was bad. Well, I would hope so. Yeah, they should. If I get decapitated, you gotta shut the game down. The Zamboni does a lot of work. They didn't finish. Okay, well we're gonna do our segment called the Shot Clock. Wait, real quick.

Wait, what? Do you ice skate? Oh, okay, well so I tried ice skating lessons when I was in like second grade and I remember this so distinctly. I fell, of course. And then my mom was like in the stands and I was like, I'm done. And she was like, okay.

And then I never went back. And that is so lame. And then I could, I could skate a little bit right now. Like if I had to, I'm better at roller skating. But I always liked field hockey in school when we had to play in the gym, like floor hockey, not field hockey, floor hockey, where you're just hitting the puck on the gym floor. That's so fun. And then the battling people by the goals. I always liked that. But that's about it. How about you? Can you

skate? No. It's terrifying to me. I can barely roller skate. I can go a little bit. And then rollerblading is very hard because I'm knock kneed. But skating just seems so slippery, too slippery. I know. I don't really have an interest in falling down these days. So it's like, I'm not putting myself in a lot of situations

where I'm about to fall down. I love running down the stairs real fast with my eyes closed. No, I'm kidding. I also don't want to fall down. my eyes closed. No, I'm kidding. I also don't want to fall down. Seems bad. No, I don't want to fall. Gareth, when was the last time you skated? Oh God, probably 10 years ago.

Wow. And I was still like, okay. I was like, I remember how to do it, but it definitely, same thing where I was like, I just don't wanna fall. Yeah. That was the main goal was to survive. You do have to kind of learn when you're small and closer to the ground and it's not that big of a deal. Yeah, like I could still do the stop, you know,

where you do like, shh, I could still do that. That's cool. Oh, that's very cool. Well, I mean, look, it's why I got booked. Things are good over here. Wait, are you single or dating? Oh, wait, I wanna hear, we both have important questions. Wait, it feels like those two maybe coincide a little bit.

Are you single? I wanna know who the cat is in this frame behind you. The cat is my cat, Jose. And people just give me things of him. And so I've just kinda leaned in and I hang this stuff up. So it's like a museum for my cat. That's cute. And then Nicole's question was, are you single or dating?

I am a dating. I'm dating someone. Someone took advantage of all my cat. Awesome. Here's the thing, you gotta take this person ice skating and show them that move where you stop. That's a good call. Yes.

That's a good idea. And I actually, I don't even think she knows how well I can skate, so I'll kind of keep, yeah. Yes, don't tell. Yeah, yeah, that's good. That's good. Just a cute little date idea. Well then, but then I'll turn it keep. Yeah. Yeah. That's what I'll do. Yeah. That's good. That's a cute little date idea. Well, then, but I'll then I'll turn it into an all about me thing and my stop. You want to see me stop again? Yeah. I'll do that. I'm trying to talk to you. Hold on. Let me go run and stop. No, I want to ask if you want to be official. Do you need anything over there?

I can get it and stop and come back so quickly. I can get it and stop and come back so quickly. I want to act to be official. My favorite in this scenario is she goes ahead and says it. I'm trying to ask you to be official. I got it, dude. I'm gone. Stop, stop, stop. All right, fuck it.

I don't want to be with you anymore. Okay, let's do the shot clock. Now, we each are going to have 10 seconds on the clock to summarize this film. Anya's going to count us down and start the clock and she will tell us when we're out of time, right? Yeah. Ready? Uh-huh.

And go. A bunch of boys wanna play hockey and they do play hockey and then a man like screams at them or whatever and they're like, we gotta beat the Soviets. And then they do. Wow. With some change. Oh my God, okay.

Is it you or me? Who's going? Oh, whatever, whatever you want. All right, you go for it. Okay, okay. Okay, when America was really paranoid about the Soviets, we needed a win, and so the American hockey team in the Olympics was trying to beat the Soviets

who were unbeatable, but the Americans beat them and they won the Olympics and it was an amazing time. Wow. See, we need someone who really grasped the history. Now, here's my version. I really searched over that. Yeah, mine's not gonna include it. Shit, start over, hold on, it wasn't right.

Okay, it's a husband and wife who are very calm together all the time and they both have wigs on and then the husband is a hockey coach. Lauren, you were really lala gagging. Really strolling about. I have a bit of a cold. It was just stopping my brain a little bit, but I really was focused on those wigs. The wigs were intense.

Bad. They were intense. Bad, they were bad. It really affected what I was thinking about. The relationship of those two in general was hard to, it was a very, it was very much like you were like, she should leave him. She was always like, oh, whatever your name is, like, oh Herb, but like very like, she doesn't really seem invested.

No, they were both on Kalanapin. They were both like on a mix of like Kalanapin, Xanax. Like they were just sedated. They really were, it was really slow. Yeah. Well, Miracles about how they stayed together. That's what the movie's actually named after. The truest miracle of all.

Yeah, the amount of times where he's like, shut up, I'm watching film. And you're like, all right, cool. Did you married her? Remember that part of this. Do we ever see the kids? Cause she talks about them. I was like, do we ever see them?

He never picked them up. And then that was it. We cheat out on the kids. Okay. We got to take a timeout. We'll be back with another round of miracle after a word from our sponsor. Now everybody say ready break, okay?

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40% off your first delivery and free veggies for life. Just go to hungryroot.com slash newcomers and get 40% off your first delivery and your free veggies. That's hungryroot.com slash newcomers. Don't forget to use our link so they know we sent you! And we're back. Time in. So Miracle was released on February 6, 2004. It was written by Eric Guggenheim and Mike Rich and was directed by Gavin O'Connor.

A lot of boys. Boys Club. It's got to be right. It's six months before the start of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, the head hockey coach at the University of Minnesota, Herb Brooks, Kurt Russell, also known as Santa, right? Is he in the Santa Chronicles? Yeah, I think so. Yeah.

Yeah. And many other things, obviously. Also known as Santa. Top of mind Santa. Interviews with the United States Olympic Committee to coach the national hockey team. And he talks about his philosophy on how to beat the dominant Soviet team

whose players were seasoned professionals while the American teams were made up of amateurs. The Soviets had won the gold medal in the previous four Olympics and had only lost a single Olympic game since 1964. Against the backdrop of the ongoing Cold War, the Winter Games takes on another level of meaning for the nation of the ongoing Cold War, the Winter Games takes on another level of meaning for the nation. Brooks calls for changes to the practice

schedule and strategy and through the USO, and though the USOC is skeptical to give Brooks the job. Now. Okay. Is it called the Cold War because of the location? I don't know. No. Anya, please help us. I think it's because it like went on for so long and it wasn't like constant fighting. It was like this thing that was happening in the background.

A background war. Yeah. It was just chill. It was chill. Low key. Putting the pin in and all that sort of stuff. I felt like when this movie started, like the energy was so weird and so not what I thought it was going to be.

It was so quiet and so not what I thought it was going to be. It was so quiet and slow. And like I picture with a sports movie, there's going to be a point where people are like screaming like, let's go, let's go, let's go. He sort of didn't get that at all. And like when he, it's basically him and his wife and I almost felt like a lifetime movie, even though everyone in it is like a really good actor. So it didn't make sense to me. I was like, this is like an amazing cast, but like the way they were in their home and like the dialogue, I was like, what am what's going on? And then I, and then didn't know that like people like love this movie, but I

was like, this it's clearly for kids, right? But it's not, it was like in theaters and stuff. And like, it was a big deal. Kids movies are in theaters, meaning like mean kids movies are in theaters, but like meaning like adults were like, let's go see Miracle this weekend. Like, I don't know, something about this is. I agree, it did feel, sorry Gareth, what? No, it kind of does have like Mighty Ducks energy

in a way, but like an adult version. But we were missing, like the Quack Attack is back, Jack. Like we didn't get like, full on. Exactly what I was gonna say. Yes! Never seen The Mighty Ducks. Now that, I should have said I'd never seen it so we could do that together, but.

I wouldn't be able to hold it in. So good. That's a great movie. I'm obviously stupid. I'll watch it. I'm obviously stupid. No, you're not, don't do that. I'm just kidding. I'm great. So Brooks meets assistant coach Craig Patrick, Noah Emmerich, and he's from,

uh, he's from the show Truman show. Yes. I just watched that. That's a great movie. Now, all I kept thinking the whole time, this helped me watch this movie so much because I was like, he's, he, he, Brooks doesn't know that he's in the Truman show of his own life and his friend, Craig Patrick, is the one who knows. So the whole time he's like, he thinks there's a big hockey thing happening

and it's not really happening. Like I was like, this is making this so interesting. If you think of it that way. Now have them beat the Soviets. Yeah. Yeah. He's gonna about it. Now have them beat the Soviets. Yeah. Yeah. He's gonna do it. Make the team win.

Trick yourself into staying into this movie. I had a tough time with it. Okay, so the tryouts are in Colorado Springs where he selects his preliminary roster of 26 players, ignoring the preferences of the senior USOC hockey officials. USOC executive director, Walter Bush, Sean McCann, believes Brooks has the best team's interests at heart and reluctantly agrees to take the heat from the committee.

This was boring! Pfft. Pfft. Pfft. It was, I was like, oh my God, they're really just talking about this. It was boring. Lauren texted me and was like, this is like a they're really just talking about this. It was boring. Lauren texted me and was like, this is like a in real time

documentary. And I was like, yeah, it is. It also, they really do make it slow. And I think they think we are familiar with these players' names. They kept saying, I can't remember the one guy, but they're like, Rizanewski, Rizanewski gets like, nobody fucking gives a shit about Rizanewski.

They didn't even give me like backstory on these people to like start caring, like I didn't really get to know the guys to be like, oh, that guy really should get this or something, like I just didn't really care. There was the guy from Friends who also was the bisexual on Sex and the City. Eddie Cahill. Yes, so I was excited to see him,

and I was excited to think, so wait, was this post-Friends or pre-Friends? Post-Friends? Post-Friends. I thought for sure this had to be before he was on Friends, but this would have been a big get for him after. When did Friends end? Must have ended in like 2000 or something, right?

I'm not a friend's friend. I've only seen one episode. Yeah, I haven't seen one. Goo goo goo goo goo. So I think the last episode was in May of 2004 and this movie came out in 2004. But Tag was like season. He was already done with it.

He was done, yeah. Yeah. And then he was the bisexual in Sex and the City. Yes. Carrie Day and she's like so like, he's bi. And she's like, like, he's bi. I know. Yeah.

Exactly. I love rewatching Sex and the City because you're like, boy oh boy, this did not age well. I know, it's so good. I love it. It's so great. I just rewatched it actually backwards because I was sort of like,

I was like, let me just put on some season six episodes and just see some moments that I like. And I was like, well, let me get into season five. And I was like, okay, I was like, let me just put on some season six episodes and just see some moments that I like. And I was like, well, let me get into season five. And then I was like, okay, I'll watch season four. And I just went all the way back. And it was great because it's like- And it gets better because it's better in the beginning. And you know what's gonna happen, like really,

you know, it's fresh in your mind. And so it's like, oh my God, Aiden, no, you know, it's really good stuff. Bill Heiser and I watched it in the most insane way during the pandemic. We watched the first episode, last episode, second, second to last, third, third to last, and then in the middle.

And we discovered that Aiden is not in the show as much as you think he is. I know, but I love him so much. Oh, he's great. He's great on just like that. Hey, Skittle Cat, let's get some mixing bowls. I love the way he talks. I know, and I can't wait to see what happens

when they come back. Oh, me too. Gareth, are you up to date on In Just Like That? The way that you put it, great, the aid and stuff with the bowl, I was like, come on, that's crazy how he's with the bowl. Yes. And I think when he comes back,

we'll get another sense of that stuff. Pretty sure that'll be. So you're a big fan, obviously. I love it all. I actually watched, what I did was, I watched every episode 10 times and then I'd move on. That was how I did it. And it's really interesting.

That's not bad. It's not a bad way to do it. It seems like you notice different things every time. You do. Like this round, I'm just watching Miranda. Like you just like. I've done the Miranda pass.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've done the Miranda pass. So you're just watching her eat. She eats in every scene and I love it. Kind of like Brad Pitt. I think he allegedly eats in like every scene. He does because it really, it makes him seem so natural. He's just chomping an apple and he's like, whoa.

Because he never eats nachos outside of those moments. Yeah, so he's just excited to eat. It makes us all feel like we could have abs like that. But then you're like, he's not. No, it's a lie. It is a lie. Oh, back to this. Yeah. Okay.

You sound excited. During the initial practice, tempers flare. You two seem to really like this movie, right? We love it. We haven't said our opinions yet, but we do love it. Okay, wait, I will say this. I was blown away that people said we had to watch this. That anyone was like, this is the hockey movie to watch.

I was blown away that, Gareth, that you had seen it before and then like watched it again. I did watch it again. I was- God that, Gareth, that you had seen it before and then watched it again. I did watch it again. I was- God bless, thank you. Well, yeah, no, it started to seem like work at some point where I was like, this is long. This is one of my friend's dad's favorite movies.

People love this film. So it's really interesting that they do. I think Kurt Russell gives it a lot of like, you know, weight or something because he's so good, but like there's really nothing that happens even though it's of course a big thing. The movie itself doesn't really have like a lot of tension. Oh yeah. Can I say one thing? Yeah. I know that that I'm a hockey fan so biased. I think- Oh, you like this?

Yeah, we got to know more about that. I can tell you about my movie opinion later, but I do think if people that lived through the actual moment in history, it was a big deal for them because of all the Cold War stuff. And so that's why I think it's so accurate about everything that happens

and because people remember all of this so vividly. That's why I think it's people's dad's favorite movie because they were like, I remember, I watched it on TV, da da da. That's my- Okay. That's helpful. I think that is very true though.

I think it's like, I think there were, I remember, because I was very young when it happened, but I think it was like the people who, it was, we hated the Soviets so much and that was just like a thing that America got it like the Soviets probably don't ever talk about this game but the Americans like that that'll teach them yeah yeah these colors don't run yeah it was I was very conflicted watching this movie trying to figure out who I'm supposed to root for. Ultimately, I went USA.

By the end, they got me. Yeah. Just because you knew where it was going. Well, during the initial practice, tempers flare as Ford, Rob McClanahan, Nathan West, who was born in Minnesota and played for the University of Minnesota, and defenseman Jack O'Callaghan, Michael Mantanuto, who was born in Boston and played for Boston University, rehashed their rivalry from their college days. Brooks admonishes them, telling them they need to start

coming together as a team and let go of all their old conflicts. He has each player go around and say their name, hometown, and which team they play for. I gotta say, this was even fucking boring. I was like, it was barely a thing. They were just like, ugh! And then he's like, learn how to play together! And then it was like, great! Like barely like a thing. They were just like, and then he's like, learn how to play together.

And then it was like, great. Like what team, what team you play for? It's like, it's not about the name on the back. It's about the name on the front. It's the USA. He also, he was like, everyone introduced yourself. And then two guys did it. And he was like, all right, back to practice.

Which I was like, wait, I know they shouldn't have done everyone because it would take so long. But I was like, but wait, are we doing it or not? The director was like, you can't speak. We can't bump you up. There's no room in the budget for you to have lines. I can't even tell you that you're not supposed to speak anymore.

Do we think that they were like a lot of hockey players who were playing as actors and then some actors who had to learn hockey. It's the acting of the players didn't feel great. Okay, yeah. They're all hockey players that tried out. Except for Eddie Cahill. You know what? They looked like hockey players though.

They were all really cute and like, like the types of guys I would know who would do that. And you're like, oh, they're cool. And they were great skaters. I was like, I was like, if they had to learn how to skate for this, I was blown away. But I would go back to being not blown away. No offense. They just knew how to skate already. No, it's OK. It's the underwhelmed.

The coach starts the team on exhausting conditioning drills, which became known as Herbie's or Herbie's. And which in which the team sprints. Is that a very like aggressive name? Let's do Herbie's. It's very cute. Do your Herbie's boys. Do your Herbie's.

We're gonna end it with Herbie's again. Herbie's. Um, and you gotta sprint together back and forth across the ice over and over and over. The players worrying about being cut from the team at any time, or they're worried about being cut from the team at any time, or they're worried about being cut from the team at any time, knowing that only 20 of them can go to the Olympics, and that Brooks himself

was the last player cut from the US squad that won the 1960 Olympic gold medal. So he'll do anything to win. I thought that was so funny that they kept saying that, that he'll do anything to win because he was cut. I was like, what? But he was so calm to me. Like I still felt like I was like, I want this man to yell.

I wanted to rip his wig off and scream. Like I was like, I want something. His wig was too cheap. I just feel that if you are the lead, I can't, it shouldn't be so shiny. Well, some people don't know. If you wear a synthetic wig, you gotta wash it in detergent

and that takes the sheen away. And a lot of these wig-aticians on set don't know that. Wig-aticians. You know, the official department head is a wig-atician. That's detergent like Tide. Mm-hmm. Yeah, he'll soak it in Tide. Mm hmm. Yeah. He'll like soak it in Tide and it takes the sheen away from a synthetic wig.

I'm going to do a big wig wash. I have all my sketch wigs. That's a good load. There's a setting for that on the most of those washers. Which by the way, I've never, never taken a soap to any of them and they probably are all disgusting things. It's like my hockey bag. I had a neighbor when I lived in New York who had hockey equipment in the hallway. So the hallway stuff. They did that. Yeah, they did that because they're like, I don't want my apartment to smell.

Yeah, just the building. That's fine. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well, during an exhibition game against Norway and Oslo that ends in a 3-3 tie, Brooks notices that the players are distracted by pretty girls in the stands, and they aren't playing to their potential and his standards. After the game, he orders them back on the ice to run his conditioning drill for hours, even after the rink manager cuts the power. The team is exhausted and can barely stand, but Brooks keeps the drill going. Finally team captain Mike Irodezani,

Patrick O'Brien Dempsey, shouts out what Brooks had wanted to hear all along. I play for the United States of America, and the drills are ended. Still he wanted to hear? Which is so funny. I would have said that first. I know, it's like an escape room.

I'm like, I'm not afraid of saying that. Yeah, it's just the truth, I'm playing for the US. Also, okay, it is a theme in all of these sports movies that women impede men's performance in athletics, that just the thought of some nice titties makes a man unable to shoot a basketball or skate on ice or box. It's wild.

I know. It's true. They're not allowed to orgasm. No, they're not allowed to Look at a pretty girl or talk to one. So the men aren't allowed to orgasm Yeah, the women aren't just because that's probably what they can That's the sport No, I've never so there are sports where the men are not allowed to orgasm? I haven't heard of one. So boxing mainly. We noticed this in Rocky and in Raging Bull that both men say they cannot come.

Come. Yeah. And then in Rudy, he leaves his girlfriend to fucking go to Notre Dame. He leaves this woman to go to a school that he didn't go to. He's really annoying. We have. Rudy is such, I won't, have you guys done your Rudy episode?

Yes, and then we found out everything was like a- Now that movie, but that movie also sucks because that movie leads up to like a guy sacking a quarterback two times. And you're like, what? That's- One time. He didn't even, no, and wait, we also haven't even said we, I had some follow-up to that

because we did a little fact checking and we were like, wait, like none of this happened. Like the coach in Rudy who wouldn't let him play actually did let him play. Just let him play. And like, and then like he had like, there was no like, there was no obstacle. And then also there was nobody named Fortune

or even like Fortune. That was a completely fictional character. They made up a magical Negro and named him Fortune. Charles S. Dutton, right, okay. Yeah, yeah. Like a genie? Yeah. Yes, they made him up and then gave him the name Fortune.

He was at a, like a bunch of people compiled. And he was like magically watching him play, like, wow, he really did it. Like that guy didn't exist and he didn't care. So, like, I'm just blown away. And the coach liked him. Like, the coach liked him. There was no resistance. They were just like, yeah, Rudy, you get to be on the team.

The coach sat down to watch that movie and he's like, the fuck? He did. He got mad. He got mad. He later was like, dude, why am I, like, the villain? He had agreed to, like, to just be part of the like problem within it and to not let him and then let him. But he came off as a villain and he was like mad. So I found all that really fascinating with that movie because everyone's like, it's so, everyone loved it.

But I'm like, none of it's true. And then that man went on to do like all speaking engagements the rest of his life about his journey. And then got arrested for fraud. Yes. Oh, shit. For his drink company. Mm-hmm. For his drink. And then got arrested for fraud. Oh shit. For his drink company. Mm-hmm.

For his drink. Wow. Rude. Now that's a movie. Rudy too. Rudy Tootie. Rudy Tootie. Rudy Tootie.

Back to this movie. So Brooks soon finalizes the roster, reluctantly making tough cuts to the last few players. He notices that the players have truly bonded with each other and became a team. The key part of his strategy in creating a successful roster in the six months they had, they had six months, it's so long, they had to prepare.

The team- It felt like it. Plays the Soviets in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden, kind of a warmup to their big face up at the Olympic days later. But the reigning champion Soviet team manhandles the young Americans, winning by a score of 10 to three. During the game, O'Callaghan suffers a knee injury

that could keep him out of the entire Olympics, but Brooks decides to wait and see if he's able to recover and benches O'Callaghan until the final few rounds rather than cut him from the team. Meanwhile, starting goaltender, that's what it's called, Jim Craig, Eddie Cahill is told that he might be bench in favor of the backup, with Brooks telling him that he hasn't been giving his very best.

In the end, he keeps Craig in net. There was a goalie mask or something that looked like one of those red light masks that women use. Yes, for like acne. Yes, it was like a serial killer. Like it just had little holes in a little mouth. I was like, don't they usually wear like the sort of like, it's kind of like a net, but it's like hard.

You know what I'm talking about? More like a grid. Yeah, they eventually like everyone would wear the one that had like the kind of like, almost like plastic mesh on it a little bit where it was like, cause it would stop the puck, cause dudes would get hit in the face with the puck regularly and yeah that's why like hockey players having no teeth was you

know like some guys like what if we stop this part of the face being exposed yeah but that Jason mask does look like you're like how could anyone do this? It looks crazy and then you don't even get to like have any expressions anymore. But his skin looked great after. I think it did have the red light. Yeah like he had no redness. Oh it's just beautiful. So smooth. Okay and are we watching the Olympics right now because this is obviously all Olympic movie. Are you watching anything? I need to. I need to. I need to watch Celine Dion.

Apparently it's amazing. I need to watch that. I love Celine. Was it great? I watched that. It was great. My girlfriend had me watch the Celine Dion documentary. I will say I was very ambivalent on Celine Dion.

I have to watch that. And I watched the documentary and I was like, oh shit, she's really going through some stuff. I mean, there's a crazy scene in that movie. And then I just watched the, when she sang the anthem. Yeah, that was a powerful scene in that movie and um and then I just watched the when she's saying the anthem. Yeah that was that was a powerful moment. Oh my god I gotta watch I want to watch the documentary and then watch this thing. Yes I think that's what I'm gonna do. My favorite scene so far that I've seen from the movie is she's like I love shoes it doesn't matter

if a shoe is small or if a shoe is big I will wear that shoe. And she was like sounds like Garface. She's like I wear shoe, the shoe doesn't wear me. And then there was another clip where she was like, her son's like, what's your favorite color? And she's like, I cannot answer that question. She was like, I didn't know you were going to ask me such a hard question. I love her.

I'd be in the garage having a paradox. Yeah, her kids, by the way, that seems like the best life ever to be one of the sons of Celine Dion. Yeah, what a nice time. Nothing but milkshakes and video games. Is that the vibe? Oh, it's just my dream is it. I would much rather play hockey.

I would have just loved to like having someone make you milkshakes all the time. It's like awesome. That sounds great. Is that in the documentary? Is Celine Dion just making milkshakes? It seems like the kids eat and do whatever the fuck they want. What a dream. Maybe it's not all milkshakes, but they're not... Doesn't seem like they're really on a regimented diet of any kind.

That's fun. It sounds great. Okay, well, let's see what happens next to this team we love so much playing for the US of A. As the Olympics begin, the Americans trail Sweden 2-1 in the first game. Brooks fires up the team during intermission by throwing a table and accuses McClanahan, who suffered a relatively minor leg injury, of giving up. McClanahan plays injured, which inspires the team.

Bill Baker scores a goal with only 27 seconds remaining in the third period for a dramatic 2-2 tie. They next earn a 7-3 win over heavily favored Czechoslovakia. As the Olympics continue, the team defeats minor opponents Norway, Romania, and West Germany to earn a spot in the medal round. Okay, when he was like, uh, your leg hurts or what, you're still... I was like, wait, why?

And then why would playing injured inspire the rest of the team? Dude, Simone Biles just did that. If my teammate is injured and playing. Oh,iles just did that. Oh, she did? She hadn't, I just saw this on Instagram. She, or I don't know what I was watching. She had like a little, she hurt her ankle or something in the practice before her big moment. And then she still did it and still did great.

So I guess that's where you get the inspiring sort of feelings. But it does make you feel like, oh my God, people push their bodies, like athletes push their bodies so hard. That like, if I sprained my ankle, I would just go home. It's like over. If I stubbed my toe, I would go home. I'd be like, well, that's a wrap, I can't. No, they're like, I'll be like,

my leg is sore from the Peloton. I need a week away But wait Lauren you were you were saying you didn't feel like there was the moment where like it was an aggressive he flips the table Yeah, I still you know Happen but I still get it everywhere. That's that doesn't come out. I still feel like he wasn't like Really met like I still feel like the character was not really ever really expressing his emotions. He was a pretty calm guy. You wanted the wig rip off. He was internal. Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah he was I agree. And maybe that's true to who that person was but I still like as the viewer like wanted some more screaming. Yeah just some squeals. He should have screamed at his wife like,

is it, we're going to the goddamn Olympics, Judy. Mm-hmm. Whatever her name was. I wanted Alfredo. Yeah. Yeah. In the medal round, the Soviets score the first goal before O'Callaghan.

Healed from his injury, enters the game for the first time. He heavily checks the Soviet player, leading to a goal by buzz The Soviet score again The Soviet score again to retake the lead, but American Mark Johnson ties the game to end the period. How long is the period? 20 minutes.

20 minutes. 20 minutes. And there's three 20 minute periods. Three periods, yep. And that's it? That's the whole game? Does it go over a lot or are you kind of like capping in at an hour? If it ties, it used to go over into another period

and now it goes over into a very short five minute first person who scores wins. And then I think they do that once or twice and then they do a shootout because that's not fun for people. They're trying to get people to watch hockey because everyone hates hockey. As you can tell from this conversation.

Yeah. A shootout does seem fun. But also just an hour seems kind of wild. If I'm leaving my house, I want it to be a little longer. It is weird, yeah. You have, like, you get to go buy a hot dog and like, you know, that kind of stuff takes up more time. Yeah.

They really take a break, too. If you go see it, it really, you're like, let's go. Oh, okay. All right. Does everyone feel settled? Yeah. really take a break too. If you go see it, it really, you're like, let's go. Does everyone feel settled? Okay. So we're getting to the big moment. So during the first intermission, the Soviet coach replaces their goalie with a backup. In the second period, the Soviets score a goal to go up three, two, but early in the third period, the Soviet team takes a penalty and the U S team scores a power play goal just

as the penalty is about to expire. With 10 minutes left, Aruzzioni puts them ahead 4-3. The Americans manage to hold off the Soviets for the remaining time on the clock. In the final few seconds, commentator Al Michael says his now famous words, do you believe in miracles?

Yes! Two days later, the team would go on to defeat Finland 4-2 to win the gold medal. I booed when I heard, do you believe in miracles? I went boo, come on. Did you feel like it was because they were saying the title? Yes. Yeah, but it's like that actually did happen

that he said that. But also it didn't seem, I don't, it didn't seem as exciting as it should have been. Yeah, I mean, I know, I agree, because it was like, I actually missed the moment when he said miracles, and then I was like, wait, what? And I rewound it a little bit. And I was like, oh, I really feel like it would feel more exciting.

Because he was doing the play-by-play over the whole thing, which is like what it is to watch a hockey game on TV. But I feel like maybe it would have benefited more from me just seeing the players do the thing and da da da. It's like, there was so much talking over it that I was like, I just feel like I'm watching sports like on TV, you know? They definitely tried to like show a shit load of that game.

Like when I paused it and I was like, there's 40 minutes left and we're just about to start this part of it. So true. Because they really showed. I mean, and I like that they used all the Al Michael's audio. But it is it's like they showed so much of it, not to mention there's another game after that, which I also forgot about.

So it's like after that, they're like, and also then they beat the other team. Yeah, I know. And then they got a gold medal. And they got the gold medal. Yeah, I know. And then that man never got to see the movie cause he died. I know, that was weird.

That was weird. That felt weird. No, they were like, it was based on this guy. He didn't see this movie. And then like they put up, he lived it. I was like, okay, but maybe put that all up at once. Yeah, the way it was he raised was kind of wild. I feel like him dying is a bigger thing

than him not getting to see this movie. Yes. Like it just was like. They should have ended it with like, do you believe in miracles? What just happened? He watched it in heaven. We made sure he got a copy in heaven.

He had the best seat in the house to see this movie. Oh, with the Lord. And then they put up that Fortune died too. Fortune also didn't make it from Rudy. From Rudy. And he didn't make it because he wasn't real. Okay, bye. He didn't make it because he wasn't live.

So the reception of this movie was favorable from critics and upon release and it holds 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. Curious. Well, let's hear some trivia. So the casting of the team consisted of real hockey players to give the film a raw and accurate feel, which it did. Director Gavin O'Connor figured it would be easier

to teach hockey players to act. This is so offensive. Yeah, it's pretty rude. To say it would be easier to teach hockey players to act than to teach actors offensive. To be easier to teach hockey players to act than to teach actors to play hockey. That is crazy. Players went through a six week training camp to relearn the game in older equipment.

They had to learn how to play it in old equipment and then they also had to learn how to act. Like a week of acting. That's crazy. That is crazy. Why don't you do this? You have actors and then you have hockey players who are doing the game and then we don't ever see their face

because they have helmets on. That is crazy. You should have been the line producer. I really wanna go back in time and do that because I feel like. That's like in Deep Impact where they're like, we just need people who know how to drill and we'll make them astronauts.

That's the harder pull of the two. Wait, that's Deep Impact as well as Armageddon. Oh, Armageddon. Sorry, I did it. Oh, because I hadn't seen deep impact and I was like, I like that. I've never seen either. So I went along with it. Yeah. Lauren Armageddon is great. I know what's our my star. He's a star. He's going to be something. Mark my words.

I know he's great. All right. I'll watch it, I guess. If we do if we do newcomers Armageddon, we should is Michael Bay,'s great on that. All right, I'll watch it, I guess. More trivia. If we do newcomers Armageddon. Is Michael Bay the director of that? Yes. I haven't seen Michael Bay movies. You should do a Michael Bay run.

Whoa. That's a good one. Okay. I think I've only seen Armageddon and I just watched that on a plane with commercials. So Al Michaels, who did the play-by-play announcing of the U.S. Soviet game, re-recorded his commentary for the film.

However, the last few seconds that included the memorable line, do you believe in miracles, used the original audio, because Michaels didn't feel like he could recreate the call effectively. He should have gone to the acting camp with the hockey players. Yeah. And guys, this is Al Michaels. How are you? Wow. Well, that's cool that he was like getting to recreate all the things he said in that

big moment, which, oh, I also didn't like how they said, there was something they said where they were like, this was the biggest moment for everyone in the world and also for the players. I was like, I think it's the biggest moment for the players. Like they just won a gold medal. Yeah. You know, there's a lot of like little weird things too, like the way that like the goalies mother had just passed away and the dad stuff where you're like, I don't really, like the way they kept cutting to the dad, like now he's playing good because his dad's there

and his mother has passed away. And you're like, I'm not picking up on that great. I know. Well, because we, it really was kind of horned in and it wasn't like enough of that. Yeah. I would have benefited from just even fake stories about the players. Yeah, right, yeah.

Give me a little something to hold on to. I love that you were like, give us a fake story, but not in Rudy. Rudy can't be fake. Rudy needs to be real. Rudy can't be fake because what I feel like, this movie, I guess, because for the world, this actually did seem to have some sort of impact.

And with Rudy, it was just one guy who claimed his story was really interesting. And then he made it really interesting for the movie, but it didn't really happen in real life. So I'm like, you can't just be like, there should be a movie about me and then be like, but none of the stuff that there should be a movie about happened.

Like it's like, that doesn't really work. Yeah, it's great that my takeaway from the miracle episode of this show is they made up Fortune and Rudy. Cause that is so goddamn weird and crazy. Isn't it wild? That's just nuts. It's insane. It's so weird.

I know. Okay, here's a little more trivia. In contrast to the American players, the Soviet athletes were professionals with long histories of international play employed by industrial firms or military organizations for the sole purpose of playing hockey on their organization's team. Western nations protested the Soviet Union's use of full-time athletes as they were forced to use amateur, mainly college players, due to the International Olympic Committees, IOCs, amateur only policy. The situation even led to Canadian withdrawal from the 1972 and 1976

Olympics, but the IOC did not change the rules until the late 80s. I find it weird that you have to have amateurs. I'm like, you're going to the Olympics. Yeah, but that was like a whole thing, like with basketball when they did the original dream team like that was crazy and that also was when it was just like America's not going to lose this anymore like it used to be that way and that was like part of it you could not be a professional athlete to be like if you're an Olympian which does seem crazy it is weird like you're dedicating your life to being an athlete why can't you be an athlete who then goes to the Olympics it's like so just in America you had to be an amateur and then in other countries you could be a

professional? No, I thought it was like in general in the Olympics, but that makes more sense with the Soviet thing because that's why the story, I guess, but that didn't even come across great. They should have made that more of a component of the movie to be like, oh shit, okay, they're real underrated. These are professionals and these amateurs beat these professionals.

Yeah. Right. That's really interesting. Yeah, like they really skipped past it, but at the beginning when they talk about how many times they've won, they don't even mention why, and it's because they've been playing for a year. Like they're like seasoned athletes,

and these are all kids. Which makes it so much more interesting that they win. So like, yeah, should have really been. By the way, the credits in this movie are the longest I've ever seen. I should have mentioned that earlier. I mean, yeah, they're like, Dave is now a lawyer, and he's happy.

Michael's now a cell phone salesman. Like, they had the little things, or it was like, here's what they're doing. I didn't need that. I was talking about the opening credits. They did a like, what happened? I didn't. The opening credits were like doing. See, though, I didn't either. I was talking about the opening credits. Oh, you didn't? They did a, like, what happened. I didn't. The opening credits were like a full on, like,

mash times a thousand. It was like a 30 for 30. I was like, yeah. Yeah. Wait, wait, at the end, they tell you where they are now? They tell you where they are now? Uh-huh. Should I go back and watch it?

No, you don't have to. Yeah, from the beginning. One more time. Yes, yeah, you should really rewatch it. Do the Sex and the City thing. Just watch it all backwards. I think I have to do that. According to IMDB, Kurt should really rewatch it. Do the Sex and the City thing, just watch it all backwards. I think I have to do that. According to IMDB, Kurt Russell took a pay cut, so the 800 to 1000 extras used as fans at the hockey game could enjoy a full hot meal instead of a brown bag lunch.

That's nice. That's really nice. And I think that's not fair to him. Like, can we feed the people? He shouldn't be in charge of that. No. They really, that is quite a, that's what everyone was cheering for. That's how they got the crowd cheering footage. They were like, you're gonna get a hot meal

instead of a peanut butter sandwich. Cause it hurt. But like, did he like notice that? And he's like, why are they always eating that? And then they're like, oh, cause we can't afford it. So we're paying you a million dollars. And he was like, okay, I'll take 900. All right, I'll take.

Honestly, that is wild. Like budget to like feed people. You know what I mean? Yeah, it wasn't going to the wig. Where's the money going? Sure wasn't. Wasn't going to actors. They just found a bunch of hockey players.

Right. And they probably did it for free. Yeah, they probably did. I love skating. We have to take another time out. We'll be back with more Miracle after this. Ready... ...Bare! And we're back.

It's time for the newcomers draft. If we were going to recast this movie with present-day actors, who would we pick? Who do you want to see be Herb? Robert De Niro. Oh, yeah. That's great. Yeah, and he would play up the not ejaculating stuff a lot,

like he did with Agent Bull. But I want him to be using that anti-aging or the de-aging technology. From the Irishman? Yeah. So he's like young, like whatever the age is is supposed to be using that anti-aging or the de-aging technology. Oh, from the Irishman? Yeah. So he's like young, like whatever the age is supposed to be in this. He's 12, they go too young. That's a good one.

Yeah. I like De Niro. Who's his wife? Oh, wow. I always put Stranger Things kids. Marissa Tomei. Yeah, which Stranger Thing kid? Eleven?

Eleven should be the wife? I put Eleven or the... The kid with the lisp? Yeah. The lispy kid. He'd be great as her. I'd love to see. Lauren really liked that one.

I don't know why, because there's something like, every time we do this, I can only think of Stranger Things kids. You'd think you'd have a little time to prep yourself outside of that, but you're like, all right, here we go. And I love that. The well's dry again. What about Eleven?

Gareth, do you have anybody that you would cast in this movie? Cast in the movie? I mean, my thought was stupid for Herb would be John Krasinski, maybe. Oh, yeah, I like that. That's not that's not stupid. That's better than De Niro. Well, I don't I'm not. I like a John Krasinski move for that.

He's like, I'm just a guy who I used to play hockey and now I want my team to win Yeah, I see him doing that. He keeps looking at the camera, maybe Again For the for the wife I don't know that that part seemed the wife part and the assistant coach seemed like very difficult parts to play Because they really gave you nothing. Like the assistant coach would just be like, okay, and then walk out. Can I say that he is such a good actor? He is a great actor. There is something about how he did that that I was like, he's so real.

And I also just kept doing my Truman Show thing in my head and I was like, God, he's so committed. Yeah, that's very important for you to get through this. It was. It was a really key part and I loved it. I actually think it made the movie really interesting. I think that we should look into doing that more. Yeah, it would just be like one of those end cards at the end. It's like Herb was tricked by his friend and none of this was real.

Herb never found out that this was all a ruse. And then Fortune just winks at the camera. I like it. I'd want to watch that. I want to watch it too. It's time for the kiss cam. Name the best smooch from the movie or who you wish you saw smooch on the big screen. There were no smooches. I don't even think he kissed his freaking wife. No.

He definitely didn't. Yeah. And I didn't want to watch them kiss. I didn't either. I didn't want them to have to. Maybe the goalie and his dad could have kissed. That wouldn't have been a bad one. Yeah, like in one of those moments where he's like,

I'm here for you. Yeah, it just seemed like they didn't really know how to express each other's feelings very well. In a nice, healthy way. I could see that. Yeah, just give your dad a big kiss. Yeah, just a big old slap of kiss. Yeah, there was really nobody who, I guess I could have used a hockey player kissing

his girlfriend or something. Yeah, but they didn't have girlfriends. Yeah, they weren't allowed to. You could have maybe seen some of the nordic women that they were obsessed with when they had to do the herbes after maybe they come out after they're like that was so great now we can now you can ejaculate you know something like that now it's time now it's time to ejaculate now they can all ejaculate and it could be like champagne in the locker room except it's just them all ejaculate. And it could be like champagne in the locker room, except it's just them all ejaculating. Just a bunch of cum. I'll keep pitching.

Yeah, just ejaculating. I like it. I'm into it. That's nice. Yeah. That's great. That is cool. Yeah, not enough kissing.

I don't know if these sports movies are gonna have enough kissing for us, if I'm being honest. Yeah, I mean, well, Rocky had kissing. It did, it did. It had that nice kiss, yeah. Adrian! Couple, a couple. Adrian!

I've been walking around my house saying it, just alone. Yeah. So you had never seen Rocky and you both watched Rocky? Yeah, that's probably a real weird watch. So much stuff from pop culture that I was like, from this? Oh yeah, oh yeah, I know. That's one of the... I watched The Godfather on the plane recently and it really was just like watching a series

of references. And I was like, it's a good movie, but I was like, but now I already know all these references. Yes. Wait, have you seen The Godfather? I have seen The Godfather. I watched it during the pandemic, I think. I haven't seen it. Yeah. It's good. Yeah, I was like, oh, The Canfather. I watched it during the pandemic, I think. I haven't seen it. Yeah.

It's good. Yeah, I was like, oh, the cannoli. I get it. The cannoli. There's so the horse head. There was lots of stuff. I couldn't imagine like seeing it without knowing that stuff because it's so ubiquitous that everyone knows that shit.

You probably would have thought it was really cool. I bet I would have been like, whoa. Yeah, I bet I really would have. But instead I was like, ah, here we go I saw that on the Simpsons Okay, it's time for the moment we've all been waiting for it's the scoreboard it's time to review this film Obviously, we're going to be reading reviews from letterbox as we always do and we're gonna give a one sentence review ourselves Obviously, we're going to be reading reviews from Letterboxd, as we always do, and we're going to give a one sentence review ourselves and a star rating for this film.

And for those of you who don't know, Letterboxd is a social platform where people can write reviews of films and we are on there at Newcomers. You can see every review we've ever made of all the movies we've watched. So, yeah, we're going to jump right in, but let's read one from Letterboxd. This is a four star review from Haley who says, the only acceptable movie to watch on Olympic opening ceremonies day. Okay. Four stars. Yeah, sure. I mean, I would rather watch the Olympic opening ceremonies and just do that. And just have a nice time.

I don't know if I would put this on. No. Haley takes issue with that. Yeah. Yeah. I guess so. Okay. does anybody wanna go, and Anya, you're also going to give your review. I'll go first. One star. I did not like a single point of this movie. I don't ever wanna watch hockey, even though I was like, maybe I'd be into hockey one day.

That day's never coming. This movie ruined it for me. Kurt Russell's nice, but boy oh boy, was I mad for about an ab, two hours, and I would say 16 minutes. There was a minute that I wasn't mad. Can't recall it, but boo! That's one of the most aggressive reviews you've given.

This, Lauren, this movie made me so angry. I had such a nice day yesterday, woke up. I was like, I get to watch a miracle. I was forewarned by you that it's a tough movie. And then it was one of the toughest movies I've ever had to get through. I feel like someone should have come to my house with like a publisher's clearing house check to be like,

here, you made it, you get a prize. I hated that movie. Yeah. I think it's, yeah, you know what? Okay, let's let Anya or Gareth go first before I rail. Why don't you go Anya? Anya? Okay, I'm scared.

What I wanted to say earlier was that if it, I think if it was not a Disney movie, it could be a five star movie. I think all the things we hate about it is because it was Disney-fied and was made really corny in ways it didn't have to be. And like, there's no, there's not a single like cuss word. Like on the ice, they should be swearing

every five seconds at each other, but they're like, you're a big meanie. Like it's just so dull because of that. So as it is, it's 3.5 stars. If it was not made by Disney, I think it would be five. I think you're right. I think that was true because it felt, it felt like almost the lifetime at the beginning. I was like, why are these great actors performing like this?

Totally. I was like really thrown off by the editing of it because I was like, there's all these awkward moments and I was like, I think it's cause it was like Disney fide. Yeah. Like they're like really slow between the conversation, like there'd be like a beat between each like response and she'd be like, Oh honey. And then it was like, what? Yeah. Crazy, crazy stuff. It was weird. But Nicole, I'm also going to get you into hockey because I think you'd like it. All the guys are hot and they love each other and they want to smooch. I'm surprised none of you made the boys smooch in the kiss cam. That's the best part about hockey. Yeah, they should all kiss when they won. That would have been great.

They smooch in hockey? They really love each other. The locker room is very important to the way- A lot of kissing. Yeah, they make out in their own time. Okay, I'm excited about that. It's just very, it's very- That's got you into it, huh?

The boys all together, slap on the butt kind of. Ooh, okay. All of the hockey players were having slap on the butt kind of. It kind of was scary. All those hockey players were like, having sex in the locker room, I would love that. They are in my mind, that's why I watch. Just let my mind wander. Great.

It's a different movie for sure. It is, sounds good. A short film maybe. His wig's hanging up on the shower rack. I'll be back to this in a minute, boys. Slow pan from the wig, the steam in the shower. Yeah. That's funny.

I agree very much with Anya's point. I think that is so true. And I think the first time I saw this movie, I really did like it, but I was a younger person. Sadly, not that much younger, I guess, because it came out in 2004. Well, it was 20 years ago. I guess, because it came out in 2004. Well, it was 20 years ago. I know, but I'm an old person.

So I was still an adult male, like, who probably shouldn't have been like, wow. But I think I was. And I would also give it a 3.5. I think it, like, the speech he gives, where he's like, there's a speech he gives right before the game about not tonight I really liked that speech and I did grow up in Wisconsin with the story So that helped my my enjoyment of it, but also there's a lot of dumb shit, and it's really long. Yeah

Okay, I'm gonna say it gets one star as well Let me think if I wanna phrase this. I wish the movie was really good and I could have given it five stars. Very delicate. Yeah, but I didn't really like this movie so I have to give it one star. I wish this movie was better so I could give it five stars.

You have the cadence of like it's big, like it's actually brutal. Yeah. Yeah. You know what? I feel like I'm usually even, I'm like, I'm softer on a lot of movies. Like there's a lot of movies that I'm like groaning the entire time through, but then I can find reasons why I liked it. Like once we talk about it and this didn't really do that. I just feel like I was kind of like, okay, like I just

kind of wish it was more intense. I think you're right Anya, that if it was not Disneyfied, it would have been more exciting. I, I'm going to need like action if I'm going to get really invested in a story I've never heard about. Like this is not from, this was not something that was on my radar in my life. So like they need to like tell me the story. Like I'm fresh eyes, you know? So yeah, that's my life. So like they need to like tell me the story. Like I'm fresh eyes, you know? So yeah, that's my complaint. Well, but congrats to everyone involved. Yeah, congrats. Everyone did a great job. I know it's very hard to make a movie and I think everyone's a great actor.

Yeah, I think everyone did a great job. Everyone did a good job. The sandwiches were hot. OK, I just didn't care. Yeah. OK, so you guys, you respect the people who worked on the movie, it feels like a lot. Oh, I always respect the people who worked on the movie. You're not anti-union or something. No, no, no, no, no.

No, no, love the union, love it. Every movie I've seen on this podcast, I respect everyone involved. Yes, because everyone is trying their hardest. Eva's the person in charge of the wigs on Miracle? Yes, because they tried their best. She didn't know about how to wash it. She didn't know about Tide. it. She didn't know about Ty.

And it's okay. It's okay. Wait, can you add that to my review that I don't wanna shit on movies? And respect everyone involved? I wanna say that in mine too. That should be a disclaimer on our page. Do we have a bio on the newcomer's page?

Be like, we love movies and we deeply respect everyone involved. Everyone should have a hot lunch and an actor shouldn't have to pay for it. Yeah. Yeah. Well, Gareth, do you have anything that you want to plug? And is Gareth short for anything or is that your full government name? It's the full government name, but that's that feels like it feels like I'm at customs. But that is that is the full name.

Gareth Gareth, it's Welsh. It's a but that is the full name, Gareth. Gareth, it's Welsh, it's a weird name. I grew up with it here. It's not Gareth-ton? Yeah, you're not Gareth-ton? No, but I kind of might lean into that for the second half of the career here a little bit. Gareth hasn't been doing much.

No, so Gareth-ton, you can find me on social media at ReynoldsGarrethton. And you can listen to my podcast, The Dollop, and we're here to help. And then go watch me do standup, garethrentals.com. Soon to be garethrentals.com. Thank you for fixing that. And thank you for having me. Yes. Thank you for doing this.

You were delightful. Thank you for talking about this. You were wonderful. We really appreciate your hockey insight. And we really need everyone out there to please review newcomers on Apple. Please write the podcast on Spotify. Oh, we're going to be back. We're going to be back next week with the karate kid.

Hi. Yeah. See you then. OK, everyone. Everyone say newcomers on three. One, two, three. Newcomers! Newcomers! Newcomers! Newcomers! Newcomers!

Newcomers! Newcomers is a Headgum original hosted by us, Nicole Beier and Lauren Lapkus. Our executive producer is Anya Kanovskaia. Our producer is Ali Khan. Our theme music, editing, sound mixing, and mastering is done by Ferris Monge. Listen to new episodes wherever you get your podcasts every Tuesday. That was a Hidgum Original.