The Kristian Harloff Show - Mega Review Show: Zootopia 2, Nuremberg, Wicked: For Good & More

Episode Date: November 26, 2025

Welcome back to The Kristian Harloff Show and our full Mega Review Show covering the biggest new movie releases of the week. In this episode, Kristian gives in-depth, honest, and spoiler-free reviews for some of the most talked-about films hitting theaters and streaming. We break down Zootopia 2 (2025) from Disney, the powerful historical drama Nuremberg, the musical fantasy Wicked: For Good, the comedy standout Baltimorons, the emotional indie Begonia, and the new comedy-drama Is This Thing On. If you're searching for Zootopia 2 review, Nuremberg movie review, Wicked For Good review, or want to know if Baltimorons, Begonia, or Is This Thing On are worth watching, this is your one-stop shop. Kristian dives into performances, directing, story, pacing, and overall audience appeal to help you decide what to watch next. This is your go-to weekly roundup for movie fans who want real opinions and smart discussion.   SPONSORS: CASH APP: Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/76rlxe00 #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. RUGIET:   Ready to level up your confidence in the bedroom? Head to https://www.rugiet.com and use my promo code KRISTIAN for 15% off your first order. MASTERCLASS:  MasterClass always has great offers during the holidays, sometimes up to as much as 50% off. Head over to https://www.MasterClass.com/KRISTIAN for the current offer. TRUE CLASSIC: Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at https://www.trueclassic.com/KRISTIAN !#trueclassicpod 1-800 CONTACTS: Getting contacts doesn't have to be a hassle. Let One Eight Hundred Contacts get you the contact lenses you need right now.  Order online at https://1800Contacts.com or download the free 1-800 Contacts app today.  

What's going on, everybody? It's a very special episode of the Christian Harlov show here today. So we're not live, obviously. So what we wanted to do, at least what I wanted to do, I don't know who we is. Well, I guess you know who we is? I mean, Jonathan's helped me edit it. So we decided we're going to do a review show here today. And we're going to go over the things that I've seen and kind of break down some of the stuff and do like a kind of old school.

Maybe I don't know what the hell it is. Maybe we experiment with this. You guys like this, maybe we'll do more of this. Because I wanted to cover, obviously, one of the big releases that's coming out this week or in general. And then just some of the other stuff that I saw might be stuff that already came out that I didn't have a chance to talk about. And I want to go over it. So we're going to be talking about quite a few movies here today. And I hope you're along for the ride.

So let's get into it. By the way, if you're brand new to the channel, you've never been here before, subscribe to the channel. Click, like, comment. I might start doing these on Wednesdays, guy, guys, guys, girls, everybody. So get on board with it. Let me know if you like this, because this is going to be a review show. We're going to cover quite a few movies today, and that's it. So let's get into the first one.

Zootopia 2. Zootopia 2 is a movie that I was very excited to see. I was pumped to see it in general. It's one of my most anticipated as far as animated goes for sure. And I think it'll be in the running for Best Animated Picture, for sure. I don't know if it'll win over, say, K-pop Demon Hunters or even in your dreams, which I liked a lot. But Zootopia, too.

Coming out this weekend and this one, it's got a hell of a cast, man. It's got a hell of a cast. And that cast includes the returning, obviously, is Jennifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, New to the cast is the great Kee He Kwan, Andy Sandberg, Fortune Feimster, oh man, David Strahan, if I said that right. Shakira comes back and just Elba's back. Patrick Warburton showing up as the new mayor, Danny Trejo, Nate Torrance back as Klawhouser, and the list goes on and on and on. So this movie to me is a very solid sequel. Now, I did a non-spoiler review of this one.

It's going to be a lot of kind of repeating bits on this one. But to really dive deep into it is that let's push the criticisms out first. Let's go to those first. Because overall, I really enjoy this movie a lot. So a couple of things that maybe I said, okay, what did I like about the first one, maybe that I liked a little bit more than this one? Now, I'm going to look right now, the runtime. of Zootopia 1

is 108 minutes so that is let's see, wow, on the same time. The first movie's a little longer actually. Interesting. So my point I was going to make is bullshit

because I was going to say, well, the first one, the first one was shorter and it felt it moved better. The second part of that is true. The first one moved, at a better pace. This one, it feels a little longer. Again, I'm pushing the negative things out first.

The thing, negative things that I, that I had an issue with. The comedy, not as strong as the first one. The first one was just kind of like, boom, it was new, it was fresh, so, you know, you were getting, they were introducing the world and introducing,

oh, that's hilarious, a sloth as a DMV. That's great. and now when they repeat and the sloth comes back, you're like, yeah, it's great to see flash, flash, a hundred-yard dash back. But the bit is repeated, right? Same thing with the godfather. The first time the godfather shows up,

Marlon Brando's a little rodent. It's hilarious, but you see him back again. You're like, oh, he's back. It just doesn't have that same impact. The music, it wasn't as memorable as the first one. It's really it. That's really it. The stuff that does work.

the chemistry between Jennifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, the relationship that is Judy Hopps and Nick Wild and how they both have to work as partners and what they're able to accomplish and how good they are together and discovering things about themselves and admitting certain things about themselves and making it work. Introduction of new characters works a lot. Kaki Kwan coming in as the snake. Wonderful. The chemistry that he and Andy Samberg team up with Jennifer Goodwood and Jason Bain. They all work together very well.

And the writing of it, solid. The emotion, incredible. So there is so much as a sequel. And I've mentioned this before. I mentioned it again. What you risk sometimes is that when you're doing a sequel to a very popular movie, what you start to do is, oh, well, they love this person or they love this character. Bring them back and focus more on them.

And let's just do that. They like that bit. Do that bit again. Do it again. And you worry about that a couple of times, as I mentioned with the Godfather bit and they do it. But when they do it, it works. And they do it in the right rhythm. And they add a little bit more spice to it.

When they bring Flash back, they use them for a good purpose. And it works. It's not the same beat and the same thing again, needing to use them for the same reason. So you're like, okay, we've introduced our characters, and now here's how we're going to use them. Same thing with Chief Bogo or, you know, Clawhouser or any, they use them in the right way. So they know this world. And I love how they also build the lore of Zootopia and what they're able to do with Zootopia. And the other thing I always look for when I go to see the animated movies also is, are my kids going to like this movie as well?

And the answer is yes. Both my almost 14-year-old and my 8-year-old will both enjoy Zootopia, too. And I think the same thing for whether there's nostalgia purposes. And then you've got to also say, and this is the main thing for me when it comes to animated movies is sometimes I'll take my kid to a movie and I'll go, okay, this is this one she's going to like, so I'm okay. But, this one, it's wearing on me and it's just not hitting the way it maybe would have, you know, 20, 30 years ago. That's not the case of this one. This is one of those movies where it's like, okay, it works for kids, it works for adults. It just works.

It's just a good movie in general. And that is the magic sauce. And Zootopia 2 has the magic sauce. So I gave it a 4.2 out of five when I brought it up in my non-spoiler. And the other question I would say, you people are going to say, would you want to see a third one? And I say, yeah, I think that I would. I'd be curious to see. You're always going to run into those.

Okay, well, what's the next thing? What are they going to do now? how long can they really explore on the relationship between Nick and Judy. And you'd probably have to switch it up in the next one. But I really like how they're able to make things a little different, changed up. I think it's directed very well. It's written very well. And it's really it.

So it's a very solid sequel, Zootopia 2. I really liked what they did there. I'm hoping. I'm hoping. Well, as far as box office predictions and, and Oscar chances. I think Oscar chances it'll probably get nominated

for best animated because I'm thinking right now if you look at the animated movies that are up in the running, as I said, K-pop demon hunters, maybe in your dreams. I don't even know. There's some other ones that always pop in there, the ones that I haven't even seen. I know the Demon Slayer movie is also getting some love. So maybe that pops in there,

especially how successful it was. There's some other movies that have flown under the radar animated that I want to check out before I make any bold predictions. but I feel like this one will probably be up there because it's already getting the buzz that it's getting. Box office-wise, it's going to crush it already, rumored to do over, or predicted, rather, 500-plus million worldwide.

I wouldn't be surprised if it surpassed that. There aren't a lot of movies in general that do the billion-dollar prize anymore. It seems to be like that coveted thing that just doesn't happen as much. And usually when it does, it's family films, kids' films. And this is another one that might be up there with that,

potential a billion dollar prize when you look at the numbers whether it's leo and stitch that did it Minecraft got very close and they all had smaller openings than what this is predicted to do worldwide so we shall see very curious to see what happens with zootopia 2 what do you guys make of it you guys want to check it out do you are you going to see it in the theater did you like the first one you're going to wait for it to hit on streaming or you say, look, I want to go check something out on the theater this weekend. Let's go check out Zootopia, too. People are raving about it.

So put your thoughts in there and let me know. Are we going to switch it up a little bit here? And now we're going to go, you know, let's stick with wide releases, actually. Let's stick with wide releases. Because I didn't, as I said, this is kind of a new show for me. So I might as well cover one that's in the theater right now. and I did a non-spoiler of it already. I am on a different page with a lot of,

I guess I'm more so on ranking with the audience here, more so than the critics on this one when I'm talking about Wicked for Good. This is the second movie in, you know, the out of the popular, based on the popular play, and it was a huge hit as far as a movie. It's already a huge hit in the theater. It was the highest grossing musical adaptation

or Broadway adaptation, rather, that has come out so far. It's directed by John M. Chu, Cynthia Arrivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum. They all return, obviously, for the sequel, I think it was shot around exactly the same time. Michelle Yo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Coleman Domingo, as the cowardly lion this time around. Marissa Bowdo, as Nessa Rose, and just this very stacked cast. what I will say about this movie. It started out. Look, I liked the movie.

I really enjoyed the move. I like the emotional moments more so than anything else. I think that the first one, I think the first one's a better movie. You know, after watching two, both of them together, I think the first one is a better move. But I like the continuation. I look at it in the same way,

and I think that this is what a lot of people disagree with me a lot of times, and I understand. But like, so something like Dune one and dune two i don't really ever people which one do you like better i said i can't really judge dune one and dune two as two separate movies there are two halves um of one huge movie they're shot around that you know the same exact time it's a continuing like beat for beat the end of this movie into the next one and so it wasn't there's some movies that are okay this movie does well we know where it's going to go but this is part one part two same thing goes for wicked one too it's it's

it's a continued thing. They just couldn't put a four and a half or five-hour movie in the theater. And you just can't do that. So, yeah, let's break it up and make some money, you know? So, and then the same was something the other day asked me about Hunger Games. And we're talking about how many Hunger Games movies are on. I said, well, you know, there's a total, with this new one, there's going to be five. And so isn't there six?

I was like, you're right. There are six. Because Mocking Jay, I don't see Mocking Jay as two different movies. See Mocking J is one movie. It just couldn't put a huge movie in there. Like, so Mockingjay to me, one and two is just one big movie. So that's all a long-winded way to say that this movie to me is one big movie. Now, do I think the first half of the big movie is better than the second half?

I do. But do I think that the second half delivers on the emotional moments. I do. And it's funny because most people, and I am not most people in this, are saying that this is Ariana Grande's movie. Glinda has a lot to do in this movie. She has a lot to do. And it does. And my co-host John Rook on Monday made the point, and I think very well so, that it's focused

strongly on Glinda because you get a backstory about her, you learn more about her, you get more of her emotional core, and so you can make an argument that this is her story. And I get that. I think she's got more to do in this one as far as character building and more than just the comedic moments, which she did, which was excellent. And I became a fan of her because of the first one. And I was so impressed with her comedic timing in the first one. She doesn't have as many comedic moments in this one.

The characters called on to have more emotional backstory. But I still think even more so that it's Cynthia Evo's movie. It's Elfabba's movie. The story is basically in this one, after the events of the first movie, you've got Alphaba on the run. And everybody is trying to use her as a symbol, to say, fall back in line, look at what this evil witch is doing, and here's our new witch, and that's Glinda, and she's good. And I like the way that they looped in, Wizard of Oz. I didn't think it was crammed in there. I liked it. I thought it worked, I thought it worked well.

I will say, and again, if we're pushing, like I said beforehand, if we're pushing with the negative first, the first half of the movie is a bit slower. It takes a bit to move, and once it does, we're off and moving, and the other side of it is that the music is just not as memorable as the first. There are two huge memorable songs in the first one, um, and maybe even three or four. And this one I couldn't, I couldn't even tell you. But I don't know. Is that, is that, is that the, is that the, is that the, is that the Broadway show's problem too? But the chemistry between Cynthia Revo and Ariana Grande, you can't, you can't beat it. It works real well. I'm tired of their interviews,

but it has nothing to do with the movie itself. The movie of the movie. It itself works. I think Michelle Yo doesn't have as much to do in this one as she did in the first one. Jeff Goldblum actually has a little bit more to do. And, well, like saying him, love seeing Jeff Goble. And I know. And maybe, as I said before, maybe it's me when I watch movies with my kids, if my kids dig it and I watch it through their eyes, I start to maybe, whether it's right or all. I start to say, oh, okay, I can feel what this was intended for, and I get it. And that's what I got here. So overall, where am I going with this one? I would say probably 3.9, 3.8. 8 out of 5 for Wicked 2. But I liked it. I dug it. And I think that it's, again, solid

sequel, good, not even sequel. Solid second half to one big, huge movie. did you guys see it? Do you care? Do you not want to see it? I'll wait for it when it comes out on streaming or I'll wait to see the reaction when you and Sam do it. Put your thoughts in there, let me know. All right, we got some more reviews and more movies coming up in just a second,

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and of course, 100 contacts. Really appreciate all of them being a part of it. the show. If you want to help out the show, click on those links, get yourself something wonderful and get to people some wonderful stuff for the holidays and how about it? All right, I'm going to get to our next movie here. Now we're going to jump into some smaller movies. And I like that about this potential show about what we can do. And I also want to see, and I want you guys to comment about it too. Now, I'm not expecting Gangbusters, you know, views on this one. I would be surprised if we did more than 4,000 people watch.

People don't like review shows anymore. But I like doing them. I like talking about these movies. I like talking about these movies in general to say, hey, have you heard about this one? I mean, obviously you know about Zootopia too. You know about Wicked. Do you know about the balty morons? I didn't know about this movie. I didn't know about it. And I was very curious about it. So Jay Duplas directs this one. He also wrote it.

He also wrote it with Michael Strassner, who stars in the movie. Michael Strassner, I never really even knew. Roker told me he was Jerry Lawler in The Young Rock Show. I wouldn't be able to tell you that. And Liz Larson also in this one as Dedy. Michael Strassner plays Cliff. and what is this movie about?

Well, Michael Strassner was a big kind of, not not big, but he was in his city, he is a sketch comedian. Things go wrong in his sketch comedy world. And something happens in his life. He was a former alcoholic and an event happens, kind of changes it. He's sober. And so it's Christmas Eve, and he and his. his fiance are going to their house and something again.

An event happens where he's forced to go do something. And in that process, he meets Didi. And the two of them go on this adventure together in Baltimore. And it is charming as hell. And why is it charming? Well, because you have these two lost souls in both Dedy and Cliff. and they are both. McCliff is the younger man in the relationship.

And again, when I say a relationship, I'm just saying these two people who meet each other and have to go through this adventure through the city. And I don't want to give away anything, but whether it's the first thing they have to do, and then the second thing they have to do when they're leading into the third. And it's like these little vignettes of things

that they have to do and they do together and you see their chemistry building and forming. And it's because of the chemistry between Michael Strassner and Liz Larson. And to me, knew nothing about either one of them. Ready or not, summer is coming. And Wayfair's Memorial Day clearance is on now. Right now through May 25th, get up to 70% off everything home at Wayfair. Plus, score amazing doorbuster deals all sale long and surprise flash deals on Memorial Day.

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Liz Larson amazing as well. But Michael Strassner is just so likable and you care about him so much. And I didn't believe that either one of them at one point was ever, acting. And that to me is what makes a movie very special. I'm like, okay, they feel like they're performing. They did not feel like they're performing. I felt like I was watching these two people forming this relationship, going through these things, and it felt real. It never felt like even like in the very beginning, I'm like when the inciting incident that, that gets them to meet, at first, I'm like, oh, are we doing like a, is this going to be like a goofy comedy? And

like, well, not necessarily, because even how that initially happened was just somebody being clumsier or whatever it was. And then I'm like, well, is it going to be a series of that? And it isn't. It's, there are some over the top moments, but they again feel real. Like there's a particular moment that happens and Cliff is listening in on a phone conversation. And I'm like, okay, how heightened comedy are we going to get here? And they really find the balance. of right to toe the line of being absurd and being endearing. And I just was like, oh, man, I'm really liking where we're going here, too. And I think that Jay de Ploss does a great job of telling this story.

And I was pleasantly, pleasantly surprised with this film. I loved it. I really did love it. And especially with, it is not easy to get people on board with a movie with a cast. that you just don't know. It's not easy because you have to, because when you have people in movies that you've seen before and oh, I like that person,

I like them, that I'll give them a chance. When you don't know, you're earning people's trust for the first time. And Michael Straster and Liz Larson, earn your trust immediately. So this is one I highly recommend to people. I would say, go out and check this one out. If you can rent it, rent it.

but I don't know where it's streaming, but it's, it's solid. It's a really solid movie. So I'm going to go 4.4 out of five for the balty morons.

I really enjoyed this movie. It's, it's one of my, is it going to hit my top 10? It's possible. It's possible. I really enjoy this one. I like being surprised.

So the balty morons, go and check that out. All right, I'm jumping back. Not too back. Not too back in time. Well, I guess I'm going to be jumping.

back in time when I talk about this particular movie with the events of what the movie is. But it came out a couple of weeks ago, and that is Nuremberg. So Nuremberg, and this one's directed by James Vanderbilt, and it's about a World War II psychiatrist

evaluates the Nazi leaders before the Nuremberg trials growing increasingly obsessed with understanding evil as he forms a disturbing bond with Herman Gourke. Now, this takes place, it jumps back. The second, this movie starts, you're getting the end of World War II after Hitler has taken himself out,

and now the Nazis are starting to surrender, and we see the capture of Herman Goring. And Michael Shannon is in this one, Russell Crow, Rami Malick. And again, let's start with the first thing that I like this movie. I like this movie a lot. Now, let's talk about the negative stuff. I really enjoy Rami Malik as an actor. I do.

I think sometimes he's a little over the top, and I think sometimes he yells too much. And I think he yells too much in this movie. But I think he's also solid as the doctor, as he is Douglas Kelly in this one, who has to form this relationship with Russell Crow, who is playing Herman Goring, who is Hitler's number two, and the psychology of it.

And it's basically, okay, here's this really smart leader of the Nazi party who was basically, he was Hitler's number two. He was in charge. Once Hitler was gone, this guy was in charge of it all, even though it was the end of the party itself, but this guy was in charge. He was the guy. So they want to put him on trial.

They're going to put them all on trial. And it's not like today where everything is broadcast and everything too is like, this is essentially the form of NATO and the form of like a big world trial. And they have to get it to fly. And it's Michael Shannon as Justice Robert H. Jackson, who is running the show and saying, all right, myself, Richard E. Grant, anytime you pair those two up together. And John Slarity makes an performance. I love John Slarity in this as well.

But they've got to be able to get Herman Goring and his lackeys. They've got to put him on trial. And they've got to prove that these disgusting, horrendous things that the party did. It wasn't all the footage and all the things that we have. There is a very effective and probably will never be able to watch it again moment that happens in the trial where they show the horrific crimes against the Jewish population in Nazi Germany. And they show a lot of real footage, not an easy watch. It's essentially them saying this is what this monster did. Now, what Russell Crow does excellent in this is showing the kind of charisma and manipulation of what Herman Goring can do. And he's got to do that with building this friendship or understanding, rather, with Douglas Kelly, played by Romney Malik.

And the back and forth between the two of them, to me, works. It's a little slow at times, and I think that there are some people who are going to watch this and go, I was bored. I get it. I was kind of locked into it, but I can understand that. But it's like the cat and mouse thing of how that's going to work in general. And by the time we get to the trial, are we locked in enough to say, okay, I am invested enough. I mean, obviously we're going to be invested in it because of the history and what we know and we want to see the bad guys lose. but there's a lot of stuff that I didn't know inside of this.

I mean, I was aware of the Nuremberg trials, but I wasn't as familiar of what actually happened with Herman Goring. And there are things in this movie that when you get to the end of it, you might not be as satisfied with maybe what you hope to happen because real life is real life. So I like that they went in that route, but there was a lot of times that I thought, again, the chemistry really worked. There were a lot of times I thought we maybe could have trimmed like 10 or 15 minutes,

but I enjoyed watching this movie. Now, is it the awards contender that maybe people were hoping for? I don't think so. What I will say is Russell Crow should be considered for Best Supporting Actor. He really, you see why he is as big of a star as he is and why he is. why he's as talented as he is. Michael Shannon's very good in the movie, too, but award nomination, I would say Russell Crow

is probably the performance to look at here. Overall, I'll go, let's say, let's say, I'm going to switch it up from the five point. I'm going to go to the 10. I'm going to go 7.8 out of 10 for Nuremberg. Thought this was a solid movie, good history lesson, at least for me in catching by World War II.

And if you're like World War II movies, I think you'll definitely like this. If you're not a big World War II movie fan, and this is more of a trial movie, more than anything else, there's not a lot of, you know, battle scenes and anything too. So just to be aware, there. Okay, so have you heard of this movie? Do you want to see this movie? Do you care?

Put your thoughts in there. Let me know. Very curious to hear your thoughts. All right, let's move on. This is one that's coming out soon. It actually comes out on December 19th. So a little early review here for everybody. And so I was getting people to say, hey, look, have you seen the trailer for Bradley Cooper, new directed piece is this thing on?

People are sending to me because I did a pilot back in the day. Jonathan used to show footage, pilot. And it is called Grasping at Straws. And it was essentially about this guy who was in his early 30s or shoot, late. 20s and he finds out his girlfriends are messing around with him, becomes a stand-up comedian, and finds his, finds his rhythm there. So people are like, hey, this is very similar, not similar at all, except the fact that it's a stand-up comedy in general. And Bradley Cooper directs this one, Will Arnett is the star of this one. And he's a guy in his early 50s,

who is on basically separating with his wife, played by Laura Dernet. and during that time he discovers stand-up comedy. It's not, so it's not based in the comedy club itself. There are scenes in the comedy club, but it's really about this guy coming to grips with who he is, understanding stuff about himself, understanding stuff about his wife, the relationship itself.

It reminded me more of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind than it did anything than I did. And when I say that, not as far as style and premise, but more so in this really portrays, what a real relationship is. And that's what Bradley Cooper is able to do with this. And Will Arnett, who, I'm not a fan

of Will Arnett. I've just never been like, okay, oh, man, Will Arnett's this. I can't wait to check it out. Will Arnett is phenomenal in this. This is the best I've ever seen him. I've become a fan of Will Arnett because of this movie. Because it is on him to take you through the journey of this guy to say, all right,

Here's a guy, and they mentioned this a few times, and I think this is what's really good in the writing, that the character of Alex Novak was a guy that in his early years was the life of the party, the funniest guy in the room, and just became sad. And it wasn't necessarily because of who he married. It was just the choices and things that life brought upon him, and maybe he didn't accomplish in his life and other things. and he became sad. Laura Dern is an ex-Olympic volleyball player, Tess Novak, and she is also going through some struggles and other things within herself.

And as they were, again, very good in the writing showing how they were able, they were the couple, and everybody thought that they would be the couple that stayed together forever. Well, that's not the case. They're dealing with this split up. They're dealing with not being happy and understanding they're going to, it was nothing that either one of them did.

It was just one of the time. It's just not working out. So they're both going on their journey. But it's Will Arnette that you've got to watch go through this idea of going, okay, you know what? He goes out. And I think he goes to get a drink one night. He's got to either has to pay to get into this club or he's got to sign up to do the open mic. So he signs up to do the open mic.

And when he's there, he discovers, hey, I like to do this. And I also like what I really dug about it is when he, and from someone who did stand up comedy for a very long time and watching how open mics and other things work, I was right away using going, okay, let's see how real this is. He didn't go up there.

He wasn't the funniest guy in the club. Just because you're funny in the room doesn't mean you're going to be hilarious, but he had presents and he knew how to, and he was developing things. And even the comedians are telling him, you're terrible stand-up comedian, but you're trying and you're going there. And he catches the bug,

and you see that and you understand it. And I understood it as performing for as long as I did, saying, okay, this is real to me. As they're in the comedy cellar and they're discussing and there's great, there's good cameos like David Tell shows up in there too and the vibe of the comedy club. And you can tell that Bradley Cooper really is like got his claws into New York now, which I love. There's shots of like Grand Central as they're moving through and they're passing through Grand Central. And there's inside the comedy club and he really brings it to life. And you can see that. And there's also some really great performances that play into the relationship side of it that build out their friend circle, whether it's Andrew Day, Sean Hayes.

And then there's the family side of it where Kieran Hines and Christine Ebersoll play Willer and its parents. And his mother is more on the side of his ex-wife than he is, she is of his. and the father's basically saying, okay, just get things together. There's really nice moments between Kieran Hines and Will Arnett, and there's just, it just feels real. And Bradley Cooper also plays a role in this where he's the only one you could tell. And I said this the other day on the show. He did this role to put a little bit more Star Power and Flair into it.

you could have put someone else in this role. This role didn't need Bradley Cooper. It was nice to see him when he showed up in it, but he did it because I'm in the movie. I won't get really paid for this, but I'll help elevate it when, because you like to see Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper going back and forth.

You know, there's not a lot of, like, huge, big action. There's a couple times when Will Arnett's on stage, and it feels almost like, moments of punchline, we're like, ooh, that guy, if that actually happened, I don't know if they'll ever ask him back. But it's a movie, so they move past it. The relationship with his kids works very well.

There are times, and I think that this was on purpose, where you're like, Laura Dern's character, Tess Novak, is, there's something that Willernett does for her. And you know, it's a sweet moment, and she's not happy with it. And what are you talking about? but then when she explains herself, like, oh, I get it.

I get it, but I don't agree with you, but I get it. I think they do that very well. So this was solid. This is a very solid movie. I'll go, let's go back into the five scale, and I'll go 4.4, 4.4 out of 5 for is this thing on. I like being in this world as well. So do you guys want to check this one out? Yes, no.

Put your thoughts in there and let me know. Okay, so before we move on, I think I'm going to cover maybe, I'll cover one more. Maybe one, maybe two, I don't know, we'll see. But before we do, I want to tell you guys about our friends over at Masterclass, which I have told you guys about Masterclass before. I'm going to tell you about Ruggiette, and then they'll be right back. Here you go. I'm not going to lie to it.

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All right, here's another one. And again, this is, now, if I do these specials, in general, these review specials, I don't know if we'll cover as many movies as I am today because I, there was a few in the first one that I haven't covered that's already been out before. This one's been out for a little bit. And that, of course, is the latest from Yorgos, Lathamos, which is, of course, Bagonia. This one stars once again, Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbus, in this crazy movie. And if you don't know what it is, two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnapped the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she's an alien intent of destroying planet Earth. So the movie is bonkers, as you would assume that it would be, because it's Jargo's.

and this movie to me, there is some, let's go with the negatives first once again. I found it, and maybe it's because I know his movies now, I found it predictable. When it started, I was like, well, I'm pretty sure this is going to wind up happening, and it does. And then once you get to that actual moment, it goes so far into that cuckoo-cuchoo thing

that I was like, this is one of the reasons. And I will tell you right now. And you're going to go, okay, I can't take you serious right now because I loved the lobster. I did not love the lobster. I didn't love the sacred deer. I didn't even finish it. Loved poor things.

Loved the favorite. So this one to me, I was, what I really loved about it, Emma Stone's performance, Jesse Plymouth's performance, the lead up, when they capture her, the way that it shot in general, the chemistry that they all have, all of that was great. I think you got to really be on board

with all of the reveals conversations by the time you get to the end of it to really be on board fully with the movie. I'll also, Aidan Delbus as Don, who is, I believe, Teddy, Jesse Plumman's cousin in the movie is also wonderful. The two things that they have together

and how Teddy's, convincing Don said, look, this is all this of this woman, we're convinced. It's an alien invasion. She's an alien. We've got to get her. My mom told me so. Her mom is played by Alicia Silverstone. Loves seeing her back, which she had a little bit more to do.

But it's also brutal. The movie can be brutal at times, graphic at times. Definitely a dark comedy for sure. And that's the type of stuff. I did like the way that it was unraveled. I think it's just a matter for me of overall the story, right? And it's like where I was going and where I was. And sometimes that happens to you, right?

You're watching like, oh, okay. Well, if this happens, then if they do it the right way, then I'll be on board. If this happens or it doesn't happen, or they fool me, I'll really be on board. Or sometimes it's like, maybe this is going to happen and it doesn't happen. They go completely different direction. Like, oh, that was terrible. I wish that would happen. Or they go, oh, this is exactly what's going to happen.

and then they do it in a way you're like, eh, that's how I felt at the end. It's not a matter of how it was shot. It's not a matter of how it was directed. The guy is brilliant. And it's one of those things where I'm always going to check out his latest movie because of what poor things did. It's so funny because I have such a weird relationship with a lot of his movies.

Like sometimes I'll be watching it. I'm like, oh, I'm so in, I'm so in, I'm so in. And I'm like, that's this movie. But then you look at poor things where I'm like, I'm going to turn this off. I can't even. And then it's one of my favorite movies of the year. So I love how he makes me feel as a film.

Him is a filmmaker. I love the way he makes me feel. I love the continued adventures that he makes me go on every time I watch on him as movies. So that alone, to me, it's worth a watch. It's definitely worth a watch because you might feel exactly opposite. I love the way they played this at the end. And you might wind up coming out of it going, that was great. Emma Stone will probably get nominated.

for this role. Jesse Plymouth should get nominated for this role. His role is Teddy and you, he's, you've got to either really hate Teddy or really be on board with Teddy. And he does both of those things in this. Aiden Delbus is done. You fall in love with him. He's, he, he really do. He's just so, so solid in the role. And Emma Stone, you ask her, she can really do, there's really not much she can do wrong. And she shows it in this one. And, and what they're able to do their back and forth as Michelle and Teddy Emma Stone, Jesse Plemings, she's got to talk to him, convince him certain things, and then, you know, manipulate, maybe not manipulate, maybe just try for survival. It's, it's done very,

very well. So overall, I'll go, um, a 3.6 out of five for Bagonia. Did you guys see this one? Did you like this one? Did you not like this one? Put your thoughts in there. Let me know. That's my review show today. That's what I got. That's what I got for you guys today. So I hope you liked it. If you liked it, maybe, you know, when it comes to when we don't do some live shows, maybe we'll do something like this.

Have a great holiday. I am done for the week in regards to live shows. Now, Friday, we'll still do a live show, but Winston and Chris Carr will be on that show. I will most likely have some reactions coming out. I know that we got kindergarten cop coming out. I know that we have the town with myself and Ming coming out. I am going to have stranger things reactions very, very soon with my lovely wife, Sadie. So there will be things that are coming out over the course of the next couple of days.

But as far as live, I'll be back on Monday. Winston and Chris will be here on Friday. So subscribe to this channel, click, like, comment. Please let me know if you like this format, if you want to see some more review stuff, because I like doing it. Thanks, guys. I appreciate it, and we'll see you on the flip side.