エピソード

  • The Naked Gun (feat. Lauren Robinson of Beer'd Al Podcast)
    2025/04/18
    Franchise Detours is back on the case with a brand-new mega-series on the hilariously offbeat journey of The Naked Gun trilogy. Of course, we’re starting with the David Zucker-directed 1988 original that turned Leslie Nielsen’s Frank Drebin into a slapstick legend.

    Lauren Robinson of the Beer’d Al Podcast returns to the show to break down why this deadpan detective remains one of comedy’s greatest characters and how his absurd antics helped shape the comedic sensibilities of a generation.

    From banana peels to baseball games, The Naked Gun is packed with quotable one-liners, ridiculous sight gags, and wall-to-wall parody that redefined spoof comedy. And of course, we’ll touch on The Naked Gun’s connection to another comedy icon: Weird Al Yankovic.

    Whether you’re a lifelong Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker fan or just discovering Frank Drebin for the first time ahead of the 2025 edition starring Liam Neeson, this episode delivers all the chaos, charm, and unyielding silliness you could ask for.

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    1 時間 4 分
  • 'Elvira: Mistress of the Dark' / 'Elvira's Haunted Hills' (feat. Kai Yaniz)
    2024/10/29
    Few characters capture the essence of camp and horror quite like Elvira. With her signature style and irreverent humor, Cassandra Peterson's sultry and sarcastic creation has reigned supreme as a perennial fan favorite. This beloved pop culture phenomenon even headlined two movies. As spooky season winds down, Kai Yaniz joins Franchise Detours to discuss 1988's Elvira: Mistress of the Dark and Elvira's Haunted Hills from 2001. We'll discuss how the character evolved from improv comedy into a global sensation, why Elvira's first movie still packs such a punch, and how she represents a type of stardom that has all but vanished in today's world. While Elvira: Mistress of the Dark emerged as a cult classic—following Elvira as she inherits a dilapidated mansion in a conservative town—Elvira's Haunted Hills is far more under-seen. But is this tribute to classic horror tropes set in the Carpathian Mountains worth digging up? Or should fans simply revisit Elvira's film debut? Give our chat a listen to find out.
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    1 時間 33 分
  • 'Creed III' (feat. film critic Kevin the Critic)
    2024/10/20
    It all ends here. After nearly five decades and nine films, the world of Rocky Balboa — and, by extension, Adonis Creed — comes to a close. Of course, there's still more in the works from these beloved fighters. But until we learn more about Creed IV's development or whatever Amazon has in store for Rocky fans, this marks the final round of our Rocky/Creed mega-series. Kevin the Critic joins us for our final punch, as we talk 2023's Creed III from star and first-time director Michael B. Jordan. We'll discuss how the movie sees Adonis' forge his own path, what new antagonist Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors) brings to the franchise, and where we hope to see the Creed family saga go with the now-in-development fourth entry.
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    1 時間 27 分
  • 'Creed II' (feat. Jason of Binge Movies)
    2024/10/11
    Congratulations! You've successfully relaunched the Rocky series for a whole new generation, perfectly encapsulating what made the franchise great while updating it for a modern sensibility. So, now what? Where is a sequel to a legacy sequel to go next? That's the task ahead for Creed II. With Steven Caple Jr. stepping in for Ryan Coogler as director, the second film follows Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) as he claims the title, only to find the past creeping its way back. None other than Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) — who killed Donnie's father in the ring — and his boxer son Viktor (Florian Munteanu) reappear with a showdown in mind. Jason of Binge Movies joins Franchise Detours to discuss 2018's Creed II for an epic-length chat. We'll cover whether the film is helped or hindered by its ties to 1985's Rocky IV, how it undermines its theme of fathers and sons, and if it serves as a fitting final appearance for Sylvester Stallone's Rocky. This may be the swan song for "The Italian Stallion" on the big screen. So join us for a heart-wrenching journey through the entire Rocky franchise to date. Next up? The most recent entry, 2023's Stallone-less Creed III!
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    1 時間 49 分
  • 'Creed' (feat. The Lady-Wan of Screen Run)
    2024/10/04
    After Rocky Balboa restored the franchise to its former glory — winning back fans and critics who were left cold after Rocky V — it really had seemed like this time the world had seen the last of Sylvester Stallone's iconic character. But that was before director Ryan Coogler got involved. Coogler is now best known for the cultural phenomenon that was Black Panther, but he had made only one feature film when he stepped into the director's chair for 2015's Creed. Moreover, the film was to star frequent Coogler's Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan, coming off of Fant4stic, opposite Stallone's seventh round as the retired champ himself. The Lady-Wan of Screen Run joins Franchise Detours to discuss how its director and star went the distance with 2015's Creed . We'll discuss how the film honors the previous Rocky films, why it needs to earn its place within the beloved franchise, and whether it's the best legacy sequel ever made.
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    1 時間 3 分
  • 'Rocky Balboa' (feat. film critic Phoenix Clouden)
    2024/09/27
    While the story started by Rocky had seemingly come to a close, Sylvester Stallone's dissatisfaction with the fifth film — and perhaps the declining state of his own career — led him to consider bringing his signature character back for just one more fight. And thus, he returned to write, direct and star in Rocky Balboa, released 30 years after the first film. Film critic Phoenix Clouden joins us to discuss 2006's Rocky Balboa, the film which defied the odds to earn critical acclaim and box office success. We'll discuss how the film handles the absence of Talia Shire's Adrian, why it feels like a necessary project for both Rocky and Stallone alike, and where it feels the door open for the character's return nearly a decade later in Creed. We'll also delve into the film’s thematic elements, such as aging and legacy. Serving as both a conclusion to Rocky's story and a fresh entry point for a new generation, we'll discuss how Rocky Balboa encapsulates the film’s message of perseverance. Join us for an engaging discussion celebrating the enduring spirit of one of cinema’s most beloved characters.
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    1 時間 10 分
  • 'Rocky V' (feat. Pete of Middle Class Film Class)
    2024/09/20
    With Rocky IV taking the franchise to new commercial heights, the film represented, in some ways, the biggest victory yet for both writer/director/star Sylvester Stallone and his fictional counterpart. However, that success — which saw the scale of the franchise expand to international levels — might have set unfair expectations for the future. Enter Rocky V. On one hand, the return of the original film's director, John G. Avildsen, signaled a return to Rocky's roots as an underdog, as the champ finds himself back in the neighborhood and searching for relevance. But audiences and critics at the time didn't appreciate this seemingly more downbeat approach, perhaps sensing the magic of the series was missing. Pete of Middle Class Film Class joins us to discuss what was once intended as the finale of the Rocky series, 1990's Rocky V. We'll discuss whether the film deserves its lackluster reputation, how it inadvertently sets up subsequent movies, and why the surprise addition of one cast member carries so much weight. So lace up those gloves and join our discussion.
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    1 時間 8 分
  • 'Rocky IV' (feat. Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind)
    2024/09/13
    If Rocky III marks the promise of how the franchise could grow beyond the championship belt, then the next film arguably shows its limitations. With star Sylvester Stallone again serving as writer and director, Rocky IV sees the iconic cinematic hero facing his most devastating blow yet, sending him all the way to Russia to represent his country on a quest for vengeance. Ryan Luis Rodriguez of One Track Mind joins us to discuss 1985's Rocky IV, a film that remains the biggest worldwide box office hit in the Rocky/Creed franchise. We'll discuss why the film is the most dated installment of the series, how it underutilizes one of its most charismatic stars, and the 2021 release of Stallone's Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago – The Ultimate Director's Cut. Although Rocky IV has more than its share of defenders, this is often the point where many film franchises start to falter. With an established storytelling formula and a generally intimate focus on a handful of main characters, how does Rocky IV manage to keep the title character in the cinematic ring? And where does it key up the 1990 flop that was Rocky V?
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    1 時間 14 分