Remarkably Bright Creatures

Summary

Crime Writers On... – "Remarkably Bright Creatures" (May 25, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of Crime Writers On... brings together hosts Rebecca Lavoie, Kevin Flynn, Lara Bricker, and Toby Ball for a roundtable review of the Netflix adaptation of Remarkably Bright Creatures, a film based on the bestselling novel. Blending cozy mystery, emotional drama, and a dash of magical realism, the film is discussed through the Crime Writers' unique lens—balancing literary adaptation, performance critique, genre expectations, and their trademark banter.

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Main Discussion: From Book to Screen

The Premise

• The film revolves around Tova, a grieving cleaning lady at a small-town aquarium, Cameron, a cash-strapped young man searching for his biological father, and Marcellus—a wise, observant, and emotionally astute giant Pacific octopus (voiced by Alfred Molina).
• Marcellus narrates segments of the film, offering whimsical and sardonic commentary and—crucially—holds the key to both Tova and Cameron’s emotional mysteries.

“Marcellus may be just an octopus, but he's very observant of what's happening around him.” — Rebecca Lavoie (04:18)

Adaptation: Book vs. Film

• Rebecca is the only panelist who read the book; she notes significant changes in the adaptation:
  • The book leans more into mystery and investigation, with Marcellus solving small puzzles using octopus-specific abilities (scent, touch, observation).
  • The film shifts focus to emotional stakes and cozy drama, dialing down the “mystery” in favor of relationships and healing.
  • Sensory experiences and the octopus’s quasi-detective powers are more deeply explored in the novel.

“The octopus is very, very funny and solves a lot of small mysteries along the way... It's all sensory. It's fingerprints, which they say he could see, but they didn't really get into that [in the movie].” — Rebecca Lavoie (10:13)

• Differences in the portrayal of Tova's son's death: more ambiguous in the book; clearer in the film.

The “Cozy” Factor

• Lara Bricker: Loved the film’s coziness and emotional comfort; watched it twice and compared it to an “octopus hug with suckers.” (06:51)
• Toby Ball: Struggled with the magical realism and the octopus’s knowledge (“It kind of just felt like the octopus was, like, somewhat psychic or omniscient…,” 08:03) but acknowledges the effect is more organic in the novel.
• Kevin Flynn: Noted the film is less of a detective story and more about the emotional journey.

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Key Themes and Insights

On Grief, Aging, and Home

• The film quietly confronts issues of aging, loss, chosen family, and the idea of “home.”
• Sally Field’s performance as Tova is highlighted as deeply relatable and emotionally resonant.

“She was very relatable... kind of like a portrait in grief and loss and aging and your sense of home.” — Lara Bricker (16:32)

• Both Cameron's quest and Tova’s grappling with her son’s death circle the longing for belonging and meaning.

Representation of Older Characters

• The panel—particularly Lara—welcomes the spotlight on an older female protagonist, free of the usual ageist tropes:
  • Tova is “take charge” and complex, “bossy” in an endearing, authentic way.
  • Praise for Sally Field’s ability to channel grief, humor, and leadership.

“It’s nice to see an older actor in a role... given the spotlight in this way, where ageism isn’t at play.” — Lara Bricker (17:16)

Corniness, Cliché, But Emotional Punch

• Several panelists point out the plot’s predictability and the sentimental, even saccharine, tone.
• The “chosen family” narrative is explicit (and, per Kevin, successfully held as a twist rather than a foregone conclusion).
• Lara and Kevin acknowledge being moved, even surprised, by emotional payoffs—despite seeing the solution coming.

“I felt like, yes, there was some cliche here...but at the end of the day...we all need a little of this in our life.” — Laura Bricker (41:29)

“It kind of fooled me… in the end it’s like, oh, it’s very obvious. But they effectively held that off long enough… more powerful at the end.” — Kevin Flynn (30:05)

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Technical Aspects: Special Effects

• The CGI octopus is deemed effective, if not flawless:
  • “You’re never really under the impression that it’s a real octopus but it’s close enough,” says Toby (25:04).
  • Kevin and Rebecca praise the physics and integration of practical effects, citing only rare moments where disbelief had to be suspended.

“I wasn’t—the physics of it wasn’t cartoonish… It didn’t take away from me.” — Kevin Flynn (25:47)

• Comparisons to poor CGI in other pop culture (“fake big cats” in the Joe Exotic series) and mentions of rubber props from Spencer’s Gifts for comic effect.

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Pop Culture Tangents: Octopus in Film and Book Club Appeal

• The panel riff on the “octopus genre” on Netflix, referencing My Octopus Teacher (a favorite of Toby’s) and The Shape of Water.
• Laugh-out-loud moment: confusion over whether My Octopus Teacher features sex with an octopus—a misconception quickly dispelled (12:32).
• Rebecca discusses why the book is such a book club darling: universal themes (grief, family, the meaning of home), metaphorical richness (water, loss), and relevant class commentary.

“There’s this one level of money that people don’t talk about...that’s the stuff that really did it for me.” — Rebecca Lavoie (36:48)

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Notable Quotes

• “It was like being wrapped in a warm octopus hug with suckers.”—Laura Bricker (06:51)
• “It’s the most fun you can have with an octopus without fucking it.”—Kevin Flynn (43:24)
• “I was confused about what octopi do.”—Toby Ball (07:38)
• “If Sally Field can make even me choke up about a dying fake CGI animal, then...well done.” —Rebecca Lavoie (44:23)
• “You kind of are in a club called the Nitwits—the four of us.”—Kevin Flynn (28:07)
• “No, no, I mean, that's fine. I think...those things are popular for a reason. There's a lot of people who like that stuff. I just don't happen to.” —Toby Ball (42:31)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|-------| | 01:42 – 04:00 | Introductions, overview of Remarkably Bright Creatures film and premise | | 06:35 – 11:14 | Book vs. film differences: depth of mystery, octopus POV, sensory abilities | | 16:04 – 18:06 | Sally Field’s performance, representation of aging, and character relatability | | 25:00 – 27:33 | CGI Octopus: effectiveness and comic riff on special effects | | 28:01 – 30:29 | Nitwits knitting club, “corniness,” and chosen family themes | | 34:27 – 37:51 | Book club appeal; themes of home, family, class, and adaptation choices | | 40:32 – 44:23 | Thumbs up/thumbs down final verdicts | | 44:23 – end | Crime of the Week segment, social media wrap-up |

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Panel Verdicts: Thumbs Up, Down, or Sideways?

• Laura Bricker: Big thumbs up – “the comfort movie we all need right now” (41:29)
• Toby Ball: Thumb sideways – not his genre, but recognizes it’s a superior cozy option for fans
• Kevin Flynn: Thumbs up – “moving, emotional, a little saccharine, but I liked that” (43:24)
• Rebecca Lavoie: Mild thumbs up – prefers the book, but Sally Field’s performance redeems the movie

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Memorable Moments & Running Gags

• Hilarious confusion over octopus-related movies and awkward jokes about “octopus sex” (My Octopus Teacher, Shape of Water) (12:32, 13:22)
• Toby’s mock exasperation at Sally Field saying “Marcellus” repeatedly (31:32)
• Recurrent jokes about the podcast team being their own “Nitwits” knitting club (28:07)
• Kevin’s “most fun you can have with an octopus without fucking it” quote and riffing on fake CGI animals (43:24)
• “Crime of the Week” features a man towing a car with his penis while on fire—classic Crime Writers On… comedic closer (46:20)

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Final Thoughts

Crime Writers On... treats Remarkably Bright Creatures as both pop culture artifact and social mirror, digging into its emotional resonance, literary origins, and sometimes cloying sweetness. For viewers who want a gentle, cathartic story with strong performances (especially Sally Field), the panel mostly recommends the film as an antidote to “heavy” real-world media.

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To hear more, connect with the show:

• X (Twitter): @crimewriterson
• Facebook: facebook.com/crimewritersonpodcast
• Patreon for bonus content: patreon.com/partnersincrime

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Transcript

[Dan Cummins]

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[Lindsay Cummins]

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[Dan Cummins]

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[Rebecca Lavoy]

I'm Rebecca Lavoy and this is Crime Writers on. Crime Writers on is the original True Crime Review podcast that digs into true crime pop culture. Other podcasts and on this episode, Tova wants answers about her son's death. Cameron is searching for his father. Marcellus knows how to help both of them, even though he's a giant Pacific octopus. We'll talk about the Netflix film Remarkably Bright Creatures starring Sally Field and Lewis Pullman. Joining me to get that done and more is True Crime author, TV journalist and host of these Are Their Stories. My husband, love of my life, my own octopus that I have to live with. Kevin Flynn. Hello Kevin.

[Kevin Flynn]

Is it because I got so many arms? Yes, and I'm always On.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

You're always pansy.

[Kevin Flynn]

Look at this.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Always trying to put your suckers on

[Kevin Flynn]

my suckers on people.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Gross.

[Laura Bricker]

That's a little intimate.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Your big spiky tooth situation.

[Kevin Flynn]

Look at that. I'm reaching over.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Oh, my God.

[Kevin Flynn]

I found the squid.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Don't make it weird. Okay, also with us, private investigator, certified pet detective, resident cat lady, and author of the Final Curtain, it's Laura Bricker. Hello, Lara.

[Laura Bricker]

Hey, Rebecca.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

And finally, our captain of all things cynical, author of the City trilogy, host of Rip Current. More like Ancient Family and strange arrivals on our Patreon Deep Dive Book Club podcast, it's Toby Ball. Hola, Toby.

[Toby Ball]

Hey, Rebecca.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Sir Kevin.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

This is Monday's program.

[Kevin Flynn]

Cheers.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

What's coming up on Thursday's show.

[Kevin Flynn]

On Thursday, we're talking about a podcast that everybody seems to be talking about in our Facebook group. It's called Love Trapped.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes.

[Kevin Flynn]

Love Trapped. Yes, baby, Love Trapped. We're going to get a. Toby.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Loved it. Just FYI, spoiler alert. Loved it. Absolutely loved it.

[Kevin Flynn]

Tune in. Tune in Thursday.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Oh, gosh, it's so funny because I mentioned Love Trapped on a podcast fundraiser I was on on Sunday. And basically I was just telling somebody, like, you should not listen to this podcast. It's a little too close to home for you. And I'm getting all this inbound tooth people saying, like, oh, I'm so glad you recommended Love Trapped. I'm like, I didn't say I recommended Love Trapped. I just mentioned it by name in passing.

[Kevin Flynn]

Well, don't give it all away.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I'm not gonna spoil it.

[Kevin Flynn]

All right.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I won't spoil it.

[Toby Ball]

We live in a weird world.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

We do. We live in a very strange timeline, Toby.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah, that's what the octopi say.

[Toby Ball]

Yes.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah. Yes. All right, Kevin, should we talk about the film that we are here to discuss?

[Kevin Flynn]

Let's do it.

[Marcellus (Octopus Character)]

All right, leading off, day 1,401 of my captivity, a herd of third graders and their inept teacher here to learn about marine life and ruin my afternoon.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

This guy's name is Marcellus and he's a giant Pacific octopus. Kevin, stop licking the glass. Marcellus may be just an octopus, but he's very observant of what's happening around him. In the aquarium, Tova, the cleaning lady, is considering selling her home. And when she sprains her ankle, cash strapped Cameron takes a temp job helping clean.

[Toby Ball]

I did everything on the checklist. I did everything that Terry asked me to do.

[Marcellus (Octopus Character)]

It's all done.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

Look, but there's a right way and a wrong way of doing things.

[Toby Ball]

So, sorry, I don't mean this out of disrespect, but, like, this isn't really your job anymore. And so it's sort of my way.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

I see. I see, I see. Well, I guess then I have to tell Terry that the guy he hired to take over for me almost lost his octopus. I'll call him when I get home.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Marcellus can sense the deep sadness in each of them. Tova has questions about her son's mysterious death at sea. And Cameron has come to town to confront the rich father he never knew. But from inside his tank, Marcellus has the answers both are searching for.

[Marcellus (Octopus Character)]

Humans, for the most part, are dull and blundering. But occasionally, you can be remarkably bright creatures.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Remarkably Bright Creatures stars Sally Field, Lewis Pullman and Alfred Molina. The Netflix film keeps a little bit of the mystery and all of the emotion from the bestselling novel about an octopus who can see things in the people around him that they can't see for themselves. Spoiler alert. We're gonna be talking about plot points from Remarkably Bright Creatures. So if you wanna remain spoiler free, go to the estimated timecode in our show notes for our thumbs up or thumbs down reviews. Now, I believe I am the only one of the four of us who read this book.

[Kevin Flynn]

Right?

[Laura Bricker]

Right.

[Kevin Flynn]

I did not.

[Toby Ball]

I did not.

[Laura Bricker]

A lot of my friends read the book.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I listened to the audiobook of this book, which is so fucking good it's funny.

[Kevin Flynn]

You did it for your book club.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I know.

[Kevin Flynn]

Tonight Rebecca is missing the book club follow up where they're all gonna watch the movie, correct?

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Cause we're here. But the book is quite different than the film. Some of the essential elements are there in the book. The octopus is very, very funny and solves a lot of small mysteries along the way. So you get a lot of hints that he's a detective and you get a lot of hints that he has powers that we don't have. Which, by the way, powers that octopuses actually do have in real life. And I've never eaten octopus since reading the book and I never will after reading it. Anyway, just want to let you know the book is definitely more of a mystery than the movie.

[VRBO Advertiser]

Okay.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

So sorry, Kevin. I'm sorry that I said there was a mystery here.

[Kevin Flynn]

No, no, that's fine. I mean, there is a little bit of. It would have been, you know, it's not like Thursday Murder Club or whatever that is.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

Yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

But it is what it is, and so let's review it.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

All right, so Lara Was this cozy for you? Yes or no?

[Laura Bricker]

Yes. This was exactly what I needed at the point in life. I've watched it twice that I sat down to watch it. It's like being wrapped in a warm octopus hug when you're watching this movie with suckers. Yeah. It's cozy, it's comforting, it's gentle, Small stakes, but you're like, you know, it's. It's like, feel good, kind of restore your faith in humanity, kind of just. You don't have to think too hard. And you're like, oh, that was. That was so nice. And coming out of a long work period, it was exactly what I needed last Friday night when I got my doordash and watched this for the first time.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Hmm.

[Laura Bricker]

Toby Ball. Completely off.

[Kevin Flynn]

Toby Ball. Did you watch it? Two times.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Were you confused, Toby, about the fact that there was an octopus who was also a character in the story?

[Toby Ball]

I was confused about what octopus octopi do.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Pusses pie. I don't think you can say both.

[Toby Ball]

Like, you were. You said earlier that you thought that, like, in the book, like, all the stuff that the octopus does, the stuff that octopus PI. Really can do.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

You understand in the book, for instance, how he ends up understanding that people are related or not. There's a lot of context for that in the book, which is not here. Yeah.

[Toby Ball]

Does it explain, like, how he knows that Sally Field is home while he's dying in his cave underwater? I mean, it kind of just felt like the octopus was, like, somewhat psychic or omniscient. Yeah. I couldn't quite figure out, like, does he understand English? Does he understand what she's saying to him? I was a little bit confused. Like, what I. What I got was. It seemed like the person who wrote the book saw the same video that probably we all did of that octopus, like, escaping from its tank in the. What was it, the Miami Aquarium, where he slipped out through the thing was like, oh, this would be like, octopuses are cool. Maybe I can write a cool book about it. And, yeah, like, in this case, like, I don't know. I mean, it felt like it could have been a magic. Any kind of animal, because you didn't really get a sense of that. Any of this stuff was kind of specific. But there's like, this one scene where he, like, actually touches Sally Field. I don't know if he recoils, but he knocks her down. She sprains her ankle, and he says, you know, oh, I'm sorry I did that. But I was able to detect a hole in her heart.

[Marcellus (Octopus Character)]

My tug was instinctual because I felt the hole in her heart, her hidden affliction, the cleaning lady's heart. I must find a way to heal it. It's the least I can do to repay her for saving mine, which at

[Toby Ball]

the time I thought meant that she had, like, a literal hole in her heart and was probably gonna die of a heart attack. And I spent almost the entire Dr.

[Kevin Flynn]

Octopus, which also happens to be Alfred Molina.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

Yeah.

[Toby Ball]

So I was just, like, kind of worried the whole time that she's gonna have a heart attack, but in fact, it was just a metaphorical hole in her heart. But I couldn't figure out, like, why he would know that.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I might be remembering this wrong. But I think I remember that in the book, we don't actually know what happened to her son. Like, in this movie, it's basically clear that something happened to him on the water. Right. And in the book, it's like he's last seen on the water. We don't really know, but there's this whole thing where at one point he either sees or touches one of Sally Field's keys.

[Kevin Flynn]

Marcellus.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Marcellus does. And he remembers being in the ocean and he was actually crawled over the bones, and the key was with the kid. And he actually rem that the key is the same key. It's all sensory. It's fingerprints, which they say he could see, but they didn't really get into that. There's this one scene in the book where he immediately identifies as some guy who's yelling at his kid like it isn't really his kid because his wife must have fucked somebody else. He can do stuff with smell and fingerprints and stuff.

[Kevin Flynn]

So the world building is much bigger.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes.

[Toby Ball]

He can smell underwater stuff that's outside of the water.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah. There's a lot of sensory stuff in the book that I understand is based on stuff octopi can actually do. I don't know how specifically if they can tell the same two keys in a row, but, like, maybe they can. I don't know. But it's just explained better. It's explained better how he does this.

[Kevin Flynn]

And wasn't there more of a human mystery around what happened to the son? The son when he went out? It could have been a murder. It could have been.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Right.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes. It could have been a murder. He could have been missing. They just knew he was missing. I mean, that's the way I remember.

[Kevin Flynn]

They just decided to go right to the human story about the consequences, the pull on the.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes. And there was a whole thing, too, that I really loved where the boy Cameron in the book is super poor. And there's a lot of stuff in the book about class because Tova clearly has money like that. She just, you know, has. Because she's a boomer. And like boomers have money because they bought their houses for $12. And Cameron comes to town, he's got like $8 in his bank account. There's a lot of stress around that. Like the reader feels the financial pressure that he's feeling and the desperation and it's actually really well done. Kevin, that's actually Bill Pullman's son, right?

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Yep.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah, he was in. Oh, I don't know.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

He's in Top Gun. The Top Gun movie.

[Kevin Flynn]

No, you're thinking of Glen Powell. And I think both him and Glen Powell are going to be the faces actor faces of this decade.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Are you sure he wasn't in the Top Gun movie?

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah, that's Glen Powell.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Okay. He has a Glen Powell esque look.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah, he does. Yeah. Glen Powell was in. I think this is maybe your connection. Glen Powell was in the twister reboot whereas Bill Pullman was in the original twister. Does that make sense?

[Rebecca Lavoy]

No. Not Bill Pullman's son, right?

[Kevin Flynn]

Bill Pullman was in the original twister before Bill Pullman's son was probably born.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes.

[Kevin Flynn]

And fucked an octopus or something like that. I don't know. There's an octopus. No, I guess not.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Well, isn't my octopus teacher about a guy who fucked an octopus?

[Kevin Flynn]

It is.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

And that's.

[Laura Bricker]

No, that's the urban. What are you talking about? He didn't have sex with the octopus. An octopus teacher.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

My son told me. He said he leaves his family because he wants to fuck an octopus is actually what he told me.

[Toby Ball]

No, no.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I mean he doesn't leave his family because he wants to fucking octopus.

[Toby Ball]

No.

[Laura Bricker]

He's like a documentary maker.

[Toby Ball]

It's a super interesting mov.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

He falls in love with an octopus.

[Toby Ball]

He doesn't fall. He becomes emotionally attached to. I don't think he has romantic feelings towards the octopus. That is actually a great movie.

[Laura Bricker]

That's a good octopus movie that Toby likes.

[Toby Ball]

Yeah, that I highly recommend.

[Laura Bricker]

Part of the octopus genre on Netflix.

[Toby Ball]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Okay.

[Laura Bricker]

I bet there's a code for that.

[Toby Ball]

Out of the three octopus movies that you can watch on Netflix that is ranked number one.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

One of them is a cooking show about a eating an octopi. Japanese chef who makes octopi. Yes. One of them is the octopus fucking one. And then there's this.

[Toby Ball]

I thought that wasn't There didn't some movie win an Oscar for about a woman who wants to have sex with an octopus?

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah. There's a shape of water, which was also a cleaning lady who at night falls in love with a sea monster with something under the water. And I think there's fucking. I don't know.

[Toby Ball]

It's not an octopus.

[Laura Bricker]

That sounds like something in my.

[Kevin Flynn]

I think it's like Creature from the Black Lagoon developed by government scientists. I don't know. I didn't see it. I'm just picking up that vibe.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah. Got it.

[Toby Ball]

All right. Glad we straightened that out.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes. And I did a fact check and I was actually right. Lewis Pullman was in Top Maverick as

[Kevin Flynn]

well as Glen Powell.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Oh, Glenn.

[Kevin Flynn]

Len Powell was the Iceman.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

They could play brothers.

[Toby Ball]

Do they play the same person?

[Kevin Flynn]

That's why.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

So, Kevin.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

Yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

So everybody's been screaming at their phone.

[Toby Ball]

Yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

Okay.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

What about Sally Field? Kevin? What do you think about how she is. She still does. She still got it.

[Kevin Flynn]

The Flying Nun. Gidget.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

The girl from Smokey and the Bandit. Absolutely. Norma Rae.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Norma Rae, yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

How can we forget? She has a two time Oscar winner, right? That is. That is legendary.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

She went for Norma Rae.

[Kevin Flynn]

Norma Rae and Kim the Heart, Something like that.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah, that one about the heart.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah. And she was nominated for Lincoln as well. But I mean, just, you know, in all her Emmy Awards, whatever. I mean, just, she is like a national treasure.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

I think one of the police officers asked me if maybe. If maybe he hadn't tied the rope around his ankle and jumped. And then the gossip and the rumors and I just stopped listening.

[Kevin Flynn]

I mean, she's just so likable and always has been and so that makes her great for this role. I mean, again, I don't know if all the people reading the book envisioned her in this role. I think we brought up Thursday afternoon Murder Club or whatever.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes. Which was terrible.

[Kevin Flynn]

The movie was terrible. The book was great. Again, you have main characters of a certain age. Right. That and, you know, there are themes in both of these about like getting old and what does that mean and what is your place and whatnot. I don't know emotionally if like the actors who were in that could play the Tova role. Right. We know she's great at comedy, but like, she also brings to her emotional scenes a lot of depth.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

You don't think Helen Mirren is capable of bringing emotional depth?

[Kevin Flynn]

Well, how many Oscars does she mean? Dame Helen Mirren. Yeah. Okay. Okay, fine. But the other woman who likes the Jigsaw puzzle. Yeah. I mean, like, it's not. I don't know. I just. I think Sally Field is not an actress that, you know, I think about a lot and is in blockbusters. And you're like, oh, yeah, she's out there. She's great in this.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah, yeah. What did you think about Sally Field, Lara, are you a fan? I mean, have you seen her in lots of stuff?

[Laura Bricker]

Yeah. I appreciate it. I just watched Smokey and the Bandit and I love how quickly she changes out of that wedding dress in that when they're on the run. Did you watch it Twice.

[Toby Ball]

Did you just watch Smokey and the Bandit?

[Laura Bricker]

I did, because somebody was playing that song, that Eastbound and downloaded that Run, Smokey Run song. I was, like, really into it, so I was like, oh, yeah, that's gonna be my new theme song.

[Kevin Flynn]

So anyway, some bitch. Yeah, okay.

[Laura Bricker]

So, yeah, like, Sally Field's kind of the heart of this movie for me. She was very relatable and just kind of like a portrait in grief and loss and aging and your sense of home. And she reminded me of, like, people in my own life. She, you know, she was like this take charge. Like, she was bossy. Like, she's super freaking bossy when she takes the phone and sets him up on the date. And then, you know, they go off to try to find the first address from the phone book. You know, who they think Cameron's father might be. And it's the guy who brings out the gun and they hobble off and escape. And I guess the scene at the singing scene was not in the book. Rebecca.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

There wasn't a lot of Radiohead in the novel, in the book.

[Laura Bricker]

But I felt like it's nice to see an older actor in a role. That is something where they're given the spotlight in this way, where it's like ageism isn't at play in the way it's like, this is real. This feels real and relatable. And, you know, it feels like relatable.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

It's a talking octopus, for fuck's sakes.

[Laura Bricker]

I felt like. It felt very real and relatable to me, but in a way that, like, you're like, okay, yeah, I know there's a lot of cliche in this. I know I could see some of these things coming a mile away, but at the same time, I was like, you know, who can't relate to the person who's, you know, getting ready to move out of their house, but the house is the last place that she saw her son alive, and it's leaving you know, that way that we attach ourselves to physical things really, I think, is one of the other themes in this.

[eBay Advertiser]

Right.

[Kevin Flynn]

Can we forgive Sally Fieldo for her performance in Not Without My Daughter and don't leave home. Not without our Patreon? Oh, Kevin, if you join us at patreon.com partnersincrimedia. Yeah, we'll forgive you for that. But you can go eastbound and down with exclusive content like the crime writers on After Show. Our advice show Married with Podcasts. In the latest episode, Rebecca and I give our hot takes on sexless marriage.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes.

[Kevin Flynn]

Wait a minute. We didn't bring that up. Someone asked about it.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

For once.

[Kevin Flynn]

For once.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

For once you didn't bring it up.

[Kevin Flynn]

My hot take is not great, Bob. Not great. Something's off is Rebecca's true crime show.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

My take was if that's what you're into, completely fine.

[Kevin Flynn]

That's what you're into.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Maybe, maybe the person was like, thoughts on my awesome sexless marriage? You never know.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah, yeah. Maybe you just want to have a plutonic relationship with a septopod. Did I get that right, science people?

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Is it an octopod?

[Kevin Flynn]

An octopod?

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I mean, isn't Septopod 7?

[Toby Ball]

Yeah, it's an octopus who lost the leg.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes.

[Toby Ball]

The sexiest kind.

[Kevin Flynn]

Excellent. The sexiest kind.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

The most sympathetic kind.

[Kevin Flynn]

Now on Something's Off. Rebecca gets drunk and then watches classic cross examinations. And the last one was when she watched the testimony from the Karen Reid trial of Trooper Paul.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Trooper Paul. Physics. Properties of physics.

[Kevin Flynn]

So Rebecca gets drunk and gives her hot takes on the biggest disaster of testimony in the history of.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

That's a members only, by the way. YouTube. That's a members only experience, but we've made it available for you on Patreon as the audio version of it. And you can hear me do literal spit takes.

[Kevin Flynn]

Amazing.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

It's very exciting.

[Kevin Flynn]

Other exclusive content includes Toby Ball's Deep Dive book club podcast. Toby, the last book you just talked about is called Chaos and it does not describe this movie, but it does describe Charles Manson.

[Toby Ball]

Yep, there's a lot of chaos going on with that guy.

[Kevin Flynn]

And another exclusive podcast that you will get at the brichter scale level is Laura Bricker's Leave it to Bricker podcast. And speaking of chaos. Condo chaos.

[Laura Bricker]

Condo chaos. Yeah, they're doing a walk around in my development now after the last condo board meeting, and I'm all over this.

[Kevin Flynn]

What is a walk around?

[Laura Bricker]

So many complaints have been made about lack of maintenance that they've had to form a special committee to do a walk around.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Wow.

[Laura Bricker]

Look at things. But it's just like that documentary Neighbors that we watched earlier this year.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

Wow.

[Kevin Flynn]

But in my life, I can't wait for that. If you join us at the let's do what we do level, you get episodes of Crime Writers on early and ad free. And if you join us as a deep diver, you get to be an official sponsor of Toby Ball's Deep Dive Book Club podcast. Toby, what's the next book that everybody should be boning up on?

[Toby Ball]

They should be boning up on the Other side of Prospect, which is about a murder in New Haven, but also sort of about class and race issues in New Haven, both historically and now.

[Kevin Flynn]

All right, get all [e-mail] partnersincrimemedia and one other thing or two of the things we always talk about it. But please sign up for our newsletter.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

It's free.

[Kevin Flynn]

It's absolutely free. Comes out on Thursday, and you'll get summaries of what we talked about. You're gonna get to see the cat of the week, links to the crime of the week, the post of the week crime Riders on merch. It's the only place that you can get a hat or a sweatshirt that says tugato es elegante.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Tugato es elegante.

[Kevin Flynn]

It's a big hit.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

That means your cat is elegant. For those who don't speak espanol.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah. And join our Facebook group. It's a really cool place. I'm always surprised that there are still people who've been around and have not joined yet, and they're, like, just getting around to it. I thought we had everybody that would ever come. Yeah, it keeps growing. It's a really cool place.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

All right, Kevin does. Thus end our business section.

[Kevin Flynn]

Thus ends the business section.

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[Rebecca Lavoy]

So Kevin, who's the sponsor of this fine podcast?

[Kevin Flynn]

Oh, we're sponsored by Quince.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Shut up.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah. Summer is the perfect time to rethink the clothes that you've been reaching for every day. Take all those clothes that you bought from Quince in the winter, all those nice sweaters, you put them to one side of the closet or in a different and you bring out all of last year's linens. Get the new ones to add to it.

[Sugar Bee Apple Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

Rebecca, what have you recently purchased quints?

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Well, you know I love a linen shirt.

[Laura Bricker]

Yes.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

And I have a couple of Quince linen shirts. The European linen I love. The dark blue with the white stripes is my favorite one. I have a white one. I've got a pink one. I've got a solid blue one. They are the most versatile, cute shirts. I wear it over a bathing suit. I wear it out to dinner. We were on vacation, remember? I wore a linen shirt every day.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yes.

[Sugar Bee Apple Advertiser]

Yes.

[Kevin Flynn]

And in fact for that vacation you purchased me two pairs of swimming trunks.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes.

[Kevin Flynn]

Bathing suit, whatever you call it.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

Yes.

[Kevin Flynn]

And I'll say that ladies, that if you purchase one for your man, be sure to get the short one. Get the short one. Tell them you're not an 80s surfer, you don't need it down to your knees. Look great, look elevated and save money. And by the way, quints is not just about clothing. It's your destination. For elevated essentials across the home, kitchen, bedding and beyond.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to quince.com crime for free shipping on your order and 365 day return. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com crime for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com crime

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[Rebecca Lavoy]

Toby, what'd you think about the CGI octopus in this film? Do you think it worked.

[Toby Ball]

I mean, if I looked at this 10 years ago, I would have been like, holy shit.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

How do they get that octopus to do that?

[Kevin Flynn]

Octopus wrangler.

[Toby Ball]

You know, I think it's easy to get jaded about CGI stuff, but, you know, you're never really under the impression that it's a real octopus. But it's close enough that you don't really have to suspend that much belief, you know, I mean, you can kind of just go with it. So I. I didn't mind it. Like, there's times when there's CGI stuff and I'm like, you gotta be freaking kidding me. But this, I thought, was pretty good. That was not a hurdle I had to get across. Was sort of accepting, really, octopus. Why did other people, like. I. I maybe am not that discerning about the.

[Laura Bricker]

I liked it.

[Marcellus (Octopus Character)]

Yeah.

[Toby Ball]

Yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

I have to say, I have a note about that, too. It's like, we don't get to talk about special effects a lot, but. Yeah, I also. I thought the octopus was well done. I mean, I wasn't. The physics of it wasn't cartoonish, which always gives it away. It moved like an actual octopus. And at least to the extent that we, as jaded viewers don't really expect a real octopus to be shot when it does something on cue. It didn't take away from me. Right, right. It wasn't like the fake big cats from the Joe Exotic movie that they did with Kate McKinnon.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Okay, the Kate McKinnon one.

[VRBO Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

They just. They took dogs. No, they took dogs and then they just CGI'd them to be. Yeah, yeah. Because certain dogs have sort of the same bone structure as, you know.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Did we talk about that?

[Kevin Flynn]

I don't know if we talked about it, but that was very obvious what they did, you know, it didn't take away. I'll just say that the.

[Toby Ball]

Or like Davey and Goliath, that little pony.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Oh, Davey. Davey's a dog. Not a pony.

[Toby Ball]

Whatever the fuck he was, right?

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Davey the dog.

[Belgard Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah. No, I think Davey is definitely dog. The one thing, the cgi. There's one trick, one little scene in the film where I was like, that's fucking impressive. When the CGI octopus was tangled up in a cable and she had to, like, pull the cable off. And I was like, okay, I'm waiting for the cutaway so we don't have to see. But it was like very long puppetry.

[Kevin Flynn]

I mean, there's some practical effects, too. You know, they mix it in, you know.

[Lowe's Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Toby Ball]

When she's picking up the octopus and putting them in the bucket. I assume that had to be like, something real.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Puppet.

[Toby Ball]

Yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

I've been to Spencer's Gifts.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

And so they do make rubber snakes and similar shit. That looks really good.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Really?

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah. So they. And Pooh. Yeah. They definitely could have had a fake puppet octopus back then.

[Toby Ball]

Do you think they got their octopus at Spencer Gifts?

[Laura Bricker]

Yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah.

[Laura Bricker]

Along with the edible underwear.

[Toby Ball]

They saved some money after they hired all that talent.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

The black light that we would shine on Lara's cat blanket if we were in college and it would make it glow during our party.

[Belgard Advertiser]

Yes.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah.

[eBay Advertiser]

Yes.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

So, Lara, there is a lot of, let's just say, corny stuff in this film.

[Laura Bricker]

Yes. Yes.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

There's a romance with that guy Colm. What's his face, who was in Star the Next Generation with the Grateful Dead.

[Laura Bricker]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

His name is Col Meanie there is the Nitwits. I like that little knitting group. Why do you like them?

[Laura Bricker]

I like their name. Like, I think it's fun. I'd like to be in a club called the Nitwits. When I'm that old. I think it's kind of funny.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I sort of like.

[Kevin Flynn]

You kind of are in a club called the Nitwits, the four of us.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah. I sort of liked how when they had the old people getting together, they all just talked shit about other people, which is exactly what old people do.

[Kevin Flynn]

It's what people do.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

It's just what people do. Sort of like that incredible mahjong mystery series of videos.

[VRBO Advertiser]

Lara.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

But what about this sort of central corniness of these two people who come from very different worlds, learning that they are, in fact, related, that Cameron is, in fact, Sally Field's grandson.

[Laura Bricker]

We knew this was coming. It was like Kevin didn't.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Just FYI.

[Kevin Flynn]

I'll explain. Go ahead, Go ahead, Lara.

[Laura Bricker]

Well, it's. It's. I. I didn't totally know it was coming, but then it happened. I was like, oh, yeah. And then I was like. Then I watched it a second time. I was like, oh, yeah. So it's like. But it's like I felt like, yes, there was some cliche here. Here's the. The woman who's missing her son who is thinking of leaving her home. And here's the young guy who doesn't have a home, who needs a mother. And the theme of home and chosen family versus blood family. And I'm like. And in this case, they became chosen family before they became blood family. And that's like the ideal situation. It was a Little much. When the octopus got the look at Toby's face, got the ring from the eel and left it in the bucket after he was freed to go back to his home. And then she.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

You cried, Lara. You know you cried.

[Laura Bricker]

Oh, I did cry. I was like, oh, I can't leave

[Supporting Character/Voice]

here, this is my home. But I know, I know I have to let you go home. We both know you didn't want to end up here. But I'm so glad Terry saved you because you saved me.

[Laura Bricker]

I'm not crying this time because this is a bit much, but I appreciated it because we consume a lot of a difficult media and the world is a really crazy place right now. So if we can have an. Whatever this was, two hours of cliche octopus happy, good feelings. I'm going for it.

[Kevin Flynn]

I'm gonna say it kind of fooled me.

[Laura Bricker]

Were you surprised, Kevin?

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah. Like in the end it's like, oh, it's very obvious. But you're right, it's set up like it's a surrogate gonna be a surrogate relationship because it's convincingly set up that he has a father, a rich father that he needs to get to. So it isn't like he walks into town. I never knew my father. I wish I had somebody who loved me.

[Laura Bricker]

Yes.

[Kevin Flynn]

But now I'm gonna go play some stickball. You know, it just isn't.

[Laura Bricker]

Wait, how did he become Bill Rankin?

[Kevin Flynn]

You see, my dad, he's got lots of money. But as soon as like we. That thing was exposed as. No, that's not the case. Then it clicked in. Oh, then it's gotta be the dead son has got to be the father. But they, I, for me, they effectively held that off long enough because how many things have we watched and we figured out in the first 15 minutes? Cuz it's so obvious. They did a good job here in the film, at least for me from keeping it from being obvious until it can be more powerful at the end.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I would say in the book it was done very well, I will say, because I am very good at guessing the ends of things and it surprised me. But I think one of the things the movie gets right and the only reason I think you were surprised is because they only ever talk about her son as a boy. So you don't think about him being a man who can actually like fuck somebody and get them pregnant like at all. Because they only show him in flashbacks as a boy. You know, you just don't think about the passage of time in any way. So I think that that's the main trick to holding you back.

[Laura Bricker]

Yeah, I agree.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah. So, Toby, did you play any drinking games while you were watching this film?

[Toby Ball]

I wish I had. If I'd known what I was in for. Like, if I had been Lara and I watched it the second time, which will not happen, I'd probably end up drinking every time. I had to hear Sally Fields say Marcellus, because she says Marcellus probably 50 times.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

Okay.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Marcellus.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

Come on, Mar. Oh, good. Marcellus. Marcellus. Marcellus.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Marcellus.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

Marcellus. Marcellus. Marcellus.

[Toby Ball]

Including at the end, 20 times in like three minutes, it's just Marcellus. I was like, stop saying fucking Marcellus. And she just kept going on and on and on. And at that point, you just pass out and miss the end because. I don't know. Was he called Marcellus in the book?

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes, but I don't think they say his name that as much as frequently because in the book it's a first person character. So you don't. When they're first person characters. Interstitial chapters where he's the narrator and he's the first person character. And when you hearing from inside someone's interiority, you don't have to use their name a lot in a book, you know?

[Toby Ball]

Yeah. Was he named after the Pulp Fiction character, Marcellus?

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I don't know the Pulp Fiction character, Toby, because I've never seen that film.

[Toby Ball]

You've never seen that film?

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Nope.

[Laura Bricker]

Oh, my God.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I've seen scenes from that film. I've seen the iconic scene where he hits Yuma Thurman in the chest with the thing. I've seen the Royale with Cheese scene. That's pretty much it. Never saw the film.

[Toby Ball]

Yeah. So anyway, I don't know.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I've so far learned in this show that Toby hates Sally Field, that he has.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

No.

[Toby Ball]

I like Sally Field.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Okay, just. Just checking.

[Kevin Flynn]

No one hates the Flying Nun girl,

[Rebecca Lavoy]

but he told him to shut the f. When she said the octopus's name too many times.

[Toby Ball]

And it was just non stop, though. She's like, oh, Marcellus, Marcellus, Marcellus. When she holds Marcellus. Going to be so hard. Yeah, Marcellus. He knew, like, you don't have to say his name every time. Like, just. Just talk.

[Laura Bricker]

Saved himself.

[Toby Ball]

We know what you're talking about. There's only one octopus in the room.

[Laura Bricker]

Oh, didn't you like it when he would get out and she would say, marcellus, I'll help you get back in, Marcellus.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

That's right.

[Toby Ball]

Yeah.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah, I'll send you home. And then he Was like, don't worry, audience, I actually do die. Before you think some miracle happened. I'm dead. But, Toby, we also learned about you that you have seen Smoking the Bandit.

[Toby Ball]

Smoking the Bandit, yeah, long time ago.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Never saw that either. And you've seen that film. You've seen Pulp Fiction, which I have never seen.

[Kevin Flynn]

Still haven't seen the movie.

[Toby Ball]

And my octopus teacher, the shoe is

[Rebecca Lavoy]

on the other foot. How does it feel to have seen something iconic that your colleague has, like, never saw it.

[Toby Ball]

I don't shame people for that kind of stuff. I just, you know, you be you, Toby, you fuck.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Never saw Titanic. For God's sakes, man. For God's sakes, the Goonies.

[Kevin Flynn]

Come on.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

So, Lara, why do you think this book is so immensely popular with book clubs? Aside from the fact that in the print, some of the print versions, it does have a list of questions in the back.

[Laura Bricker]

Everyone that I know that's in a book club has read this book and is now having book club meetups to

[Rebecca Lavoy]

watch the movie, as mine is.

[Laura Bricker]

I think you see all these themes that sort of lend themselves to book club discussions, like the meaning of home, broken people trying to put themselves back together, chosen family versus blood family. There's like the whole metaphor around, like water. And this is. The water is where her son disappeared. The water is where the octopus comes from. The water is she lives on the water. I mean, it's just. There's a lot of discussion. I think you can, you know, easily come up with a whole list of questions for a book club, but I think it's because I think people can relate to the inevitability of someday moving out of their home, leaving their home, the grief over losing a child and how you cope and how you cope within your. Your group of friends and how you, you know, you have that one scene where, you know, she's been trying not to be a burden to her friends, and that one woman's like, you haven't been a fucking friend. You just. You're trying so hard not to be a fucking burden. So I think there's a lot of discussions about friendship and family and grief and loss and everybody's book club. It was probably the it book right after Covid when it came out, and everybody read it, and now they're like, yay, we're gonna have a follow up about it. So I, you know. Yeah, your book club read it.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah, well, I made them.

[Laura Bricker]

Okay. And what kind of themes did you guys talk about in your book club?

[Rebecca Lavoy]

We talked about how bullshit you Drank

[Kevin Flynn]

white wine and gossip.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

No, we actually did talk about the book. We talked about how the fact there's actually a lot of, in the book too, about the immigrant story in America because both. Because Tova's dad was an immigrant. There's a lot of history. Like it goes back in time to like his, like, coming to Western United States. And then also the shopkeeper guy is a big, much bigger character in the book. And it's like he's also an immigrant. So some of that we talked about just the nature of just being a group of women just trying to stay connected and how hard that is when you have shit you don't want to share because you're always trying to not hurt anybody's feelings or trying to not be a burden. Like that kind of stuff. I thought the money stuff was just handled really well. And you just realize how rare it is in a novel to really talk about there's this one level of money that people don't talk about. We talk about. There's a lot of novels about poor people. There's a lot of novels about really rich people. But the sort of like the old person who's comfortable enough that the sort of boomer mentality is for taking it for granted that everybody should kind of have a home and doesn't, doesn't really understand or translate like, why are you living in a van? Like that kind of stuff. It was handled really well. That's the stuff that really did it for me. But Kevin, I know that you also were able to glean some book clubby type themes from this, were you not?

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah. You said, you know, it's also a meditation. You said, I'm growing old.

[Laura Bricker]

Yeah.

[Kevin Flynn]

Thank you. Thank you. Right. And Laura pulls out that scene where her friend Marianne, like, talks about her own widowhood and then, you know, shared about that. And there's also the theme of home.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I love Kathy Baker, by the way. I love her.

[Kevin Flynn]

Tova, like you said, struggles, you know, about her own home, you know, and there's the unfinished business of it. Cameron attempts to do the fix up work at her home. So it's very symbolic of that. And Cameron has no home. Right. He's living in a, in a van. And then there's Marcellus's. Marcellus, his desire to go home.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

His millennial friends have moved on without him. Like there's like this whole, this whole class thing among millennials where, like, you know, they're just not all launching at the same time because of the economy when they all came of age.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah. And I think, you know, when it comes right down to it, where you have excellent source material and you've got to decide, like what to keep and what not to keep. If you're not gonna do six parts, right, if you're not doing a series like that and you have to make a film out of it and you have to decide, like, what to cut here, they decided to cut some of the mystery, the human mystery, and some of all of that in favor of, you know, these larger themes and the more emotional stuff. And I think it's probably one of the better choices for doing that, that this was rich enough that it could sustain that and still be, you know, an interesting, restrained watch without needing to sex it up with Detective Octopus.

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[Morgan Stewart]

Hey everyone, it's me, Morgan Stewart, and I have a new podcast called the Morgan Stewart Show. Join me each week as I talk about pop culture, fashion, my personal life, and just a warning, I'm going to be giving my opinion, everything. I'll also have some really fun guests to join in on the fun. The Morgan Stewart show is out now. Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts or watch full video on YouTube.

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[Rebecca Lavoy]

All right, let's do what we do. Let's let our listeners know should they check out the film. Remarkably Bright Creatures, based on the novel of the same name on Netflix. Laura Bricker, thumbs up or thumbs down for Remarkably Bright Creatures.

[Laura Bricker]

Yeah, so I'm going thumbs up on this. I think we consume a lot of really heavy media. The world is really heavy right now. And sometimes you just need a feel good comfort movie with an amazing CGI octopus to take you away for a few hours. Even if. Yeah, I mean, like, how can, how can you go wrong with that? This was like getting a big hug from the octopus, the universe, whatever. We've got Sally Field, who is wonderful in this. I have been telling everybody to watch this. All my friends who are in book clubs are watching this. Yeah, this is low stakes. There is some mystery in there. But at the end of the day, I think this is one of those movies that when the world is heavy and the world is a lot as it is right now, we all need a little of this in our life. So it's a big thumbs up for me.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Toby Paul, Thumbs up or thumbs down for Remarkably right. Bright Creatures. Toby's getting so red.

[Toby Ball]

I agree. I agree with everything that now I, my, my feel good stuff is the Knicks playoff run so far.

[Kevin Flynn]

Okay.

[Toby Ball]

I feel as though I ought to abstain just because this is just like

[Rebecca Lavoy]

a thing, to be honest.

[Kevin Flynn]

Don't octopus out.

[Toby Ball]

I'll say this. You know, occasionally I either stay with or somebody stays with me, a relative in the summer. And Hallmark Channel, I think has Christmas in July, which is like all these like sentimental Christmas mov that they played during the summer. And this felt a lot like that. It just, it felt like it had all the same conventions, it looked the same, all this stuff. So it kind of felt like a high end version of that. So if that's the kind of thing that you like, I think this is probably a good choice for you.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I was like, if you're a dummy, you'll love this.

[Toby Ball]

No, no, I mean, that's fine. I think, you know, those things are popular for a reason. Like, there's a lot of people who like that stuff. I just don't have happen to. I'll say I'm just sort of a thumb sideways because I personally didn't like it. But I could see that within that kind of genre of stuff, it's like definitely better than like most of the things that kind of sort of Touch the same bases that that one does. So thumb sideways. I would recommend, despite one of the Lavoie children's trashing of it or minimizing it, my octopus teacher is actually one of the best nature documentari I think I've ever seen.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Okay.

[Toby Ball]

It's really pretty incredible. So if you want to see a non CGI octopus in a similarly affecting show, I thought that was really good, so I'll recommend that. But for this, I'm a thumb sideways.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Kevin Flynn.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah, I'm a thumbs up. It's the most fun you can have with an octopus without fucking it. No, for real, though.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

Wow.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

If somebody didn't listen to the review part, they're just gonna think you're a pervert, Kevin.

[Kevin Flynn]

Yeah, well, you know, it's all rubber.

[Toby Ball]

Yeah. There you go.

[Kevin Flynn]

Very slimy.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

God of suckers.

[Kevin Flynn]

A lot of suckers. It likes.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Got that one big mouth hole.

[Kevin Flynn]

Got a good grip. Okay. But for real, I'm a thumbs up. I thought that this was, you know, it was moving, it was emotional, it was a little saccharine, but I liked that. You know, I know that the source material is probably a little more mystery, you know, and the things that they chose, they ended up choosing to go and explore the deeper themes. Things like the theme of home and growing old and chosen family, things like that. I thought it was kind of moving. I thought it had, like, a really good ending and there was some great performances. So for what it is, I thought it was a very pleasurable movie. So thumbs up.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yeah, I was gonna be a thumb sideways on this hardcore because I did not love it because it just so pales in comparison to the book. But I am actually a mild thumbs up only because of the performances of Sally Field. I think Lewis Pullman is also very good in this. But if Sally Field can make even me choke up about a dying fake CGI animal, then I have to remember, too, I did actually cry a lot about that Pete's Dragon thing when they caught him in the net thing. Anyway, yeah, Sally Field is great in this. And for that reason, I'm a mild thumbs up instead of a thumb sideways. It's not a great interpretation of a novel that it's very corny, but that I happen to love a lot. But it hit enough of the notes that I am willing to give it a mild thumbs up. And I really think that Alfred Molina has played too many octopuses and that perhaps they should have cast somebody else. But that's just, you know, that's nitpicking. All right. Now it's time for my favorite part of the podcast, a little something I like to call the crime of the week. A Yorkshire man has set a new record for strength by towing a car with his penis, all while being set afire. Strongman John Stevenson dragged a 2 ton French police car while it was attached to his penis more than 100ft down a residential street while his clothes were doused with lighter fluid. In past stunts, he pulled a car with his testicles and pulled one while on fire. So he decided to combine them, but then upped the ante by attaching the rope to the meat and not to the veg. Afterward, the 50 year old martial arts expert said, quote, I won't lie, it did hurt quite a bit. Stevenson holds other records for towing and hoisting vehicles as well as delivering 300 punches and 30 seconds while holding dumbbells. He told the local paper he did this stunt to raise awareness of prostate cancer. Does he know that's not in the penis? He also did it to raise awareness about bullying in schools because no one will make fun of you if you can drag a Renault Cleo with your junk while your clothes are on fire. So, panel, I'm starting to think this isn't just about cars. What is the next ill advised thing Mr. Stevenson will do to prove his manhood? What do you think, Laura Brigger?

[Laura Bricker]

Oh, boy. I have a couple answers here. I think he's going to try to tow a van uphill while listening to crime writers on in support of breast cancer or something like that.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Yes, yes. What about you, Toby? What is the next ill advised thing Mr. Stevenson will do to prove his manhood?

[Toby Ball]

I'm not quite sure about the design of the harness, but bungee jumping.

[Laura Bricker]

Oh.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

What do you think, Kevin?

[Kevin Flynn]

I think he's going to attempt to answer the question from his wife. Does this dress make me look fat

[Rebecca Lavoy]

while his penis is on fat?

[Kevin Flynn]

Well, his penis. Well, it's after.

[Ondeck Advertiser]

Afterwards.

[Kevin Flynn]

That's what's gonna happen. Smash cut to Sarah McLachlan singing Angel in the Arms.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

All right, Lara Bricker, folks want to reach out to you and say hello online. How can they find you on social media?

[Laura Bricker]

You can find me Araber on Instagram and Blue Sky.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

What about you, Toby?

[Toby Ball]

How can you be found to weball603 on Instagram?

[Rebecca Lavoy]

What about you, Kevin?

[Kevin Flynn]

I'm at Kevin Pflin.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

You can find me everywhere at Reb Lavoy, find the show on Facebook, Instagram, at YouTube, Blue Sky, TikTok, et cetera. Rimewriterson but mostly, as Kevin said earlier, you should join our Facebook discussion group. It's really fun. Get everything we make, including early and ad free [e-mail] partnersincrimemedia there's more than a thousand podcast episodes out there, right, Kevin?

[Kevin Flynn]

Yes.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Our theme song.

[Kevin Flynn]

We broke 1,000.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Ah, congratulations to us. Our theme song was composed and performed by Tyler Gibbons and our editor is me, while the EP of this show is Kevin Flynn. This show was recorded in the Caitlin Rogers Project Studio, also known as Studio See the closet in our New Hampshire basement where we also wear our very expensive vintage Grateful Dead concert tees when we want to make a good impression. On behalf of all the crime writers, thanks so much for listening. We will catch you later.

[Supporting Character/Voice]

Later.

[Kevin Flynn]

Everything's.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

Sorry about my work event curtailing our recording. No, that's. So if you have a lot to say, which I see that Toby does not about the octopus thing.

[Laura Bricker]

I haven't looked at Toby's notes. I'm. I. I bet he hated it.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

It's so different than that.

[Kevin Flynn]

It's a typical Toby week.

[Rebecca Lavoy]

I don't have a lot to say about this. Yeah.

[Dan Cummins]

Do you love hair raising Allegedly true stories about the paranormal? Then you should summon the podcast Scared to Death. It's the popular horror series with more than 60 million downloads to its name and is co hosted by me, Dan

[Lindsay Cummins]

Cummins and me, Lindsay, co host and also Dan's wife. Each week on Scared to Death, we share bone chilling tales from old books and creepy corners of the web. And even some submitted by our listeners. All designed to make you want to sleep with the lights on.

[Dan Cummins]

Think you can handle the horror? Tune in to Scared to Death every Tuesday at the stroke of midnight to find out.

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