Dear Movies, I Love You – Episode Summary

Episode: "Jennifer's Body (2009)! Plus, James Urbaniak on My Man Godfrey (1936)!"
Release Date: October 14, 2025
Hosts: Millie De Chirico & Casey O'Brien
Special Guest: James Urbaniak

Episode Overview

Millie and Casey dive into the cult horror-comedy Jennifer’s Body (2009), its cultural impact, and nuances of female friendship depicted through horror. They reflect humorously on generational candy favorites, movie theater etiquette, and the evolution of horror, connecting it all back to the ways movies shape us. Later, acclaimed actor and cinephile James Urbaniak joins for a passionate discussion of the screwball classic My Man Godfrey (1936), focusing on the genre and the enduring appeal of 1930s comedies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Halloween Vibes, Candy Talk, and Film Diary

• Halloween Check-In: The hosts revel in their Halloween season rituals, especially around candy consumption, notably the persistent love for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and the undying “grandpa” appeal of Heath Bars and 100 Grand bars.
  • “They know their place. I just hope that they can continue making them because I don't want them to, like, you know, be put out to pasture.” – Millie (07:06)
• Candy as Nostalgia: Generational divides are evident as Millie laments not seeing “zoomers” with 100 Grands.
• Film Diary:
  • Millie attended a sold-out 70mm screening of Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, reflecting on the “dad” energy of PTA’s works and the male-dominated crowd.
  • Etiquette tangent: Movie theater foot hygiene and the perils of stinky crowds.
  • “You got to smell. Here's my... Also one of my rules: film etiquette. I wear closed toed shoes to the movie theater.” – Casey (13:39)

2. Listener Voicemail: Movie Bathroom Breaks

Timestamps: 17:38–25:08

• A listener named Weezerface calls in: How do you decide when to take bathroom breaks during movies?
  • Casey prefers to wait for a lull in the film but admits anxiety can get the best of him.
    • “This is the thing that stresses me out the most about going to see movies is peeing. Cause I, I have to pee all the time...” – Casey (19:01)
  • Millie holds it until the last possible second, risking missing post-credit scenes, which she criticizes as a generational (mostly millennial) phenomenon.
  • Conversational tangent on Millennials’ love of “limited edition sandwiches” and other ephemeral experiences.
  • Both hosts lampoon Marvel-esque post-credit stingers and share gripes about contemporary moviegoing.

3. Main Discussion: Jennifer’s Body (2009)

Start: 25:14

Cultural & Horror Context

• Jennifer’s Body as a refreshing throwback: The hosts reminisce about the peak of “teen carnage” and note the shift toward “elevated horror.”
  • “It was kind of a joy to watch these teens get their guts ripped out in Jennifer’s Body.” – Casey (26:34)

Generational Nostalgia & Emo Discourse

Timestamps: 35:19–41:14

• Millie unpacks the evolution of “emo,” contrasting her ’90s punk/hardcore-rooted definition with the 2000s Hot Topic veil of eyeliner, fingerless gloves, and band tees.
  • “These kids... they look like industrial kids. They don't look like emo kids. But then again, that's me just being old.” – Millie (39:24)
• Discussion of the film’s self-referential (and now hilarious) 2009 teen style, dialogue, and music, seeing it as a time capsule.

Diablo Cody’s Writing & Feminist Subtext

Timestamps: 41:14–48:05

• Both hosts are fans of Diablo Cody’s razor-sharp, referential writing.
  • “Megan Fox can say literally anything she wants in this era...” – Millie (43:14)
• The film is praised for subverting horror tropes, notably by providing more depth and messiness to both the “final girl” and the “hot/popular girl.”
  • “Even the one [girl] that is supposed to be [squeaky clean] isn’t 100% — which I think is really cool.” – Millie (28:54)

Feminist Friendships and Queer Undertones

Timestamps: 45:51–54:36

• They analyze how Jennifer’s sexuality is seen through Needy’s adoring, possibly queer lens, highlighting the power imbalances and emotional entanglements of adolescent female friendship.
  • “You can tell that Needy is reverent towards Jennifer… There is sometimes an undercurrent of desire and of a closeness that kind of becomes a physical closeness.” – Millie (45:52)
  • “I feel like the point of Megan Fox being Megan Fox and being in this movie is that she is supposed to be the ideal, right?” – Millie (53:15)
• Discuss the infamous make-out scene not as a cheap thrill but as a layered exploration of blurred boundaries within female relationships.
• Comparison to real life, with Millie noting how same-sex friends are often more physically close than male friends would dare to be.

Jennifer as a Villain & the Personal is Horror

Timestamps: 54:36–58:59

• Analysis of Jennifer as a “bad friend” who abuses her power, with personal anecdotes layered in (“I once had a friend who made out with this guy that I was dating... by a dilapidated half-empty pool.” – Millie, 56:50)
• The pain and humiliation of friendship betrayals is likened to the “real” horror underpinning the film.

Style, Soundtrack, and Final Thoughts

Timestamps: 59:13–67:57

• The Adam Brody-fronted band “Low Shoulder” is lampooned: “Horrible name for a band, even in a movie.” – Millie (59:16)
• The film’s commentary on “grief culture” and media exploitation echoes movies like Heathers.
• The hosts praise the film’s hard R rating and gruesome kills—unafraid to show “teens getting their guts ripped out.”
  • “She was up in them guts. She was eating them shits like no tomorrow. And I was like, this is awesome.” – Millie (67:03)
• Reappraisal of Megan Fox’s performance, wishing she had more opportunities of this kind.
  • “It makes me sad… you just wonder if this had been a bigger hit, or like, I don't know, people took her more seriously.” – Casey (66:24)
• Jennifer’s Body is now recognized as a complex, feminist horror film that was mismarketed on release.

4. Special Guest Segment: James Urbaniak on My Man Godfrey (1936)

Timestamps: 69:24–94:32

Personal History with Classic Film

• James shares discovering My Man Godfrey in college and how it cemented his interest in classic Hollywood.
  • “That era, 1930s Hollywood, the sort of golden age, is something I'm very interested in. … I continue to be fascinated.” – James Urbaniak (70:21)

The Artistry of My Man Godfrey

• Praises the film’s blend of “naturalism” and heightened comedy, crediting director Gregory La Cava.
  • “Everyone just seems spontaneous and the emotions seem very real and the script is really tight and really funny.” – James (75:51)
• Carol Lombard and William Powell are lauded for performances that “hold up big time” — with William Powell compared to Donald Sutherland or Jeff Goldblum in his wry persona.

The Screwball Comedy Formula

• Panel explores what makes the genre so potent (romantic core + farce), with many essential recommendations (Nothing Sacred, His Girl Friday, Preston Sturges’ work).
  • “It’s those two elements, sort of a kind of over-the-top comedy… with a sort of romance at its center and somehow that blend just really works.” – James (81:22)
• Love for the era’s character actors, e.g., Eugene Pallette, Jean Dixon, and Alice Brady (“one of my favorite comedy performances of all time”).

Class Satire and the Forgotten Man

• The “forgotten man” scavenger hunt launch is discussed as an example of Depression-era class commentary:
  • “It’s also showing the depraved indifference of these rich people to just go out and grab a homeless guy basically for their own amusement. It's disgusting.” – James (89:20)
• The hosts note how the genre balanced timeless human emotions with period-specific conventions.

Performative Styles, Then and Now

• Acting in Godfrey is contrasted with more affected contemporary film and TV styles—making a case that all eras develop their own “strange” conventions.
  • “It’s almost like music. It’s like an old form of jazz… but I think sometimes people will see an older style and immediately a wall comes up. They just can't quite get there. But if you look at it, it's really not that complicated. And the emotions are timeless...” – James (94:02)

Recommendations from James Urbaniak

• Palm Royale (Apple TV) and upcoming “Mickey Reese” indie horror Every Heavy Thing.

5. Employee Picks

Timestamps: 96:23–102:06

• Millie:
  • Me Without You (2001): English coming-of-age drama about a power-imbalanced female friendship through decades. Notorious “foot cigarette” scene cited as a hilarious moment of “never that close” intimacy.
    • “Much like Jennifer's body, right? There's this power dynamic that is happening in Me Without You…” – Millie (97:58)
• Casey:
  • Ginger Snaps (2000): Canadian teen lycanthropy allegory and a direct influence on Jennifer’s Body. Gory, emotionally acute, and also about changing adolescent relationships.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Do you like scary movies?” – Casey, horror cold-open reference (02:12)
• “You really fooled me… I totally thought you were the killer from Scream…” – Millie (03:11)
• “You know, if my dad was a horror host, I'd probably have a lot to say about that, too.” – Millie (12:04)
• As the horror trend shifts:
  • “Maybe these young people don't want to see their kind getting ripped to shreds in the same way that we did when we were growing up.” – Millie (26:24)
• On teen lingo and 2000s nostalgia:
  • “It really felt like from the past. Like, it felt distant to me, which, I mean, it made me nostalgic for that time, but it also just felt like a really, a bygone era.” – Casey (35:19)
• On the queer lens of friendship:
  • “You can tell that Needy is reverent towards Jennifer… There is sometimes an undercurrent of desire and of a closeness that kind of becomes a physical closeness.” – Millie (45:52)
• “She was up in them guts. She was eating them shits like no tomorrow. And I was like, this is awesome.” – Millie (67:03)
• Urbaniak’s film education:
  • “He actually gave me... my first film education. And then… I just got very into— I really loved it.” – James (74:17)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Film Diary, Candy Talk – 05:13–15:06
• Voicemail: Bathroom Breaks – 17:38–25:14
• Jennifer’s Body Discussion (Intro/Spoilers) – 25:14–67:57
• My Man Godfrey: James Urbaniak Interview – 69:24–94:32
• Employee Picks / Recommendations – 96:23–102:06

Tone and Style

Conversational, insightful, and peppered with irreverent humor. Millie and Casey blend pop-culture polemics, personal anecdotes, and earnest film scholarship. James Urbaniak’s segment is scholarly yet inviting, full of affectionate nostalgia for classic films and keen observations on what makes certain movies (and performances) ageless.

For New Listeners

This episode is perfect for anyone interested in reappraising cult horror, exploring the nuances of female friendship on screen, or learning why 1930s comedies like My Man Godfrey are still relevant and watchable today. Expect laughs, sharp observations, and a welcoming, unpretentious approach to film discussion.

Next Episode Teaser: Revisiting Hellraiser (1987) – “Pinhead’s hot, bro!”

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