Podcast
Hops and Box Office Flops
Hosted by Hops and Box Office Flops · EN
A film podcast dedicated to the underdogs — the disasters, the bombs, the much maligned! So sit back, grab a beer, and enjoy!
27episodes
Episodes
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Expendables 2 – Biceps, Blood, and Bullets
3w ago01:11:37Tap to summarizeExpendables 2 is the ideal sequel. Overflowing with testosterone, bulging veins, and well-timed quips, it fulfills the promise made by its predecessor — to bring back the mayhem and stars from yesteryear for a smorgasbord of insane action. It's literally perfect. No notes. Watch it now, or rest in pieces! So, sit back, get locked and loaded with a Capiche? from Paperback Brewing Co., and we now pronounce you man and knife! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are gearing up to take down the Sangs! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Back for war! Lingering Questions – How does one hear about an opening with the Expendables? (28:53) The "Lucky Ring Part Deux" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (46:57) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff Tubi Roulette with Party Monster! (55:02) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
Transcribe →Firewalker – Temu Indy
May 101:12:09Tap to summarizeFirewalker, another of Chuck Norris' many collaborations with Cannon Films, is exactly what you'd expect from a low budget Indiana Jones ripoff. The script is bad, the plot is ludicrous, and we never even get to see what the bad guy intends to do with his desired magical abilities. Despite all that, Firewalker does have its charms—most of which lie heavily on the back of Louis Gossett Jr. Predictably, in a film with Norris as its lead, emotive acting is in short supply. Without Gossett as his sidekick, Leo, and John Rhys-Davies doing a bizarre Foghorn Leghorn accent, this movie would've been quite the slog. Now, sit back, perform the last rites with a Seeing Colors from Mad Tree Brewing, and be wary of El Coyote! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are scouring Mexico for ancient Aztec gold! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – A pair of down-and-out fortune hunters cash in on high adventure! Lingering Questions – What exactly does the titular Firewalker do? (32:57) The "Fruitcake" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (48:22) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude our Hops and Kicking Jeans Flops series with Expendables 2! (59:40) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
Transcribe →Sidekicks – Are We Men or Marvin Milquetoasts?
Apr 1701:04:11Tap to summarizeSidekicks is essentially The Karate Kid with a giant dose of wish fulfillment. In it, Barry Gabrewski (played by the late Jonathan Brandis) spends his days daydreaming about busting skulls with his favorite action hero, Chuck Norris. Of course, since this is a kid learns karate to better himself movie, he ultimately meets Norris, gets the girl, bests his bully, and overcomes the issues that have plagued him. Along the way, we get some good old timey 90s racism and a handful of fantasies themed around Norris' filmography. Sidekicks isn't exactly high art, but it will remind you that Norris generally just plays himself, as he does here, and the key to life is learning how to dodge dumplings. Now, sit back, douse those bricks with a Pupil IPA from Societe Brewing, and chase those dreams! The Thunderous Wizard and Bling Blake are donning our dusters and mullets to kick some mafia ass! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Barry Gabrewski is about to learn that the greatest weapon you possess is self-control! Lingering Questions – Who's our ideal action movie partner? (26:02) The "Mr. Dumpling" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (46:28) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our Hops and Kicking Jeans Flops series with Firewalker! (55:55) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
Transcribe →Invasion USA – It's Time
Apr 301:06:34Tap to summarizeFew things are more American than action movies where lone heroes murder foreigners with lethal impunity. Invasion USA proudly carries that torch. Only it does so poorly. Like most films starring the bearded badass known as Carlos "Chuck" Norris, Invasion USA is a Cannon joint. Yes, that Cannon. The script sucks, it looks cheap, and it somehow makes less sense than most other films in the genre. What it does do well, though, is depict all manor of patriotic fueled violence. So, come for the jean vest and dry quips but stay for the bazooka dismemberment. Now, sit back, stretch out those legs with a Big Dippa from Reformation Brewery, and find that armadillo! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are dual-wielding uzis in our best Canadian tuxedos! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – America wasn't ready, but he was! Lingering Questions – What was Chuck's finest kill? (31:44) The "Everglades Airboat" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (43:15) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our Hops and Kicking Jeans Flops series with Sidekicks! (56:27) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
Transcribe →For Your Consideration – Snubbed
Mar 2701:17:41Tap to summarizeFor Your Consideration is another mockumentary from acclaimed satirist Christopher Guest. But unlike his previous efforts, this one failed to capture the hearts of longtime fans. Taking aim at the absurdity of Hollywood, For Your Consideration fails to find the magic of his prior three films. The characters are less likable, the target is far larger, and the narrative focus just never finds its center. Its reviews and tepid box office reception reflect that dip in quality. With a budget double that of A Mighty Wind's ($12 million), it grossed less than a third of that movie's total ($5.9 million). Now, sit back, prep your Oscars speech while enjoying a Backyard Berry from Blake's, and go easy on the face lift! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are going home for Purim! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – A film about the movies, about the movies! Lingering Questions – Why didn't this work better? (38:46) The "Hollywood Now" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (51:35) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We begin our Hops and Kicking Jeans Flops series with Invasion USA! (1:03:10) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
Transcribe →Argylle – Poor Henry
Mar 1301:07:27Tap to summarizeArgylle is a spy movie about mistaken identity that lacks a clear one itself. Full of convoluted plot twists and set pieces overrun by pastels and other insane imagery, Argylle is a film that clearly thinks it is far better than it actually is. One can forgive that self-assurance considering its director, Matthew Vaughn, has quite a track record of success—including in the genre. That said, the irrational confidence Vaughn displays throughout Argylle's painful 140+-minute runtime is mind-boggling—as are its increasingly stupid double crosses. Argylle, which was planned to be a trilogy, not only earned every bit of the hate critics heaped on it, it also deserved its massive flop status. So, sit back, jog your memory with a Strawberry Blonde Ale from SanTan Brewing, and don't forget the cat! The Thunderous Wizard and Bling Blake are whirly birding all over Director Ritter's secret hideout! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – The greater the spy, the bigger the lie! Lingering Questions – In a film that can't constrain itself, what scene was the most over-indulgent? (25:48) The "Strangers on a Train" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (42:25) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude our Catherine O'Hara series with another delightful Christopher Guest comedy, For Your Consideration! (53:45) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
Transcribe →Waiting for Guffman – Still Waiting
Feb 2701:28:09Tap to summarizeA cult classic, Waiting for Guffman is a mockumentary chronicling a small community theatre's production of its town's history. Boasting a host of exceptional improv actors — Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, and Fred Willard to name a few — the Christopher Guest written and directed feature is jam packed with laughs. Guest, who also serves as the films lead Corky St. Clair, is in his comfort zone here. He gets the material, letting the actors take command and playing to their immense comedic strengths. Although it is beloved now, Waiting for Guffman was not a huge hit. In fact, it barely made it to the big screen. Its critical success, however, did lead to several more films in the same vein — Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration. All of which are worth watching, as well. So, sit back, calm those jitters with a Fear.Movie.Lions Hazy Double IPA, and break a leg! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are done working for these bastard people! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – A Broadway-style musical... about a town that's not exactly on Broadway! Lingering Questions – Of the Guest films, which is our favorite? (36:13) The "Red, White, and Blaine" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:03:21) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our Catherine O'Hara series with Matthew Vaughn's bastard cousin to the Kingsman franchise, Argylle! (1:17:23) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
Transcribe →Varsity Blues – A F*****g 10!
Feb 2001:37:05Tap to summarizeTo honor the late James Van Der Beek, who we lost far too soon, we're doing a special episode on the 1999 high school football classic Varsity Blues. So, sit back, complain about your asshole coach over a few Budweisers, and play for each other! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are helping West Canaan finally remove that eyesore of a statue! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – In a town where winning is everything, these guys have nothing to lose! Lingering Questions – What will we remember Van Der Beek for: this or Dawson's Creek? (44:02) The "Oop-Dee-Oop" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:11:59) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We return to our Catherine O'Hara series Waiting for Guffman! (59:32) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
Transcribe →Dick Tracy – In Honor of Texie Garcia
Feb 1301:11:36Tap to summarizeGrab your badge, Kid! It's time to clean up the streets with Dick Tracy! So, sit back, tease Mumbles with an ice cold Cadence from Reformation Brewery, and never eat oysters with Lips Manlis! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are shaking down the mob one club at a time! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Their turf. Their game. Their rules. They didn't count on HIS law! Lingering Questions – What worked best in this movie? (39:05) The "Breathless Mahoney" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (49:47) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We take a quick detour from our Catherine O'Hara series to celebrate the life and legacy of James Van Der Beek with Varsity Blues! (59:32) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
Transcribe →Gemini Man – Enter the Uncanny Valley
Feb 601:24:53Tap to summarizeGemini Man—directed by two-time Best Director winner Ang Lee—is a misguided exercise. Filmed in a format almost no theaters could play, Lee's insistence on pushing the technological bounds of cinema did little to help the movie. Instead of revving up the frames per second, Lee would've been better served to revise the script. Full of cliches and tropes, Gemini Man feels like a the retread of a film from the 90s. Considering it came out in 2019, that is not a compliment. Critics were not kind to its plot or the excruciating fully digital version of Will Smith. Turns out the higher the definition, the creepier it looks. Now, sit back, fight back the CGI tears with a Wrenovation IPA from Wren House Brewing, and don't donate your DNA to Clay Varris! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are planning to clone a better, less sleepy version of McCheese to hang out with! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Meet your match! Lingering Questions – Our favorite movies to feature an actor in dual roles? (29:20) The "Dolly the Sheep" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (57:20) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kickoff our series dedicated to the late—an exceptionally great—Catherine O'Hara with Dick Tracy! (1:14:36) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, Bluesky, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode!
Transcribe →