How Did This Get Made? – Episode Summary: "Last Looks: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"

Release Date: February 28, 2025

Hosts:

• Paul Scheer (The League)
• June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie)
• Jason Mantzoukas (Big Mouth)

Introduction and Tour Announcements (00:00 – 06:50)

The episode kicks off with Paul Scheer greeting listeners with his characteristic enthusiasm, introducing the topic of discussion: "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." Paul is joined by Jason Mantzoukas for this entire episode, setting the stage for an in-depth and humorous critique of the film. Paul thanks a Discord user, Johnny Unusual, for suggesting the alternate tagline, "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Menace in Venice" (01:44).

Key Highlights:

• Tour Updates: Paul and Jason announce changes to their spring tour, including new locations like Boise, Denver, Portland, Austin, Seattle, and San Francisco. They express excitement about these new venues, especially Boise, Idaho, which they humorously mention has shown a surprising number of attendees (04:27).
• Guest Addition: June Diane Raphael will join them only for the Los Angeles shows due to her involvement in a "very cool part" of an upcoming project. Jessica St. Clair is introduced as her replacement for the rest of the tour, promising dynamic interactions and humorous escapades (05:24 – 06:33).

Main Discussion: "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (06:50 – 31:54)

Initial Reactions:

• Jason Mantzoukas: Expresses strong negative emotions about the film, describing it as “so bad it left a bad taste” (02:29). He mentions needing to watch "Raiders of the Lost Ark" afterward to cleanse his palate.
• Paul Scheer: Contrasts his approach by diving back into the original comic books, finding them "great" and highlighting the disparity between the source material and the film adaptation (03:06).

Critique of the Film:

• Story and Execution: Both hosts agree that while the movie had a promising premise—merging historical figures and literary characters—the execution fell flat. Jason criticizes the film's pacing as "slow, boring, and ineffective" (14:01).
• Technical Flaws: They delve into specific issues such as the unrealistic portrayal of the Nautilus navigating Venice's narrow canals (15:27) and the misspelling of Sean Connery's character, Sir Percy Blakeney, as "Quartermaine" (16:40).
• Character Development: The hosts lament the underdevelopment of richly conceived characters from the comics, noting that the movie failed to capture their essence, resulting in a "slap dash" adaptation (16:11).

Listener Contributions:

• Corrections and Omissions: The episode features listener feedback from the Discord community.
  • John Not Connor (11:04): Provides historical context, discussing World War I's timeline and the movie's deviation from historic accuracy.
  • Davon from Brooklyn (24:52): Questions Mina Harkness's abilities, differentiating between lore from Vlad the Impaler and traditional vampire myths.
  • Micah from Illinois (26:43): Shares insights on Sean Connery’s casting choices and the impact of the film on his career.

Behind-the-Scenes Insights:

• James Robinson's Perspective: Sean McBee shares information from screenwriter James Robinson, revealing that initial scripts included a Prussian villain and a flesh-eating gas plot. However, post-9/11 sensitivities forced significant changes, detracting from the original vision (29:12 – 31:23).
• Audience Interaction: The hosts appreciate listeners who contribute detailed corrections, enhancing the discussion's depth and authenticity.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Mantzoukas (02:29): “It was so bad it left such a bad taste in my mouth.”
• Paul Scheer (15:27): “The Nautilus measures 70 meters... so there's no way it's making those narrow turns.”
• Jason Mantzoukas (14:17): “I just want to recommend the Junia Ba graphic novel... it's a giant book and absolutely gorgeously drawn.”

Corrections and Omissions (31:54 – 32:48)

The hosts continue to address additional listener feedback, further dissecting the film's inconsistencies and missed opportunities. They touch upon historical inaccuracies, character age discrepancies, and other plot-related flaws, all while maintaining their signature comedic banter.

Key Points:

• Historical Context: Listeners point out discrepancies in the film's historical setting, such as Tom Sawyer's age relative to the storyline’s timeline (28:22).
• Script Changes: Monday nitpicks include how studio interventions altered James Robinson's original script, diluting the film's potential (29:49 – 30:15).

Apologies and Final Thoughts (37:36 – 39:40)

The episode concludes with an "Apologies Theme," where users express regret over their votes for the film, acknowledging its shortcomings.

Highlights:

• Keithosaurus Rex (37:36): Apologizes for voting for the film, labeling it as having excessive exposition and poorly executed action scenes (38:03).
• Aaron from Vermont (39:05): Shares a heartfelt thanks, mentioning personal connections to the film despite its flaws (39:05 – 39:14).
• Final Remarks: Paul and Jason reiterate their disdain for the film while appreciating listener contributions, promising to continue their entertaining critiques with upcoming episodes (39:29 – 40:05).

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Scheer (38:21): “Apologies to Jason, but I need some sort of post traumatic review of this film...”
• Jason Mantzoukas (38:46): “We're trying to have fun, assholes.”

Teasers for Upcoming Episodes (40:05 – End)

Before signing off, Paul and Jason provide sneak peeks into future episodes, including their next movie choice, "Doppelganger", starring Drew Barrymore and George Newburn. They offer a brief plot summary and share humorous teasers from the film's trailer.

Key Highlights:

• Next Movie: "Doppelganger" – A blend of romance and thriller elements with a supernatural twist (40:05 – 41:45).
• Upcoming Appearances: Tease their joint appearance on "Doughboys" for "March Madness," hinting at more collaborative fun (36:50 – 37:16).

Conclusion

Paul Scheer and Jason Mantzoukas deliver a comprehensive and entertaining critique of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," blending sharp humor with detailed analysis. They engage with their audience through listener feedback, offering corrections and deepening the conversation around the film's numerous flaws. The episode effectively balances humor with insightful commentary, making it both informative and enjoyable for fans and newcomers alike.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Jason Mantzoukas (02:29): “It was so bad it left such a bad taste in my mouth.”
• Paul Scheer (15:27): “The Nautilus measures 70 meters... so there's no way it's making those narrow turns.”
• Jason Mantzoukas (14:17): “I just want to recommend the Junia Ba graphic novel... it's a giant book and absolutely gorgeously drawn.”
• Jason Mantzoukas (38:21): “We're trying to have fun, assholes.”

Conclusion:

"Last Looks: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" serves as a quintessential example of "How Did This Get Made?"'s ability to dissect and celebrate bad movies. Through a blend of humor, detailed critique, and listener engagement, Paul and Jason transform a film misstep into an entertaining and informative podcast episode.