Episode Summary: "Passion Play" | How Did This Get Made?

Release Date: February 7, 2025

In this episode of How Did This Get Made?, hosts Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Jason Mantzoukas delve into the convoluted and critically panned film "Passion Play". Known for their comedic analysis of the worst films ever made, the trio unpacks the myriad of inconsistencies, questionable plot choices, and over-the-top performances that make "Passion Play" a quintessential example of cinematic missteps.

1. Introduction to "Passion Play"

The episode kicks off with Paul Scheer introducing the film:

[01:54] Paul Scheer: "Hello, people of Earth, and welcome to How Did This Get Made? The movie is Passion Play."

"Passion Play" is described as a 2011 film featuring Mickey Rourke as a former junkie with a hit on his head. After narrowly escaping death, Rourke's character encounters a winged woman, portrayed by Megan Fox, whom he attempts to sell to a gangster played by Bill Murray to remove the bounty on his life. However, complications arise when he falls in love with her instead.

2. Initial Impressions and Plot Confusion

From the outset, the hosts express their frustration with the film's narrative structure:

[02:35] June Diane Raphael: "Worse than I was. Worse than I was before. I started this movie at 9:30 this morning."

[03:14] Paul Scheer: "Yes."

They highlight the movie's Jacob's Ladder-esque elements, suggesting that much of the film is a figment of Rourke's character's imagination as he grapples with his impending death.

[04:26] Paul Scheer: "A Passion Play is normally related to like, religion... Now where this movie falls apart is he dies and he's dead."

The hosts grapple with the film's lack of coherence, questioning the reality of events within the movie:

[05:09] Jason Mantzoukas: "Where are they? Are they in Las Vegas? Are they in Albuquerque?"

3. Character Analysis

Mickey Rourke's Character: Rourke's portrayal is dissected, with Scheer criticizing the character's decision-making and intelligence:

[13:03] June Diane Raphael: "...this whole thing is a dreamlike piece of, like, fictional storytelling inside the protagonist's brain."

[13:17] June Diane Raphael: "It's hard to criticize a movie when it's the vision of one of its main characters who is an idiot."

Megan Fox's Character: Fox's portrayal of a winged woman is a central focus. The hosts discuss the impracticality of her character having bird-like wings, both physically and logically:

[06:35] June Diane Raphael: "Why keep perpetuating the narrative that she's a bird woman?"

[09:30] Jason Mantzoukas: "She just is a figment of his imagination."

Bill Murray's Character: Bill Murray's role as the gangster is viewed more favorably, with praise for his restrained performance:

[25:03] June Diane Raphael: "I liked how oddly restrained he is. It reminds me of Mad Dog and Glory."

[26:03] June Diane Raphael: "Bill Murray has that kind of mystique."

4. Technical Critiques

The hosts highlight several technical flaws that detract from the film's quality:

• CGI and Visual Effects:

  [03:31] June Diane Raphael: "It was so CGI'd out. It's like the room. Tommy level CGI."

• Continuity Issues:

  [12:15] June Diane Raphael: "There are a lot of continuity problems."

  Examples include inconsistent time frames and character appearances, such as:

  [12:24] June Diane Raphael: "Full long johns. He's nude."

• Soundtrack and Scene-Matching:

  [17:51] June Diane Raphael: "The music that's playing isn't the music of the jazz band. It's slow, plaintive piano and cello music."

5. Thematic Exploration

The episode delves into the film's underlying themes and metaphors:

• Redemption and Guilt:

  The hosts interpret the film as Rourke's character attempting to redeem himself by saving another person, possibly reflecting his own regrets.

• Illusion vs. Reality:

  The concept of the entire narrative being a dream or hallucination adds layers of confusion, making it difficult to discern what's real within the movie.

  [38:48] Paul Scheer: "Do you think this is Bill Murray doing Kevin Spacey?"

6. Notable Scenes and Performances

Several scenes are highlighted for their memorability, albeit often for their absurdity:

• Megan Fox's Wings:

  [06:35] June Diane Raphael: "Why keep perpetuating the narrative that she's a bird woman?"

• The Trumpet Scene:

  A particularly emotional moment where Rourke's character struggles to let go of his trumpet:

  [43:55] Paul Scheer: "He legitimately broke my heart when he is plaintively, clearly, like, not wanting to let go of this instrument."

• Sex Scene Controversy:

  The controversial portrayal of a relationship between Fox's 23-year-old character and Rourke's 57-year-old character is critiqued heavily:

  [30:57] June Diane Raphael: "This was chilly."

  [32:09] Jason Mantzoukas: "I just don't want to see him. Just lay there like a dinner."

7. Final Thoughts and Reception

Despite the overwhelming criticisms, the hosts acknowledge that "Passion Play" has garnered a small group of dedicated fans who appreciate its unique blend of themes and performances:

[54:02] June Diane Raphael: "There are people out there who liked it... They are telling me things but not showing me the word."

However, the consensus among the hosts remains that the film is a tangled mess of poor storytelling, questionable character decisions, and technical shortcomings. They debate its place as a "dad core" movie—a passion project driven more by personal interests than cohesive storytelling.

[66:36] Paul Scheer: "This is a dad core movie."

[66:44] Paul Scheer: "Another banger."

Ultimately, the episode serves as both a critique and celebration of cinematic failures, highlighting how even the worst movies can provide ample material for engaging and humorous discussion.

8. Episode Conclusion

The hosts wrap up by promoting upcoming events, tours, and their new series Dark Web, while encouraging listeners to engage with their content:

[68:25] Paul Scheer: "Come check us out on the road."

[68:45] Paul Scheer: "We had a big thank you to... Avril Halley, our movie picking producer."

The episode concludes with a heartfelt acknowledgment of their producer Matt Apodaca's departure and a final endorsement of the episode's featured movie as a "unique and different" viewing experience.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Scheer [02:35]: "Finally, a true Jacob's Ladder scenario."

• June Diane Raphael [04:17]: "How to discover Catch. You know, you wonder how to get this for let's wallow in the mediocrity of subpar art."

• Jason Mantzoukas [04:49]: "Answer to the question, how did this Get Made?"

• Paul Scheer [51:31]: "It is a cheat. It's like."

• Jason Mantzoukas [54:35]: "The tagline is love is stronger than death."

Conclusion:

This episode of How Did This Get Made? exemplifies the show's knack for dissecting flawed films with humor and critical insight. While "Passion Play" may falter on multiple fronts, the hosts' lively debate and humorous exchanges turn its shortcomings into an entertaining exploration of what makes a movie notoriously bad. Whether you're a fan of the hosts or a lover of cinematic disasters, this episode offers a thorough and amusing breakdown of a film that arguably should never have been made.