Pop Culture Happy Hour: "The Rip"

Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Stephen Thompson (NPR)
Guests: Jordan Crucciola (writer, producer, podcast host), Roxanna Haddadi (Vulture TV critic)

Episode Overview

This episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour dives into Netflix’s latest pulpy crime thriller, "The Rip," starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The panel dissects the film’s stylistic throwbacks, ensemble cast, and overall entertainment value, with a focus on whether it successfully revives the tradition of mid-budget cop dramas or merely imitates its influences. The discussion is marked by a spectrum of reactions—from enthusiastic to underwhelmed—while exploring larger questions about “cinematic middle class,” digital streaming strategies, and actor chemistry.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Summary of "The Rip" & Initial Impressions

• Premise: After the murder of a police captain, a Miami-based team of cops set out to confiscate an unexpectedly massive stash of cartel cash, leading to paranoia, betrayal, and escalating violence. Key cast includes Affleck, Damon, Steven Yuen, Teyana Taylor, and Catalina Sandino Moreno.
• Stephen Thompson: Frames "The Rip" as a nostalgic throwback and points out its direct-to-streaming release, likening it to the pulpy, mid-budget cop movies once prevalent in theaters (03:05).
• Jordan Crucciola: Calls it “box-checky”—embracing genre conventions, “blue collar entertainment,” and touts the fun, suspense, and ensemble cast:

  “I was fully wrapped up in the suspense of this. I was having a blast with the cast and I was having a blast with the gunfights.” (04:11)

• Roxanna Haddadi: More critical, questioning the film’s ability to generate suspense and emotional investment—but acknowledges strong visuals and Affleck’s performance:

  “I personally felt like the suspense was not suspensing. But I think there are elements here that I really liked… The final 20 to 25 minutes are just like a Heat ripoff.” (06:35)

2. Affleck-Damon Chemistry & Casting Notes

• Chemistry as a Strength:
  Stephen and Jordan highlight the undeniable, long-cultivated chemistry between Affleck and Damon as a core enjoyment factor:

  “These two guys have chemistry. They’ve always had chemistry... and that really, I think comes through here.” —Stephen (09:13)

• Supporting Cast:
  • Teyana Taylor is praised for her levity and grounded energy:

    “I thought that Teyana Taylor was great... adding a levity and sort of like a no nonsense, this is just our jobs dynamic that I really enjoyed.” —Roxanna (13:20)

  • Kyle Chandler gets mentioned as a highlight, channeling his “authoritarian guy with a little bit of a wink” phase (13:42).
  • Scott Adkins: Both Roxanna and Jordan express disappointment that action star Adkins doesn’t have an opportunity for his trademark physical set pieces—a mismatch between expectation and what is delivered (14:24–14:33).

3. Visual Style & Genre Influences

• Miami Aesthetic: Roxanna notes the impressive visual flair, such as the “neon Lisa Frank colors” that add a distinctive tone, especially during a climactic shootout (06:35).
• Comparisons to Genre Staples: The film is repeatedly called a “Heat ripoff” for its third-act stylings; panelists discuss its throwback qualities both positively and negatively.
• Haunted House Vibe: Jordan finds a “haunted house at the end of an empty street” element to the suspense (04:11, 09:39).

4. Streaming, Market Context, and “Cinematic Middle Class”

• Streaming Placement:
  Stephen argues the film works well as a straight-to-Netflix production—fitting today’s “basic cable” via streaming and providing solid, weekend popcorn fare (10:20, 15:41).

  “If Netflix wants to position itself as the new basic cable… I’m here for it. This film held my attention in ways I didn't necessarily expect.” (10:25)

• Production Insights:
  Roxanna highlights the Affleck-Damon production deal with Netflix, which includes rare backend bonuses for crew and cast if the movie succeeds—a throwback to when Hollywood maintained a more robust “middle class” of filmmakers and crews.

  “I really do hope that it is successful, because I think those backend bonuses were, like, very key to when Hollywood had a middle class…” (17:15)

• The Value of Mid-Budget Movies:
  Jordan and Stephen bemoan the demise of this tier of filmmaking:

  “Bring back the cinematic middle class. I think we are missing out on a lot of great movies that way and just a lot of fun movies.” —Stephen (17:37)

5. Divergent Reactions: Popcorn Fun or Formulaic?

• Enthusiasm and “Box-Checky” Enjoyment:
  • Jordan is all-in, seeing it as a “multi bag of popcorn kind of movie”—something she’d happily recommend for a family streaming night (04:11, 05:58).
  • Stephen calls it “solid, kind of B grade… Saturday afternoon, bucket of popcorn kind of movie” (08:07).
• Underwhelmed Critique:
  • Roxanna feels the film is too safe, doesn’t innovate within its genre, and is ultimately generic despite sparks from Affleck and Damon (11:31):

    "The rip just felt like established formula and I did not feel like it was doing something particularly new or interesting."

  • She waited for a surprise third-act twist, but found none, which left her feeling let down (11:31–12:23).

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Affleck’s Character:

  “He has introduced wearing a track jacket, a gold chain necklace, smoking a cigarette, and wearing a double gun like shoulder holster. This man so badly wishes that he were in Eastern Promises.” —Roxanna (07:57)

• Streaming vs. Theater Experience:

  “There are movies that really work on streaming that do not work in theaters and kind of vice versa.” —Stephen (15:41)

• On What the Film Delivers:

  “Instead of on rails where it’s boring and predictable, it’s on rails where it’s kind of zipping along.” —Stephen (13:08)

• On Cinematic Middle Class:

  “This used to be a profession where you could have a middle class life.” —Jordan (17:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:05] — Plot summary and intro to panelists’ initial takes
• [04:11] — Jordan’s enthusiastic, popcorn-movie review
• [06:35] — Roxanna’s critique: visual style, expectations, and Heat references
• [08:07] — Stephen’s take: throwback enjoyment and film pacing
• [09:13] — The crucial Affleck-Damon dynamic
• [10:20] — Netflix as the new “basic cable” for mid-grade thrillers
• [11:31] — Roxanna’s disappointment with the lack of narrative innovation
• [13:20] — Ensemble performances: Teyana Taylor, Kyle Chandler, Scott Adkins
• [15:41] — Discussion of streaming appeal vs. theatrical experience
• [17:11] — Affleck-Damon’s Netflix deal and “cinematic middle class”
• [17:37] — Closing thoughts on the value of mid-budget films

Episode Tone & Final Thoughts

The conversation is lively, warm, and peppered with inside jokes and genre savvy. The hosts don’t shy away from dissecting their own expectations versus what the film delivers, maintaining a balance of nostalgia and critique.

All agree “The Rip” is, at minimum, a good fit for a Netflix night in, especially for fans of throwback action or Affleck-Damon collaborations—even if it isn’t destined to rewrite the rules. The bigger takeaway: movies like "The Rip" play an important role for audiences and the industry alike, even amid ambivalent reviews.

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