The Bobby Bones Show – Movie Mike’s Movie Podcast (October 12, 2025)

Episode: Hidden Gems and Major Letdowns in Sept Recap with Mike and Kelsey + Movie Review: Good Boy + Movie Poster Wall: The Simpsons Movie 2

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Movie Mike and his wife/co-host Kelsey recap September’s best and worst movies, discuss standout indie films and disappointments, and reflect on the evolving moviegoing experience. Mike delivers a spoiler-free review of the viral horror film Good Boy, and fans of The Simpsons get an in-depth breakdown of the announcement and poster for The Simpsons Movie 2. The couple also touches on theater nostalgia, supporting local cinemas, recent TV obsessions, books, and more. The episode is relaxed, humorous, and full of genuine cinephile energy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

September Movie Landscape and Viewing Habits

• The “Random Meal” Month Analogy

  • Mike likens September’s crop of movies to a meal of leftovers—random, a little mismatched, and sometimes surprisingly good or bad.
    • “September to me was kind of like whenever I try to clean out food from the fridge and I put together a meal of a bunch of random things that don’t really go together…” – Movie Mike [05:15]
  • Kelsey agrees, pointing out she literally cleaned expired things that morning [05:43].

• Busy Moviegoing Schedules

  • August was packed with movies for Mike; October looks even busier with Oscar contenders, concerts, football, and personal events.
  • Kelsey shares she’s planning a hair transformation and jokes about their packed schedule [05:05-05:13].

• The Death of the “Mid Movie” Experience

  • They reflect on how fewer films fall in the “just okay” category—movies now are either must-sees or quickly forgotten [26:48].

Hidden Gems: Indie & Underrated Films

• Twin List – Standout Indie
  • Kelsey’s pick for best under-the-radar film: Twin List.
    • Plot: “Two men who each lost their respective twin brothers develop a growing friendship after meeting in a support group.” – Movie Mike [06:10]
  • They praise the film’s originality, genre-blending elements (psychological thriller, drama, comedy), beautiful cinematography, and cast (Lauren Graham, Dylan O’Brien).
    • “It has part almost psychological thriller, drama, comedy, a little bit of everything…the way the movie is shot is very cinematic.” – Movie Mike [06:33]
    • “Attractive white guy with brown hair. That’s really the only similarity.” – Kelsey (on confusion between Dylan O’Brien and Logan Lerman) [07:12]
  • Importance of supporting indie theaters like Nashville’s Belcourt.
    • “If you ever come to Nashville and you want to go see a movie and experience it in the best way, go to the Belcourt.” – Movie Mike [09:20]

Best Blockbuster: One Battle After Another

• Big Budget Surprise

  • Mike’s top pick is One Battle After Another, seen at Belcourt. He highlights the crowd energy, the unique “old school” experience of unreserved seating, and the thrill of early Oscar “season.”
  • Details on seeing it in the right format and how Nashville’s indie scene and film equipment (like 70mm IMAX) add to the experience [12:06].

• Leo Deserves an Oscar?

  • Mike and Kelsey discuss Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance:
    • “Leo Oscar Nom, I would say...they tend to snub Leo a little bit, especially when he’s not doing a full-on drama.” – Movie Mike [13:30]
    • “You know who deserves to win? Sean Penn’s neck vein.” – Kelsey [13:56]
  • Supporting actors Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn get major praise, especially for their comedic chemistry and physical comedy.

• Rewatching Rarity

  • “So far this year, we’ve only rewatched one movie in theaters, Lilo and Stitch.” [14:36]

Major Letdowns

• Highest to Lowest (Apple TV+, remake of a Kurosawa film)

  • Kelsey was bored: “It didn’t keep my attention…things that are really good can keep my attention. That was not one of them.” [15:30]
  • Mike critique: Overpowering orchestral score, lack of plot momentum, disappointing Denzel performance.
    • “The music was so distracting…so no shade to the orchestra, you were all very talented. It just didn’t fit the movie.” – Kelsey and Mike [16:43-16:56]

• The Wrong Paris (Netflix, Miranda Cosgrove)

  • Mike found it the “worst,” even though it was enjoyable in its own goofy way:
    • “It just happens to be the worst in the month.” [20:33]

• Him (Jordan Peele-produced horror)

  • High expectations, bigger disappointment. Not as scary or fresh as hoped.
    • “My expectations were not met….I thought it was going to be good.” – Mike [20:55]

Moviegoing Then & Now

• Theater Rituals

  • The couple details their “science” for arriving just in time at Regal:
    • “We know there’s at least 20 minutes of trailers beforehand…we could get there 25 minutes after.” – Mike [09:58]
  • Old-school thrill at indie theaters with non-reserved seating and unique trailers [11:01-11:23].

• Why Support Indie Theaters

  • Lower ticket prices, nonprofit missions, and creative programming get a shoutout.
  • Mike and Kelsey honestly admit to sometimes sneaking snacks (“I’m vegan!”) but always buying popcorn at Belcourt (“Their popcorn is delicious.”) [09:19]

Notable TV, Books, and Comfort Media

• TV Picks:

  • Dancing With the Stars (Kelsey, [28:39])
  • Platonic (Apple TV+)
  • Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (“I have one season left…I’m savoring it”) – Kelsey [28:46]
  • ER annual rewatch, and the start of her fall Gilmore Girls tradition [29:05]
  • Mike finished Wednesday Season 2, prefers Season 1 but loved Lady Gaga’s episodes; laments Netflix’s slow show turnaround [29:10]
  • “Selling Sunset” shoutout prompts:
    • “How did that show get nine seasons?” – Movie Mike [30:01]

• Book of the Month:

  • Kelsey read 12 books in September (!)
  • Top pick: The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett Graff (audio recommended) [30:45]
    • “It was just so well done…can’t recommend it enough.” – Kelsey [32:02]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “Twin List”:

  • “We saw that one at the Bell Court. Fun place to see it, good indie film.” – Kelsey [07:16]
  • “One of the best I’ve seen this year of just not knowing a whole lot about it—felt super original.” – Mike [07:27]

• On Streaming vs. Theaters:

  • “More people are comfortable watching them at home than ever before…But the best things are still going to theaters first.” – Movie Mike [08:12]

• Indie Support Reminder:

  • “If you have small, like indie theater or anything in your area, support them…” – Kelsey [08:47]

• Movie Magic and Authenticity:

  • “The fact that they were able to make [the dog] feel comfortable, not put him in any situations where it was animal abuse…I think that’s what made this performance feel really authentic.” – Movie Mike on Good Boy [41:55]

In-depth: Good Boy Spoiler-Free Movie Review

(Starts ~37:00)

• Good Boy is a low-budget, viral horror movie told from the point of view of a dog, Indy.
• The director cast his own dog, shooting with minimal crew and dubbing human voice actors in post-production.
• Praise:
  • Visuals are beautiful; Indie’s bond with owner is touching and authentic [39:20].
  • The movie is novel, short (1h11m), and doesn't overstay its welcome [44:01].
  • “Indy is such a good looking dog…I was like, that is a movie star right here. He deserves an Oscar nomination for best actor.” – Mike [40:30]
• Caveats:
  • Plot is simple and movie is not very scary. The focus is on emotional stakes for the dog, not horror for the viewer.
  • “We can watch any horror movie and…don’t care about people getting their throat slashed…But if ever a horror movie messes with a dog, that is where we’re at it. We don’t want to see that.” – Mike [41:15]
• Takeaway:
  • It's a metaphor for loyalty and the limits of help, with a moving relationship between man and dog.
  • Rated: 3 out of 5 pats on the head.
    • “For Good Boy, I give it 3 out of 5 Pats on the head. Who’s a good boy?” – Mike [45:18]

Special Segment: Poster Breakdown – The Simpsons Movie 2

(Starts ~51:00)

• Personal Fandom:
  • Mike’s excitement is palpable: “My favorite show of all time…If I’m even 1% funny at all…all due to The Simpsons.” [51:17]
• Poster Details:
  • Simple, clean: “Homer’s coming back for seconds,” with Homer’s hand reaching for a donut with #2 sprinkles. Premiere date: July 23, 2027.
  • “That is a great poster. That is one that I think I'm gonna have to put up on this wall because it looks so classic.” – Mike [58:40]
• Nostalgic Reflection:
  • Mike reminisces about Simpsons Mania in 2007 and the show’s impact across four decades [53:00]
  • Wonders if this should or could be the finale for the franchise, but notes the show is renewed through Season 40 [57:30].

Community Shout-Out & Listener Response

• Shoutout for TikTok user “Old Enough to Know” for providing a dissenting view on last week’s review. Mike respectfully disagrees but encourages more discussion [1:01:45].

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start | |-----------------------------------------|------------| | Main Theme/Intro | 02:40 | | September Recap & Viewing Habits | 03:38 | | Indie/Underrated Picks (Twin List) | 06:08 | | Moviegoing Rituals & Nostalgia | 09:58 | | Best Blockbuster: One Battle After Another | 12:33 | | Oscar Talk: Leo, Sean Penn, Benicio | 13:30 | | Major Letdowns (Highest to Lowest, Him, The Wrong Paris) | 14:56 / 20:26 | | Streaming vs. Theater | 08:12 | | Books/TV Comfort Media | 28:39 | | Good Boy Movie Review | 37:02 | | Poster Breakdown: The Simpsons Movie 2 | 51:00 | | Listener Response/Shoutout | 1:01:45 |

Overall Tone & Closing Thoughts

The episode blends cinephile analysis with a warm, conversational tone. Mike and Kelsey riff affectionately about movies, theater culture, and media habits, with plenty of banter and callbacks. The show feels accessible, informed, and genuinely enthusiastic about film and pop culture—making it a must-listen for movie lovers, casual watchers, and nostalgic Simpsons fans alike.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, and don’t forget to support your local indie theaters (and buy that popcorn)!