Hops and Box Office Flops

Borderlands is yet another vapid video game adaptation that fails to capture what made the games it's based on so great—a colorful explosion full of nonsensical plot points and weak action. Not surprisingly, it couldn't ignite the box office or earn the adoration of fans and critics. Now, sit back, fuel your anarchy with a Oberon Eclipse from Bell's Brewery, and roll up the damn windows! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are trying our hands at vault hunting. What could go wrong?! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Chaos loves company! (0:00)Lingering Questions – Whose to blame for this debacle? (23:09)The "Other Pandora" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (36:49)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our series of 2024 flops with the ultra charming Ryan Gosling vehicle The Fall Guy! (47:06) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Loosely based on the daring exploits of a ragtag group of soldiers during World War II, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a tale of heroism with a Guy Ritchie spin. The film chronicles Operation Postmaster—in which a battalion led by Gus March-Phillips (Henry Cavill) is sent on an off the books mission to disrupt, ideally destroy, the Nazis U-Boat resupply operation. March-Phillips, played with extraordinary flair by Cavill, is joined by an eclectic group of commandos. Though the subject matter is serious, their personalities allow for plenty of fun, and that levity drives The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. As historically embellished as it may be, this is still a journey through the past well worth taking. Now, sit back, gear up for some sabotage with an Old Speckled Hen from Green King, and do not sing in Yiddish! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are prying the nipple clamps off Capt. Cash to free him from Nazi prison! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Keep calm and Cavill on! (0:00)Lingering Questions – Which of these motley crew members is our respective spirit animal? (36:17)The "Operation Postmaster" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (50:42)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our series of 2024 flops with the video game adaptation disaster Borderlands! (1:00:49) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Sting is a nasty little creature feature that came and went to little notice. Released on under 1,000 screens, this tale of a cosmic spider running amok is sure to make the hairs of any arachnophobe stand up. It's lean; it's mean; and it's got enough gross gore to unsettle even the least squeamish of us. It's like Alien—if the Xenomorph was an eight-legged freak who enjoyed dining on birds, babies, and pups. Now, sit back, drown the ick with a West Bestern IPA from Belching Beaver, and don't you dare whistle! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are washing ourselves with mothball water to keep Sting away! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Your biggest fear just got bigger! (0:00)Lingering Questions – How quickly to we flee a building being menaced by a giant arachnid? (21:41)The "Bug Brothers" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (40:31)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off our series of 2024 flops with The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare! (51:12) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Oddity, a small Irish film, is one of the better horror movies of 2024. It centers on Darcy, whose twin sister Dani was brutally murdered alone in the remote house she was renovating with her husband. Darcy, who is blind, is a medium. When she touches an object, she can peer into its experiences. She, still unsure of what truly happened to her sister, takes it upon herself to unravel the mystery of Dani’s murder. A slow burn, Oddity is full of creepy visuals and uses its setting to maximum effect. Horror fans should not sleep on this one. Now, sit back, peer into the memories of the deceased with a Hop Chowda Hazy IPA from Goldwater Brewing, and don't ring for the bellhop! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK) and Bling Blake are using Olin Boole's glass eye to track down the real killer! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Every murder lives on! (0:00)Lingering Questions – Best weapon to take down a wood golem? (22:38)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our month-long series dedicated to torturing poor Bling Blake with gross little creature feature, Sting! (38:34) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

In a Violent Nature is an art house version of Friday the 13th. It's minimalist, lacking a score, and generally follows the killer Johnny around as he tromps through the woods. It's an interesting twist on the classic slasher formula, but its style certainly won't be for everyone. That said, In a Violent Nature deserves credit for daring to be distinct in a genre full of tropes and clones. That alone probably warranted a better at the box office. It grossed just $4.56 million on a budget of $3 million. Good enough to earn it a sequel, but nothing to write home about. Now, sit back, enjoy the serene sounds of nature with a Moose Drool from Big Sky Brewing, and don't touch Johnny's locket! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are trying not to die during our downward facing dog! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Nature is unforgiving! (0:00)Lingering Questions – Did we enjoy the muted style of the movie? (23:58)The "White Pine Slaughter" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (50:13)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our month-long series dedicated to torturing poor Bling Blake with another critical darling of the horror world, Oddity! (1:00:48) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Terrifier 2 ups the ante of the first film in nearly every way. It is brutal, shocking, and repugnant. Despite that, it is hard not to appreciate the practical effect work of Damien Leone—the film's writer, director, editor, and producer. This is a carnival of splatter. And Art the Clown, the principal antagonist of the Terrifier franchise, is quite creepy. Where the movie fails is in creating a narrative tension. It is disturbing to watch, and the kills only get more grotesque as the movie meanders across its lengthy 138-minute runtime. There is just a distinct lack of pathos to balance out the mayhem. Too often, Terrifier 2 just feels like an endurance exercise. How long can the viewer survive before they've seen enough mutilation? A person's mileage on that may vary. It just does not make for a compelling movie experience.  Now, sit back, keep your dinner down with a Smashed Pumpkin from Shipyard Brewing, and remember: there is now why! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Mayor McCheese and Chumpzilla are waving our white flags because we've had all the viscera we can handle! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Who's laughing now? (0:00)Lingering Questions – Will we still Terrifier 3 in theaters or did this one sate our appetite for the deranged? (33:32)The "Art the Clown" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (59:02)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our month-long series dedicated to torturing poor Bling Blake with In a Violent Nature! (1:09:40) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Rebel Moon – Part Two Director's Cut: Curse of Forgiveness is the ultimate payoff to our team of rebels coming together. Essentially, it all culminates in one massive battle scene, where each of our heroes gets their due. It is a visual feast of explosions, violence, and destruction. And, quite frankly, it is awesome. In the PG-13 cut, The Scargiver, the majority of the battle scenes were in tact; but what makes the Director's Cut so superior is all the small moments of connective tissue it adds. Our investment in the team, as well as the townspeople of Veldt is much greater with the added context. If you choose to watch one version, then Curse of Forgiveness is the way to go. Now, sit back, annihilate your tastebuds with a Suckerpunch Dill Pickle Sour from Destihl, find her, and fight! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are laying the smack down to the Motherworld's forces with an antler in each hand! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – There are no heroes, only rebels! (0:00)Lingering Questions – Having seen both Director's Cuts, which one did we enjoy more? (26:32)The "For the Slain King" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (55:13)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off a month-long series dedicated to torturing poor Bling Blake with Terrifier 2! (1:11:31) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Rebel Moon – Part One Director's Cut: Chalice of Blood is the far superior version of the saga’s first installment. Sadly, very few people tuned into the director’s preferred vision of the film when it dropped on Netflix eight months after the PG-13 cut. Chalice of Blood fixes many of the issues from the trimmed down one, providing much needed connective tissue and time for the viewer to breathe. It also enriches the depth of each out heroes—character beats and moments sorely lacking in A Child of Fire. Hyper violent, full of eccentric alien creations, and starring a host of excellent actors, Chalice of Blood deserved a better fate than to be lost in the massive catalogue of its streaming service. Even if you disliked the PG-13 cut, the fully realized R version truly warrants a watch. Now, sit back, prepare for battle with a Vortices Double Hazy IPA from Dark Sky Brewing, and never trust a smuggler! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are assembling a team of the most badass folks in the galaxy for a showdown with the Motherworld! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – There are no heroes, only rebels! (0:00)Lingering Questions – In Zack Snyder's space opera, what were our favorite scenes/creations? (28:37)The "King's Gaze" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:09:39)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We do the second of two special episodes covering Zack Snyder's space opera, Rebel Moon – Part Two Director's Cut: The Curse of Forgiveness! (1:21:21) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Before Bill Cosby was a serial sex offender (well, concurrently really), he was just an unfunny comedian. And Leonard Part Six is his magnum opus of unfunny. Leonard Parker is a secret agent, like a moronic James Bond of sorts. This is technically his sixth adventure. The other five are classified! That latter bit you should be happy about. Why? Because number six is as dumb as humanly possible. It centers on Leonard's battle with the evil Medusa Johnson. Johnson uses animals to enact her nefarious plots, as well as a team of half-naked vegans. Yes, all of this comes into play in a myriad of idiotic scenarios.  It's all dumb. None of it is charming, witty, or remotely hilarious. And, by the end, you will try to drown yourself in a vat of Jell-O pudding to escape the madness. Now, sit back, cure your rabbit bites with a Bell’s Hazy Hearted, and prepare to ride an ostrich! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are smiting murderous veggie-loving terrorists with thawed magic meat! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – America's best-dressed super spy! (0:00)Lingering Questions – In a film starving for comedic moments, were any of the gags funny? (29:50)The "Ipso Facto" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (46:54)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We do the first of two special episodes covering Zack Snyder's space opera, Rebel Moon – Part One Director's Cut: Chalice of Blood! (57:51) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Dana Carvey is an immensely talented and funny comedian. Sadly, Master of Disguise fails in almost every conceivable way to showcase that. It is loaded with one-note jokes and costumes that range from idiotic to absurdly racist. Thus, despite being a mild success financially, it failed to launch his career to the next level. Worse, Master of Disguise was despised by critics, narrowly avoiding a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes by the slimmest of margins—it's a 1%. Audiences were also not in on the gags. And who can blame them? Most of the jokes far extend their welcome, and most of the absurd disguises do too. You'll barely laugh, you may cry, and you'll certainly never think of turtles the same. Now, sit back, blend in with an Oktoberfest from Reformation Brewery, and prepare to steal the Liberty Bell! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are open-hand slapping evil doers and screaming, "Who's your Daddy?"! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – 1,000 Faces... And Not A Single Clue! (0:00)Lingering Questions – For a movie centered around elaborate costumes, most of them are stupid. But which is the worst? (37:22)The "Turtle Club" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (52:05)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude Notorious Flops with an all-time stinker Leonard Part Six! (1:03:57) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Highlander II: The Quickening takes everything you loved about the original and throws it in the dumpster. A sequel in title only, the film is an utter travesty from start to finish. Why? Well, instead of the general premise of them simply being immortals, they are now beings from a different planet. They were sent to Earth as punishment for treason, but also inexplicably granted immortality. It only gets worse from there. Sean Connery returns as Ramirez. Yes, he died in the first one. That doesn't matter here. And, as viewers, it's best not to ask questions. He's charming and famous damnit! Plus, one can't simply expect Highlander II to just coast on bizarre alley sex scenes with Christopher Lambert! But, I digress, Highlander was a cool genre flick with an interesting premise. Sadly, when forced to flesh out their lore, the writers penned some of the dumbest shit to ever grace the screen. It flopped hard, and it deserved to. It also has the distinction of holding a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. There couldn't even be one reviewer that liked it. Now, sit back, drink to your immortal health with a Kilt Lifter from Four Peaks Brewing, and tear down the Shield! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are plotting a coup on our home planet, Zeist! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – In all their centuries on Earth, nothing could prepare them for...! (0:00)Lingering Questions – In a movie full of stupid scenes, which was the dumbest? (34:26)The "Quickening" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (58:12)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Notorious Flops with Master of Disguise! (1:11:22) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Saturn 3 is, quite frankly, just a bizarre film. It focuses on essentially three characters—played by just Kirk Douglas, Farah Fawcett, and Harvey Keitel—as well as a corny looking robot named Hector. Douglas and Fawcett, as Major Adam and his assistant Alex, work on one of the moon's of Saturn, striving to find solutions to Earth's hunger problem. Keitel, as the menacing Benson, shows up to bring chaos and terror to their lives. Well, really he's just weird, but his robot companion—fueled by his worst traits—becomes a murderous psychopath. That is essentially the movie. It has odd sex scenes, a dearth of tension, some supremely bad ADR over Keitel's voice, and some of the worst practical effects this side of Uranus. Hence why it is hailed as one of the worst movies of all-time, crashing and burning with critics and at the box office. Now, sit back, question your life choices with a tumbler of tequila, and monitor our hydroponics! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are feeding our worst impulses into Hector's collection of baby brains! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Trapped between unnatural love and inhuman desire! (0:00)Lingering Questions – How dumb is Hector's design? (34:13)The "Blue Dreamers" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (51:02)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Notorious Flops with Highlander II: The Quickening! (1:00:14) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Deadpool & Wolverine is a comic nerd's dream. It's a love letter to the superhero cinema that paved the path to this current generation, while also celebrating the iconic performances of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. It's bloody, vulgar, and just a really f$%^ing great time. It also helps to reset the course for a fledgling MCU. Unlike many of the Phase 4/5 films and shows before it, you will leave Deadpool & Wolverine excited for the potential of the future. Will Jackman return for the next two Avengers movies? What the hell was that tease with Thor and Deadpool? Those answers will obviously come, but what made the MCU so brilliant throughout its decades+ reign as box office kings was its ability to hold the viewers interest. That stranglehold has more than just slackened in recent years. But, rest assured, Deadpool & Wolverine reaffirms that grasp with pair of Hulk hands. At $900 million and counting, it is a runaway success; and that success is well deserved. You'll laugh; you'll cry; you'll scream, "Holy shit!"; and you'll definitely have the time of your life (or at least summer) Now, sit back, peer into the clouded future of the MCU with a Stone Delicious Hazy IPA, and don't desecrate any graves! The Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK) and Chumpzilla are eating our feelings and driving through the void in a sweet Honda Odyssey! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Everyone deserves a happy ending! (0:00)Lingering Questions – Is Hugh Jackman the GOAT of comic book actors? (40:36)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off Notorious Flops with Saturn 3! (1:06:43) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Forgive the brevity, as we’re at comic con, but Boy Kills World is a bloody good time, and you should watch it! Now, sit back, prepare to fight with an Atomic Slam Hazy Double IPA from Paperback Brewing, and don't be a f$%# puppet! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are laying the smackdown to sugary cereal mascots at the Culling! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Gear up for an action fever dream! (0:00)Lingering Questions – Who did dystopian death TV better this or The Running Man? (23:27)The "Frosty Puffs" Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (43:31)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off Notorious Flops with Saturn 3! (53:15) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

Equilibrium centers on post-World War III society, Libria, where emotions have been outlawed. Daily, citizens must take scheduled injections of Prozium II to ensure they don't begin to feel. Violators are handled with prejudice. If that sounds familiar, it should. Equilibrium, despite a few nifty action scenes, is highly derivative of better dystopian fiction. One of its few innovations—enforcement agents trained in the art of gun kata known as the Grammaton Clerics—are just wannabe Neo clones. Oh, and as you'll hear on the pod, gun kata is really goddamn stupid. A backyard creation of Equilibrium's director, Kurt Wimmer, gun kata is the equivalent of the old Star Wars kid YouTube video. As in, it may have looked cool in his head, but he probably should've thought better than to film people doing it. Now, sit back, curb your emotions with a Third Eye PA from Third Eye Brewing, and don't forget your morning dose! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are ridding the world of contraband, one Da Vinci painting at a time! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – In a future where freedom is outlawed, outlaws will become heroes! (0:00)Lingering Questions – On a graded scale—F to A—how would we assess the final action scene? (51:28)The "Prozium II" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:09:19)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We conclude Dystopian Flops with one of 2024's biggest bombs, Boy Kills World! (1:23:24) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

The Running Man, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, resembles the Richard Bachman (Stephen King) novel it was based on in name only. Naturally, since its lead is the "Austrian Oak," it is a testosterone-fueled action movie with a light sprinkling of dystopian allegories. That said, it crushes both of those elements. Certainly, The Running Man's dire warnings may feel satirical, but viewed through a contemporary lens, they are wildly prescient. Deep fake technology, live executions being fed to the masses in the form of a game show, and an America run by corporate greed are not just plausible, we're living through most of it. In the 1980s, when the country was high on Reaganomics, The Running Man's themes sadly failed to resonate with audiences. On a budget of nearly $30 million, it grossed just north of $38 million. That, unlike Cadre Cola, does not hit the spot. Now, sit back, get energized with a Hazing Arizona from Walter Station Brewery, and let's start running! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla love this saw. It's a part of us, and now we're gonna make it a part of you! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – The year is 2019. The finest men in America don't run for President. They run for their lives! (0:00)Lingering Questions – We need one kill. Which Stalker do we pick for the job? (35:03)The "Captain Freedom's Workout" Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (55:18)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Dystopian Flops with some B-grade Gun-Fu in Equilibrium! (1:05:24) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on all your favorite pod catchers!

When it was released in 1982, few could've predicted Blade Runner would become the cultural landmark that it did. Sure, it was well reviewed at the time and remains so, but it was generally slept on by audiences. Time has only seen the appreciation for it grow. Its cult status is well deserved. Blade Runner is a masterpiece of the genre—a truly seminal science fiction film. Buoyed by Rutger Hauer's masterful performance as replicant Roy Batty, it is a film that engrosses you in its post-apocalyptic world. And, like all essential science fiction, it poses important questions about what makes us human. If you haven't seen it, there is no better time than the present. Now, sit back, dull your guilt with a Tsingtao, and don't question the impending end of your existence! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, Capt. Cash, and Chumpzilla are "retiring"replicants who dare question their masters! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Man has made his match. Now, it's his problem! (0:00)Lingering Questions – From flop to cult classic. How do we feel about the legacy of Blade Runner? (41:05)The "Tyrell Corporation" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:09:29)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Dystopian Flops with Arnold's other 1987 sci-fi classic, The Running Man! (1:22:13) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Jury Duty was one of the last gasps in the fading stardom of Pauly Shore. Son of the legendary Mitzi Shore, Pauly was briefly—and inexplicably—a Hollywood thing in the 90s. With his dopey, laissez-faire  chic, he headlined a string of movies, most of which weren’t very good. Jury Duty falls into the unfortunate section of his filmography. A riff on 12 Angry Men, the movie centers on one dipshit juror, who refuses to render a verdict because the $5 they’re making per day is too sweet a deal. As one could imagine, flat jokes, racist impressions, a romantic subplot, and our moronic lead actually doing the right thing all follow. It’s obnoxious, unfunny, off putting, and seems far longer than 87 minutes. Hence why critics and audiences found Jury Duty guilty on all charges, sentencing it to 0% on Rotten Tomatoes and purchasing far less tickets than the movie cost to make. Now, sit back drown out the annoyance of Pauly Shore's voice with a Harpoon IPA, and never bet against Peanut's Jeopardy skills! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are sharing a burrito with Judge Ito! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – For truth. For justice. For five bucks a day! (0:00)Lingering Questions – Why was Pauly Shore a thing? (32:52)The "The Fast Food Killer" Trivia Challenge – Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (52:00)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off Dystopian Flops with a sci-fi masterpiece, Blade Runner! (1:03:18) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Nothing But Trouble is so bizarre that it's hard to believe it exists. The brain child of Dan Aykroyd, it is a menagerie of his wildest ideas and characters. And, since he wrote, directed, and produced it, there was nobody on set with enough clout to have him rein it in a little. Ghostbusters this is not. Despite that, Aykroyd should be commended for going all in on his ideas. When your film involves a prosthetic nose shaped like the tip of a penis and two ghastly looking grown men covered in crud and oil and wearing diapers, it's clear you've committed to the bit. Nothing But Trouble is a singular vision. Whether you think it works or not—more than likely not—is up to you. Critics, for their part, hated it, sentencing it to 15% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were apparently also baffled by it. Nothing But Trouble is one of the largest box office flops of all time. It grossed less than $9 million on a budget of $45 million. Hey, hey, ha! Ho ha! Heh heh heh heh! Hoola, Hoola, Hoola! The Boola Boola Boola! Look who's got the front seats to the Mexican hat dance now! Now, sit back, tour Judge Alvin "JP" Valkenheiser's house of horrors with a King Crispy Pilsner from Deschutes Brewing, and get yourself up a couple of dogs! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla are riding the harrowing rails of Mr. Bone Stripper! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – All they wanted was a little getaway. All they got was nothing but trouble! (0:00)Lingering Questions – Is this the oddest movie we've ever done? (35:14)The "Mr. Bone Stripper" Trivia Challenge – I challenge the field to trivia about the movie. (43:32)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We finish Objection! Flops with the worst gift the 90s ever gave us Pauly Shore in Jury Duty! (50:36) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

In Find Me Guilty, Vin Diesel stars as "Fat" Jackie DiNorscio, one of several defendants in a federal racketeering trial. That trial was the longest Mafia trial in American history. That conceit is interesting in and of itself, but the fact that DiNorscio served as his own attorney really puts it over the top. Using original court transcripts throughout, DiNorscio makes for a compelling movie character. And Diesel's portrayal of him is some of his finest work on film. DiNorscio is charming and funny. His counterpart, Sean Kierney (in reality, Samuel Alito) played by  Linus Roache is the opposite. He's a brash, cocky prick that you really want DiNorscio to stick it to. Yes, the mobsters are the bad guys, but they are not bad guys. The penultimate film of the great Sidney Lumet, it's a shame that Find Me Guilty didn't find a wider audience at the time of its release. Buy, hey, it's free to stream now, so what are you waiting for? So, sit back, overrule any objections you have with a Tropical High Hazy IPA from Sweetwater Brewing, and don't rat! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Bling Blake, and Chumpzilla aren't gangsters. We're gagsters! This Week’s Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – Sometimes the best defense. . . is a wiseguy! (00:00)Lingering Questions – Should Vin Diesel have taken on more serious roles like this one? (27:25)The "I Love Yous Guys" Trivia Challenge – Chumpzilla challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (59:58)Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue Objection! Flops with the Dan Aykroyd-helmed disaster Nothing But Trouble! (1:12:33) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week’s episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!