We're Not Critics Podcast - formerly Movie Pain or Pleasure

2020 is long over, but then there was 2021...and now we're in 2022, and you guys, the world is a HOT MESS! One way you can beat the crippling existential crisis (and the literal crises) of our times is to escape into movies and TV shows that make you laugh and forget your troubles or just realize that our dystopian nightmare could be much, much worse.  We share sixteen movies and animes that...

Sometimes, when the world is crumbling around you, you need a good old-fashioned hate watch to get your blood pumping. We found that with M. Night Shyamalan's supernatural thriller Old ....oof...y'all. This movie is entertaining and aggravating in all the wrong ways, but it just might be salvaged by the signature twist ending. We offer a play-by-play of this movie along with several recommendation...

Dance movies are some of our favorite guilty pleasures. Tap your toes and join us as we twirl through a baker's dozen of great (or not so great) dance movies.

Ugh, you guys, this one was a doozy of a hate watch. "Step Up 6: Year of the Dance" (2019) takes the franchise to China...which is fine...unfortunately, the writing was so weak we're surprised none of the characters broke their ankles tripping over the loose, lazy plot. Other than an out-of-place amazing fight scene at the end, this movie lacks the choreography, character arcs, and over-the-top en...

We cover our first Bollywood movie! Melanie introduces AJ to one of her favorite romantic comedies (and his first Bollywood movie), "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi," starring Bollywood powerhouse Shah Rukh Kahn and Anushka Sharma. It's funny, sweet, interesting, and even has moments of sadness and tenderness. There's nothing to dislike about this movie. Put on your sparkly t-shirt, your dancing shoes, grab y...

Before Channing Tatum worked his magic in the "Magic Mike" movies, he was showing some hip hop moves in "Step Up" from 2006. We do have some complaints, but overall it's a decent little movie and fairly tame compared to the rest of the "Step Up" franchise. Put on your tights (wait, what?) and bust a move as we pique turn into our first dance movie episode.

The filmmakers were trying to make the latest iteration of "Robin Hood" (2018) unique, but most of the efforts fell flat. Throw on your hoodie and your bandanna and follow us into Nottingham as we joke our way through this movie. Also, if you get bored watching "Robin Hood," there's a perfect place to play "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" over the ho-hum action. 

Join us for a spoiler-free review of "The Batman," the 2022 film starring Robert Pattinson. We talk about what we loved (and who we loved), what wasn't so great, and we give recommendations for other Batman and Robert Pattison-related movies. Tell us on Instagram @moviepainorpleasurepodcast what you liked about this latest installment of the caped crusader franchise.

We're back with another live-action anime play-by-play with "Dragonball Evolution!" While this 2009 movie is not as rage-inducing as the more recent live action "Death Note" (see our episode 3 for the reasons for our wrath), it's not a good movie. However, it dances on the edge of silliness and stupidity enough to make it a mildly delightful guilty pleasure. Melanie has zero background knowledge o...

Look here, doll faces, we know you folks want comedy. Well, we've got comedy in spades...Sam Spade, that is! Join us as we cackle our way through the 1941 classic "The Maltese Falcon" with wise-cracking Humphrey Bogart and our new favorite soft-spoken villain Peter Lorre. We're not sure if it was originally meant to be a comedy, but it is hysterical. Melanie and AJ even dressed the part for this e...

YOU GUYS, THIS MOVIE IS RIDICULOUS! We swear "F9: Fast and Furious Saga" is a guilty pleasure, but when you stop to think and talk about it for too long, it melts your brain. It's better to just start the movie and go go go until it's over. Pop open a mini jar of moonshine like Melanie did and get ready for a fast, furious, jet-setting spy caper. The "family" has come a long way from stealing VCR/...

2020 was tough, and 2021 wasn't much better. Whether you were already struggling with mental illness or not, the last two years have been rough on us all, but it doesn't seem like our workplaces got the memo. Sometimes you have to be your own mental health advocate. In this short episode, Melanie shares tips for having a successful conversation with your boss about your mental health and your need...

Happy Valentine's Day! Melanie proclaimed in her memoir that she hates romantic comedies and romantic movies, but she proves herself wrong in this episode. We share ten romantic movies we actually own and love, plus throw in several honorable mentions. Snuggle up with your boo (or not) and enjoy this week's episode of movies that make your heart smile. No spoilers this time because we want you to...

This episode gets personal. AJ and his family members have faced difficulties and discrimination for their legally blind status. Despite protection from the Americans with Disabilities Act, they've come up against mistreatment, prejudice, and ignorance. In this episode AJ shares his own experience and his uncle's and has a message for listeners. Let's think about how we can be more compassionate a...

This sequel to the 1984 classic hit "The Neverending Story" was an hour and a half long but certainly felt never ending. Melanie the Gen Xer and AJ the Millennial agree that this 1990 kids' fantasy movie is a tale better off forgotten by the generations. This episode contains spoilers, and you'll thank us for saving you the trouble of watching it. 

Melanie hates winter with the firey passion of an angry devil, and AJ has to put up with her. What better way to beat the winter blues than with some great movies! We share five movies we've enjoyed on streaming platforms in January 2022 plus a quick review of the new movie, "Spider-Man: No Way Home." For once, there are no spoilers. 

We wish...we wish...we wish we could get the two hours of our lives back spent watching this movie. Will Smith is a glimmering oasis in an otherwise obnoxious, unnecessary remake of the 1992 animated classic "Aladdin." And this also takes place in the Star Wars universe. Join us as we roast this movie back into the lamp where it belongs, give recommendations for better movies, and recast Aladdin a...

What do Star Wars movies, the Gummi Bears cartoon, "A Clockwork Orange," and a really cool Romeo and Juliet anime have in common? Characters from "Cobra Kai," apparently. We let our true martial artist nerdiness come forth as we break down what we love about "Cobra Kai" and what deserves no mercy. There are a few spoilers about the first three seasons, but we try to keep things vague for season fo...

Dickens adaptations, Disney "inbetweequels," and more Tim Curry than we anticipated...all that and more in our bonus Christmas episode! We share fifteen holiday movies we love. Get in the Christmas spirit with us and enjoy some holiday cheer! 

There's a reason why Kirk Cameron's "Saving Christmas" got a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. Join us as we go on our wackiest cinema journey yet. Melanie imbibes in a new beverage, AJ goes on tirades, and we find ourselves siding with an unlikely ally. Stick with us for recommendations that better represent the true spirit of Christmas.

Mormons! Pokemon! Boxing Matches! In this episode we punch our way through "The Fighting Preacher," the true story of Mormon missionary Willard Bean. Find out if this is a guilty pleasure or hate watch, and what recommendations we have for books, movies, and other media to expand your religious horizons. This episode contains spoilers.

Pray for us because we're talking about a religious movie! We discuss God's Not Dead, a popular Christian movie from 2014. While there were things that really bothered us about the movie, we enjoyed certain aspects too. Splash on some holy water and join us. This episode contains spoilers. 

Happy Thanksgiving, turkeys! To round out our month of appreciation, we're celebrating our friendship and the movies we've introduced each other to over the years. We share a list of twenty movies (and one anime series) that made big impressions on us and that we could watch over and over again. We talk about everything from drama to anime to horror and more, including 3D Doritos and Jamie Foxx's...

To continue with Appreciation Month, we are celebrating the "Rocky" franchise, arguably the greatest movie franchise of all time. We talk about our favorite moments from each movie, and Melanie goes on a rant about Tastykakes, the glorious snack cakes from Rocky Balboa's great city of Philadelphia. AJ has yet to see the light about Tastykakes. Listen and let us know which movie in the "Rocky" fran...

For the month of November, we're talking about movies we are grateful for! In this episode we discuss five adaptations of "The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling. We don't want to play favorites or anything...but go watch "Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle" on Netflix RIGHT FREAKING NOW! Next we want to see what happens when Joe Exotic meets Shere Khan.