Grumpy Octopus

Our summer of Ryan Romps continues today with Sleepless in Seattle! It's Ryan and Hanks together again, and if you liked their chemistry in Joe Versus The Volcano, oh boy, you won't be seeing it here, as they will not be meeting. Or having scenes together. Hmm. Can a rom-com work if the leads spend almost the entire movie apart? What if a rom-com is secretly just a movie about sad people trying to...

And we're back! Today kicks off our summer mini podcast of Ryan Romps! What better way to follow up a series of rom-coms than by watching multiple Meg Ryan movies? By the end of the year, we'll know this genre inside and out. We're starting with Joe Versus The Volcano! Spoilers: the first half of this miniseries will have a noticeable Tom Hanks focus as well (a Hanks Hat Trick, if you will). But w...

Hello hello! Today marks the final episode of our Meyers Marathon, focusing on 2015's The Intern. It's a funky little movie that proposes a hard hitting question: What if you were old and you had a job? Ok, there may be a bit more to it than that. There's some family drama here, some crazy heist hijinks, possibly even romance (just a tiny bit). But really the main draw is Robert De Niro working fo...

Happy Friday, Loyal Listeners! It's time for another episode of our Meyers Marathon, focusing on 2009's It's Complicated. And boy, is it. Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin are all here (to clarify, not on this podcast), and prepared to get themselves involved in many a farcical situation. This is the kind of movie that makes you think about the hard questions, questions like: When will...

Hello hello! It's been two weeks since our last episode, and we've recharged our talking batteries to podcast again. Hey, you know what else is a great way to spend two weeks? Perhaps try swapping houses with a stranger from another country! That's right, it's time for our Meyers Marathon to tackle The Holiday, perhaps the most beloved Meyers movie of them all.  The Holiday is a gentle film about...

Ahoy hoy! Episode 3 of our Meyers Marathon is out now, covering the cranky and contentious Something's Gotta Give. Is that a description of the movie, or of Jack Nicholson's character? I'm afraid you'll have to listen to find out.  If you do, you may learn the answers to many intriguing questions. Consider, can a man in his mid-sixties embrace commitment when he never has before? Is Diane Keaton t...

Hello there! Episode 2 of our Meyers Marathon has dropped today, which means your two hosts have gained some exciting insight that a lot of people would love to get their hands on. That's right, we finally know What Women Want! After all these years!  Listen as we work our way through this mildly off-putting romcom that was honestly better than we expected given that it's a movie from 2000 about a...

Good day! Spring approaches, and with it comes a new season of our Auteur Anthology, focusing on the one and only Nancy Meyers! Pivoting away from last year's theme of monsters, death, and depravity, we will now be engaging with the metaphorical monsters of romance and high end real estate. It's a Meyers Marathon, from now through May. We begin today with Meyers' directorial debut, The Parent Trap...

Happy new year! Today we have a (not so) surprising bonus episode of Del Toro Discourse for you! That's right, we're saying goodbye to the monstrous creature of 2025 and welcoming in the newer, more hopeful creature of 2026, as we discuss Guillermo's new Frankenstein adaptation. Will this new film survive the judgement of our resident Frankenstein expert? What's larger, the Creature's height or hi...

Season's greetings to you! It's the laziest week of the year, and what better way to spend it than by listening to the final episode of Monster Mash, featuring the Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954). He's a little funny looking, but he won't bite. Unless of course you invade his home, try to steal all his nice fossils, stick harpoons in him, and expose his entire ecosystem to toxic chemicals. O...

Awooo! What's that? It's only the sound of the horrifying The Wolf Man (1941), being discussed today in the fifth episode of Monster Mash. Listen as we praise his furry feet and criticize his treatment of women, which is actually a lot worse than the whole wolf thing. At least there's a beautiful spooky forest set to get lost in. Fog machines at full blast! Please enjoy, and if you've been bitten...

Good end of November to you all. A winter chill has descended upon us, and wait...who's that outlined in the fog? Why, it's the Invisible Man from The Invisible Man (1933)! Come, listen as we discuss his exploits in the fourth episode of Monster Mash. He may not have super strength or the ability to turn into a bat, but he has something far more valuable, an insatiable love for murder! What a scam...

It's about time for another episode of Monster Mash, this time focused on that most terrifying of spooky creatures, The Mummy (1932)! What are his powers exactly? What do mummies actually do? Why does he wait 10 years to execute his plans for no reason? Hey, stop asking logistical questions, and focus on the reason we're all here: the sizzling chemistry between Ms. Grosvenor and one Ardeth Bey. Al...

And we’re back with the the latest Monster Mash episode, hanging out with the one, and only Count in Dracula (1931). Listen to us chat all about why if the vibes are spooky you shouldn’t dismiss the locals’ warnings, question how the hell multiple suitors can only have one brain cell between them, discuss the severe lack of cowboys and BAMF / all around MVP in a crisis —aka, Van Helsing, and of co...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Monster Mash -- our latest "Misc. Mini-cast" series that ties nicely in with our Del Toro Discourse (if we do say so ourselves). We'll be covering iconic / classic horror Universal Monster movies, and first up is Frank in Frankenstein (1931). Listen to us discuss the horrors of high-cheekboned mad scientist  *Henry* Frankenstein, his pyromaniac-and-slippery-brai...

It's a momentous day! Episode 12 of Del Toro Discourse has gone live, and it's the final installment (for now). For this last episode, we're talking Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022), directed by Guillermo del Toro. And Mark Gustafson. Pinocchio is a new interpretation of that beloved old story of an immortal demon child who terrorizes half of fascist Italy with his yodeling and general disobe...

It's time for episode 11 of Del Toro Discourse, where we'll be taking a little trip down Nightmare Alley (2021). It's a dark place full of sumptuous sets and noir lighting, with nary a happy ending to be found. There are many new faces to be appreciated, like Willem Dafoe and Cate Blanchett. And also old familiar faces, like Ron Perlman, who is definitely in this movie no matter what anybody else...

Del Toro Discourse has reached the double digits! It's all about The Shape of Water (2017), almost certainly the finest fishman romance of the 21st century. It's the only Best Picture winner to feature key lime pies, Soviet spies, and amphibian thighs. All this awards fuss has caused many to ask: is The Shape of Water really that good? Believe it, son.

Ever felt the lure of red clay or a dashing, mysterious and totally not incestuous dark-haired Englishman offering to whisk you away? Then we've got the perfect Del Toro Discourse episode for you! We'll be chatting all about the Gothic Horror / Romance, Crimson Peak (2015), starring some non-creepy siblings, a dog that just won't quit, and maybe our turn-of-the-century version of Sarah Connor? Don...

If you love robots punching monsters, then have we got the Del Toro Discourse episode for you! This week's episode, we're chatting all about Pacific Rim (2013)--a film with outrageous action, accents, and Charlies (of the Hunnam and Day variety). Also Mako Mori, our queen. Hope you enjoy!

In this week's episode of Del Toro Discourse we'll be covering the rare sequel follow-up, Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008). Listen to us rave over the Troll Market, and chat all tooth fairies, elementals and evil elves, oh my! But of course, it's all about Ron Perlman still kicking ass and taking names as our favorite horned hero. But mainly the Troll Market. Did we mention the Troll Market? Tro...

For this week's episode of Del Toro Discourse, we'll be covering the masterpiece that is Pan's Labyrinth (2006). Listen to an extra-long, extra special discussion as we dive into the film's exploration of fairytales, fauns, fascism and rave over (yet again) Doug Jones' dedication to his dual role (which successfully scared the crap out of us). Hope you enjoy!  

For this week's episode of Del Toro Discourse we're covering another unconventional-yet-awesome superhero film, Hellboy (2004). Listen to us frantically try to remember what B.P.R.D stands for as we chat all about fabulous sets and practical effects, the first fishman of our hearts, Abe Sapien, and fire-proof clothing for absolute badass Liz Sherman. But really, it's all about our recurring Del To...

They call him The Daywalker! That’s right, for this week’s episode of Del Toro Discourse, we’ll be discussing the filmmaker’s first superhero film, Blade II (2002). Listen to us briefly discuss the OG Marvel superhero and his debut film, how every superhero sequel should have a “forget what you know” opening recap, the return of Del Toro MVP Ron Perlman, Kris Kristofferson’s glorious hair, and of...

Welcome back Loyal Listeners to another installment of Del Toro Discourse, where we'll be covering The Devil's Backbone (2001)! Listen to us discuss how to break it to an orphan that they're now an orphan, sublime ghostly designs, horrific armpit injuries, and the return of Del Toro MVP, Federico Luppi. Did we mention the horrific armpit injury? Hope you enjoy!