The Couch Critics

"Send us a Text!" What makes a Christmas movie truly deserving of the title? That's the question we tackle head-on as we dive into Steven Spielberg's 2002 masterpiece "Catch Me If You Can" starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. This fascinating cat-and-mouse thriller follows teenage con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. as he successfully impersonates doctors, lawyers, and...

"Send us a Text!" Action fans, prepare for another adrenaline-fueled ride with Bob Odenkirk in Nobody 2! The Better Call Saul star proves once again he's got serious action chops as Hutch Mansell, the seemingly ordinary suburban dad with extraordinary skills. When what should have been a peaceful family vacation turns into a violent confrontation with the past, we're treated to...

"Send us a Text!" Ever wondered what happens when three movie critics with wildly different tastes tackle beloved films spanning generations? Welcome to our triple feature extravaganza where nostalgia, family dynamics, and holiday magic collide! We kick things off with "Freakier Friday," the long-awaited sequel to the 2003 body-swap comedy. Two of our hosts grew up cherishing t...

"Send us a Text!" The unexpected charm of "Last Christmas" caught us completely off guard. What appears at first glance to be another formulaic holiday romance transforms into something much more profound and moving – a supernatural tale about second chances and the true meaning of giving. Starring Emilia Clarke as a directionless young woman working as an elf in a year-round C...

"Send us a Text!" What happens when an ordinary sketchbook transforms into a portal for nightmares? Angel Studios ventures into uncharted territory with "Sketch," starring Tony Hale (Arrested Development), D'Arcy Carden, Bianca Belle, and Kue Lawrence. This bold departure from their usual faith-based dramas delivers a surprisingly nuanced exploration of mental health wrapp...

"Send us a Text!" Randy Travis narrates a timeless Christmas tale in "Annabelle's Wish," where a special bond between a mute boy and a talking cow reveals the true power of selfless love. With a star-studded voice cast including Jim Varney, Jerry Van Dyke, and Cloris Leachman, this 45-minute animated gem delivers surprising emotional depth beneath its simple exterior. The...

"Send us a Text!" Comedy remakes rarely capture lightning in a bottle twice, but The Naked Gun starring Liam Neeson defies expectations by delivering genuine belly laughs while honoring Leslie Nielsen's legendary deadpan style. As someone notoriously skeptical of remakes, I approached this film with caution—and walked away thoroughly entertained. What makes this soft reboot work bri...

"Send us a Text!" Ever wondered what would happen if Groundhog Day had a festive makeover but lost all its charm in the process? That's exactly what we tackle in our latest episode as we dissect the ABC Family holiday film "12 Dates of Christmas." This romantic comedy stars Amy Smart as Kate, a woman who mysteriously gets stuck in a Christmas Eve time loop after being spri...

"Send us a Text!" After twenty years of misfires and disappointments, Marvel has finally done right by the First Family of comics. "Fantastic Four: First Steps" gives us something refreshingly different – a superhero team that's already comfortable with their powers, already working together as a cohesive unit, and already putting family bonds at the center of everything t...

"Send us a Text!" Have you ever wondered what happens when enemies lay down their weapons and recognize each other's humanity? That's the remarkable true story behind "Joyeux Noël," a 2005 film that captures the extraordinary Christmas truce of 1914 during World War I. This multilingual masterpiece brings together French, German, and Scottish perspectives as opposing...

"Send us a Text!" Double disappointments and nostalgic misfires take center stage as Nathan and returning co-host Lexie tackle two recent reboots that left them questioning Hollywood's remake obsession. First up is the animated Smurfs movie starring Rihanna as Smurfette and James Corden as No Name. What should have been a simple children's film instead delivers a confusing mess...

"Send us a Text!" Surprise announcements and holiday hijinks take center stage as Katy returns to the podcast with some major life news before we dive into the festive world of "Eloise at Christmastime." This made-for-TV holiday film stars Julie Andrews alongside a precocious young protagonist who's determined to play cupid at The Plaza Hotel during the Christmas season. W...

"Send us a Text!" Superman soars back to theaters with renewed purpose and vibrant energy in James Gunn's fresh take on the iconic superhero. David Corenswet delivers a standout performance as Kal-El/Clark Kent, bringing both warmth and strength to a character that finally feels liberated from the brooding darkness of previous DCEU iterations. What makes this Superman special is its...

"Send us a Text!" What happens when a legendary director, cutting-edge technology, and a comedy icon tackle one of literature's most beloved Christmas tales? The answer might surprise you—and not necessarily in the way Disney hoped. Robert Zemeckis' motion capture adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" stands as one of the most faithful interpretations of Charles Dickens&a...

"Send us a Text!" Two film buffs with a shared love of cinema and a friendship spanning nearly twenty years reunite on this episode to dissect the latest installment in the Jurassic franchise. Nathan welcomes college friend Mitch to the podcast for a raw, unfiltered conversation about Jurassic World Rebirth and whether this seventh film in the series was necessary at all. Their journey b...

"Send us a Text!" Ever wonder why certain movies end up on Christmas lists when they have absolutely nothing to do with the holiday? That's exactly what we tackle in this episode as we dive into the Oscar-winning animated film Happy Feet. Despite its impressive accolades and star-studded cast including Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, and the incomparable R...

"Send us a Text!" Racing engines and rogue AI battle for supremacy in this week's double feature review on Cinema Saturdays. Buckle up as we take you through Brad Pitt's adrenaline-pumping "F1" and the underwhelming horror sequel "Megan 2.0" - two films that couldn't be more different in quality and execution. "F1" emerges as a masterclass in...

"Send us a Text!" Do Santa suits and Porsches mix? That's the question at the heart of our latest episode where we dive into the 1998 Disney holiday film "I'll Be Home for Christmas" starring 90s teen heartthrob Jonathan Taylor Thomas.  After a long-awaited reunion, hosts Nathan and Katy find themselves on opposite sides of the critical spectrum with this nostalgic Ch...

"Send us a Text!" From zombie hordes to outer space, our inaugural Cinema Sunday brings you a thought-provoking double feature that spans the spectrum of filmmaking today. Whether you're a horror enthusiast or family moviegoer, there's something here that deserves your attention. First up, we journey into the post-apocalyptic world of "28 Years Later," the soft reboot...

"Send us a Text!" Have you ever wanted to skip all the Christmas chaos and just escape to a tropical paradise? That's exactly what Luther and Nora Krank (played by Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) attempt in "Christmas with the Kranks," and their neighborhood is not happy about it! As your host Nathan dives into this holiday comedy, he admits to feeling a personal connectio...

"Send us a Text!" Dragons soar off the screen in this week's Cinema Saturday as I offer a deep-dive comparison between the animated How to Train Your Dragon and its brand-new live-action remake. The nostalgia-filled animated classic still holds up with its perfect blend of adventure and heart, earning a solid 4 out of 5 stars despite not being as kid-friendly as advertised. Those sc...

"Send us a Text!" Welcome to another festive edition of The Couch Critic! Today we're unwrapping "Four Christmases," starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn as a couple determined to avoid holiday family drama—until their plans literally get grounded. Suddenly facing visits to all four divorced parents in one day, they're thrust into a whirlwind of awkward moments...

"Send us a Text!" Grab your popcorn and settle in for a double feature that delivers exactly what movie fans crave! This week, we're diving into two action-packed films that might be flying under the radar but deserve your attention. First up is "Karate Kid Legends," the latest installment in the beloved franchise starring Jackie Chan as Mr. Han and Ralph Macchio returning...

"Send us a Text!" Ever had that moment where a movie franchise you've loved for decades suddenly can't keep you awake? That's exactly what happened with "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning." After faithfully following Ethan Hunt's adventures since 1999, I found myself dozing off during what's supposedly the grand finale of Tom Cruise's signatu...

"Send us a Text!" Step through the wardrobe with us as we explore the magical world of Narnia in this week's episode. Disney's 2005 adaptation of C.S. Lewis's beloved classic has stood the test of time, maintaining both its visual splendor and its profound allegorical depth nearly two decades after release. What makes this film exceptional is how faithfully it preserves Le...