Up Your Alley with Jake & Taylor

Jake pitches a neon-soaked, action film based on Hotline Miami that, we dive back into The Ghost of Yotei , which continues to unfold like a gorgeous, bloody puzzle box. Recs of the week: 🎤 Thief of Joy — Gianmarco Soresi’s latest stand-up special is sharp, fast, and full of millennial dread (now streaming free on his YouTube channel). 🎬 Friendship — Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd star in one of the...

This week on Up Your Alley: We kick things off with The Ghost of Yotei , a game we’re already calling one of the best of the year. Then we talk about our current front-runner for Best Picture: One Battle After Another — an emotional war epic that’s got everything. Then it’s onto our official recs of the week: 🎶 Satis Factory by Mattiel 🎥 Fantastic Four: First Steps 📬 Email us: upyouralleypod@gm...

This week on Up Your Alley: We kick things off with our first impressions of the early access launch of Skate before diving into the 10-year anniversary announcements from Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions (hint: he’s still the 🐐). Then we talk Drive-Away Dolls , the new solo film from Ethan Coen (yes, without Joel), and the Amazon Original Deep Cover . 🎮🎥🎬 As always, we spiral into tangents...

This week we’re asking the same thing everyone else is: what the hell is going on at Nintendo? Then it’s onto our weekly recommendations — including the Australian game show So You Wanna Win a Pen15 Pump? (yes, really) from the Grouse House YouTube Channel and it's round three of Podro Castal when we talk about Gladiator II 🎮 Nintendo Direct reactions 🇦🇺 Wild Aussie game shows 🏺 Pedro Pascal vs....

This week on Up Your Alley , we’re sneaking through pop culture with: 🎮 A look at the Metal Gear Solid Delta remake — does Snake still hold up in 2025? 🤑 The trend of liberal content creators “getting the bag” — is the pivot to brand deals just selling out, or smart survival? 🇺🇸 Wild rumors that the President died over the weekend — we’re not saying it’s true, we’re just saying people are talkin...

In Episode 132 of Up Your Alley , we’re diving into entertainment across every medium — from sci-fi theology to sword-swinging samurai and the collapse of console exclusivity . 🎥 We talk Materialists , a surreal new film that blends capitalism, identity, and sci-fi in bizarre but compelling ways 🚗 Then it’s Twisted Metal Season 2 on Peacock — does it keep the momentum going? Is it still good dum...

🎬 First up: War of the Worlds (2025) starring Ice Cube — a bold take that’s getting absolutely scorched by critics ⚔️ Then we rewind to 13 Assassins (2010), the Takashi Miike samurai epic that still holds up as one of the best of its kind 🎮 Quick reviews of: The Battlefield 6 open beta — smoother? glitchier? better? Weapons (2025), the new horror film from Zach Cregger ( Barbarian ) The Naked Gu...

This week: dangerous animals (the movie), cult YouTube cinema, beaver-themed tourism, and the state of Vegas. 🎬 First up, we review Dangerous Animals (2025), a tightly wound thriller that doesn’t pull punches 📺 Then we dig into You’re Point Girl , a strange, sharp, and very online YouTube film that might be one of the most interesting things we’ve watched all year ⛽ Taylor went to Buc-ee’s for...

In Episode 129 of Up Your Alley , we’re talking prestige drama, British absurdist music comedy, and one Switch 2 game that’s splitting bananas. 🎬 First: we dig into Sinners (2025), a heavy new film full of biblical themes, existential dread, and some truly stacked performances 🎺 Then we get weird with The Horne Section , a BBC musical comedy series from Taskmaster’s Alex Horne that’s equal parts...

This week, we’re going from awards season takes to animated sword fights to ambient cassette vibes — a full sweep of the culture spectrum. 🏆 First up: we react to the 2025 Emmy nominations — what got snubbed, what got overhyped, and which categories are actually worth watching 🦇 Then we get into Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League , a new animated movie that goes full chaos mode with samurai Batman a...

This week, we’re comparing streaming platforms, unpacking action comedies, and ending the episode with a parking lot review of Superman — because we’re nothing if not efficient. 🎧 First up: we test out Deezer , the streaming app gunning for Spotify’s spot — how does it compare in real use? 🎬 Then we break down Heads of State , the new Amazon Original film starring Idris Elba and John Cena — a po...

This week: cowboys, dinosaurs, romance, and… a cruise you definitely don’t want to be on. 🎮 First up: we review the new Red Dead Redemption 2 DLC — is it worth saddling up again, or just a dusty side quest? 🦖 Then Taylor saw Jurassic World: Rebirth and has thoughts 🎬 Our weekly recommendations: Past Lives (2023), the critically-acclaimed slow-burn that hits way too hard Train Wreck: Poop Cruise...

This week, we’re going full genre whiplash — crooners, covert ops, co-op shooters, and ska puns. You’ve been warned. 🎙️ First up: we break down Seth MacFarlane’s appearance on Switched on Pop , and talk about his surprisingly earnest new big band album Lush Life 🎮 Jake brings the heat with FBC: Firebreak , a brand-new multiplayer game that’s tactical, weird, and kind of great 🎬 Also: Denis Ville...

This week’s episode is a little sci-fi, a little documentary, and a lot of whatever the hell is going on with Alvin and the Chipmunks. 🎬 First up: we watched War of the Worlds: The Next Century (1981), a surreal Polish sci-fi film that’s part alien invasion, part Orwellian fever dream 📺 Then we break down Pee-wee Himself , the new documentary about Paul Reubens , his legacy, and why Pee-wee Herm...

This week, we’re diving into the latest gaming announcements, cinematic experiences, and standout comedy specials. 🎮 First up: we break down the recent Sony State of Play , discussing the most exciting PS5 game reveals and what they mean for the future of gaming. 🎬 Then we explore Mountainhead , the new HBO original film that’s generating buzz for its unique storytelling and compelling visuals....

This week, we’re diving into big concepts and bigger laughs. 📖 We’re reading The Power Fantasy , a new comic series loaded with Cold War allegory, weird superpowers, and some deeply questionable moral compasses 📺 Then we get into Game Changer , the Dropout game show where the rules change every episode — and ask the real question: Is this the American Taskmaster we’ve been waiting for? Comics, c...

This week, we’re covering documentaries, upcoming films, and the usual blend of chaos and complaints. 🎥 First up: we watched Project Grizzly, the incredible ‘90s doc about Troy Hurtubise, the man, the myth, the guy who built a mech suit to fight bears 🐒 Then we talk The Monkey (2025), the new horror film based on Stephen King’s short story 🛸 Star Wars: Battlefront is back online, and people are...

This week, we’re coming in a little looser, a little weirder, and fully ready to derail. 🎮 We’re playing StarVaders , the chaotic indie deckbuilder that’s melting our brains in the best way 🎬 We watched Black Bag , a tense new thriller that’s got us asking a lot of questions — and not all of them are about the plot 📺 Plus: catching up on the TV shows and games we’ve been into lately 🐊 And yes…...

This week, we’re all over the pop culture map — in the best way. We’re talking about ThorHighHeels , the YouTuber who might be the chillest voice in gaming content. Then we dive into Companion (2025), a wild, funny, and surprisingly emotional new sci-fi comedy. Plus: 🦖 Jurassic World leaks — what are they doing now? ⚡️ Thunderbolts* casting news and why it’s raising eyebrows 🎮 GTA VI delayed —...

We’re all over the place this week — in the best way. First up: Saturday Night (2024), a meta behind-the-scenes look at sketch comedy that hits harder than expected. Then we revisit Feist’s The Reminder — an indie album that still holds emotional weight way beyond “1234.” Also in the mix: 🎮 More reactions to Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remastered 🥊 The trailer for The Smashing Machine 🍬 A chaotic m...

It’s the finale of All Affleck April , and we’re going out with a bang. The Accountant 2 is in theaters today, so we’re breaking down the long-awaited sequel and revisiting the original as well as revisiting the original film. Is this the peak of Ben Affleck’s action era? We’re also diving into KASSO , the wild new Japanese skateboard competition show that feels like Ninja Warrior on four wheels a...

It’s week three of All Affleck April, and we’re diving into Ben Affleck’s 2002 thriller Changing Lanes, where he goes head-to-head with Samuel L. Jackson in one of his most underrated roles. Then we flip the vibe and explore the gothic chaos of early Game of the Year contender Blue Prince, the new indie hit that’s got us wandering mansion halls and questioning reality. Like and subscribe! Leave a...

We recorded this right after getting back from the theaters when we took in the newest in the line of "Jason Statham used to be special forces for whatever and now he's killing people" films: A Working Man! We talk about that that for probably too long before we dive into week two of All Affleck April with the Netflix original Triple Frontier starring Ben, Oscar Isaac and Pedro Pascal and then we...

Happy All Affleck April everybody! This week, we're breaking down the finer points of Nintendo's big announcements about the Switch 2 and then getting into this week's recommendations: The Beginner's Guide, the meta-narrative game from creator Davey Wreden and for the first week of All Affleck April we watched the Ben directed, co-written, and starring film The Town!

This week we ramble fro a bit about the casting for Avenger's: Doomsday and the cost/benefit of the motor vehicle policies of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Then for this week's recs we talk about YouTuber Benn Jordan and specifically his new video "You Are Witnessing the Death of American Capitalism" and the 1990 John Waters cult-classic Cry-Baby! Like, subscribe and tell your fr...