Oh, Reel Original! - S1E1 - Hooking Up Without Catching Feelings with Bri Morrison

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign. [00:00:09] Speaker B: Hello everyone and welcome to the first season of O'Reill Original. I'm Corey Nepsey. [00:00:13] Speaker C: And I'm Andrew Beem. Oreo Original is a podcast that studies the phenomenon of twin films. Basically, movies that cover the same subject area that come out within a 12 month period as each other. Not in the same calendar year. That's been asked of me a couple of times. [00:00:28] Speaker B: Yeah, not the same calendar year. I had to make some allowances to allow some other films into the discussion that I wanted to talk about. [00:00:34] Speaker C: And I think that's a fair thing. [00:00:35] Speaker B: I think it is a fair thing. It lists it that way on the twin films Wikipedia page, so I feel like I'm. I'm not too far out. [00:00:43] Speaker C: It's a great outline to go with. [00:00:44] Speaker B: Yeah, Wikipedia, very good. We're gonna explore the films through the lens of a fight. Boxing, mma, whatever your violent sport of choice is. Two movies will enter the ring, but only one can emerge victorious. There won't be any ties and there's [00:00:57] Speaker C: gonna be five rounds in this fight and then they're. Each round is going to be scored out of 10. The first round is always going to at, you know, the talent involved, meaning like the writers, directors, the actors. And then we'll take the two teams that were basically assembled for each film and pit them against each other and see who wins. [00:01:14] Speaker B: Indeed. And then the next four rounds, we're going to hone in on some specific plot points that were similar with the two movies and then decide which one executed it better. After that, we're going to take all five rounds, tally them up on our scorecards, and then declare a winner. And this is our first season. There will be eight episodes in this first season. We're going to be exploring a bunch of different matchups. Beam. What are some of the matchups that we're exploring here? [00:01:38] Speaker C: Well, like today we're going to be looking at romcoms, but other movies we're going to be covering is like, you know, impending disasters, volcanoes maybe popping up in your neighborhood, or just, you know, general anxiety about nuclear warfare and a nuclear holocaust. You know, basically a whole bunch of different films we'll be looking at. [00:01:58] Speaker B: Yeah, we're also going to take a look at some 80s franchises that got a revival. 90s sports movies that were very important to our childhood. [00:02:05] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:02:06] Speaker B: As well as Oncoming Comets. That was maybe the conception of this whole idea. [00:02:11] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. No, I mean, those two movies kind of stuck out so much that it was. We, we explored what else were there. [00:02:17] Speaker B: Yeah. And that's what led me to the Wikipedia page and thus this podcast. [00:02:20] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:02:21] Speaker B: Another thing with this podcast that we're trying to do is promote the local artists. And with that, we are going to be asking a local artist to come on each episode and be our third guest judge to help decide which movie did it better. And our inaugural guest, Bri Morrison, local comedian. Bri, how's it going? [00:02:39] Speaker A: It's going so well. Thank you so much. Thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here. [00:02:43] Speaker B: Absolutely. [00:02:44] Speaker C: You will not be excited when I have to do the intro, I will say that. I mean, the only. The thing about it is it's a lot of yelling. [00:02:51] Speaker B: Yeah. It's loud. [00:02:52] Speaker C: It's very loud. [00:02:53] Speaker B: But it's necessary because. [00:02:54] Speaker A: Oh, what you just did now wasn't the intro. [00:02:57] Speaker C: No. [00:02:58] Speaker B: Well, it is an intro, but there's like five intros. [00:03:01] Speaker C: There's layers of intros that we have to do to get to the actual episode, apparently. [00:03:05] Speaker B: And speaking of, Beam is pulling double duty here. He is not just the judge, but he is the, quote, unquote, ring announcer. And so to announce these two movies that we're going to be doing in this first episode, here's Andrew Beam. [00:03:18] Speaker C: Yeah. So what we should at least kind of mention, too, up front is that if you've ever seen any sort of UFC fight, it's. It's got this guy, Bruce Buffer, who introduces fights, and I'm basically going to take that, try and recreate it, channel the energy and recreate it. So I'm going to apologize and get myself situated for that and then hold this because this is. It's very small words. [00:03:44] Speaker A: I feel like it should be coming down from above somehow. [00:03:47] Speaker C: It would be cool. [00:03:48] Speaker B: We talked about it. I don't know if we have that here available. No, we have a lot of stuff. [00:03:54] Speaker A: I can stay on the table and you could sit on the thing. [00:03:56] Speaker C: Alex, is this possible? Can we hang something from the ceiling, microphone wise, and have one of you guys slowly lower it down? Okay. I'm only kidding. Cool. [00:04:08] Speaker B: It's a. [00:04:09] Speaker C: It's an idea. [00:04:10] Speaker A: All right, [00:04:12] Speaker C: ladies and gentlemen, I wasn't kidding. This is the only event of the evening sanctioned by absolutely no one. I guess we could say Metroland, though. [00:04:24] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:04:27] Speaker A: What? [00:04:27] Speaker C: Our three judges scoring the contest this evening are Corey Dempsey, Andrew Beam, and Brie Morrison. There is no referee because just. And now, for those in attendance in the one or two people listening around the Capital Region, ladies and gentlemen, this. This is the moment you've all been waiting for live, but not really at all because it's being recorded at the Jive Hive somewhere in Albany. It's time. Five rounds for the best movie where people try to hook up without catching feelings, but ultimately fail. Introducing first, a film where a teenage teenager awkwardly tries to finger a girl, gets denied, meets her later in life where they eventually fall in love because. Exactly, no strings attach. And their opponent, a film where two people meet through work, become friends, but try and stay just friends. And then they, of course, fall in love. Friends with benefits. [00:05:37] Speaker B: All right, Beam, thank you for that introduction. That was lovely. Bri, before we get into anything specific about these movies, I sent you a whole list and you picked out the rom com, specifically. What is it about rom coms that really drew you to want to discuss that as this topic in this period of life? [00:05:57] Speaker A: I remember having that moment where these two movies came out. And I remember feeling. I feel like I was going crazy because I was like, isn't this the same movie? Is this movie? What is that? So when I found out that that was an option, it just brought me right back to that moment. And I knew I was meant to do this one. [00:06:13] Speaker B: I was just getting out of a bad relationship. So this idea of friends with benefits, at that moment, like, I felt like Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis because I was also emotionally damaged and broken. So I was like, yeah, this seems like. This seems like the move, this whole idea. Not. Not real relationships, but friends with benefits. And so I absolutely love these movies. When they came out, did you immediately see them? Where were you at with that? [00:06:37] Speaker A: What year was it? [00:06:38] Speaker B: 2011. [00:06:39] Speaker A: 2011. So I was. I was in college. I would have been, like 20 years old. I don't think I immediately. I don't honestly don't think I saw either one of them in theaters. I just remembered kind of like the publicity, I guess, around it. And then I had seen bits and pieces of both, kind of like throughout the years. There were never movies that I was ever able to, like, keep on the whole time. But, yeah, I don't know. [00:07:09] Speaker B: Okay, before we get to the rounds, I have some fun facts and some figures just to kind of introduce the movies, what they're about. No Strings Attached was released January 21, 2011 by Paramount Pictures. Directed by Ivan Reitman, written by Elizabeth Merriweather, who is of New Girl fame, and Mike Samanek. It was shot by Roger Stoifers and music by John Debney, and it made 149.2 million on a budget of $25 million. The days when rom coms were actually successful in movie theaters. That was. That was a time, now that you [00:07:43] Speaker A: say the new girl thing with. With no Strings Attached. Yeah, that makes so much sense. I'm like, okay. I see the, like, group posse, like, banter that. Okay. Yeah, yeah. And also that guy. [00:07:54] Speaker C: What guy? [00:07:55] Speaker A: Nick. Isn't. Isn't it his name? [00:07:57] Speaker B: Jake Johnson. [00:07:58] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:07:59] Speaker B: Yes, very probably my favorite character. No Strings Attached. [00:08:02] Speaker A: Yeah, I thought he was good. I thought Greta Gerwig was. She was delightful. [00:08:06] Speaker B: We're gonna get to that. I have a hot take. [00:08:09] Speaker A: Okay. All right. [00:08:10] Speaker B: Friends with Benefits was released July 22, 2011 by Sony Pictures. It was directed by Will Gluck. It was written by Will Gluck, Keith Merriman, David A. Newman, and Harley Payton, an entirely male writing team. I think some of that comes through 100%. Yep. Shot by Michael Grady. No composer. For this film, they used a lot of original music. It made 149.5 million on a budget of 35 million, so made around the same amount. Friends with Mehmetz made slightly more, although $10 million more on the budget. [00:08:40] Speaker C: Was that to get Justin Timberlake in? [00:08:42] Speaker B: I don't know. I think probably the music also had something to do with it. Having to license all those original tracks. That probably had something to do with it. And then this is the most interesting part about these movies, I think, is there's a lot of connections between these movies that exist. So the first one is no Strings Attached was originally titled Fuck Buddies. That wasn't gonna fly for a major studio release, so they changed it to Friends with Benefits. At that point, they learned of this other film that was being made. Wait, no Strings Attached was named Friends With Benefits? [00:09:15] Speaker C: Oh. [00:09:16] Speaker B: Changed it from Fuck Buddies to Friends with Benefits. [00:09:19] Speaker C: Oh, shit. [00:09:19] Speaker B: That's when they learned that this other film existed, and so finally they change it to no Strings Attached. [00:09:25] Speaker C: Wow. I didn't know that it went through [00:09:26] Speaker B: that kind of name, went through this whole situation. And no Strings Attached is what they landed on, which I find funny because it's also the name of an album by a band called NSync. [00:09:34] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:09:35] Speaker B: Oh, was it intentional? Yeah, 100% was in it. And they're like, we're gonna call this no Strings Attached. Yeah. [00:09:44] Speaker A: Oh, my God. I bet the writer in that room was so fucking pleased with himself. Guys. [00:09:50] Speaker B: All right, so we've been talking about these people. Now we need to dive into, like, an actual analysis. This is going to be round one. [00:09:56] Speaker A: Okay. [00:10:02] Speaker B: The directors of these two movies, Ivan Reitman directed no Strings Attached. He is a Legendary director in the comedy genre. He did Ghostbusters. He did Stripes, Meatballs, Twins, Kindergarten Cop. Dave, like, a lot of really great comedies from the 80s. [00:10:18] Speaker A: When you sent me this, it blew my mind that he did Ghostbusters. I guess I never thought of, like, it would, like, a director who had done, like, a. Different films. Sometimes I just feel like, you know, I don't think of, like, career directors doing rom coms. But I was like, oh, shit. Like, Ghostbusters is like, big, legit, big deal. [00:10:34] Speaker C: I can't believe they got the guy that did a Kindergarten Cop. Like, I just think that's amazing. Yeah. [00:10:38] Speaker B: And Twins is like, with Arnold schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. That was a huge movie. Dave was a great one about a guy impersonating the president. Really wholesome, so he was great. And then Will Gluck directed Friends With Benefits. He did Easy A in 2010, which is also a great movie. [00:10:56] Speaker A: Yeah, I thought, yeah. Which is interesting when I also read that, because I was like, well, I liked Easy A and I didn't like Friends with Benefits. Spoiler alert. [00:11:04] Speaker B: Well, I like both of those movies. And I was like, will Gluck might be on a heater here. He could go somewhere. And then he very much didn't. He made the Netflix rom com Anyone but yout, Most recently with Sidney Stone. [00:11:18] Speaker A: No. They really tried so hard with that. I feel like they did. [00:11:21] Speaker B: They tried really hard with Sydney Sweeney and Glenn Powell. [00:11:23] Speaker C: I haven't seen that one, actually. [00:11:24] Speaker A: No, me either. I saw the. All the PR around it. I feel like it was, like, inundated. It was like this. Oh, my God, December was rough. Between that and, like, it ends with us. Oh, my God. You couldn't. It was everywhere. [00:11:36] Speaker B: I had to see it because I love Glen Powell. I'm a big Glen Powell. Stan. It was fine. There were some charming moments because Glen Powell's in it and Sydney Sweeney's in it, and they're charming people. But, yeah, not. Not great overall. So those are the directors, and then, you know, the actors is really what makes a rom com to me. Like, you know, I have it on my Mount Rushmore. But I will say, like, in a vacuum, how to Lose a guy in 10 days is probably not a very good movie. The only reason it works is because Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey have just, like, electric chemistry. And so that's really what makes the film so. [00:12:15] Speaker C: I can't even remember who else is in that, to be perfectly honest with you. Yeah. [00:12:17] Speaker B: I mean, the other people don't matter. [00:12:20] Speaker A: What's her name? Judy. [00:12:21] Speaker B: Judy Greer. [00:12:22] Speaker A: Judy Greer. I think she's in that. [00:12:24] Speaker B: I think she's in it. She. Kathryn Hahn's in it. She's great. So. But, like, it's all about the two leads. So. Ashton and Natalie Portman in no Strings Attached versus Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake in Friends with Benefits. Who do you feel like has better chemistry? Do you feel like there even is one? Are certain people dragging it down, as we have alluded to? Bri, where do you stand on that? [00:12:53] Speaker A: Oh, I stand 100% confidently behind Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. I think having the better chemistry. I didn't. And Ashton's acting aside, I just didn't really. I don't know, I didn't. I didn't get the vibe between Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. It wasn't selling me. [00:13:18] Speaker B: I thought they had great chemistry, honestly. And, like, I believed it. Maybe it's just because it's two very beautiful people doing it and, like, that works on me and I'm shallow like that. That's quite. Quite frankly, a legit possibility. I also think it was partly the no strings attached problem was a little bit the script. [00:13:37] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:13:38] Speaker B: Because it felt like Ashton wasn't really doing the no strings attached thing. He was just trying to her and, like, yeah, he was gonna break her down eventually. Like, he. He wasn't really. They weren't on an equal playing field. [00:13:54] Speaker C: He was trying to finger her since they were in camp, man. I mean, so, like, that's. [00:13:58] Speaker B: That's since day one. [00:13:58] Speaker C: I don't think he's gonna change his feelings, like, right off the bat. That. [00:14:01] Speaker B: Yeah. So, like, it felt like that was part of it. It felt a little bit more creepy. Whereas, like, with. With Friends with Benefits, like, they feel like they're both in on the same thing. [00:14:11] Speaker A: Well, like, life brought them together through that together. [00:14:14] Speaker B: And then it was a bit of. They were both just kind of coming at their own pace. And, like, it just so happened that Mila was ready to do it sooner than Justin and he took a little longer, which also just tracks because men are idiots. So speaking from personal experience. So, like, I don't know, I like that aspect better. It doesn't feel like it was necessarily Ashton's fault. I don't like Ashton Kutcher as an actor, generally speaking, but, like, that piece of the character at least, just was a bit more off putting to me, at least. [00:14:47] Speaker A: Yeah, I get that. That makes sense to me. That. Yeah. I just think that I don't know, I just. I didn't find, like. And maybe that's just because as like, an actress, I think I feel like I'm more attracted to Natalie Portman than, like, Mila Kuna's. How she. She kind of just, like. She's, like, a rough and grumble. Like, I feel like she delivers her lines. Like, I don't know how to explain it. [00:15:14] Speaker B: She's got a very distinct Persona that she kind of does every single time. [00:15:17] Speaker C: Yeah, she's got a ball buster kind of Persona, it feels like. And she's gonna give it back to you as good as you can give. [00:15:22] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. And I feel like. And I feel like that's a good match for Justin Timberlake because I feel like he has kind of, like, that shitty little prick attitude when he acts, you know? [00:15:32] Speaker B: So that's why I feel like they work. [00:15:33] Speaker A: I can see that. I think as an acting pair, they made more sense, and I can see that. But, yeah, I just. I feel like I enjoyed the back and forth between Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher more. I, like, don't like Ashton Kutcher. I don't think he did a good job in that movie, you know, But I think I could. I could. I was having those two more. Yeah. [00:15:56] Speaker B: Okay. [00:15:56] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:15:56] Speaker B: Beam. Where do you stand on these? [00:15:58] Speaker C: So, again, I know we. We had actually done something on this before, and I know. And I. I'm only being transparent in the sense of I. I railed against Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, I believe, the first time around, and was very much for Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. I don't know why this. Watch this. This time, watching it, I still don't think Ashton Kutcher is good, but I can at least see the idea of, like, a guy who's very into her think and, like, obviously wants to get with Natalie Portman's character in that. Natalie Portman clearly being like, I'm. You don't want to do this. I'm only. I'm emotionally unavailable. You know, all that. I could see Ashton Kutcher doing that thing where he's convincing himself that he could do the no strings attached thing almost as a means to just kind of get with her. Now. Does he play it as well in this? No, he doesn't. But I felt like the interplay grew on me as. As time went on where, like, somehow it seemingly started to work for me more. More of the way through. Right off the bat, you feel the chemistry with Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. The Issue I think I have with it is became exhausting after a while. It stays one speed the entire time and doesn't really alter. It's literally just like, hey, we're really good at having a back and forth. And it felt like. And it felt like that's what it was. Where for some reason, this watch, I was like, I'm not here for it. Where, like, it kind of was more interesting to have, you know, basically, like, with no strings attached, someone having. This is gonna be the wrong phrasing, but, like the upper hand in the matter with Natalie Portman clearly, you know, driving the ship on this one. [00:17:46] Speaker B: Well, it also just makes sense, like, if you're casting Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman, like, yeah, Ashton Kutcher is far below Natalie Portman. He better be chasing her. No, no. Otherwise it's not necessarily believable. [00:17:58] Speaker C: No, absolutely. But it's more so that the dynamic existed in that regard, albeit it's with a horrific actor like Ashton Kutcher. But, you know, at the same time, I did kind of like that and I kind of like, sort of had an evened out. And then, you know, they were. They were on that. They were on the same level. [00:18:16] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:18:17] Speaker C: So I kind of. Yeah, I kind of was leaning more towards with no strings attached. [00:18:22] Speaker B: Okay. Another important piece of the rom com formula is all of the supporting players around them. They need to show up to bring lightness to do certain things. I feel like both have a really all star cast. So I want to focus just on friends with benefits for a moment. In this, you have Woody Harrelson as Dylan's co worker, Justin Timberlake's character. Patricia Clarkson playing Jamie. Mila Kunis mother. Excellent. [00:18:51] Speaker A: She's great. Yeah. [00:18:52] Speaker B: And Richard Jenkson. Jenkins, Sorry. Richard Jenkins playing Dylan's father who has Alzheimer's. You also have Jenny Elfman and Noah Gould of Modern Family fame as Dylan's sister and his nephew. How do you feel like, how do you feel about the supporting cast and what they brought to the movie and those specific storylines? Did they do anything for you? [00:19:18] Speaker A: I thought the whole Woody Harrelson, I was annoyed by that. It was just like, okay, all right, your character's fucking gay. I get it was just so, like he was just going so hard on it and it's too much. [00:19:30] Speaker C: Very hard. [00:19:31] Speaker A: Yeah. I feel like the sister. I liked her. I felt like she, like when, you know, he was like, home for that weekend, she had, like a good kind of vibe, obviously. What's Patricia. [00:19:40] Speaker B: Patricia Clarkson. [00:19:41] Speaker A: Clarkson, yeah. And that makes sense. Too. Because that's the easy A guy, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You could throw her anything and she'd shine. I do. I do love her. But I felt like they were all good in as the individual character, which I'm sure we'll get to. Obviously. We'll get to, like, the next, you know, with no strings attached on how. I feel like the group worked together more as a group, but I thought that they did good as, like, the standalone. [00:20:07] Speaker B: Yeah. And I particularly like the Richard Jenkins Alzheimer's storyline. Like, I. I thought it. I thought it really did deepen Timberlake's character, and it, like, made him make sense. [00:20:18] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:20:18] Speaker B: A bit more. [00:20:19] Speaker C: Revealed a lot. [00:20:20] Speaker A: Well, yeah. I mean, otherwise he would have. [00:20:21] Speaker C: Like, he would just be a fucking [00:20:22] Speaker B: shithead and, like, that. I mean, it was tossed in. And, like, so was that. They tossed in a bunch of stuff at that point. Like, also him having math issues and a stutter. [00:20:34] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:20:34] Speaker B: That just seemed like it was just thrown together. [00:20:37] Speaker A: We don't think. We don't think the dying dad's enough to really make you feel like you can stand and be patient with Justin Timberlake. We need to make his shit worse. Like, he really overcame a lot, so you actually can't be mad at him for sucking. [00:20:48] Speaker B: Yeah. Like, they threw a lot at you in that one piece. But I did feel like it worked to a degree that it made me like his character and want to root for him a little bit more. Beam, how'd you feel about this? Did you. Did you dig on Woody Harrelson? Because, I mean, I'm a huge Woody Harrelson fan, but I absolutely hear what you're saying. [00:21:06] Speaker C: It was too much. [00:21:07] Speaker B: It was hitting you over the head. [00:21:08] Speaker A: It was like. Yeah, it was offensively too much, you know, Like, I don't know. And I understand, like, things from, like, long time. Don't always, like, hold up, but that I was like, you really not. You're not doing yourself any favors here, guys. [00:21:22] Speaker C: I don't. I. I found him being relentless about it, kind of hilarious. Like, especially during the pickup basketball game for some reason. [00:21:29] Speaker B: The pickup basketball game is the one that did it for me. [00:21:32] Speaker C: Yeah. Or the no skin, more pipe for me line is like, one of the greatest. Greatest things that. That I've heard. That I've heard come out of Woody Harrelson's mouth. [00:21:41] Speaker B: I also liked when he jumped over the railing onto his boat. And I'm not taking a ferry unless it's out to dinner and a movie. Yeah. [00:21:50] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:21:50] Speaker B: There were some good lights. I liked it. [00:21:52] Speaker C: And yeah, I mean, again, it does seem like the movie only had one speed, obviously very much one speed with him and just kind of doing that. But no, and I like Richard Jenkins, and that was good, but I can't Ludacris Mindy Kaling to have Jake Johnson in it. Gosh, I know. I'm forgetting a whole host of people in it. [00:22:19] Speaker A: The girl that looks like that Kat Dennings girl, but isn't the Kat Dennings girl that one? Is it the Nick and Nora girl? [00:22:26] Speaker C: I forget. [00:22:26] Speaker A: She's got, like, the dark raven hair. [00:22:29] Speaker B: You talking about Lake Bell? Oh, the little sister, Olivia Thirlby. [00:22:33] Speaker A: Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah. [00:22:34] Speaker B: She is not in Nick and Nora, I don't think. But she is in Juno as Juno's best friend. [00:22:40] Speaker A: Right, right, right. She has, like, a crush on the older teacher. [00:22:42] Speaker B: Yep. There's. There's a lot of stuff. [00:22:44] Speaker A: Was her husband old in that movie too, or was he? [00:22:47] Speaker B: No, no, he was just an Indian gentleman. He was her age. Yeah. Olivia Thirlby. Jake Johnson. Kevin Kline as the dad is hysterical to me. [00:22:56] Speaker C: Amazing. [00:22:57] Speaker B: So this is actually where my hot take comes in, is Jake Johnson and Greta Gerwig. They get together in this movie. That was the more interesting rom com to me, 100%. I wanted to see that movie so much more than I wanted to see. [00:23:11] Speaker A: Talked their way into that dream. [00:23:13] Speaker B: They were so adorable. And I was like, that's the movie. [00:23:16] Speaker A: That's the reboot we need. You know what I mean? [00:23:18] Speaker B: If we're gonna reboot anything. Like, this movie was successful, let's get the Jake Johnson. Greta Gur. So, like, I don't know. It's not necessarily. Maybe it's not a hot take because you're completely on board with me, but, like, all the stuff that's going on around Ashton and Natalie is so much better. And no strings attached. Like I think you said, like, they're dynamic. [00:23:37] Speaker A: They're a group. They work together. The supporting cast is supporting each other and they're supporting the film. Whereas, like, the supporting cast in Friends with Benefits is like the individual actors themselves doing a great job with that character, but they don't really interact as a group at large. Like, even, like, the guy that she's, like, dating in med school, like, you know, like, talks to, like, Ashton Kutcher. And then he also, like, has, like, the scenes at the end where he's, like, going into the closet with the other guy, like, you know? [00:24:02] Speaker C: You know, so that was very much [00:24:04] Speaker B: tacked on, but I liked it. [00:24:06] Speaker A: It was just Like, a little extra. You know, they are like, oh, we're not doing bloopers, but throw something in. [00:24:11] Speaker B: You know, it was basically a blooper. [00:24:13] Speaker A: It's like, we have enough. We have, like, a certain amount of contracted screen time for this actor, and, like, his scene got cut just a little bit too short, so we're just gonna throw this in. [00:24:20] Speaker B: Well, they also threw in the lake bell and KE client thing at the end there. [00:24:24] Speaker C: So that was out of nowhere, which, I mean, but it was, like, kind of fitting, sort of. [00:24:28] Speaker B: Although I felt. [00:24:29] Speaker C: I mean. Well, it felt forced, though, because it's not like they actually did hook up where it kind of felt like what he did was really going for, like, the women that he did actually hook up with. But. Carrie. How do you pronounce this last Carrie Elwes? Is it always dude? All right, so I watched this with my wife Sarah, and she got so upset with him. [00:24:48] Speaker B: Carrie Elwes is the older doctor who Natalie Portman wants to, like, be with. [00:24:51] Speaker A: Oh, my God. I didn't recognize him. Are you for real? [00:24:55] Speaker B: He's got the. Yeah, he's got the glasses and the clipboard the whole time, but that's Carry Ellie. [00:24:59] Speaker A: Oh, I didn't recognize him. [00:25:02] Speaker C: Like, what the is going on with this doctor? [00:25:04] Speaker A: No, that was so stupid and out of nowhere. And also, like, she would get fired. You know what I mean? Like, so unprofessional in med school. Like, I just thought, like, so much of her character made sense, except for [00:25:13] Speaker C: that one snippet suspending disbelief that her and Ashton Kutcher. So I think we can at least allow that. [00:25:20] Speaker B: I don't know. Carrie Ellis was looking mighty fine. [00:25:22] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. I mean, I get it. [00:25:24] Speaker C: Always doesn't stop looking good. Yeah, he does. Be honest. [00:25:27] Speaker B: He's pretty excellent. [00:25:28] Speaker C: Yeah. What is he doing now? [00:25:30] Speaker B: I have no idea. [00:25:32] Speaker A: Look it up. [00:25:33] Speaker C: All right. [00:25:33] Speaker B: This was the last movie I saw him in that I. [00:25:35] Speaker C: At least I would hate for this last movie that he was in, because [00:25:38] Speaker B: he was given nothing to do, too, except just, like, stand over there and look distinguished and good. [00:25:41] Speaker C: And he did that quietly judge, I think, a little bit just, like, quietly [00:25:45] Speaker B: judge these younger doctors. [00:25:47] Speaker C: That was definitely our mess. [00:25:48] Speaker A: Oh, my God. I can't believe I didn't recognize when you said it. I was, like, racking my brain. [00:25:53] Speaker C: Did you? [00:25:53] Speaker A: I think you saw it happen. [00:25:56] Speaker B: You were looking at me like he [00:25:58] Speaker A: was in this movie. [00:26:00] Speaker B: So the only other thing I want to just bring up before we kind of score this round and, like, announce the winner of this round in particular, Is. I really love the cameos in Friends with Benefits. Emma Stone, Andy Samberg, Jason Segel, and Rashida Jones in the movie within the movie. And then Shaun White. Like, all those cameos really work for me, like, a lot. They're all really hilarious. And I don't know. It doesn't. They are cameos or just bit parts, but, like, they really add something. And, like, I thought it was hilarious [00:26:35] Speaker A: fun, because I feel like a cameo is a nice, like, it's like, you know, inside joke with your audience. It's like, oh, look who's here. [00:26:41] Speaker B: Yeah, Emma Stone. Easy. [00:26:42] Speaker A: A great. Yeah. Did like a. It's. It's fun and it kind of keeps you. It keeps you paying attention, which tracks because you get bored between Mila Kunis's and Justin Timberlake's chemistry, that you need something to keep you paying attention to the movie, or else you're just gonna kind of drift off. So I feel like that does make sense. [00:26:59] Speaker C: Did they ever ask John Mayer what his thoughts were about the movie? [00:27:03] Speaker B: I don't know, but that Emma Stone line is so hilarious. Do you remember it? [00:27:06] Speaker A: No. [00:27:08] Speaker B: He shows up late, and they miss my body as a wonderland. And she says to him, next time, why don't you just shit on my face? Because that's the same thing as making me miss my body as a wonderland. Oh, it's just dynamite stuff. And then Shaun White's whole Persona is just, like, so hilarious. I really love it. It's great stuff. So taking into. Taking into account all this stuff, the cameos, the supporting cast, the lead characters, the directors, everything involved, who do you have winning this round for you? [00:27:41] Speaker A: For me, I have no strings attached because I think that I like how the group interacts more within, you know, it's like a little network of friends and, like, seeing how that kind of all goes. And I feel like that made the movie feel, like, cozier to me. So I'm going with no strings attached. [00:28:02] Speaker B: So in this round in particular, I'm also going to go no strings attached, but just with the slightest of edges, because I truly. I do like Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake together. I think they have dynamite chemistry. But everything happening around Kutcher and Kunis or, sorry, Kutcher and Portman is so much better. And no strings Attached, like, it just brings it over the edge for me. Like, I could watch Jake Johnson and Greta Gerwerk all day. Yeah, I could make. I could watch Ludacris or Chris Ludicrous Bridges making dick jokes all day long. Like, it's hilarious to me. So, like, everything that's happening outside of that, Kevin Klein and his whole shtick in that movie, like, it's just a bit better for me. So I'm scoring at 10 to 9 in favor of no Strings Attached. Beam, what about you? [00:28:47] Speaker C: Yeah, 10, nine. No strings attached. I do. I almost wanted to dock points for the criminal underuse of Mindy Kaling and Ludacris, but I feel like I could have had more of that a little bit too. [00:29:01] Speaker B: Definitely could have had more of it. They are excellent when they show up, but they are. It is sparing. [00:29:06] Speaker C: Yeah. But, yeah, otherwise I gotta give a ton. Because as much as the focus being on Justin Timberlake as the. And. And Mila Kunis as the pair is better. Kind of a similar thing. It's just everything that was. I didn't really think about it that way. Everything else going around is kind of what made no Strings attach for me. But I, for some reason this time around, actually didn't mind the chemistry between them. It built on me. [00:29:30] Speaker B: I do get that. Like, it is. [00:29:31] Speaker A: Well, much like in the movie, Ashton Kutcher does wear you down. [00:29:34] Speaker B: He wears you down just like he wears Emma Kurtzman down, you know? [00:29:38] Speaker C: Oh, God. I don't want to think about what else. [00:29:40] Speaker B: So, Bri, you have to apply a score to this. And if you're not familiar with MMA scoring, whatever's winning gets a 10, basically. Unless you're docking at points for something. [00:29:50] Speaker A: Okay. [00:29:50] Speaker B: And then it's whether you find it to be a decisive victory or if it's a bit more of a close matchup. So for you, is it close, or is it kind of a blowout? [00:30:00] Speaker A: It's not close. It's not close. No Strings Attached is. Is winning for me. I am docking it for the casting of Ashton Kutcher. Like, that is, like, a big block for me. But I think that, yeah, I. [00:30:19] Speaker C: Am I fair in saying a 10. Nine because of the doc. I feel like unless we give it [00:30:22] Speaker A: a nine, I'm saying, like, a. Like a nine, six. [00:30:25] Speaker C: Oh, shit. [00:30:26] Speaker B: Yeah, we can go nine, seven. Nine, six is too much. [00:30:29] Speaker A: I really can't handle that. [00:30:31] Speaker C: It's getting out of control. [00:30:32] Speaker B: It's getting out of control. Off the bat, you can go nine, seven. I respect that. Yeah. [00:30:37] Speaker A: And maybe just because, like, you know, the Friends with Benefits was, like, the first one of the two that I watched, and I watched that, like, you know, like, a little while ago, and then I watched no Strings Attached last night. Or not last night, but, like, a couple nights ago. So it's like, maybe because it's more recent, but I just. I remember watching Friends with Benefits and just thinking like, this sucks. [00:30:54] Speaker B: I mean, if that's your lasting impression, like, that's what it is. All right, so now rounds two through five, we are going to go with the rom com tropes. [00:31:02] Speaker A: Okay? [00:31:03] Speaker B: These rom com tropes exist in every single rom com. There's the meet cute, there is the montage, the fun dating montage. And this movie, it's a sex montage. Because it's all about. [00:31:14] Speaker A: Because they're just doing it. [00:31:15] Speaker B: Yeah, they're just doing it and trying not to have feelings. [00:31:17] Speaker C: The whole fucking thing's about, right? [00:31:18] Speaker B: Yeah. That's what they're trying to do with this. So the montage becomes a sex montage. There is the fight, the will they, won't they? The breakup. That is round four in this case. And then round five is the reconciliation. And in rom coms, there's usually some big speech associated with that reconciliation. A lot of the most famous rom com lines come from those. You complete me. You had me at hello. Both from the same movie, if I'm not mistaken. What's the same Notting Hill line? I'm just a man or I'm just a girl standing in front of a man, asking her to love me or asking him to love me. I can forget which way it goes. But that's in Notting Hill. [00:32:00] Speaker C: What? [00:32:00] Speaker B: That's not from Nottingham? [00:32:01] Speaker A: No. I haven't seen Notting Hill. [00:32:02] Speaker B: What? [00:32:03] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:32:03] Speaker B: Oh, my goodness. [00:32:04] Speaker A: I like old movies. [00:32:05] Speaker B: The whole. [00:32:05] Speaker C: That's the 90s. [00:32:06] Speaker B: The 80s was the cut off. You can go back. Come on now. Come on now. Notting Hill. So there's a lot of famous speeches. And so we have to analyze the speech as a part of the reconciliation at the end. And then there's a bonus round, which I'm saving. And I'll get to that bonus round. So in Friends With Benefits, the meet cute is Mi. Lakunis is a headhunter trying to recruit Timberlake to become the art director at GQ magazine. After the interview, they share a lovely day together in the city. Jamie brings Dylan up to her favorite spot in the city, which is on top of a building. And she claims that's the only place that you can see the stars in the city. She also tells him she's never brought anyone else up there. So it's establishing this, you know, intimacy between them very early on. Then there is a flash mob that breaks out in Times Square as a part of this Meet cute. I want to stay here for a second. How did we feel about this? Meet cute. [00:33:10] Speaker A: I feel like, you know, classic. You know, it's two unsuspecting people. You know, she's just doing her job. He's like taking a chance, you know, being kind of like foisted together. I feel like flash mob is definitely the. Like it's just a part of a [00:33:26] Speaker B: snapshot of the early 2010s. [00:33:29] Speaker A: 100% like, I do like it, I do like it. But yeah, it's definitely very specific. [00:33:37] Speaker B: And this is before the Timberlake Kunis chemistry can really wear on you. So it's very much charming at this point. So like it's. I think this is like the best part of the movie, personally. Like it is excellent. [00:33:49] Speaker A: It's just New York and people are wacky and we do these things and [00:33:53] Speaker B: they just do a flash mob in the middle of Times Square. I don't know what the voice that you're going to hear. Flash mob in here. So babe, what about you with this friends with benefits, I want you to [00:34:06] Speaker C: immediately docket points for the, for the fucking flash mob. [00:34:08] Speaker B: Because you hate it. [00:34:09] Speaker C: I can't fucking stand flash mobs. [00:34:11] Speaker A: Because he can't stand fun and free spirited. [00:34:13] Speaker C: I hate fun. But like I. [00:34:15] Speaker B: That's why you're sitting over there with your sunglasses on. [00:34:17] Speaker C: I was going to say that, but I thought that was like rude and really like would cut and we'd be like, oh, it's awkward in here. No, I fucking hate flash mobs. However, I agree with you. The chemistry in the building in the, in the beginning is at least fresh and not annoying the out of me or tiring me out or she shows [00:34:40] Speaker A: up to the airport with the little sign of his name and like lipstick, the lipstick. [00:34:45] Speaker B: And then she jumps on the conveyor belt and she's riding it around and it's so funny and so charming and I like physical. [00:34:51] Speaker A: Comedy is, I think underrated. [00:34:53] Speaker C: Yeah, I don't know why it didn't give me that this time around, but like, yeah, generally I find that funny. But for some reason I was just like, oh, okay, this is, this is humorous. [00:35:02] Speaker A: I guess had they kept up with the hijinks, I felt like that could have been. I think it would have sold me more good. [00:35:09] Speaker C: I think I would have hated it more. Oddly enough. I don't know why I would have [00:35:11] Speaker A: just been like, well, hijinks is classified under fun. [00:35:14] Speaker C: You're right. You know, you hate fun. Noted. [00:35:18] Speaker B: So no strings attached. It has four different meet cutes. [00:35:22] Speaker A: Yep. [00:35:22] Speaker B: And it seems to be playing with the idea of fate, that they were always kind of destined to be together. [00:35:27] Speaker A: They were the strings of fate. [00:35:29] Speaker B: Yes, indeed. [00:35:30] Speaker C: But they're. [00:35:31] Speaker B: But they're not attached. [00:35:32] Speaker C: I don't know. [00:35:34] Speaker A: That's why they made no sense. You're like, these strings aren't tied together at any point. It was also. It's like they meet. It's like it goes from, like, them being like kids to being like adults. And then like a year later, and [00:35:47] Speaker C: you're like, okay, the time jumps. Yeah, I was. They were making. They were making my blood boil almost as it lasted longer, yet it was boiling the same amount as it would [00:35:58] Speaker A: with, well, you know, repeated exposure is how it does breed, like, fondness, you know? So I think that's. That's the key with Ashton Kutcher is he. [00:36:06] Speaker B: He just keeps showing up. [00:36:07] Speaker A: He's wearing you down. Is it stalker showing up? Over 100%. [00:36:12] Speaker B: So the first meet cue, we got to go through all four of them. [00:36:14] Speaker A: He had the GPS tracker winner when he was fingering her. I'm sorry. [00:36:18] Speaker C: Oh, no, he never got to finger. He shut down immediately. [00:36:21] Speaker A: He didn't get to finger. [00:36:22] Speaker B: So the first meet cute. [00:36:23] Speaker C: Later on, I'm going to imagine some fingering. [00:36:26] Speaker A: There was no initial. [00:36:27] Speaker B: There was no initial fingering. Later on. There was definitely some figure. [00:36:30] Speaker C: It wasn't a successful. Can I finger? [00:36:31] Speaker A: But that would be an interesting idea. Just separately, like, for. I feel like maybe a horror film, maybe a comedy horror film where, like, there's, like, a guy and a girl and they're hooking up and he fingers her and he installs, like, a GPS tracker inside of her and he can, like, find her. [00:36:44] Speaker B: Yeah, Spencer, get on that. [00:36:45] Speaker A: Yeah, we're going to do that. Spencer. [00:36:49] Speaker B: So the first meet cute happens at Camp Weehawken when they're in their teens. [00:36:53] Speaker C: And what a name. [00:36:54] Speaker B: Ashton Kutcher. Adam asks Emma Portman if he can finger her. What the fuck? It's so aggressive right off the bat. Usually it would be a guy asking for a hand job, but it goes straight into the finger, which feels so much more invasive. And it's really troubling to me. I don't know. Not a fan. [00:37:12] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:37:13] Speaker C: Two things. [00:37:14] Speaker A: Not great. [00:37:15] Speaker B: He did ask. [00:37:16] Speaker C: Second thing. [00:37:17] Speaker A: Yeah, because, you know, he's too young to have the rib. You know, he grows into that now in Ashton Katri Asia's. [00:37:23] Speaker C: And then second thing, he wasn't asking for the pleasure. He was wanting to pleasure her. So, you know. [00:37:29] Speaker B: Okay, that was nice. [00:37:32] Speaker C: I guess I turned it around, maybe. [00:37:35] Speaker B: Nice try. The second meet cute comes when they are in college. Adam and Jake and Greta Gerwig's character all go to college together, seemingly at Michigan. I want to say, I don't think [00:37:46] Speaker C: it matters, does it? [00:37:47] Speaker B: Well, they're in Ann Arbor, so it is Michigan. Does not matter. And Adam points a big foam finger at Natalie Portman's character because she is visiting her friend Patrice. And then Emma invites him to her dad's funeral also. What the fuck? [00:38:04] Speaker A: Is she gonna be doing anything later? [00:38:07] Speaker B: It's a really weird move. [00:38:09] Speaker A: Well, yeah, I think they had maybe originally planned to have Natalie Portman's character be more of a manic pixie dream girl, but then they just didn't fully flesh her, maybe. Because that just feels like that would have been like this. I felt like it could maybe. Yeah, like, that seems like the most likely it could have been that, because that's. That. That reads Zooey Deschanel to me. You know, like, let's go to this. [00:38:30] Speaker B: Let's go to this thing together. And it's, oh, heads up. It's my dad's funeral. And this is cute. And like. Yeah. Also the other thing that they were trying to do seemingly, was really channel Ashton Kutcher's character from Butterfly Effects when he was a frat boy. It was giving me a lot of that. [00:38:50] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:38:51] Speaker B: And the foam finger thing, I gotta say, I love that. [00:38:54] Speaker C: What, butterfly effect? [00:38:55] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:38:57] Speaker B: I really like the foam finger move. It feels very genuine. I don't like it as a move for, like, me, but it feels genuine to it. Like, frat guys. [00:39:04] Speaker A: Well, it's a callback to the finger. [00:39:06] Speaker B: Is it? [00:39:06] Speaker A: I mean, I don't know, but it's [00:39:07] Speaker B: like, it could be. And it just feels like that's what a frat guy would do is he would have a foam finger on while drinking and point it at someone and be like, you know, I know you. I want to talk to you. [00:39:17] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:39:18] Speaker B: Just feels like. [00:39:18] Speaker A: Felt real. [00:39:19] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:39:19] Speaker B: Feels like what fresh bros would do or frat bros would do Beam. [00:39:23] Speaker C: I don't know. I really wish I wasn't, you know, 36 and a parent where I could do that and maybe, like, be able to apologize for it later, but just take foam fingers, go around everywhere and point them. But I, I. I kind of respect the move to invite him to a funeral. Your dad's funeral, the next day. Yeah. No, I think that's like, all right, let's test this motherfucker. [00:39:46] Speaker A: Well, I mean, she's doing it because she's Pushing people away. That's her whole thing, right? She's like, I can't let anyone close to me. Although, ironically enough, having somebody accompany you to your father's funeral is, if not like, one of the most intimate things you can do. Yeah, but she's trying to scare him away. Like, oh, like, he'll surely not want to see me, like, after this. [00:40:01] Speaker B: Little does she know, like, he is all in from the very beginning. [00:40:04] Speaker C: I don't know, man. I mean, I'm just thinking. I think, like, subtly she was. Yeah, trying. Trying to make it work, but also testing him, seeing where he was at. It didn't push him away. Obviously, that's the ult. That might have been her ultimate goal at the time. But I think subtly, she was trying to see what he could withstand. [00:40:19] Speaker B: All right, third meet cute. Because there are so many meet cutes in this. This is where they are attending a flea market together. Adam is with his girlfriend, who is awful, but she is. [00:40:31] Speaker A: Who looks also not dissimilar to Natalie Portman's character. [00:40:35] Speaker B: Not dissimilar, no. And he's with Jake Johnson and his awful girlfriend. She is played wonderfully by Ophelia Lovibond. I mean, she's awful, but, like, she's doing a great job. [00:40:47] Speaker A: She does that character really well. [00:40:49] Speaker B: Yes, very much so. And so they meet up at this. Obviously, Adam is unavailable at this point because he has this girlfriend. [00:40:57] Speaker A: But, yeah, I put your number in my phone. Yes, let's hang out. [00:41:02] Speaker B: And then he's very much available because the girlfriend, Vanessa, starts fucking his dad. Because she is fucking his dad. We get the fourth meet cute where he gets out of his mind drunk, starts calling people, and he wakes up remembering nothing on Portman's floor. And hijinks ensue because her roommates start fucking with him. And just a wonderful, wonderful scene. So this fourth meet cute, the third and fourth are kind of tied together, but, you know, they're two separate ones. How are you feeling about this one? Does this make up for the earlier weirdness for you? [00:41:42] Speaker A: Not really. I guess. Yeah. I don't know. I just think it was. It was. I was like, all right, get to the point, guys. I get it. And, I mean, I know, yeah, it all kind of has to track, but it just felt like maybe we didn't. Well, yeah, because I guess the girlfriend, the dad is like a big driver. I was like, maybe we didn't really need that. But it's like, I don't know, his [00:42:05] Speaker B: character, it becomes a defining characteristic of him. [00:42:09] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. And it's like. It bonds them together. At one point, when they, like, go to dinner. [00:42:12] Speaker B: They go to dinner together and they're talking about Burning Man. [00:42:14] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:42:14] Speaker B: I mean, it's an important plot point. They certainly. They don't forget about it. [00:42:18] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. [00:42:19] Speaker B: Beam, what are your thoughts on these last two? [00:42:22] Speaker C: The last two? I mean, the one where they, like, run into each other at the. At the farmers markets, like, take it or leave it. I don't think we needed that one at all. [00:42:34] Speaker B: Well, it sets up the later one. [00:42:36] Speaker C: Yeah, No, I understand. I mean, I think there's other ways you obviously could have done it, but it does. It does set it up. I do. I. I mean, I like the last one because I think. I think that might have been Ashton. That was, like, the peak for. Ashton Kutcher is, like, acting in this movie. [00:42:52] Speaker B: It's because he was channeling his dude, where's My Car? Character. Where he's completely clueless about shit and people just fuck with him completely. [00:43:00] Speaker C: And so I think this works for him there. And then the introduction to the whole. [00:43:04] Speaker A: This whole movie is just one big callback to other Adam Sandler movies. Like, there's the multiple timeline Ashton Cook movies. What did I say? [00:43:11] Speaker B: Adam Sandler. [00:43:13] Speaker C: Which. Perfect for our 50 first dates. And, yes. [00:43:15] Speaker A: Like, I don't know, remember what's happening. But, yeah, I feel like the time jumps are the butterfly effect. And his character, him waking up is [00:43:22] Speaker C: like, the dude, where's my car? [00:43:24] Speaker A: What other movies he's. [00:43:24] Speaker B: I mean, he's only got those notes. Really? [00:43:26] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:43:27] Speaker B: What happens in Vegas? He was in once. Another very unsuccessful rom com. [00:43:32] Speaker C: So I think. I think it worked, you know, for that. For that final scene, the fourth me. Cute. That one. But I also, like, by the time I got to him, like, okay, they should be together. All right, I'm cool with that. [00:43:42] Speaker B: That. [00:43:42] Speaker A: Yeah. They have to, like, really introduce it multiple times for you to even believe, because the first time you're like, there's no way they're getting together. And then the second time, you're like, oh, maybe. Nah, maybe. And then you're like, okay, okay. All right, I can. I'm now ready to believe this reality. You're about to sit in front of [00:43:56] Speaker C: me, and then when he's calling, he's like, come on, you're gonna. She's in your phone. You're calling her at some point. Because that other scene. Yeah, yeah. [00:44:03] Speaker B: I mean, my favorite part about it is definitely Patrice, Greta Gerwig's character telling him, like, how big he Was and stuff. And like, I don't think I could handle that much pleasure. [00:44:13] Speaker A: No. She's like, I didn't think I could. Yeah. Feel that much pain and that I would like it. [00:44:18] Speaker B: That I would like it. Yeah, that, that, that whole bit is the best part. Again, Greta Gerwig. [00:44:22] Speaker A: See, I didn't, I wasn't thinking that the pain was related to the size of the dick. Like, I was thinking it was like a, like an emotional pain up, like kind of like I'm gonna hurt you type. I thought it was more BDSM type pain. [00:44:33] Speaker B: Honestly, the only thing I could think of why Natalie Portman would want to be with Ashton Kutcher is he has a hog. So I don't know. I. I can't. I can't tell you. Beam. How are you scoring this round? [00:44:44] Speaker C: The Meet Cutes for the meat coots. I think I gotta go 10 nine friends with benefits. Just because as much as I didn't like that running scene, it does, it does set them up as like a really good pair, at least in the beginning. As for the no strings attached, the time jumps, that's the I lot. You lost me a little bit there. Yeah, I can do without. I was trying to make sexy. [00:45:07] Speaker A: I also go Friends with benefits and because it is just a more fun, light hearted, romantic comedy intro to a couple, you know, where there's a lot of thinking and working and like time placement you have to do with no strings attached. [00:45:22] Speaker B: Are you going 10 9, 10 8. What's your score here? [00:45:26] Speaker A: I'll go, I'll go 10 8. Yeah. [00:45:29] Speaker B: Okay. I also have 108 to friends with benefits. [00:45:32] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:45:34] Speaker B: It just takes so long. And the two, the, the opening two are so what the fuck to me, like, can you finger, Can I finger you? And then going to your dad's funeral, like, I get it to an extent, but like it's also so off putting that like it takes a lot to get me back and it does get me back. Like, I like no strings attached. I want to be clear. But like, it's, it's a bit off putting. Especially when I'm like analyzing it now. I'm like, like, damn, man. Like, and it takes like half an hour. Yeah, it's so long. So, yeah, for the meet Cute specifically, I have to give it 108 to friends with benefits. It's. It's really great. I love the Meet Cute. I do hear you about the flash mob, but also I, I will take [00:46:16] Speaker A: no flash mob slander. Well, bring back, bring them back. [00:46:19] Speaker B: I don't want to bring them back. I like that. It was a snapshot of a time and it really captured a moment. [00:46:23] Speaker A: Yeah. And so, you know, this came out. [00:46:25] Speaker B: I know where this movie is. [00:46:26] Speaker C: I thought when you said, we're gonna be here for a moment, I thought a flash mob was going to happen and I was gonna walk right out. [00:46:33] Speaker B: You were gonna fuck off. All right, so we're going to go to round three. Now, Round three is the dating montage, or in this case, the sex montage. We are once again going to go through them movie by movie. I'll start with no strings attached this time. This sex montage seems to be based on exploration of different locations to have sex. So there are scenes of them having sex in different places. There's one where Emma puts on 3D glasses and stares at Ashton Kutcher's, what I'm assuming is a hog. I don't think that's how that works. [00:47:12] Speaker A: She said it was, like. It was, like, nice. You know, I wouldn't describe, like, the way she described. She, like, says, he's like a carefree dick. You know, I can't feel. I feel like if it's too big, it can't be carefree. [00:47:22] Speaker B: Okay, that's fair. [00:47:23] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:47:24] Speaker B: But I also feel like 3D glasses. [00:47:25] Speaker A: It's already coming at you. [00:47:27] Speaker B: It's already coming at you. It's in 3D. I don't know what 3D glasses does to it. So there was that scene, and then. [00:47:32] Speaker C: I fucking hate that part of it. Yeah. [00:47:33] Speaker B: Then there's also a piece where she is seemingly doing some kind of invasive procedure on Adam's character. [00:47:39] Speaker A: Yeah, well, yeah, she's. The prostate. [00:47:42] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:47:42] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:47:43] Speaker B: And it seems like he very much likes it. And I like that, though. Sean Williams, Scott and Road Trip. [00:47:50] Speaker C: Oh, no. I was gonna say, didn't Justin Timberlake, like. I thought he was in it in Friends with Benefits, though, into the Bus. I thought there was, like, a touching butt sort of thing. [00:48:00] Speaker B: I can't remember. [00:48:01] Speaker A: I don't remember. [00:48:02] Speaker B: There was one funny scene in the Friends with Benefits montage that we will get to right now. So Friends with Benefits, there's a bunch of stuff. They're operating on a theory, so I'm just gonna wrap for a moment. It seems that they are presenting a thesis to you as the audience, and it is that good sex is all about communication, 100%, and I agree with that thesis. And they communicate throughout, and they're just talking about what each other like, and they are talking about how to best please one another. And that works. A lot. [00:48:36] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:48:37] Speaker B: The thing I don't like about this thesis is that they seem to be saying that couples can't do this because there's too much, like, emotion attached with a couple, that you can't be honest about your communication or for, like, fear of being judged. I don't like that part. It just seems like you haven't found the right person. Guys, like, quit being so immature. [00:48:57] Speaker A: Yeah. Just date someone who can date someone who can, like, be emotionally available and [00:49:01] Speaker B: emotionally available and non judgmental, but it works for the character. So I will say that the funny bit is she starts saying, oh, my butt. Oh, my butt. Jamie does. And Justin Timberlake asks her, like, oh, really? In the butt? And she's like, no, my butt is cramping and he needs to get her a pillow. And then it comes back. They. They take a B. And he's like, so no butt stuff. So he just wants to get in the butt. I don't know about him and his butt, as it were. [00:49:29] Speaker C: I could have sworn there. I just said, like, brought up. And he had to, like, defend it. Like Harry Potter. [00:49:36] Speaker B: There's a lot of stuff that he's defending in this movie, Harry Potter, his belief that Closing Time is by Third Eye Blind. There's the song Jump by Crisscross. There's a lot of stuff that he's defending. But anyway, the sex montage. [00:49:51] Speaker C: Yeah, hold on. Wait, hold on. Are we trying to say that, like, Jump by Crisscross is indefensible? [00:49:57] Speaker B: No, it's a jam. [00:49:58] Speaker C: Oh, okay. [00:49:59] Speaker B: It doesn't need anything. [00:50:00] Speaker C: I just wanted to be certain. Sorry, go ahead. [00:50:03] Speaker B: Yeah, the sex montage. Bri, how are you feeling about it? [00:50:07] Speaker A: Honestly? I did. I liked the Friends with Benefits montage. Do I like Friends with Benefits? Is. Am I going to find out the end of this, this podcast that I liked the movie better? I feel like that's what's happening. Well, because. Yeah, because it's like they're trying to. They're, like, having fun together. They're like. It's. It's more like. Yeah, the communication. And that's how, like, things are. They're able to make things, like, so good. And that kind of like, sets up that base for it and it's just more like endearing. Whereas, yeah, no Strings Attached is like, we're fucking all these different ways in [00:50:34] Speaker B: all these different places. [00:50:36] Speaker A: Not really about getting, like, to know each other or, like, having any time to, like, base relationship, which is like. The whole point is, like, it's just sex. We're just in there even say they're. We're going to use each other for sex, you know, but. [00:50:46] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:50:46] Speaker B: I mean, because it is important to Emma's character because it's like, she's so busy. [00:50:50] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:50:50] Speaker B: That. Because she's a medical student. That he just needs to show up wherever, ready to go. And he's just. Because he's so into. He's like, yeah, let's do that. So. But, like, there's no. There's nothing except for, like, sight gags in the sex. Sex montage for me and the communication. It's funny. I like it. Yeah. I like the Friends with Benefits one beam. Where do you stand on this? [00:51:16] Speaker C: I mean, I don't want to repeat a lot of it where. Yeah, it's Friends with Benefits. I think it's the better one. Just in terms of how they're exploring it. I guess the one thing, too. It's like when you're watching the one with no Strings attached when they're in the surgical room. How. And I mean that more is like, in terms of just, like, realistically, no one's gonna walk by that and see that. Like, there's no moment where someone's just gonna catch a glimpse and be like, what's going on in there? [00:51:42] Speaker B: Well, I think the danger is part of the exhibition. [00:51:45] Speaker C: I know. I just seems, like, too risky. I don't think it's possible. I think you're getting caught one way or another. [00:51:51] Speaker B: It's extremely unsanitary to do in a hospital. I felt, like, irresponsible by Natalie Portman. [00:51:56] Speaker A: Yeah, right. [00:51:56] Speaker C: I kind of felt like we'd moved. [00:51:58] Speaker B: You're training to be a doctor. I don't trust that. Come on, now. So, yeah, it's Friends with Benefits for me. I'm going 10, nine in this round. It's close. I don't think Friends with Benefits, like, does it. And it does annoy me that they're, like, so emotionally damaged and unavailable that, like, no, you could do this if you're a couple. It's fine. [00:52:17] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:52:18] Speaker B: But I'm still giving it to Friends with benefits. I like the communication. It's more fun. The sight gags do work on me slightly, but then, like, when I did deeper, it's like the 3D glasses, like that. [00:52:29] Speaker A: It wasn't 3D. [00:52:30] Speaker B: It's already 3D. What are we doing? [00:52:31] Speaker A: Yeah, it's like, not. You couldn't thought of anything else. [00:52:33] Speaker B: Come on, now, Be a little bit more creative. [00:52:36] Speaker A: I agree. I agree. I'm gonna go with Friends with Benefits. I guess I. Yeah, I guess. I. Well, yeah, I. 10, 9, 10, 9. Yeah, it's not close, but I mean, [00:52:47] Speaker C: it's one of the more. Where are we at? 9, 7, 10, 8. You know, now we're. [00:52:53] Speaker A: I think I like Friends with Benefits. Listen, that's craz. [00:52:58] Speaker C: The one thing that kind of upsets people about mma, MMA fights. It's like. Or even just like fights as a whole, where it's like if you took it as a totality, you know, one person should have won. But we're going round by round here. So it kind of gives us sort of a different thing. [00:53:12] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:53:12] Speaker C: Every different result. [00:53:13] Speaker B: And we have to do it by the criteria put in front of us. Let's get to the next part. So. So the breakup, the will they. Won't they keep part of any rom com? You have to have a convincing breakup because you have to make the audience question whether they're going to end up together so that it's all happy when they do end up together. So in Friends with Benefits, I'll start there with this one. And actually both movies have two breakups because there's the end of the. The arrangement of the Friends with Benefits, which is just Mila Kunis saying she wants to date and Timberlake responding with okay, because they're mature about it. I like that. And then there's the big breakup, which is a more important, impactful one. And in Friends with Benefits, what happens is Mila Kunis character is trapped in like the saw thing. The Saw girl in Half thing. Contraption. I don't know what to call it that, but we know what I'm talking about. So she's trapped in there while Timberlake is talking to his sister and he says some really mean stuff. The most cutting of which is Magnum PI could not figure out what is going on inside of her head. That cuts. They break up. Understandably so. And you're left questioning whether they're going to be together. In no Strings Attached, the initial breakup comes because they snuggle with clothes on without having sex and that freaks Emma out. Natalie Portman's character. And then the big breakup comes when they are on a date on Valentine's Day together and it just becomes way too much for Emma all at once. And she starts physically assaulting Ashton Kutcher and he calls her miniature. And then they have the big breakup. Bree, the breakups. Which one was more convincing? Which one did you enjoy better? [00:55:23] Speaker A: I guess I can see the Natalie Portman one being is the more like realistic, more convincing kind of breakup where it's like this girl's like, listen, I'm not really into anything. And the guy's like, well, let me just take you on this date. Let's see. And then, you know, they have a nice time, and then she's, like, confused, and it's. What. And so it, like, kind of comes from that. So I of kind could. I could see that, I think, as, like, a movie trope classic. The, like, person being, you know, not. Not seen, but they hear everything is very classic. And, like. And. And it being, like, a very sad moment. And then her to, like, pop her head out of, like, a, like, magician's box is like. It gives you kind of like that, like, okay, we're back, but we're in the comedy. Sad, but we're back in this. So. Okay, well, so what I will say. And I guess I don't know if it counts as part of the breakup, but when she's going back after her, like, sister's wedding, when Natalie Portman's character is, like, going back to try to, like, tell him that she, like, loves him or whatever, and she, like, gets out of the car and she calls her. Calls her sister, and she's like, I lost him. Like, that scene was so powerful. I just, like. I felt like I was like, oh, damn, girl. Like, that's so sad. Like, that scene really got me emotionally, so I feel like that's the one that, like, sticks out the most. But it's not really like, a breakup, because then they, like. [00:56:47] Speaker B: I think it's part of it, because at least. Well, it's. It's the in between the breakup and the reconciliation. But I think you can count that as part of the breakup because it certainly. The emotions come from the breakup. [00:56:57] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:56:59] Speaker B: Beam, what about you? Where do you stand on these? [00:57:01] Speaker C: I'm. I don't know. It's. None of them really stand out. Out to me in terms of her, like, really stuck with me. You know, the Mila Kunis or. Sorry, the no Strings Attached with Kutcher and Portman. The scene itself just kind of, like, didn't work for me. The concept, I think of just, like, what you're saying is you're doing all these things that I've already said I'm not into. You're kind of forcing it. And then the switch in her brain is, like, just trying to end it sort of thing. Made sense. It was like, the pushing and the tackling part of it. I was like, I can't tell this is supposed to be funny, or if this is, like, A very serious moment type deal. [00:57:43] Speaker B: Yeah. Because then also Kutcher's like, you're miniature and, like, talking shit about her size. And it's like, is this funny or is this emotional? [00:57:50] Speaker A: Because it's kind of both. Yeah. [00:57:53] Speaker B: It's not totally threading the line. I. I don't know. [00:57:55] Speaker C: I guess it sort of makes sense, though. Only in the moment where it's like he's trying to make it a light moment and she's not having it at all. But I mean, and then to not. I try to not. And, like, I see what you're saying in terms of, like, it doing, like, the old trope of, like, oh, someone secretly heard what you're saying. I will say, though, just to almost stick up for Friends with Benefits a little bit. It did very much lean into that whole idea of, hey, we're very self aware. We're a rom com type deal. Not to say that that was that moment, I guess. But I don't know. So it's. I don't like it. The trope part of it, like, kind of took me out of it as well, but it's not as egregious to me as, like, what happened. No strings attached. So I'm gonna go 10, nine friends with benefits on this. [00:58:41] Speaker B: I'm gonna go 10, nine, no strings attached. And it's really close to me because I like the Friends with Benefits one because it also really makes sense for the characters. To me, it doesn't feel like Justin Timberlake is actually saying these mean things about Mila Kunis. It's more like he's telling himself these things. [00:59:01] Speaker A: Yeah. He has to. Yeah. Because he's not there for it. So he's like, it's. It's her, not me. Exactly. [00:59:06] Speaker B: And he's not. He's not mature enough. And I like that the sister is calling him out in that moment. So, like, I really like the Friends with Benefits one. And I do like the sight gag of Mila Kunis being in this contraption. Like, that works for the comedic aspect of it as well. But the no Strings Attached one, it's a little bit more convincing. And like, you said, like, when Natalie Portman realizes it now, I'm not sure what flips the switch for her. That's what still is, like, the disconnect for me. [00:59:34] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:59:35] Speaker B: Apart from being at her sister's wedding. [00:59:37] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:59:38] Speaker B: And that seems pretty shallow if that's all that's doing it for you. [00:59:40] Speaker A: Well, he even calls her out. He's like, well, you're at your sister's wedding, and you're seeing everybody happy, and you're like, you know, this is the only person who's really like. Like, I'm the only person who's, like, expressed wanting to do that with you, you know? [00:59:50] Speaker B: Yeah. No, but that. That breakup move by Natalie Portman, it makes so much sense for her character. And I like the initial breakup as well with them a little bit better because when they initially break up and then Kutcher tries to hook up, but ends up in the middle of a lesbian threesome. [01:00:08] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:00:09] Speaker B: And then she comes in all hammered and starts swinging around a fucking tennis racket. [01:00:14] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:00:14] Speaker B: That's what puts it over the edge for me, is like the first breakup in an Friends with Benefits is so just like a nothing burger that, like, because the other two are so close, I'm going back to that initial breakup, and it's just that little bit that's gonna push it over the edge for no strings attached for me. But 10, nine. It's close. I like both of them quite a bit. Brie, did you score this one yet? [01:00:40] Speaker A: Not yet. [01:00:41] Speaker C: Oh, God. [01:00:41] Speaker A: I think it's 10, nine. Friends with benefits. [01:00:43] Speaker B: Oh, my goodness. Do you like Friends with Benefits better? [01:00:46] Speaker A: I'm not gonna lie. [01:00:47] Speaker C: That's not where I thought you were going based description. [01:00:49] Speaker A: It's just thinking about it more and kind of like. Yeah, like, the. The whole kind of like the manic pixie, dream girl adjacentness of Natalie Portman's character, of her, like, running into that apartment, and it's just kind of like you're like, it's not. What are you like. Okay, so, like, you very clearly then, like, you know, and. And I. That's the point is that she's always had to, like, push her things. Things aside because it's like other people, like, you know, whatever, but. And that whole. Even that background story with, like, the mom and her and like, that just felt kind of like not really fully there. Whereas I feel like Friends with Benefits really was like, yo, her mom's up. And that's why she's got emotional availability issues. [01:01:29] Speaker B: Yeah. She doesn't even know who her dad is because seemingly her mom doesn't even know who that is, which is. That's. That's rough, right? That's tough. All right, so are you. 10, nine. Okay, Round five. We have the reconciliation and the happily ever after. Interestingly enough, it is the male leads fathers having some sort of ailment that ultimately brings them back together in a kind of roundabout way. So in Friends with Benefits, Richard Jenkins has Alzheimer's. And in a very touching and sweet moment, Justin Timberlake takes his pants off and sits in an airport with him, and he tells a story about the girl that got away that was not his mother. Very touching story. Very touching moment between the two of them. And then he somehow convinces. I'm not sure. The mechanics of how he got her there, but she gets. He gets Mila Kunis to come to Grand Central, which is a callback to the movie within a movie, because that takes place at Grand Central. And another flash mob breaks out to jump call back to him. Loving jump. And semisonics closing time, which he now knows is semisonic. Call back to the whole discussion earlier. A lot of callbacks really working really hard to tie in all the elements of the film to this final reconciliation. The big line is, he gets down on one knee like he's going to propose, and he says, jamie, will you be my best friend again? [01:03:12] Speaker A: Beautiful. Because, like, really, what is a partner if not a best friend? [01:03:15] Speaker B: They should be a best friend. Yeah, it's good. [01:03:19] Speaker C: Are we asking opinions now on this particular one? [01:03:21] Speaker B: How do you feel about this one? Tell us about how you hate fun again. No. [01:03:30] Speaker C: What do I have to say about this, really? I mean, yeah, it's. There's. There is a flash mob. It's centered around a fucking flash mob. They have a discussion in the middle of, like, he's standing on steps and she can't hear him, and they're thinking that there was something like. I forget exactly what they said the cause was. [01:03:45] Speaker B: Well, he says, I. I should have thought about this more because in the movies, they have the discussion and then they add the music after the fact. But he's doing it in real life because he's doing the whole meta. Yeah, I'm in a rom com thing when they're in a rom com. [01:04:01] Speaker A: She loves rom com. [01:04:02] Speaker B: She loves rom coms. [01:04:03] Speaker A: Yeah, that'd be a great one. Is like, which one do you think her favorite rom com is? [01:04:07] Speaker B: She, like, what's her amount? Rushmore. [01:04:09] Speaker A: Yeah, I want to know her. Mount Rushmore. [01:04:11] Speaker C: I mean, in my mind, though, I was more, though, thinking, like, you know, I don't think the music's the issue. Just walk right up to her. She's right over there. Like, just go up to her and then you'd be able to have the conversation. I'm just pissed off about the flash mob. [01:04:24] Speaker B: Really? You're pissed off about the flash mob? And what's the. [01:04:27] Speaker A: You wouldn't be able to focus on someone professing their Undying love for me if people are dancing in the background. [01:04:32] Speaker C: I like the scene, though, with Natalie Portman, though, like, you know, running to. Going to the hospital after her dad. His dad was. It was. Oh, sorry. We hadn't gotten to the description of that, but kind of jumping to it. [01:04:43] Speaker B: Do you want to share opinions on Friends with Benefits first, or would you like me to go? You loved it. [01:04:47] Speaker A: I did, yeah. Well, I liked the. I like all the wrapping up. I like a good callback, you know, And. And I think that it did the meta on it very, very well. [01:04:58] Speaker B: I agree. I think so. And so the no strings attached one, in this one, the father's ailment is that he overdoses on Sizurp because, and I quote, he loves Lil Wayne. That is the whole explanation for it. [01:05:17] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:05:19] Speaker B: And I fucking love it. [01:05:20] Speaker C: This is. This is why I would. It's a 10, 8 for me. Like, where I'm gonna go for this one. Friends with Benefits has a flash mob in it. And then it just goes on forever. It just doesn't stop. No strings Attached. How do we get brought together here? It's Kevin Klein overdosing on Lean. [01:05:38] Speaker B: On Lean. Because he loves Lil Wayne. [01:05:40] Speaker C: Loves Lil Wayne. [01:05:40] Speaker B: It's fucking excellent. [01:05:41] Speaker C: Amazing. [01:05:42] Speaker B: That's. [01:05:42] Speaker C: That is. That is an amazing bit. [01:05:44] Speaker B: Yeah. So Mindy Kaling calls Emma because she knows that his dad's in the hospital. And so Emma shows up at that very moment. Ashton Kutcher is yelling at Emma's voicemail saying, do not text me. Do not call me. If you really miss me so bad, show up and talk to me. And of course, because this is a rom com, she shows up in that very moment. And this is where I have a really hard time with the no strings attached one. The big line is, I have to warn you, if you come any closer, I'm not letting you go. It's really fucking bad. It's a threat. And he's so creepy and stalkery the whole movie, like. And that's the line. [01:06:29] Speaker C: Well, I know. I think it's not the whole movie. I think this has just been Ashton Kutcher. [01:06:33] Speaker B: That's just him. And she's into it now. That's what I don't get. I love no Strings Attached, but I have so many problems with this ending. Like, I don't. I don't like the speech. I hate it so much. I do love that, the whole scissor, like, it's in keeping with the movie kind of being a slapstick comedy the whole time. But, like, that line, it Kills me. And I don't know why she's into it. Like, that's. That's why I'm having so much trouble with it. [01:06:59] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. It's threatening. It's uncomfortable. Never letting you go. And, like, you can tell also, that's like, a line that somebody wrote that. And they were like, yeah, yeah, this [01:07:08] Speaker B: shows how much he loves her. [01:07:09] Speaker A: Yeah. This is like the next no book. [01:07:13] Speaker B: But they needed to go back to the drawing room with that line. They really did. [01:07:19] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean, I know. I know I just said 10, 8. I forgot. Like, I guess I pushed that line [01:07:23] Speaker A: out of my head. [01:07:24] Speaker C: I agreed. I was like, why is he saying that to her? Like, it felt. [01:07:28] Speaker B: Yeah, I felt so threatening. [01:07:30] Speaker A: But it's like, you've also never let her go this whole time. Like, it was never. He just never was. [01:07:36] Speaker B: Now just all of a sudden, she might be into it. So this, like, lines appropriate now. I don't get it. I really don't. And I do like this movie. I watch it all the time. [01:07:44] Speaker A: I think it's. Yeah, I think it's cute. And I enjoyed watching it more than I enjoyed watching Friends with Benefits. But it's interesting to, like, break it down into the parts of the movies and what I like from a movie and to see that even though, like, I have more fun watching no Strings Attached, I'm actually like, oh, Friends with Benefits is like a better movie. Like, the structure of a movie. [01:08:02] Speaker B: So that's where I stand with it, too. I think, like, that's. I. I enjoy watching no Strings Attached more and I, like, gone to it more. But because all these rounds are focusing in on the couple specifically, and because I have problems with the couple, like, it kind of breaks the movie down. But, like, if we just talked about. Not them, but we talked about all the friends stuff, I would be raving about this movie because it's all fucking amazing. So, like, it's weird to do the exercise, but, like, in this round, I gotta go 10. I'll go 10, 9. I'll be kind to friends with Benefits because I do love the scissor thing, [01:08:38] Speaker A: but also, like, you mean no strings attached? [01:08:40] Speaker B: Well, I'm gonna go 10, nine, friends with benefits because I love the scissor thing. [01:08:44] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:08:45] Speaker B: And that's so funny, but, like, that last line is so bad that I can't give it the win. I would go 10, 8, but the scissor thing allows me to go 10, 9. I can give it a little bit of grace in that beam. You going to 10, nine. Friends with benefits. Are you going. Where are you going? Are you. 10, nine. [01:09:05] Speaker C: I mean, I guess. I guess it would have to be a little bit of. I don't know. I mean, the Kevin I. I do, like, sort of the whole. That whole buildup of just like, Natalie Portman doing that, you know, I. I let him go, gotta go fight him back thing. I fight for him back thing. I. I like that. The, like, donut smear in the face thing. I don't know why that part, it is. [01:09:26] Speaker B: It is funny. [01:09:27] Speaker A: Yeah. That is sweet. When she calls her sister, she's like, how much money do you have? And she's like, I have $10. She's like, okay, well, a box of donuts is six, and you're gonna need about two of them. Like, it's. It is. It is very cute. [01:09:37] Speaker C: No, I mean, I like that part of it. I like the sister, like, being like. I mean, I guess. I don't know. It is selfless. Like honor sisters probably. Like, hey, it's my wedding day. But you. We're gonna focus on you and what you need right now. [01:09:51] Speaker B: Well, it's kind of a full circle moment because Emma's always been the rock for everybody, and now it's like, it's her turn. [01:09:58] Speaker C: Yeah, the rock that brings some strange dude to their dad's. [01:10:01] Speaker B: The fucking stalker brow. [01:10:02] Speaker C: Yeah. Yeah, but. But no, that part. I like to lead up the line at the end. Yeah. I didn't think about it that much because I immediately hated it. And I was just like, cool. You tried to do a Jerry Maguire thing and didn't. Didn't land for you at all. And then the Friends of Benefits, it's got a fucking flash mob. I can't. I'm sorry. Like, it even, like, adds, like, a thing where, like, I don't find it, like, cute either. I just don't think it, like, brings any. I don't then to, like, try and have a whole moment in the middle of it. It's just. Just even the line, like, I want you to be my best friend. Like, I get it. Yes. That should be at least. I feel, like, implied in terms of, like, your. It's not one that I thought was all that good. It, like, was serviceable to me. [01:10:43] Speaker B: It was serviceable. It was not threatening and creepy. So, like, that's the nod, and that's [01:10:48] Speaker C: why that part gets the nod. Overall, I had to sit in a flash mob for it. So it's 10, 8. I'm gonna just stick with it because I'm being stubborn. [01:10:58] Speaker B: It sounds Nine, eight, but okay, be stubborn. It's your scores. [01:11:02] Speaker C: Yeah, sorry. [01:11:03] Speaker A: Well, I'm going 10, eight to friends with benefits because of the flash mob, [01:11:12] Speaker C: you know, I appreciate that. [01:11:13] Speaker A: I think because he coordinated. [01:11:15] Speaker B: He was real petty with the scorecard he did. He was impressive. [01:11:18] Speaker A: And to manage that many people at one time and to do all the things to get people to a specific place, to get them to do the things. [01:11:25] Speaker B: I still don't understand. Got her there, though. [01:11:28] Speaker A: I don't remember. Was it he was. No, because he was, like, quitting his job, I think, at GQ or something. And she was gonna be there for another reason. I don't remember. [01:11:41] Speaker B: And she was trying to stop him from leaving at Grand Central. Maybe. [01:11:44] Speaker A: Okay, maybe I don't remember. [01:11:46] Speaker B: Not important. But it works. It works for you. [01:11:48] Speaker A: Yeah, it did. It was a wholesome bring together and. And I liked that. I love the flash mom. I mean, it's just like their. Their love. It's spontaneous and you don't know where it came from, you know, and. But everyone's doing it all around you. You're like, okay, this makes sense. Like. But I liked that the dad being sick was more of like the way for him to kind of like get. [01:12:17] Speaker B: Get over his bullshit. [01:12:19] Speaker A: Yeah. To like, get real. To be like, oh, shit. Like life really. Like, you only get this one life. And, like, you have to make it matter and, like, where. And his dad's thing was, you know, like a thing that kind of more existed where, like, the dad and no strings attached, just, like, partied a little too hard, and it was just like, this a freak kind of like accident, you know? [01:12:41] Speaker B: It's so funny, though. [01:12:43] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:12:44] Speaker C: I mean, I will say with the Alzheimer's thing, and maybe I don't know it well enough, but I just thought his recall for something that just happened was fairly impressive. Yeah, that part was the thing. I was like, how does he know this so intimately? [01:13:01] Speaker B: They establish it. And having some experience with Alzheimer's, like, it's. It's moments of clarity interrupted by periods of nothing. [01:13:09] Speaker A: Well, isn't that how they play that scene too? Where they have that moment and he has that clarity scene and you zoom out and then he's not wearing pants, you know, like. [01:13:15] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, they play it that way and, you know, it does work that way to an extent. All right, so we do have a bonus round. And this is where no Strings Attached [01:13:26] Speaker C: could make a comeback box for a bonus round. [01:13:28] Speaker B: Well, you gotta add it in. And I don't even know how you score it. [01:13:31] Speaker C: Oh, no, no, no. I know. [01:13:35] Speaker B: Taking her chance to woman splain. Love that. [01:13:37] Speaker A: Ready? I just took, like, Excel basics training, [01:13:40] Speaker C: so I'm gonna flex. [01:13:43] Speaker B: I'm gonna flex on you with my spreadsheet skills. [01:13:45] Speaker A: I was making books and transporting formats across books. [01:13:50] Speaker B: So the bonus round. And I think this is an important question to ask after any rom com, and it's one that I always ask myself once the credits roll. Let's imagine these characters are in real life. How long is that relationship actually going to last? [01:14:04] Speaker A: Yeah, Friends with Benefits is built to last. You know, I think they had that basis of friendship. They took the time to get to know each other and, like, whereas there's not really any getting to know each other and no strings attached. He just, like, from the get go, likes this girl or whatever at camp. And then, like, he's just, like, into her. And you have to, like, buy into that. Of course you buy into it because it's easy to buy into because who wouldn't be? Because Natalie Portman's beautiful, but, like, you know, it. There's no. Like, they don't know each other at all. Like, eventually the sex is gonna peter out and there's gonna be what, like, [01:14:36] Speaker B: you know, his creepiness. [01:14:37] Speaker A: Yeah. His, like, lack of respect for her boundaries. [01:14:40] Speaker B: Yes. [01:14:41] Speaker A: And her space and time. Like, he, like, you know, he's trying to make all these plans with her and shit. And she's like. But she's in med school. Like, let her be. [01:14:48] Speaker B: That's the thing is, like, at the end of the day, like, I do believe Timberlake and Kunis. Like, I think they're. They are built to last. Like, that is going all the way to me after this whole wedding situation. Like, I'm putting two weeks on that thing. [01:15:03] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. [01:15:04] Speaker B: Like, it's not gonna last long. [01:15:05] Speaker A: It's not long. Well, because also. Yeah. Like. Like you said, too. Is that, like, Mila Koops and Justin Timber, like, they come into it at an even playing field where, like, the playing field between Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman is not even. It's just built on him pursuing her. And then so what? Then he, like, has her and then that's like it. And then. [01:15:22] Speaker B: And then he continues to not respect her boundaries and gets really fucking annoying because he's always in her shit while she's in med school and has stuff going on. So I just don't. Like, when I step back, I just don't see no strings attached. Like, I don't see it. I do enjoy the movie, though. I want to make that clear. [01:15:36] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. No, I agree. I have. Yeah. Like I said, I have way more fun watching no Strings Attached then I do Friends with Benefits. But yeah, if I'm thinking about. Yeah, like the breaking it down, the structure of a movie, that Friends with Benefits is the better movie, it turns out. [01:15:51] Speaker B: Yeah, I think Plot twist. I think so. And I think this relationship lasts longer. Beam, what are your thoughts on the relationship lasting? [01:15:58] Speaker C: Oh, no, I don't agree with two weeks. [01:16:00] Speaker B: No. [01:16:00] Speaker C: No. [01:16:01] Speaker B: Okay. [01:16:01] Speaker C: It's gonna be like a day. That thing is over. Like, literally. We may not even get out of that evening. [01:16:07] Speaker B: Well, Bim, can I ask a question? Shouldn't. [01:16:09] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:16:09] Speaker B: And you can tell me to off. [01:16:12] Speaker C: Oh. [01:16:12] Speaker B: If you want. But like, this seems similar to you and Sarah's relationship where you just broke her down over time and now you guys are about to go on your second child. She wasn't that into it at first and you just. You broke her down. [01:16:27] Speaker A: Now here you guys are, the Ashton [01:16:28] Speaker C: that is, apparently I'm the Ash, he's the Ashton. Absolutely. Fair enough. [01:16:34] Speaker B: So do you have more respect for it? Do you think it's gonna last? [01:16:37] Speaker A: So it's very realistic. [01:16:38] Speaker C: She was not comparing completely into it at first. [01:16:40] Speaker B: No. [01:16:40] Speaker C: At all. No, not at all. Yeah. Apparently convinced her are married and continue to be married for. It's been six years. [01:16:50] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [01:16:52] Speaker B: So can Ashton and Natalie make it like you and Sarah did? [01:16:55] Speaker C: Can Ash. No, no, no, no, no, not at all. Not at all. Because I don't know. I don't know if Sarah is like emotionally unavailable and damaged maybe as Natalie Portman is. [01:17:07] Speaker A: Is. [01:17:07] Speaker B: No. [01:17:08] Speaker C: In this sort of situation or like, I think her dad just died as well, like when we met. So. No, I, I just. I. I don't. I don't see it working out. I think that lasts a day. I see that falling apart immediately. I also don't think that the first thing I said to Sarah was, can I finger you? I don't know if that was one of the. The first lines that I. That I said to her. So. So yeah, no, I don't think so. And then with. With. I mean, kind of, as we've already mentioned, the chemistry between Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis where this was like ever present and continued. It's just funny enough that Ash and Carry cushion and I can't even say Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are together now. Yeah, no, it. I would have to. Are we. Are we. Is this around. Is this going towards the overall. [01:17:56] Speaker B: Basically, I was trying to see if we could get no strings attached to win because it's not going to on our scorecards. But we really like it. Yeah, we all really like it, but. But it's. I don't think it's going to win. So I was trying to see if we could get it to win, but no. So we don't even need to score it. [01:18:10] Speaker C: You know what's hilarious enough is that. I know. Well, we'll get to it. But you might be shocked by your score. I will be. I'll be fine. Given how you came into this competition. [01:18:21] Speaker A: I know. [01:18:23] Speaker C: Like, emphatically. [01:18:24] Speaker A: Yeah. I was like, fuck, this movie. This movie sucks. [01:18:27] Speaker B: All right, so we are going to take a quick two minute break to tabulate the scores and then we will be back with the announcement of the winner. [01:18:43] Speaker C: Ladies and gentlemen, after five rounds, we go to the judges scorecards for a decision. The judges scored the contest. 48, 46, 47, 47, and 47, 43 for your winner by majority decision and new champion of the movie where people try to hook up without catching feelings but ultimately fail. Friends with Benefits. [01:19:10] Speaker B: It earned it deserving victory. Yeah, I think so. [01:19:13] Speaker C: 47, 43. Brie. [01:19:14] Speaker A: Wow. Who was I, like, the biggest? I was the biggest. [01:19:18] Speaker C: You were the biggest. You're the biggest gap here. [01:19:20] Speaker B: I was the tie. You tied. [01:19:21] Speaker C: I tied. [01:19:22] Speaker B: Okay. [01:19:23] Speaker C: You. You were the 48. [01:19:25] Speaker B: 46. [01:19:26] Speaker C: 46 score. [01:19:27] Speaker B: Okay. I mean, that's probably how I ultimately feel about it. Like, Friends with Benefits just edges it out for me because I do really enjoy both movies. I'm not, you know, I really do enjoy no strings attached, but. Yeah, I mean, I just think Friends with benefits is slightly better. All right, well, before we get out of here, we need to give a bunch of thank yous. The first thank you goes to Bri for joining us here on this episode. [01:19:50] Speaker A: Thanks for having me. [01:19:51] Speaker B: Absolutely. Thank you for showing up. Do you have any thing to plug for the listeners before we get out of here? [01:19:56] Speaker A: I guess you can follow me on social media. I have an Instagram and it's just Remorson comedy. Okay, that's it. And then I don't know when things are coming out, but I've got shows in May and we're releasing these in June. [01:20:11] Speaker C: We've got anything in June. [01:20:12] Speaker A: I got nothing in July. I'm not booked yet. [01:20:14] Speaker B: Well, yeah, just follow her on social media to keep up with her and [01:20:17] Speaker A: I will let you know where they are. [01:20:18] Speaker B: Great. [01:20:19] Speaker A: You can follow me me on there [01:20:20] Speaker B: and we can post it on our Instagrams. Because we have the technology to do that. We're friends now. It's great. Yeah. [01:20:27] Speaker C: Are we. [01:20:28] Speaker A: I don't think yet. [01:20:29] Speaker C: I don't think. Okay. [01:20:30] Speaker A: All right. Did you. [01:20:31] Speaker B: I think we're friends now. [01:20:32] Speaker A: Oh. We just bonded right now. [01:20:36] Speaker B: Like in real life. [01:20:37] Speaker C: I thought you were talking for real. [01:20:39] Speaker B: I'm talking for real life. [01:20:40] Speaker C: No, no, no, no, no. [01:20:41] Speaker B: I don't deal with social media. [01:20:42] Speaker C: I thought real life was social media. I didn't know that we were. [01:20:46] Speaker B: I see the disconnect now. [01:20:48] Speaker C: That's where I was confused. [01:20:49] Speaker B: All right, Beam, what other thank yous do we have to give out here? [01:20:52] Speaker C: It seems like we have to one, thank everyone for even just, like, tuning in and listening. But also, we gotta give a thank you to Alec Lewis, the audio engineer for this whole thing. [01:21:02] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:21:03] Speaker C: Nick Beige for his video production, and Mikey Bash for supervising this whole production. [01:21:09] Speaker B: Smoking weed and looking handsome is mostly what Mikey does around. [01:21:11] Speaker C: No dog this time. Little upset. What was Mikey. What's the dog's name again? Ernie. [01:21:16] Speaker B: We have this time, but we have Nipper still in the background, as always. [01:21:20] Speaker C: Yep. [01:21:21] Speaker B: Also, a big thank you to the Jive High for allowing us to use their studio for the production of this podcast. And finally, a thank you to our presenting sponsor, Metroland Now. [01:21:29] Speaker C: Yeah. So we're actually part of the Metroland Podcast network. And if you want to learn more about all of this and Metroland now itself, it is the. I heard a quibble over this, but it is the metroland.com. [01:21:41] Speaker B: the metroland.com. that is correct. Correct. And it is Metroland now on Instagram and Facebook, if you want to follow it on the social media stuff. [01:21:48] Speaker C: Yep. [01:21:49] Speaker B: And to see what's happening with this podcast, you can follow me on edstybear. There's an underscore there, but if you just search it, it'll show up. I've tested it. And, Beam, where can people find you? [01:21:59] Speaker C: I'm beaming. That second underscore is important. [01:22:04] Speaker B: It's very important. That's good. And be sure to come back next week for episode two of this podcast. We will be talking about 80s franchise getting a revival in the 2000 and tens. It is an action franchise if you want to try and figure that out. Yes. Yeah, yeah. Very much so. All right, we're gonna get out of here. Thanks, y'. [01:22:23] Speaker C: All. [01:22:24] Speaker B: Goodbye. [01:22:25] Speaker C: Goodbye.