2 Cents Critic

Tune in as Arthur’s pal Kate returns to the program for a review and recap of After Hours, the 1985 Martin Scorsese film that plunges you into an overnight odyssey whose ridiculous hijinks can be darkly comedic one moment and genuinely terrifying the next. The movie’s symbolic focus on gender politics and emasculation, a scene that’s borrowed straight from a Franz Kafka parable, and Kate getting flabbergasted by the revelation that Arthur (at the time of recording) had never seen anything with one of the biggest starlets of classic Hollywood comprise a few of the topics that pop up in this cinephilic episode.

Directed by Martin Scorsese, After Hours stars Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, Linda Fiorentino, Teri Garr, John Heard, Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin, Catherine O’Hara, Will Patton, Verna Bloom, and Larry Block.

Spoilers start at 20:10

Tune in as actor, writer, and comedian Clare Blackwood hops onto 2CC for a review and recap of Six of Crows, the 2015 YA novel by Leigh Bardugo that brims with heists, ruthless criminals, and the fantasy worldbuilding of the Grishaverse. Talking points for this bookish episode include the love that the podcasters have for all these morally gray rogues, the teenage ensemble coming across like adults, and Matthias being so damn mean to Nina at first.

TW: murder, death, gun violence, slavery, human trafficking, drug addiction, gambling addiction, drug use, past child death, past child abuse, panic attacks, grief, sexual assault, sexual harassment, past forced underage sex work, war, genocide, animal death, ableism, parental death, body shaming

Spoilers start at 23:10

Tune in as Seth Vargas (Movie Friends) rejoins Arthur on 2CC for a breakdown of Blindsight by Peter Watts, the 2006 hard science-fiction and cosmic horror novel that will provide plenty of dense and cerebral material to occupy your brain. The concept of self-awareness and the burden it puts on humanity, an inventively scientific depiction of vampire mythology, and an explanation of the Chinese Room comprise just a few of the talking points for this bookish episode.

TW: body horror, death, torture, ableism, violence, medical content and injuries, child neglect, bullying, genocide, psychosis, mental illness, and terminal illness

Spoilers start at 21:55

Tune in as some great friends of 2 Cents Critic jump onboard in honor of it turning three years old! Jessica and Saunya (Opinionated Lushes), Dustin Holden (Dustin Can Read & Watch, The Rewatch Recap), Clayton Jones II (Men Who Like Men Who Like Movies), and Connor Kujawinski all band together with Arthur for a whole bunch of trivia and banter. Thanks to them for joining in, and thanks to the listeners out there, too! The complications that this group runs into while entering a Kahoot quiz, the similar vibe that the Saw franchise shares with the Fast and Furious franchise, Dustin’s DVD of 1994’s Threesome that’s been “borrowed” for too damn long, the hypothetical challenges of surviving a slasher horror movie, and the autistic lens through which you can read Yorgos Lanthimos’s work comprise a few of the talking points for this celebratory episode.

Jumping onboard the program today for a conversation is C.J. Leede, author of Maeve Fly, her 2023 debut novel that mixes together slasher horror and dark comedy while drawing tons of inspiration from American Psycho. The varying subgenres of horror, the playlist that C.J. crafted for Maeve Fly, and appreciation for audiobooks comprise a few of the subjects that get discussed throughout this episode.

Tune in as my pals Misty Rose and Jared return to their comfy old guest chairs here on 2CC for a recap of the 2024 Oscars. What a year of cinema it’s been, and that makes for plenty to cap off with the conclusion of this past awards season. Talking points for this episode include Jared’s rant about the outrageously baffling and mawkish mess that is “The After,” Jonathan Glazer’s courageous speech, Robert Downey Jr.’s rude behavior toward Ke Huy Quan and blatantly racist words toward Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and some strong ambivalence over the Best Actress race between Lily Gladstone and Emma Stone.

Note: you’ve probably heard about the open letter that just came out to denounce Glazer’s speech, with Debra Messing, Eli Roth, Gary Barber, and Jennifer Jason Leigh comprising a few of the signees. This happened post-recording, which is why I simply want to say that I, Arthur Howell, am offering my double middle-fingers to everybody on this letter. If there’s any justice in this world, these genocidal Zionists will be exiled from Hollywood (too bad the pessimistic part of my soul doesn’t see that happening any time soon).

Hopping onto the show today is Andrew Rutter, the filmmaker behind multiple short films, with 2020’s “Peter the Penguin” being the one that had introduced Arthur to his work and to the blend of horror and bizarrely dark comedy that it’s filled with. The two hosts discuss tons of topics, including their appreciation of physical media for movies, Andrew and his girlfriend’s animal fixations, the contrasting moods between the work environments for “Peter the Penguin” and Andrew’s Bite Size Halloween short “The Heritage,” and the groundbreaking and disturbing place that Cannibal Holocaust has in cinematic history.

Tune in as Vanessa Ondi (Best Week Ever Podcast) collaborates with Arthur to review and recap When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole, the 2020 thriller novel that’s been marketed as a cross between Rear Window and Get Out (and was also one of Arthur’s top books of 2020). Distrusting the cops, getting deeply irritated by the persistent and widespread microaggressions of our world, rooting for a free Palestine, and sharing ambivalent thoughts on how this book wraps itself up comprise some of the topics that the hosts cover on this episode.



TW: racism, murder, gun violence, police brutality, forced institutionalization, hate crimes, toxic relationships, gaslighting, parental death, discussion of slavery, grief, alcohol, mention of past domestic abuse, infidelity, drug abuse, suicide, and a minor-to-moderate amount of sexual content

Spoilers start at 21:00

Joining the program today is Clement Jochem, the filmmaker behind, among other shorts, the 2023 horror short “It’s Not About Fear.” With its slow-burn atmosphere and its sensitive handling of some heavy subject matter, it’s become a great way to get introduced to Clement’s work. He and Arthur chat about plenty of topics on this episode, including the importance of being aware of how your art could be unintentionally interpreted, the stressful and jam-packed elements of the BTS production for “It’s Not About Fear,” Denis Villeneuve’s recent thoughts on movies being corrupted by television, and the toxic pits into which online film debates can plunge.

Spoilers for “It’s Not About Fear” start at 26:00 and end at 35:00

Tune in as Tyler Hewitt (Dumb-Dumbs & Dice) makes his long-awaited return to the program for a review and recap of One Hour Photo, the 2002 film that presents plenty of stalkery suspense and a nostalgic freeze-frame of the antiquated era of photo processing. The masterful skill that Robin Williams shows off in his against-type performance as lonesome photo lab tech Sy Parrish, the numerous times when this movie sneaks in brand licensing, the questionable stab that Matthew McConaughey has been taking at the self-help industry, and the irritation that Tyler expresses toward implausible workplace behavior in the film comprise some of the talking points for this episode.

Written and directed by Mark Romanek, One Hour Photo stars Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan, Dylan Smith, Gary Cole, Erin Daniels, Clark Gregg, Eriq La Salle, Paul Kim Jr., Nick Searcy, and Jim Rash.

Spoilers start at 28:30

Tune in as Joey DiCarlo and Markellus “Mark” Ragans (So Wizard Podcast) collaborate with Arthur for a breakdown of 10 Cloverfield Lane, the 2016 mid-apocalyptic thriller that’s very loosely presented as a standalone sequel to 2008’s Cloverfield. The surprisingly feminist themes in 10CL, the committed and creative marketing campaign for this whole franchise, and what the hosts’ doomsday bunker jukeboxes would store make up a few of the subjects that get discussed on this episode.

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, 10 Cloverfield Lane stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr., Suzanne Cryer, and Bradley Cooper.

Spoilers start at 31:50

Tune in as Jessica and Saunya (Opinionated Lushes) rejoin Arthur to review and recap The Marvels, the sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel (and a few other pieces of the ever-growing MCU). The multiple factors that led to this becoming a box office bomb, the real-life cases to which the Kree’s colonialist and imperialist regime can be compared (*cough cough* Israel and the U.S.), and Kamala Khan being an authentically and lovably cringey teenager comprise just a few of the talking points that the hosts dive into today.

Directed by Nia DaCosta, The Marvels stars Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, Teyonah Parris, Zawe Ashton, Samuel L. Jackson, Park Seo-joon, Gary Lewis, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Saagar Shaikh, Leila Farzad, Abraham Popoola, Lashana Lynch, Tessa Thompson, and Daniel Ings.

Spoilers start at 26:26

Tune in as Sharai Bohannon (A Nightmare on Fierce Street, Blerdy Massacre) returns to 2CC for a breakdown of Push, the 2009 sci-fi action movie that borrows quite a bit of energy from the X-Men. Nitpicking the inconsistencies of the psychic powers in this flick, reminding everyone that Shiv Roy isn’t meant to be a girlboss figure, running through Zack Snyder’s filmography, and bemoaning celebrity plantation weddings comprise a few of the topics that Arthur and Sharai cover on this episode.

Directed by Paul McGuigan, Push stars Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Cliff Curtis, Ming-Na Wen, Nate Mooney, Li Xiaolu, Maggie Siff, Corey Stoll, Scott Michael Campbell, Neil Jackson, Joel Gretsch, Colin Ford, Hal Yamanouchi, Chi Kwan Fung, Jacky Heung, and Paul Che Biu-law.

Spoilers start at 25:45

Tune in as Arthur’s friends Misty Rose and Kate jump onto the show so that they all can list off their top ten movies of 2023. Misty dozing off during one of the best fight scenes in John Wick: Chapter 4, the hosts’ conflicting thoughts over a divisive little flick called Saltburn (between this and Promising Young Woman, Arthur slightly prefers the latter), and whether or not May December qualifies as camp make up some of the topics for this week’s podcast.

Jumping onto 2CC today is Joshua R. Pangborn, the filmmaker who’s behind the award-winning NYC-based production company Sidekick Productions. Queer, fat-positive, and sex-positive storytelling is what Joshua and Sidekick focus on through web series like Skeleton Crew and Demon Doctor. Same goes for the upcoming horror-comedy movie A Taste of Youth and the upcoming horror-comedy anthology Brooklyn Butcher. On top of hearing Joshua chat all about that, he reveals his appreciation for the art of drag, his favorite theater stars, his love for films like Reefer Madness and Whiplash, and more.

Tune in as Arthur brings back his friend Daxh Alanis for a discussion on Echo, the new MCU miniseries that’s premiering on Disney+ (as well as Hulu) and bringing us back around to Maya Lopez, the street-level fighter and deaf amputee whom we had met back in 2021’s Hawkeye. The badassery of both Maya and Alaqua Cox, Kingpin continuing to be enthralling as ever amongst the comic book villains out there, and the iffiness of that mindscape scene comprise a few of the talking points for this episode.

Created by Marion Dayre, Echo stars Alaqua Cox, Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon, Cody Lightning, Graham Greene, Vincent D’Onofrio, Katarina Ziervogel, Charlie Cox, Julia Jones, Morningstar Angeline, Dannie McCallum, and Andrew Howard.

Tune in as Mel B., Jackie D., and A. (Read, Watch, or DNF; DNF Happy Hour) all grab some seats with Arthur at the 2CC table so that they can lay out their top 10 books of 2023. A book being powerful enough to rip out A.’s uterus, striving to read more BIPOC work, and the frustrating state of Goodreads comprise a few of the talking points for this week’s podcast.

Tune in as pod buddy Torry (Ready to Be Petty, Ready to Be Romanced) teams up with Arthur to discuss A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, the spicy Christmas rom-com that stands as the second novel in their A Christmas Notch series. Purity culture, the nods this book gives to celebrity life, and how it handles certain tropes like that of the Sex Coach make up some of the subjects that the hosts cover on this episode.

TW: sexual content, drug abuse, infidelity, religious bigotry, pregnancy, misogyny, alcohol, infertility, implied ableism, narcolepsy, past child neglect

Spoilers start at 16:30

Tune in as Dustin Holden (Dustin Can Read & Watch, The Rewatch Recap) rejoins 2CC so that he and Arthur can lay out their top 10 TV shows of 2023. The baffling and moronic behavior of streaming services, a reminder that Netflix’s You originally premiered on Lifetime, and a certain deeply pleasurable superpower comprise a few of the topics that the hosts discuss on this episode.

Tune in for 2CC’s first episode of 2024, which is kicking off the new year by bringing Arthur’s friend Thomas back on to cover the two-season Netflix series Russian Doll. The ways in which this plays around with time, the companionship between Nadia and Alan, and Jamie Babbit’s work make up a few of the topics that the hosts chat about on this podcast.

Created by Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland, and Amy Poehler, Russian Doll stars Lyonne, Charlie Barnett, Greta Lee, Yul Vazquez, Elizabeth Ashley, Chloë Sevigny, Jeremy Bobb, Brendan Sexton III, Rebecca Henderson, Ritesh Rajan, Annie Murphy, Sharlto Copley, Irén Bordán, Ilona McCrea, Athina Papadimitriu, Franciska Farkas, and Rosie O’Donnell.

Spoilers start at 15:15

Tune in for the fourth and final episode of 2 Cents Critic Merry Month, where the show is covering holiday media throughout December! On this last week of the month (and last episode of 2023, an eventful year that’s been notable for things like Barbenheimer, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike, the long-awaited passing of Henry Kissinger, and the genocide that Israel is committing against Palestine), Arthur has his buddy and She’s All That superfan Robyn Zabukovec return to the podcast to break down the 1980 Christmas slasher horror movie Christmas Evil. The character study it provides of the creepy yet sympathetic Harry Stadling, confusing Coriolanus Snow with Edward Snowden, comparing Zionists to Nazis, and the good versions of 2019’s Joker comprise just a few of the topics for this episode.

Written and directed by Lewis Jackson, Christmas Evil stars Brandon Maggart, Jeffrey DeMunn, Dianne Hull, Joe Jamrog, Peter Neuman, Elizabeth Ridge, Patricia Richardson, Andy Fenwick, Brian Neville, Peter Friedman, and Raymond J. Barry.

Spoilers start at 22:25

Tune in for the third episode of 2 Cents Critic Merry Month, where the show is covering holiday media throughout December! This week, Mama D (Petals of Support) joins the podcast to discuss National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, the 1989 Christmas movie that’s full of Italian twinkle lights, vexed neighbors, and Clark Griswold’s psychopathic tendencies. Talking points for this episode include the one part of this movie that makes Arthur physically cringe, Chevy Chase being a charismatic star onscreen despite his real-life assholery, and the challenges that parents undergo to make Christmas as smooth as possible for their families.

Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, Christmas Vacation stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, John Randolph, Diane Ladd, E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts, Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, Cody Burger, Ellen Hamilton Latzen, William Hickey, Mae Questel, Sam McMurray, Nicholas Guest, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Nicolette Scorsese, Brian Doyle-Murray, Natalija Nogulich, Keith MacKechnie, and Alexander Folk.

Spoilers start at 21:45

Tune in for the second episode of 2 Cents Critic Merry Month, where the show is covering holiday media throughout December! This week, Arthur brings Andy (Fat Dude Digs Flicks Movie Podcasts) onboard to review and recap Die Hard, the 1988 icon of both action and Christmas cinema. Discussion topics for this episode include comparing Die Hard to the much bleaker Roderick Thorp book it’s based on, the hosts’ favorite minions in Hans Gruber’s gang, the origin of Stockholm syndrome, and Sergeant Al Powell’s uncomfy backstory.

Directed by John McTiernan, Die Hard stars Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Paul Gleason, De’voreaux White, William Atherton, Hart Bochner, James Shigeta, Alexander Godunov, Clarence Gilyard Jr., Andreas Wisniewski, Bruno Doyon, Joey Plewa, Lorenzo Caccialanza, Gerard Bonn, Dennis Hayden, Al Leong, Gary Roberts, Hans Buhringer, Wilhelm von Homburg, Robert Davi, and Grand L. Bush.

Spoilers start at 32:45

Tune in for the first episode of 2 Cents Critic Merry Month, where the show is covering holiday media throughout December! For this first week, Arthur is bringing his buddies Misty Rose and Jared back on to break down the 2015 Christmas horror-comedy Krampus. Whether or not Doctor Sleep is a Christmas movie, the hosts’ individual experiences with Christmastime and the forced merriment that accompanies it, and Harry Houdini’s agonizing death comprise just a few of this episode’s talking points.

Directed by Michael Dougherty, Krampus stars Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Allison Tolman, David Koechner, Emjay Anthony, Stefania LaVie Owen, Conchata Ferrell, Krista Stadler, Lolo Owen, Queenie Samuel, Maverick Flack, Luke Hawker, Gideon Emery, Seth Green, Justin Roiland, Breehn Burns, and Ivy George.

Spoilers start at 27:10

Tune in as my buddy Daxh Alanis comes back to the program for a breakdown of Recursion, the 2019 sci-fi thriller rollercoaster of a novel by Blake Crouch. Talking points for this podcast include the heart-wrenching dynamic that builds up between the two leads, the intricate logic of this mindfuck tale, and the impact that deprivation tanks can have on tinnitus.

TW: suicide, suicide attempt, murder, child death, car accident, dementia, war, grief, mental illness, brief references to a school shooting

Spoilers start at 15:35

Tune in as Connor Kujawinski comes back to Arthur’s show for a review and recap of The Lady Upstairs, the 2020 neo-noir thriller novel by Halley Sutton. Talking points for this episode include the noir references that this book pulls from, listening to audiobooks, and the criminally underrated film (in Arthur’s vehement opinion) that is Danny Boyle’s Trance.

TW: sexual content, murder, alcoholism, infidelity, misogyny, domestic abuse

Spoilers start at 19:45

Tune in as Guy Bradford returns to 2CC for a review and recap of the timey-wimey and multiversal shenanigans in Disney+’s Loki, Season 2. The now-ended SAG-AFTRA strike, the MCU recycling its own tropes, the sadistic and horny range of Miss Minutes, and the pains of mixing up TV episodes comprise just a few of the topics that the hosts gab about.

Head written by Eric Martin, Loki, Season 2 stars Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino, Owen Wilson, Ke Huy Quan, Wunmi Mosaku, Eugene Cordero, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Rafael Casal, Jonathan Majors, Tara Strong, Kate Dickie, Liz Carr, Neil Ellice, and Richard Dixon.

Spoilers start at 20:35

Tune in as Seth Vargas (Movie Friends) teams up with Arthur to break down As We See It, the 2022 Prime Video series that revolves around a trio of autistic mid-20s roommates who are trying to figure out their lives and gain independence. Talking points that the hosts bring up on this episode include the series being cringey in a good way, the uneven arc of Aaron Eckhart’s career, and doing away with unnecessary social customs like the one where people say “can I ask you a question?” before asking the question itself.

Created by Jason Katims, As We See It stars Rick Glassman, Albert Rutecki, Sue Ann Pien, Sosie Bacon, Chris Pang, Joe Mantegna, Délé Ogundiran, Vella Lovell, Tal Anderson, Alyssa Jirrels, Adan James Carrillo, Casey Mills, David Futernick, and Andrew Duff.

Spoilers start at 23:30

Tune in as Arthur’s buddy Robyn Zabukovec jumps onboard to discuss the 1999 high school rom-com She’s All That. M. Night Shyamalan’s uncredited writing contributions to this movie, getting irritated over actors like Paul Walker and Mark Rylance, and setting fire to Ready Player One make up a few of the subjects that this episode covers.

Directed by Robert Iscove, She’s All That stars Rachael Leigh Cook, Freddie Prinze Jr., Paul Walker, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Kevin Pollak, Anna Paquin, Kieran Culkin, Elden Henson, Matthew Lillard, Usher, Lil’ Kim, Gabrielle Union, Dulé Hill, Tamara Mello, Clea DuVall, Tim Matheson, Debbi Morgan, Alexis Arquette, Dave Buzzotta, Chris Owen, and Carlos Jacott.

Spoilers start at 23:10

Tune in as Sean (Review It Yourself) jumps into the guest chair for a review and recap of X-Men: First Class, the 2011 soft reboot (until it got retconned by 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past) of the X-Men superhero film franchise. A few of the talking points that Arthur and Sean cover are mutation flirtation, James McAvoy donning some hair extensions, the movie completely wasting Darwin and his versatile ability, and the development that goes into Charles and Erik’s character arcs and their clashing outlooks.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, X-Men: First Class stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Lucas Till, January Jones, Jason Flemyng, Caleb Landry Jones, Zoë Kravitz, Edi Gathegi, Álex González, Oliver Platt, Matt Craven, Laurence Belcher, Bill Milner, Morgan Lily, Corey Johnson, Glenn Morshower, James Remar, Annabelle Wallis, and Michael Ironside.

Spoilers start at 24:00

Tune in as pod buddy Shawn Murphy (Men Who Like Men Who Like Movies Podcast) comes back to the program for a breakdown of The Voyeurs, the 2021 Prime Video erotic thriller. Talking points for this episode include the baffling egg transitions, whether or not Ross and Rachel from Friends were on a break, and Shawn’s acute ability to predict twists.

Written and directed by Michael Mohan, The Voyeurs stars Sydney Sweeney, Justice Smith, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Ben Hardy, Katharine King So, Cameo Adele, and Jean Yoon.

Spoilers start at 25:20

Tune in as Karyn Cooper (Chick-Lit) makes her second appearance on 2CC for a review and recap of 27 Dresses, the 2008 Katherine Heigl/James Marsden rom-com. The numerous connections that can be made between this movie and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, the antiquated nature of old ringtones, and Jane’s eclectic collection of bridesmaid dresses comprise just a few of the topics that are getting coverage this week.

Directed by Anne Fletcher, 27 Dresses stars Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Åkerman, Judy Greer, Edward Burns, Melora Hardin, Brian Kerwin, Maulik Pancholy, David Castro, Krysten Ritter, and Peyton List.

Spoilers start at 18:25

Tune in as Arthur’s buddy Thomas hangs out with him to discuss the anxiety- and cat-filled 2000 comedy Meet the Parents. Cringe humor that (mostly) works, Hollywood figures like Steven Spielberg and Jim Carrey having once been attached to this movie, and the little-known fact that it’s actually a reboot make up a few of the subjects that the hosts discuss.

Directed by Jay Roach, Meet the Parents stars Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, Owen Wilson, Nicole DeHuff, Jon Abrahams, James Rebhorn, Tom McCarthy, Phyllis George, Kali Rocha, Bernie Sheredy, Judah Friedlander, Peter Bartlett, Russell Hornsby, Cole Hawkins, and Spencer Breslin.

Spoilers start at 35:45

Tune in as Christy (X Knows All) comes back to 2CC for a review and recap of The Wedding Singer, the 1998 Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore rom-com. The feeling of movie nostalgia, the gross and outdated jokes that older comedies were willing to dish out, and the bizarrely horny levels that video game commercials from years and years ago could reach are just a few of the topics that the hosts chat about.

Directed by Frank Coraci, The Wedding Singer stars Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Christine Taylor, Allen Covert, Matthew Glave, Ellen Albertini Dow, Angela Featherstone, Alexis Arquette, Christina Pickles, Jodi Thelen, Frank Sivero, Billy Idol, Kevin Nealon, Steve Buscemi, and Jon Lovitz.

Spoilers start at 13:45

Tune in as return guest Dustin Holden (Dustin Can Read & Watch, The Rewatch Recap) hops back onto the podcast to cover How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, the 2003 Kate Hudson/Matthew McConaughey rom-com that’s full of deception, Knicks games, and insufferable baby talk. Movie theater etiquette, a debate about Matthew McConaughey’s hotness, and whether or not this rom-com needs a reboot make up a few of the subjects that Arthur and Dustin chat about here.

Directed by Donald Petrie, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days stars Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, Kathryn Hahn, Annie Parisse, Adam Goldberg, Thomas Lennon, Michael Michele, Shalom Harlow, Robert Klein, Bebe Neuwirth, Celia Weston, James Murtaugh, Liliane Montevecchi, and Marvin Hamlisch.

Spoilers start at 20:55

Tune in as Paul Jordan and Pablo Escobar (Scared Gay!) hang out on 2CC to discuss The Talented Mr. Ripley, the 1999 film adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel of the same name. Discussing the varying facets of all the queer-coding and homoerotic tension, unpacking the layers of Tom’s sociopathy, and expressing distaste for Gwyneth Paltrow as a person (not as an actor, though, because she’s got true talent there) are just a few of the topics that get coverage here.

Written and directed by Anthony Minghella, The Talented Mr. Ripley stars Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, Jack Davenport, Philip Seymour Hoffman, James Rebhorn, Sergio Rubini, Philip Baker Hall, and Celia Weston.

Spoilers start at 39:10

Here’s how you can support the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike:

Tune in as Sharai Bohannon (A Nightmare on Fierce Street, Blerdy Massacre) joins in to break down the 2010 spy action thriller Salt. There’s plenty for the hosts to discuss here, including the movie’s ample amounts of flashbacks and bad wigs, whether or not Clint Eastwood is capable of defending the US president, the hilarity of naming a spider species after Peter Best, and the ways in which power-hungry Hollywood studios and rich people like Oprah and Dwayne Johnson are out of touch with the real world.

Directed by Phillip Noyce, Salt stars Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski, August Diehl, Corey Stoll, Hunt Block, Andre Braugher, Daniel Pearce, Olek Krupa, Tika Sumpter, and Yara Shahidi.

Spoilers start at 25:40

Tune in as Robert “Stew” Stewart (STEW World Order) hangs out on 2CC this week to dive into the 2011 meta horror-comedy The Cabin in the Woods. Talking points include the hosts’ contrasting feelings toward Malignant, their shared aversion toward torture porn, and the deconstruction and subversion of horror tropes that Cabin provides.

Directed by Drew Goddard, The Cabin in the Woods stars Kristen Connolly, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Anna Hutchison, Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Sigourney Weaver, Brian J. White, Amy Acker, Tim DeZarn, and Tom Lenk.

Spoilers start at 19:40

Here’s how you can support the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike:

Tune in as Arthur’s buddy Anna hops into the guest chair for a review and recap of Beach Read, the 2020 rivals-to-lovers and grumpy/sunshine contemporary romance novel by Emily Henry. There’s tons for the hosts to chat about on this episode of 2CC, including speculation over whether or not the Netflix Christmas rom-com Love Hard stole its premise from real life, the gender stereotyping that‘s baked into how books are marketed, dysfunctional family baggage, and a reminiscence on Peet’s Coffee.

TW: past cancer that’s in remission, grief, past death of parents, past infidelity, past child abuse and neglect, past domestic abuse, past suicide cult, alcohol abuse, vomiting, car accident

Spoilers start at 27:30

Tune in as Trace Thurman (Horror Queers) stops by the show to discuss The Mitchells vs. the Machines, the 2021 Netflix animated road trip movie that, if we’re being honest here, should have won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature over Encanto. The topics that are getting coverage on this episode include the subversively written nuances of the Mitchell family dynamic, how this movie handles its casual queer rep, Arthur explaining the NPC trend to a TikTokless Trace, and multiple mentions of Pixar’s Luca.

Directed by Mike Rianda and co-directed by Jeff Rowe as well as being written by both of them, The Mitchells vs. the Machines stars Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph, Mike Rianda, Olivia Colman, Eric André, Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Charlyne Yi, Blake Griffin, Conan O’Brien, Doug the Pug, and Madeleine McGraw. 

Spoilers start at 22:10

Tune in as Torry (Ready to Be Petty) rejoins Arthur for a review and recap of The Bromance Book Club, the 2019 second chance romance novel by Lyssa Kay Adams that explores what happens when a guy embarks on a plan to save his collapsing marriage by joining a club full of men who read romance books to educate themselves on love, women, and healthy masculinity. All the sexism that our society has aimed at the pumpkin spice latte, the pleasure of meeting side characters in a romance book who you realize will star in their own standalone sequels, and the many times when Arthur and Torry push for these characters (not only Gavin and Thea, but Liv as well) to seek therapy comprise a few of the topics that get discussed.

TW: sexual content, past child neglect, bullying for a speech impediment, past infidelity, vomiting, profanity, and alcohol

Spoilers start at 20:15

Show notes: