Hosts Stephen Thompson, Regina Barber, and Jordan Morris review DreamWorks' live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon. They debate the necessity of remaking successful animated films shot-for-shot, critique the technical execution involving CGI, and discuss the new cast's performance. While finding enjoyment in the core story and characters, they ultimately question the creative purpose of the remake.
In Almost Famous , writer and director Cameron Crowe looks at the ecosystem surrounding a rising rock band in the early '70s. Starring Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, and many more, the movie is a coming-of-age story that touches on journalism, sex, rock 'n' roll, parenthood, and the perils of trying to be cool. Almost Famous turns 25 this year, so today we are revisiting our conversation about the movie. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture ...
The PCHH crew finally watches classic summer blockbusters they somehow missed, including *Armageddon*, *Beverly Hills Cop II*, *Ghost*, and *The Fast and the Furious*. They discuss what holds up, what doesn't, and their personal reactions to experiencing these cultural touchstones for the first time decades later.
Wes Anderson's new film The Phoenician Scheme is classic Wes Anderson, complete with a great cast delivering heightened dialogue and stylized cinematography. It stars Benicio del Toro as one of Europe's richest men, an amoral industrialist, who, along with his daughter (Mia Threapleton) and a tutor (Michael Cera), travels to convince his business partners to fund his latest venture. But where does the film rank among Anderson's past movies? Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterbo...
Pop Culture Happy Hour dives into Ballerina, the new John Wick spinoff starring Ana de Armas. The panel discusses the action, connections to the existing franchise world, Ana de Armas's performance, and potential future spinoffs. Plus, they share what's been making them happy this week, including book recommendations, a K-drama, and a board game.
Every generation gets its versions of a "20-somethings hang out and make mistakes" sitcom, such as Living Single, Friends , New Girl and Broad City . Now Gen Z's got the FX/Hulu series Adults. The silly new series is about a group of friends cohabitating in Queens, New York and it makes for fun and possibly all-too-relatable TV fodder. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy. Learn more about spons...
Succession creator Jesse Armstrong is back with Mountainhead , a new movie with characters who are just as wealthy, powerful, and insecure as the Roy family. Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef and Cory Michael Smith star as four tech moguls gathering for a low-key guys' weekend of poker. But business and unchecked, overinflated egos quickly lead them all down a very dark path. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happ...
The hit Australian horror movie Talk To Me was both very good and deeply unsettling. Now its directors (Danny and Michael Philippou) have returned with Bring Her Back , which ups the ante when it comes to disturbing, nightmarish storytelling. The film stars Sally Hawkins as a woman whose grief manifests in terrifying, ugly ways. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy. Learn more about sponsor mess...
The Karate Kid has been sequelized, serialized, spun off and rebooted, and now it's back, as Karate Kid: Legends. The new film stars Ben Wang as a kid who's mentored by Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, reprising their roles from the franchise. But at its heart, the movie is about a kid who must train hard, learn life lessons, and kick a bully hard in the face. In honor of Toy Story's 30th anniversary, we're ranking the Pixar movies. What do you think is the best Pixar feature? Vote now! We'll talk...
Online discourse has become a fun part of enjoying and dissecting big pop culture events. But after seeing all the commentary around Ryan Coogler's Sinners, our pal Brittany Luse has one question: are we in a media literacy crisis? Difference of opinion is one thing, but it feels like some viewers are missing important clues or misreading the film entirely - and it doesn't stop with Sinners . Today we've got an episode of the podcast It's Been A Minute that explores what this could mean for the ...
The new Lilo & Stitch is mostly live-action and retells the original Disney animated film's story of two orphaned Hawaiian sisters and the chaotic alien who upends their lives. The movie deviates from the original in many ways, but the central story is a tale of sisterhood and found family with lots of rowdy chaos along the way. The cast includes Maia Kealoha, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Zach Galifianakis, and Chris Sanders returns as the voice of Stitch. In honor of Toy Story's 30th anniversa...
NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour reviews the second season of HBO's The Last of Us, exploring its darker narrative focusing on revenge and the aftermath of Joel's choice. Hosts discuss key plot points, including Joel's death, Ellie's journey without him, and the introduction of new characters like Abby and Dina, while offering critiques on the season's structure, character development, and fidelity to the game.
In Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning , Tom Cruise has to save the world (again). But this time, as the movie stresses repeatedly, the stakes are really, really high. Higher than the buildings Tom sprints across or the planes he fights bad guys on. There's an AI that wants to destroy humanity, and Tom and his allies try to pull off the feat of all our lifetimes. Will he? Does it even matter? It's Tom Cruise doing Tom Cruise things in London, the Bering Sea, and beyond. In honor of Toy Sto...
The movie ends, and the credits roll. That used to be your cue to start heading to the parking lot to debrief with your friends. That was before the era of the post-credits scene, which often teases the next installment, or offers one last joke or thrill that you'll miss if you don't stick around. But is it really worth it to stick around? Today we're talking about the state of the post-credits scene, including Sinners , Pixar and Marvel movies, and more. Learn more about sponsor message choices...
The Pop Culture Happy Hour panel reviews the new Apple TV+ sci-fi comedy series "Murderbot," based on Martha Wells' popular book series. They discuss how the adaptation captures the protagonist's interiority, the show's bright visual style, its blend of humor and heart, and the performances. The conversation also explores themes of humanity, free will, and neurodivergence.
In the cringe comedy Friendship , a deeply strange and intense guy forges a troubled friendship with his new neighbor, a TV weatherman, played by Paul Rudd. The film stars Tim Robinson, an SNL veteran who's best known for his work in TV shows like Netflix's I Think You Should Leave . To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture...
You can't beat death. That's the message of the Final Destination film franchise. Almost 15 years after the last new installment, we're back with Final Destination Bloodline s, a movie all about the fact that you really, really, really can't beat death. It will come for you, and in fact, it may come for your whole family — in the most convoluted, bloody, gnarly ways it possibly can. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture . Learn more about sponsor message cho...
The Pop Culture Happy Hour discusses the Star Wars prequel trilogy, reevaluating the films' impact 20 years after the release of "Revenge of the Sith." The panel explores initial reactions, nostalgic appreciation versus critical analysis, technical achievements, and political themes, while addressing the criticisms of dialogue and romance. The discussion dives into the performances and the lasting community built around these polarizing movies.
It's not easy being a teenager in love. The hormones are raging, the parents are parenting, and the pressure is on to figure out life after senior year. Judy Blume tackled this in her 1975 novel Forever. It's now been reminaged as a Netflix series centering on a pair of Black high schoolers from showrunner Mara Brock Akil ( Girlfriends). A nd it thoughtfully captures the pangs and joys of young romance in a modern context. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy...
If you're a celeb visiting The Jennifer Hudson Show , it's almost guaranteed you're going to make your way down the Spirit Tunnel – and possibly go viral. In just a few seconds, these videos can reveal a lot about a celeb's personality and persona: Do they have rhythm? Are they any good at improv? And how famous are they, really ? The answers are (sometimes) really surprising! Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
The new action movie Fight or Flight finds Josh Hartnett playing a onetime Secret Service agent who is pressured into one more job: fighting off a series of increasingly over-the-top assassins trying to kill a mysterious criminal. And they're all packed onto a plane together. Plus, what's making us happy, including a classic R&B song, a new sports documentary series and a iconic thriller. To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture...
The Pop Culture Happy Hour team reviews 'Another Simple Favor,' discussing its plot, performances, and overall enjoyment compared to the first film. They delve into the film's aesthetics, character dynamics, and queer coding, while also noting some missteps in the plot and certain transgressive elements. Overall, it's a mixed bag, best approached with adjusted expectations for a streaming sequel.
Monday was fashion's biggest night: the Met Gala. And our pal Brittany Luse was paying attention to all the best and worst dressed. Today we've got an episode of the podcast It's Been A Minute – they've got a recap of the highs and lows of the night. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
The hosts and guest discuss the new Netflix series 'The Four Seasons,' focusing on its portrayal of middle-aged relationships and group dynamics. They analyze the show's humor, character development, and its success in capturing the complexities of long-term friendships and marriages. The conversation explores the show's insights into aging, relationships, and the nuances of its characters.
Thunderbolts* is the latest Marvel movie and this one's a bit more fun than they've been lately. It stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour and emotionally broken super-people who've done some very bad things. Will they manage to put their guilt aside and come together to form a rag-tag team of losers who somehow manage to save the day? Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR...
If you wanted to escape reality and move to a fictional TV world, where would you live? Many are dystopian hellscapes and stressful workplaces. But other TV shows are a fun hang. Today, we're talking about TV shows where we'd like to live — including Game of Thrones , Derry Girls , Parks and Recreation , and Gilligan's Island . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Weddings make great fodder for TV writers. It's wedding season, so today we're breaking down the different types of TV weddings featured on Friends, General Hospital, A Different World, Grey's Anatomy, Cheers, Schitt's Creek and more. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Étoile is the latest series from Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel . It's about the wacky goings-on between two prestigious but struggling ballet companies, one in New York, and one in Paris. You'll see some of your favorite actors from the Gilmore and Maisel universes all speaking that signature rapid-fire, joke-dense patter. But can a comedy set in the rarified world of professional ballet find its audience – and be funny? Étoile is streaming on ...
There was Barbenheimer Summer, then Brat Summer, what will this year bring? Maybe it's the season of actually good superhero movies, like The Fantastic Four and Superman . We've got a guide to the movies and TV we're most excited about this summer, including M3gan 2.0 , Pixar's Elio , and Mission: Impossible . Amazon supports NPR and pays to distribute some of our content. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
The Pop Culture Happy Hour team discusses Conclave, a political thriller set in the Vatican, exploring themes of faith, power, and the future of the Catholic Church. The panel analyzes the performances, direction, and commentary, debating its thematic depth and entertainment value. Ultimately, they find it enjoyable and thought-provoking despite some reservations about the ending.
