The tart comedy Shortcomings is about a cynical cinephile with a lot of hang-ups. Ben (Justin H. Min) hates his job and is emotionally checked out of his relationship with his longtime girlfriend (Ally Maki). When the couple goes on a hiatus, he's forced to confront unresolved insecurities tied to his Asian-American identity. Directed by Randall Park, the film has a lot to say about interracial dating and intraracial conflict. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour Le...
Aug 10, 2023•22 min•Ep 1683•Transcript available on Metacast Kokomo City is a remarkable documentary depicting the lives of Black trans sex workers. The women speak candidly about facing transphobia, misogynoir, and economic instability on a daily basis. Directed by D. Smith, the movie is definitely a conversation starter about finding strength in sisterhood and speaking truth to power. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Aug 09, 2023•23 min•Ep 1682•Transcript available on Metacast They're young, they're in love, and they're navigating the hallways of high school. The Netflix series Heartstopper is a romcom for soft hearts everywhere. The two teenage boys at the center of the story go from rugby teammates to good friends to, you guessed it, something more. The series just returned for a second season, so we decided to revisit our conversation about the first season. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Aug 08, 2023•19 min•Ep 1681•Transcript available on Metacast The fun new animated movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem reboots the iconic series. It's directed by Jeff Rowe ( The Mitchells vs. the Machines ), who co-wrote the script with Seth Rogen and others. The formula is familiar — an ooze turns four baby turtles into ninja-fighting warriors who must save humanity and find acceptance along the way. The film is bolstered by its funny pop-culture references and a strong voice cast, including Jackie Chan, Ice Cube and Ayo Edebiri. Learn more...
Aug 04, 2023•28 min•Ep 1680•Transcript available on Metacast Idris Elba is in full action hero mode in the Apple TV+ series Hijack. He stars as a corporate business negotiator onboard an airplane that is taken hostage by an eclectic bunch of assailants with mysterious motives. The series is very fun and very silly. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Aug 03, 2023•17 min•Ep 1679•Transcript available on Metacast The Hulu comedy series This Fool is set in South Central Los Angeles and follow an odd couple of cousins named Julio and Luis. They bicker, help each other out and try to figure out what's next for themselves. Star and co-creator Chris Estrada, who plays Julio, based a lot of the show on his standup. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Aug 02, 2023•21 min•Ep 1678•Transcript available on Metacast The second season of Prime Video's Good Omens re-teams Michael Sheen and David Tennant as the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley. In season one they worked together to prevent the apocalypse. Now, they're stuck hiding an amnesiac archangel (Jon Hamm) while Heaven and Hell maneuver to take advantage of his absence. The series is based on characters in a best-selling novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour Learn more about sp...
Aug 01, 2023•15 min•Ep 1677•Transcript available on Metacast In Disney's Haunted Mansion, a rag-tag group of paranormal experts attempt to get rid of ghosts that haunt a crumbling New Orleans mansion. Based on the beloved theme park experience, the film stars Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito and Tiffany Haddish — who band together to confront the dangers of the unseen world. But despite its star power, does the movie live up to its supernatural premise? Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR ...
Jul 28, 2023•21 min•Ep 1676•Transcript available on Metacast The Netflix movie They Cloned Tyrone is a thrilling, quirky sci-fi comedy about a drug dealer, a sex worker, and a pimp who uncover a vast government conspiracy against their community. It's got a great cast: starring John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and a very flamboyant Jamie Foxx. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 27, 2023•17 min•Ep 1675•Transcript available on Metacast In Barbie , Margot Robbie plays the most stereotypically blonde-and-perky Barbie, who finds herself facing an existential crisis. But there are many more twists along the way. Today in this spoiler-packed episode, we discuss Barbie 's weirder plot elements and gags that stood out, one perfectly selected song, and what the heck is going on with Ken (Ryan Gosling). Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 25, 2023•23 min•Ep 1674•Transcript available on Metacast The new film Oppenheimer tells the story of the brilliant physicist who oversaw the construction of the first atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy plays J. Robert Oppenheimer at various stages in his career, and the film's strong supporting cast features Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, and Emily Blunt. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer is in theaters now. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcast...
Jul 24, 2023•26 min•Ep 1673•Transcript available on Metacast After many months of buildup and memes, the Barbie movie is finally here. Margot Robbie plays the stereotypically blonde-and-perky Barbie, who finds herself facing an existential crisis. Joined by Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, she heads off on a journey from Barbie Land to Los Angeles. The movie is directed by Greta Gerwig. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 21, 2023•27 min•Ep 1672•Transcript available on Metacast In honor of the upcoming clash between the same-day releases of Barbie and Oppenheimer , we asked our listeners to weigh in on some of pop culture's most contentious matchups. And boy, did you deliver. We've got NSYNC versus Backstreet Boys. Superman versus Batman. And most importantly, who is the best Chris? Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 20, 2023•30 min•Ep 1671•Transcript available on Metacast The delightful Netflix series Survival of the Thickest is about an up-and-coming stylist whose professional and personal ambitions go sideways when she finds herself newly single. It stars comedian Michelle Buteau as Mavis who leans on her best friends Marley (Tasha Smith) and Khalil (Tone Bell) for emotional support and sound advice. Buteau co-created the series with Danielle Sanchez-Witzel ( New Girl, My Name Is Earl ). Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR...
Jul 19, 2023•17 min•Ep 1670•Transcript available on Metacast Actors and writers are on strike, and it looks like it could last a while. Production of TV and film has largely stopped, and there are deep divides in Hollywood over issues including how creative people should be compensated in the streaming era, how work is structured, and how artificial intelligence will be used. Today, we unpack everything you need to know and expect about the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 17, 2023•23 min•Ep 1669•Transcript available on Metacast In the funny new mockumentary Theater Camp , a summer camp for musical theater kids falls on hard times when its founder slips into a coma. The movie stars Ben Platt and Molly Gordon as two codependent instructors staging an original musical, and Jimmy Tatro as the business influencer son of the camp's founder, who reluctantly takes over the camp. Directed by Gordon and Nick Lieberman, the film both skewers and glorifies the love of theater. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoic...
Jul 14, 2023•21 min•Ep 1668•Transcript available on Metacast Can something bad really be good? Or are we just using "bad" to mean "silly"? Where does a classic like Rocky Horror Picture Show fit into this scheme? And how do you know whether your appearance in a Sharknado movie bodes well or ill for your acting career? In this encore episode from 2014, we explore the idea of questionable pleasures. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 13, 2023•16 min•Ep 1667•Transcript available on Metacast The nominations for this year's Primetime Emmy Awards were just announced. There were many familiar series in the mix like Succession and Ted Lasso , exciting first-time nominees like Andor and Jury Duty, plus plenty of satisfying surprises. We're gonna help you unpack the notable nominees and galling snubs. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 12, 2023•22 min•Ep 1666•Transcript available on Metacast In the new film Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One , Tom Cruise is back as superspy Ethan Hunt. This time he has to defeat an all-powerful AI known as "The Entity." With many familiar faces and new ones like Hayley Atwell, the movie has chases, peril, and explosions. And yes, Cruise still does a lot of his own stunts. Take our Barbie v. Oppenheimer survey. We're throwing out a few other pop-cultural either-ors, to see if we can't settle a few age-old disputes once and for all. We'll t...
Jul 11, 2023•22 min•Ep 1665•Transcript available on Metacast The new film Joy Ride follows four friends (Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Sabrina Wu, and Stephanie Hsu) embarking on a trip to China. The film is in step with The Hangover and Girls Trip . Sex, drugs, and musical interludes ensue, but the friends also deal with issues of identity and family. It's directed by Adele Lim, who co-wrote the screenplay for Crazy Rich Asians . Take our Barbie v. Oppenheimer survey. We're throwing out a few other pop-cultural either-ors, to see if we can't settle a few age...
Jul 07, 2023•26 min•Ep 1664•Transcript available on Metacast In the breezy comedy series Platonic , Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne play former best friends who reconnect years after a falling out. The show follows their misadventures as they try to navigate their respective midlife crises and become friends again. Created by Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller, the series is streaming now on Apple TV+. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 06, 2023•18 min•Ep 1663•Transcript available on Metacast The great new Netflix animated film Nimona is the tale of a mysterious shapeshifting teenage girl. Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) declares herself the sidekick to a knight (Riz Ahmed) who's been accused of a murder he didn't commit. He just wants to clear his name, but she encourages him to become the villain she needs him to be. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 05, 2023•19 min•Ep 1662•Transcript available on Metacast The Pop Culture Happy Hour team is off today, so we're bringing you an episode of NPR's It's Been A Minute . Host and our pal Brittany Luse recently spoke with our other pal Tre'vell Anderson. They recently published a book called We See Each Other . It's about the complicated history of trans representation in TV and film. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jul 04, 2023•22 min•Ep 1661•Transcript available on Metacast Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the fifth and apparently final film starring Harrison Ford as everyone's favorite globe-trotting, whip-cracking, Nazi-punching archeologist. The movie finds Indy on the cusp of retirement, when he's forced to chase an ancient artifact around the world to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. Directed by James Mangold, and also starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelsen, it's in theaters now. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoi...
Jun 30, 2023•20 min•Ep 1660•Transcript available on Metacast There's nothing as exciting as a great mystery or a thriller. The unreal and the all too real combine to give a good scare, with often something to say about the world. Today we're recommending some great mysteries and thrillers . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 29, 2023•8 min•Ep 1659•Transcript available on Metacast I'm A Virgo follows Cootie (Jharrel Jerome), a 13-foot tall young Black man who's grown up completely isolated and makes his first clumsy steps out into the world. Created by filmmaker Boots Riley ( Sorry to Bother You), the Amazon Prime series delves into systemic racism and social injustice that forces Cootie to question his naïve faith in the law, and in those who enforce it. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 28, 2023•18 min•Ep 1658•Transcript available on Metacast Jennifer Lawrence has starred in The Hunger Games , played a member of the X-Men, and won an Oscar — but she hasn't done a ton of broad comedy until now. She makes a left turn in the movie No Hard Feelings , in which rich helicopter parents hire a woman to seduce their teenage son, in the hopes that he'll come out of his shell in time for college. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy ...
Jun 27, 2023•17 min•Ep 1657•Transcript available on Metacast Writer/director Wes Anderson's latest film Asteroid City is about a tiny town in the middle of the American desert where several young scientific prodigies gather to receive a distinguished award. Also, there's an alien. If you know Anderson's work, the themes are familiar – teenage awkwardness, grief, wistful alienation, strained familial bonds. The ensemble includes Jason Schwartzman, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, and Tom Hanks. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adc...
Jun 23, 2023•19 min•Ep 1656•Transcript available on Metacast It's been four years since the Netflix anthology series Black Mirror made new episodes of terrifying speculative fiction. The series is now back with a new season that dives into questions of identity, celebrity, apocalyptic demons, and the true crime explosion. This season's cast includes Annie Murphy, Aaron Paul, Zazie Beetz, Salma Hayek Pinault, Kate Mara, and more. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/...
Jun 22, 2023•24 min•Ep 1655•Transcript available on Metacast Disney and Pixar's latest film Elemental is a family story and a love story. And yes, it's about fire and water and how they come together. Full of the studio's usual imaginative visuals, it also dives into the experience of a family of immigrants who sometimes find it tough to be who they are when they're shut out of parts of their own community. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
Jun 21, 2023•21 min•Ep 1654•Transcript available on Metacast 
