Good News: It’s (Probably) OK to Enjoy Movies Ironically
I’d like to talk about irony for a few minutes. Last week I expressed my distaste for (most) Nicolas Cage movies to a friend who held the exact opposite opinion. “I love Cage movies, man,”…
Four Unintended Lessons Behind “Gritty” Fairytale Reboots
I grew up on Disney movies. Pinocchio, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Fantasia, Robin Hood—you get the idea. By the time I was born, Walt’s occasionally racist legacy had…
Seinfeld on Crack: Six Comparable Supporting Characters from It’s Always Sunny
When I first heard about It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, my buddy told me it was “kinda like Seinfeld, if Seinfeld were on crack.” That’s a damn appropriate description; seven seasons later, and I’m still addicted. The…
Five Reality TV Shows that Should Have Stuck Closer to Their Titles
As a rule, I avoid all forms of reality TV. If a given show contains the word “teen,” “wives,” “love,” “pregnant,” “Kardashians,” “shore,” “real,” “celebrity,” “extreme,” or “life” in the title, it’s probably not for…
What Does Your Video Game Tattoo Say About You?
If there’s a sector of pop culture that knows how to celebrate a hobby, it’s gamers. Just check out their fan fiction. Or soundtrack covers. But now that video games are finally mainstream, the modern…
If the Final Season of Breaking Bad Was Written by Dr. Seuss (Part II)
[Spoilers below. Also, click here if you missed Part I of my ridiculous poetry.] When last we left Hank he was thrown for a loop From a book that he read as he took a short…
My Failed Audition for Magic Mike
August 17th, 2011 Channing Tatum eyed me keenly from across the room. After a long sigh, he leaned back in his chair. “I’m going to be real honest with you, Mr….Fink, is it?” “I, uh…yeah…
Seven Subtly Disturbing Things about the “Despicable Me” Universe
While perusing the internet last week, I came across the latest trailer for Despicable Me 2. Which reminded me how much I liked the first movie—a charmingly hilarious story about a supervillain whose heart is…
12 Hilariously Avoidable Movie Deaths (That Would Probably Happen to Me)
Here’s the thing about my favorite action-adventure movies: they generally throw a few causalities into the mix. The protagonists are awesome at avoiding death, plain and simple. At least for a little while. And those…