Blockbuster Betties

The episode in which Jessica thought we were discussing *next* week's movie and had to watch the correct movie while hungover in the part at 7 AM before recording...and is NOT happy about it. While we may disagree on this week's movie, we can all agree that Benjamin Bratt is FOINE...even if you can only see the back of his head (which Betsy did one time at a pasta restaurant in San Francisco). We can also agree that cops abusing their power and beauty pageants are NOT COOL...but perhaps there are some redeeming factors here?? I guess it depends on whether you appreciate the jokes in this movie or not. Sound off in the Instagram comments at @blockbusterbetties and send any love notes to [email protected]

What the hell is this movie? A family drama, a rom com, a buddy flick...all rolled into one? With an art school veneer on select scenes? Plus near-death drowning experiences while surfing ludicrously large waves? We'll take it...maybe? The Betties are not quite sure what to make of this movie, but we definitely had fun discussing "chill" surfer culture, workers rights of hotel employees, and dating football players. We recall our own attempts at surfing and how nobody in this movie should be shaming ANYONE for being terrified of drowning since that is a VERY REAL possibility. There are some nice takeaways, like "even if you repeatedly fail to perform well during a competition, you can redeem yourself by catching one perfect wave" or "if you are talking shit about someone, maybe make sure they are not in the same room with you"! Listen in for the hot takes and lukewarm feelings regarding this movie! Starring: Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez, Sanoe Lake and Mika Boorem

It’s a rare moment in the Blockbuster Betties universe when we come across a movie that we all universally loved to pieces, or that we avoid any stressful technical issues beforehand that make us want to drink, but this episode ….WAS A GODDAMN MIRACLE!  Please tune into our least controversial episode yet, and experience the Terry Gross-esque chillness that is us. if this ep was a person it’d be Jody Sawyer herself, America’s sweetheart with a playful edge. One thing’s for sure, Jamiriquoi is actually pretty tight? Liiiike you should maybe go bump Cosmic Girl and Canned Heat like right now and just FEEL YO SELF?? Cooper Nielson is also a hottie mmmmkay? And if you don’t like Center Stage all we gotta say is WHAT? Did you go to a special bitch academy or something??

Starring: Amanda Schull, Zoe Saldana, and Susan May Pratt 

 Follow us on Instagram @blockbusterbetties and email us love notes at [email protected]

Live your dream, it’s not as hard as it may seem, you gotta work to get the cream! This week’s movie is a somber and heartwarming tale of Sara Johnson's (Julia Stiles) ambitions to become a ballerina while living on the “bad” side of Chicago with her deadbeat dad after losing her mother in a tragic car accident. It is the origin of the greatest comeback aka “Steps ain’t no square dance” / “That’s okay, I’ll dance circles...probably around you”...even if Sara Johnson definitely does NOT dance in circles around ANYONE that night. It feels like we say this every time, but this SOUNDTRACK THO. “Murder She Wrote,” K-Ci & JoJo, Method Man and Redman...not to mention the somber violin score that complements the extremely Real drama that unfolds. Shoutout to Kerry Washington’s free lesson on the Black community and Sean Patrick Thomas dropping some knowledge on the meaning of In Cold Blood. We may not LOVE this movie but we did find a way to discuss it at LENGTH due to a handful of entertaining tangents, so tune in!

 

Starring Julia Child-I mean, Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas, Kerry Washington, and Bianca Lawson.

This week’s episode is the beginning of three dance movies we’ll be discussing, and HOW could we forget about this pivotal late-90’s dance movie starring Vanessa Williams and Puerto-Rican superstar Chayanne? We realized how, because this movie is EXTREMELY FORGETTABLE, making it even more fun to talk about, DUH! This movie however DID make us crave Cuban food, and we were also notably moved by several of the dancing scenes...even if they could have left out half the plot and we would have been happy. Why do we think this movie was made? Does it deserve ANY golden scrunchies? And WHO on earth would name their kid Kris Kristofferson? Tune in to get all the takes! 

Starring: Vanessa Williams, Chayanne, and Kris Kristofferson 

Follow us on Instagram at @blockbusterbetties and send love notes to [email protected]

Another foray into the secondary theme of this season, "Men tell women they can't do things...and then they do it anyway!" Come for the hot takes on Madonna's performance (emphasis on HOT), stay for hot insider tips on the bike-share program in Paris. Find out who the character of "Lilmer" is and why Jessica has recently played her and which Betty can do the splits. We also talk about the movie (eventually), and how much we are all NOT rooting for whiny kid sister Kit or drunk Coach Tom Hanks. Jessica hits us with some historical facts about the story this movie is based on (they really DID have to wear skirts and go to charm school!) and Betsy schools us on the "90s does 40s" fashion trend. We pay respect to the badass ladies that lived through this era and to the editors that make baseball feel wayyyy more exciting than it does IRL. Tune in and follow us at BlockbusterBetties on Instagram and email us love letters at [email protected]!

Join us in discussing this sports-n-competition classic! Betsy is drunk off one beer and has a lot to say about "British townhouses and that whole vibe," Jessica loves British culture, and Kelly is just here to say that Kiera Knightley would never be a good soccer player. We all love Coach Joe and his puppy eyes, and we all find beans-on-toast depressing. As usual, we discuss the tragic fashion of the 90s, the club bangers that should never be forgotten ("I Turn to You" by Mel C aka Sporty Spice, we stan), and the confusing relationship between the main characters. It's a good time! Starring:  Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers!

How will the Betties handle a depiction of an actual adult relationship AND the high-stakes world of professional sports? Join us as we reckon with such questions as “Was Quincy wrong to ‘take a ho to Burger King’?” and “Should one ever wager one’s upcoming marriage to Tyra Banks on a few rounds of b-ball?” Other topics include feminism (as always), fashion (as always), and whether Omar Epps could really be a basketball player at 5’10”!

 

Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps, Gabrielle Union, Regina Hall

@blockbusterbetties

Come for Heather Ledger at peak hawtness, stay for sexy Prince Edward! You know you had a crush on Shannyn Sossamon, even if you had no idea how to say her last name.  Live out your RenFair dreams today with the Betties as we fawn over these legendary, completely believable, historically accurate characters as they bicker, gamble, joust, and most importantly, dance to David Bowie (bet you didn’t know David Bowie was around in the time of Chaucer DID YOU?!) Plus, find out why jousting is important to Maryland and which of these characters went on to be in Game of Thrones for 10 seconds. 

Starring: Heath Ledger, Rufus Sewell, Shannyn Sossamon, Paul Bettany & Alan Tudyk

There’s no better way to kick off our season two theme than with the legendary cheerleading movie that taught us important lessons like: what a standing back tuck was, how to have "cheer-sex" with someone, and most importantly, when you get caught ripping someone off, you should definitely like… STOP RIPPING THEM OFF! This movie went on to have FIVE horrendous sequels made out of it, but it just makes watching the OG one even better! Come for the spanky pants and crimped hair, stay for the critique on transitional 2000’s queer narratives, this episode is all that and a bag of spirit sticks.

Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union, and Eliza Dushku 

Follow us on Instagram @blockbusterbetties for updates and embarrassing pix of us as tweens! Email us at [email protected] with any comments, questions, or critiques (jk keep those to your damn self).