Comfort Films Podcast

At Comfort Films HQ, we choose a lot of our picks based on nostalgia, but every so often a new movie comes along that instantly makes a mark on us as a future comfort film.  For our penultimate summer selection, we chose a movie that has only been around since May of this year, but we've already marked it a classic for us--The Bob's Burgers Movie.  Bob's Burgers is Georgia's number one favorite show, and much to her relief, the movie takes everything that is great about the show and builds on it.  We watched a lot of special features to bring you background info on the development of the story for the film, the animation, and the music, and we geek out big-time on all our favorite characters and themes.  Put away your erotic friend fiction, throw on your bunny ears, grab a burger of the day, and join us for The Bob's Burgers Movie!

For the next entry in our summer series, we have the great fortune to be joined by the awesome Claire White from the (equally awesome) Why the Flick? podcast to discuss her favorite comfort film, Jurassic Park!  We talk Spielberg, special effects, the ethics of cloning, and of course anything and everything dinosaur-related.  We were so preoccupied with whether or not we could, that we didn't stop to think if we should, but then we did anyway, and it turned out good.  Get your hands out of that triceratops dung and give it a listen! 

In this episode from our continuing summer movies series, we discuss the 1991 Kathryn Bigelow-helmed surfing bank robbers movie Point Break.  We talk mixed religious symbolism, Bigelow's innovative action filming techniques, and whether Bodhi is actually cool or if it's all an illusion.  (Patrick Swayze's coolness is not, however, in question; it's unimpeachable.)  

This week for our 40th episode, we're discussing the classic 80s action/adventure/archaeology film Raiders of the Lost Ark.  We talk about the similarities and differences between Han Solo and Indy, the perfect team-up of Harrison Ford and Karen Allen, the continuing exploitation of William Hootkins's size, and the relative non-merits of snakes and spiders.  Pack up your hat, pistol, and whip (that's all you need) and join us!

We're kicking off a series of sun & sand movies with the 1999 Brendan Fraser action/adventure film The Mummy!  We talk Egyptian mythology, Beni the frenemy, the finer points of archaeology versus grave robbery, and how Imhotep kind of got a bad rap when he was really just trying to hang out with his girl.

For our much delayed final episode of the pink-themed film quartet, we revisit the 1995 Amy Heckerling teen rom-com "Clueless."  We discuss its roots in Jane Austen's Emma, the awesome 90s-ness of it all, and we riff on the many iterations of the great Paul Rudd, whose career has rightfully skyrocketed since his memorable early appearance as Josh in this film.  

This week, for our third pink-themed film, we revisited the 1997 film Romy & Michele's High School Reunion, starring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow.  We talk female friendship, the power of tapping into your own uniqueness, the near-universal need to transform yourself for a reunion, and the lies we tell--both to ourselves and others--to feel impressive.

For our second pink-themed film, we beelined straight for the pinkest film of all time, Pretty in Pink, the 1986 brat pack classic starring Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy, Jon Cryer, and, of course, MR JAMES SPADER.  We also welcome our wonderful friend and special guest Heather MacKenzie to dive deep into topics like the effects of capitalism on love and its impact on depression, whether Duckie is able to overcome his sense of entitlement to Andi, and how Spader's villainous Steff is like a beautiful train wreck you can't look away from.  Don't be a mutant - join us!

This week for episode 35, we welcome special guest and awesome friend Etta Goodridge to discuss the 2001 chick flick extraordinaire, Legally Blonde.  We talk female empowerment, using your privilege for good, and how being true to yourself is the best way to get what you want out of life.  This is our first of a month of pink-themed movies, so dress up in your own signature color (John's is orange and Georgia's is green) and give it a listen!

We wrap up our sword and sorcery month with episode 34, Willow, which was coincidentally released 34 years ago this month!  In another bit of serendipity, the trailer for the new Willow TV show (that we were completely unaware of) came out this week, and it looks so fantastic that we're thrilled to hop on the hype train.  We talk about the absolute perfection that is Warwick Davis, the birth of digital effects, and the many connections Willow has with other genre greats like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.  Come on this epic journey with us!