Franchise Detours

The Muppet Movie took Kermit the Frog and company from The Muppet Show all the way to Hollywood. But beyond the "approximate" story of how the Muppets got together, what does everyone's favorite group of frogs, pigs, bears, and whatevers do with their "rich and famous contracts"? The Great Muppet Caper, that's what. Ryan Luis Rodriguez of The Coolness Chronicles and Reels of Justice joins our Muppets mega-series as we break down Jim Henson's feature directorial debut. We'll discuss how it pays tribute to classic Hollywood musicals, why Kermit isn't actually the main character, and whether The Great Muppet Caper is superior to its predecessor. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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It's time to play the music. It's time to light the lights. It's time to meet the Muppets on a brand-new Franchise Detours mega-series. For the next eight episodes, we'll be covering every single theatrically released Muppet film, journeying through spanning 35 years of Muppets on the big screen. First up is the story of "approximately" how the Muppets came together. On this episode, Stephen Fodor of Too Much Scrolling joins the show to talk in-depth about 1979's The Muppet Movie. We'll discuss how the movie works as an adaptation of The Muppet Show, break down Paul Williams' and Kenneth Ascher's Oscar-nominated music, and answer once and for all whether the film indeed has "socially redeeming value." Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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On its face, Happy Death Day feels very much like a slasher movie spin of 1993's time-loop comedy Groundhog Day. While it is that, director Christopher Landon manages to transcend that premise to create one of the best horror-comedies in recent years and a truly underrated sequel. On this episode, Robert Stewart of Stew World Order joins the show to talk not only about 2017's Happy Death Day but its 2019 sequel, Happy Death Day 2U. We'll talk about Jessica Rothe's standout performance, how the franchise crosses genre lines, and what we want from Happy Death Day 3. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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For an entire generation, Pee-wee Herman was an integral part of their childhood. The character -- created by Paul Reubens -- made his big-screen debut in Tim Burton's Pee-wee's Big Adventure before landing the award-winning Pee-wee's Playhouse TV series. Now Franchise Detours takes a tour through Pee-wee Herman's "trilogy" of cinematic adventures. On this episode, Lauren Carey of the Beer'd Al Podcast joins the show to talk about 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure, 1988's Big Top Pee-wee, and 2016's Pee-wee's Big Holiday. We'll discuss how each film essentially reinvents the character, why the middle chapter might be less beloved, and whether Reubens' long-awaited return to Pee-wee left us wanting more. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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To today's audience, Sister Act must feel like a real relic of the 1990s. A star-driven, fish-out-of-water, pseudo-musical comedy blockbuster!?! Add to that the religious setting, and there's little chance a movie like the 1992 hit starring Whoopi Goldberg would become a full-fledged phenomenon. On this episode, Phoenix Clouden of the Film Code Podcast joins us to discuss how Sister Act became one of the most iconic comedies of the 1990s. We'll discuss where it fits in Goldberg's filmography, how 1993's Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit builds on it, and why we're hopeful about Sister Act 3. Oh, happy day! Join us as we praise the heavenly nostalgia of Sister Act. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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Fifteen years after Sam Raimi concluded his Spider-Man trilogy, the Evil Dead filmmaker is back in the Marvel family with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. But as audiences re-discover just how damn great Raimi is at bringing comic books to life, we're taking a look at perhaps his most misunderstood film, 2007's Spider-Man 3. On this episode, Brian Skutle of the Sonic Cinema Podcast joins the show to break down what the haters are missing about Spider-Man 3. We'll discuss which villain should have been left out of the movie, how it builds and subverts the stories of its predecessors, and why it means so much to Brian personally. Of course, this is the end of our Spider-Man mega-series. So we'll discover which of Raimi's three web-slinging adventures reigns supreme. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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In the pantheon of superhero sequels, Spider-Man 2 is arguably among the best of its kind. Two years after Sam Raimi finally brought the webslinger to theaters, he aimed even higher with deeper themes, a more visually ambitious villain, and a tighter focus on character relationships. On this episode, Josh Bell of Awesome Movie Year joins the show to discuss how Raimi tries to outdo himself with the sequel, the iconic performance of Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus, and whether 2004's Spider-Man 2 is, in fact, the best Spider-Man movie. Next time, we go ALL IN on Spider-Man 3. But for now, it's all about the myth, the legend Spider-Man 2. Go get it, tiger. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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In 2002, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was just a glimmer in Kevin Feige's eye. And Sony entrusted Sam Raimi -- director of the Evil Dead franchise -- with bringing Marvel's most famous and beloved superhero to the big screen. In that way, Spider-Man is very much a testament to its time. On this episode, The Lady-Wan of Screen Run helps us swing right into our next friendly neighborhood mega-series. Over the next few episodes, we'll be digging deep into Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. But this time, it's all about the film that started it all. So hold on tight as we launch into 2002's Spider-Man. Thwip!

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If the first Mad Max gives audiences a glimpse of the last vestiges of civilization, 1982's Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior takes them full-on into George Miller's Wasteland in one of the most celebrated action films ever. On this episode, film critic Sara M. Fetters joins the show as we talk about how Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior builds on its predecessor, how it impacts the series' future, and why it still holds up all these years later. SYNOPSIS After avenging the death of his wife and young son, Max (Mel Gibson) drives the post-apocalyptic highways of the Australian outback, fending off attacks from nomadic tribes that prey on outsiders. Falling into an encampment led by the relatively peaceful Pappagallo (Mike Preston), Max at first schemes to steal their oil. But soon he becomes the group's reluctant defender against the hulking Humungus (Kjell Nilsson) and his ruthless marauders. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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George Miller started the Mad Max franchise as an indie filmmaker. But by the third film, Hollywood was ready to enter the Wasteland with Mel Gibson's title character facing off against music icon Tina Turner. On this episode, Megan Kearns of Spoilerpiece Theatre joins the show as we talk about Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. We'll discuss how the movie continues the series' evolution, its PG-13 rating, and why it's so underrated. SYNOPSIS In the third of the Mad Max movies, Max (Mel Gibson) drifts into Bartertown, ruled by Aunty Entity (Tina Turner). There he becomes a gladiator and gets dumped in the desert where he is rescued by a band of feral orphans who have been looking for help for years. When several of them take his appearance as a sign and go off into the desert, he follows them back to the town. Connect with Crooked Table Productions on social media: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

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