Kicking the Seat

Ian and Luke are back with a look at one of the summer's most surprising movies--in more ways than one!

If you've seen the trailers and marketing materials for Karate Kid Legends, you probably think you know what this legacy sequel is about. You'd be mostly wrong.

In this spoiler-lite mini-review, the guys talk about the film's strengths, its (mildly) scary part, and why it gets a "corner thumb" recommendation from Luke! Plus: Learn about the latest step in Luke's own martial arts journey!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

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• Watch the Karate Kid Legends (2025) trailer.

• Catch up with all of Ian and Luke's reviews in our "Target Audience" Playlist!

Horror wunderkinds Danny and Michael Philippou are back with Bring Her Back--a follow-up to their 2023 cult hit, Talk to Me!

While not a sequel, the new film delves into similar realms of demonic possession, busted family dynamics, and body horror-as-adolescence metaphor. Billy Barratt and Sora Wong star as Andy and Piper, siblings who are placed in a new foster home following the sudden death of their father.

Their new guardian, Laura (Sally Hawkins), is doting but odd, and has an odd relationship with a mute child named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) whom she is also looking after. It's not long before weird things begin happening around the house, and Andy and Piper must uncover the dark mysteries surrounding Laura and Oliver before it's too late!

Do the Philippous catch lightning in a bottle twice, or is Bring Her Back destined to be another entry on Hollywood's storied "Sophomore Slump" list?

Join Earth's Mightiest Critics for a spoilerific summoning of cerebral, cinema-celebrating speakers! We also take your questions, comments and SuperChats!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

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Show Links

• Watch the Bring Her Back (2025) trailer.

• Flashback! Watch Ian and Cati review 2023's Talk to Me!

• Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:

  • Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.

  • Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.

  • Get seated with The Blonde in Front!

  • Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

  • Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…

    • ...And Film Obsessive

    • ...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

  • Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue.

    • ...and We Got This Covered.

  • And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian, Sujewa, and Jeff welcome back actor/filmmaker Raphael Sbarge for a look at two huge recent showbiz events: the release of A24's hit comedy, Friendship (starring Raphael, Paul Rudd, and Tim Robinson), and the recently wrapped Cannes Film Festival!

First up, Raphael talks about how he got involved with Andrew DeYoung's insightful, disturbing, and laugh-out-loud debut film--and what it was like making the movie. The guys also talk about the history of A24 as a genre powerhouse, and the potential turning point Friendship represents.

Next, our esteemed guest gives viewers an inside look at what it's like to attend the Cannes Film Festival for the first (and hopefully not last) time. From the rigorous, whirlwind schedule to red carpets and multi-million-dollar accessories to the secret coin of the cocktail party realm--this gossip-free-yet-delicious inside scoop will put you right in the thick of the glamorous hustle and bustle!

Plus: Sujewa talks about the launch of his 53 Spaceships GoFundMe (back it via the link below!) and we get a sneak peek at two of Raphael's upcoming projects--a short film called Loving Day, and the Palme d'Or-nominated History of Sound, directed by Oliver Hermanus and co-starring Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

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Show Links

• Watch the Friendship (2025) trailer.

• Watch Earth's Mightiest Critics' live roundtable review of Friendship:

• Catch up with last month's episode, which featured a review of Woody Allen's Stardust Memories and some initial thoughts on Cannes!

• Subscribe to Raphael's smash hit podcast Inside the Arthouse with Greg Laemmle!

• As mentioned in the show, Raphael will next appear in the HBO Max series, Task! Watch the trailer here!

• Support Sujewa's new film project, 53 Spaceships, the latest adventure of Cosmic Disco Detective Rene!

• Check out Sujewa's latest podcast venture, This Arthouse Life!

• Watch Sujewa's latest film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene for free on YouTube!

• Rent The Secret Society for Slow Romance (the predecessor to Cosmic Disco Detective Rene).

• Follow Sujewa on X.

• Check out all the episodes in our “IndieSeen” Playlist!

We continue our look back on the "Class of '95" with a roundtable review of Kevin Smith's sophomore effort, Mallrats!

This "day in the life" (of a mall) comedy centers on recently dumped romantic, TS (Jeremy London) and his annoying best friend, Brodie (Jason Lee). While navigating choppy relationship waters, they must also contend with a cast of weirdos and malcontents; TS's ex's overbearing dad (Michael Rooker); and the filming of New Jersey's lamest gameshow.

Mallrats was a big flop for Smith and Universal, who had banked on the writer/director's indie sensation, Clerks. Despite bad press and empty theaters (and Smith's public apology for the movie on a late-night talk show), Mallrats has developed a cult following over the last three decades, and is worthy of reappraisal.

Join us for a stink-palmin', opinion-slingin' good time! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

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• BlueSky

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Show Links

• Watch the Mallrats (1995) trailer.

• Check out our other "Class of '95" episodes!

• Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:

  • Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.

  • Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.

  • Get seated with The Blonde in Front!

  • Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

  • Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…

    • ...And Film Obsessive

    • ...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

  • Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue.

    • ...and We Got This Covered.

  • And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian welcomes back writer/actor/filmmaker Jeremy Eden to Kicking the Seat for a look at his latest work-in-progress, Hello Apocalypse!

This sci-fi/horror/rockumentary follows Talon St. Lee, the wild front-man for the once marginally popular rock group Marilyn's Dress. He decides to reunite his band after a 10-year hiatus, whether they want to or not! But even Talon's out-of-control antics, drinking, and womanizing are nothing once the global threat of an alien invasion interrupts the tour and hits them head-on.

Jeremy recently launched an Indiegogo campaign to help complete the movie, and in today’s episode the guys talk candidly (and hilariously) about the ins and outs of making indie films and Jeremy's journey in bringing this maniacal mash-up to life!

We also take your questions and comments! Normally, I'd shill for SuperChats here, but if you feel moved to donate, please contribute to the Hello Apocalypse campaign here!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

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You've never seen Earth's Mightiest Critics really upset--but that all changes with our Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning roundtable review!

In fairness, some of our super savvy cineastes enjoyed Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise's curtain call for globe-trotting do-gooder Ethan Hunt. But for others, this over-long, overstuffed race against the AI clock was a little too self-serious (and dare we say, "messianic") to serve as a worthy capstone to one of the great action-adventure series.

Join us for a spoilerific, self-destructing deconstruction of the mega franchise's alleged last gasp! We also take your questions, comments and SuperChats!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

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• BlueSky

• Instagram

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Show Links

• Watch the Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025) trailer.

• Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:

  • Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.

  • Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.

  • Get seated with The Blonde in Front!

  • Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

  • Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…

    • ...And Film Obsessive

    • ...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

  • Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue.

    • ...and We Got This Covered.

  • And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Schools around the country are letting out for the year, and in our new miniseries, "Class of '95", Earth's Mightiest Critics look back on seminal teen flicks from the year Ian graduated high school--and, yes, they had movies back then!

We kick things off with the Queen Bee, Amy Heckerling's "mall-sterpiece", Clueless! Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher, a bubbly, fashion-obsessed student whose days are as aimless as her notebooks are empty. But complications with friends and strange feelings for her bookish older stepbrother, Josh (Paul Rudd), force Cher to grow up and stop being so, well, y'know...

Join us for a totally bitchin' look back at one of the biggest and most influential comedies of the 1990s!

We also reminisce about the good ol' days while answering your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• Letterboxd

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the Clueless (2025) trailer.

• Check out our other "Class of '95" episodes!

• Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:

  • Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.

  • Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.

  • Get seated with The Blonde in Front!

  • Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

  • Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…

    • ...And Film Obsessive

    • ...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

  • Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue.

    • ...and We Got This Covered.

  • And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian talks with writer/director Richard Bakewell and producer/star Anthony Michael Hall about their new sci-fi drama, Roswell Delirium!

Set in an alternate 1988, the film stars Ashton Solecki as Firefly, a troubled woman who was left physically and psychologically scarred by an alien abuction in the aftermath of a nuclear attack. Her therapist, Dr. Baskin (Hall) guides her through a web of dreams and memories in search of clues as to what happened to her--and to her mother (Arielle Bodenhausen), who disappeared following a similar otherworldly experience.

In this brief interview, Bakewell and Hall talk about crafting parallels between 1980s Cold War paranoia and the pandemic mania that would grip the world decades later; how therapy helped Hall prepare for his role; and the twist of fate that led Bakewell to film Jeff Bezos's recent Blue Origin mission!

Roswell Delirium is now available On Demand and on DVD.

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

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Show Links

• Watch the Roswell Delirium trailer.

Tenacious D once proclaimed that "Friendship is rare". That's doubly true of Friendship, A24's hilariously uncomfortable new comedy from writer/director Andrew DeYoung!

Tim Robinson stars as Craig, a bored suburban dad who befriends Austin (Paul Rudd), the carefree, charismatic local weatherman who's just moved in down the street. The two make fast friends, but their bromance soon flames out as Craig's feeble attempts at being cool prove disastrous. The neighborliness soon turns nightmarish as Friendship spirals into a black hole of insecurities, workplace incidents, and more property damage than a low-tier Marvel movie!

Join us as we bond over the bonkers badness of would-be besties! We also take your questions, comments, and SuperChats!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• Letterboxd

• BlueSky

• Instagram

• Facebook

Show Links

• Watch the Friendship (2025) trailer.

• As mentioned in the show, this Sunday we'll kick off our "Class of '95" miniseries with a look back at Clueless! Join us live at 3pm CST.

• Support all of Earth's Mightiest Critics at their various outlets:

  • Check out Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk's The Spoiler Room Podcast.

  • Keep up with Jeff York's criticism and caricatures at The Establishing Shot and Pipeline Artists.

  • Get seated with The Blonde in Front!

  • Follow David Fowlie's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

  • Get educated with Don Shanahan at Every Movie Has a Lesson…

    • ...And Film Obsessive

    • ...and the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast.

  • Keep up with Annie Banks at The Mary Sue.

    • ...and We Got This Covered.

  • And make Nice with Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree.

Ian and Sujewa have never been to the Cannes Film Festival, but that won't stop them from bringing it to you (sorta)!

This month, the guys look at the latest news from the South of France, featuring the buzz around Richard Linklater's Nouvelle Vague, which dramatizes the making of Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless; and speculate as to why festival darling Jim Jarmusch's new movie was totally shut out of Cannes!

Then they take a bumpy trip down Stardust Memories lane, to look at one of Woody Allen's sharpest, most surreal, and eerily contemporary comedies--centering on a neurotic filmmaker who must wrestle with loves both lost and lingering while navigating a weekend retrospective of his work.

Join us as we talk snubs, spoilers, and a sneak peek at our next episode--which will be a star-studded Cannes-tinuation of the discussion you're about to hear!

Subscribe, like, and comment on Kicking the Seat here on YouTube, and check us out at:

• kickseat.com

• X

• BlueSky

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Show Links

• Watch the Stardust Memories (1980) trailer.

• Watch the trailer for Richard Linklater's Cannes sensation, Nouvelle Vague.

• Watch Ian and Sujewa talk Breathless on a previous installment of "IndieSeen"!

• Bonus! Read Ian's archive interview with Nouvelle Vague star Zooey Deutch!

• Check out Sujewa's latest podcast venture, This Arthouse Life!

• Watch Sujewa's latest film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene for free on YouTube!

• Rent The Secret Society for Slow Romance (the predecessor to Cosmic Disco Detective Rene).

• Follow Sujewa on X.

• Check out all the episodes in our “IndieSeen” Playlist!