Reel Big Mistakes

For the final episode of season 2 Jason Koenigsberg and Rich Tola go deep into the jungles of Africa to rediscover Congo. Based on a novel by Michael Crichton, Jason and Rich will determine if the critically panned blockbuster from the summer of 1995 should receive more recognition or the critics are right and this deserves to be forgotten and remain on the endangered species list because it is a Reel Big Mistake.

In honor of this movies 20th anniversary Jason Koenigsberg and Rich Tola look back at Broken Lizard's feature film debut Super Troopers. A modest success at the box office, Super Troopers has since maintained a cult following that resulted in a 2018 sequel despite the fact that critics have deemed the film rotten on the Tomato meter. For the penultimate episode of season 2 Jason and Rich will determine once and for all if this raunchy comedy is as funny as its fans think it is, or if the critics are right and it is a Reel Big Mistake.

In honor of its 35th anniversary Jason and Rich take a look at Mannequin. A surprise hit that has maintained a cult following and one of the biggest movies for its stars Kim Cattrall and Andrew McCarthy. Is Mannequin worth revisiting for those that have fond memories of it? Is it good enough for people to discover for the first time? Or is it just another Reel Big Mistake?

Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe dominated the blockbuster landscape, Wesley Snipes starred as Blade which became an unlikely hit during the late summer of 1998. It was the first box office success for Marvel and even though Blade could not be more different in its look, violence, and tone than the modern Disney produced Marvel movies, it unofficially paved the way for bigger hits based on Marvel properties like X-Men (2000), Spider-Man (2002), and eventually Iron Man (2008). The first Blade was lucrative enough to have two sequels however it was not well received by critics and is considered rotten on the Tomato-meter. This week Jason and Rich go back to the late 90's when comic book movie adaptations were less common and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Blade to determine if the critics were right and it is a Reel Big Mistake.

Jim Carrey's star making role which shot him to the top of the A-list as the biggest comedy star for the next decade was not well received by critics. In fact, his breakout hit Ace Ventura: Pet Detective was universally panned and on a number of worst of the year lists. However audiences did not care and came out in droves for this and many of Jim Carrey's subsequent pictures. Now Jason and Rich look at Jim Carrey's first bonafide hit and determine once and for all if the critics were right and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is indeed a Reel Big Mistake.

This week Jason and Rich continue with another film from the historically loaded year in cinema of 1999 as they analyze and dissect the controversial classic Fight Club. This film has been in the news with the passing of its costar Meatloaf and China's recent decision to censor the ending. A financial disappointment on its theatrical release Fight Club received mostly positive reviews and quickly became a modern classic. But is this macho testosterone filled tale a savage, smart, and witty commentary about toxic masculinity or were the critics wrong and it is a Reel Big Mistake?

With the NFL playoffs winding down now is the perfect time to check out one of the most high profile football movies. Jason Koenigsberg and Rich Tola discuss Oliver Stone's hard hitting Any Given Sunday. Despite its star studded cast it is deemed rotten on Rotten Tomatoes. Listen to Jason and Rich determine once and for all if Any Given Sunday is worth viewing prior to the Super Bowl to satisfy your sports movie needs or if the critics were right about this one and it is another Reel Big Mistake.

Norm MacDonald was a big star on Saturday Night Live in the mid 90’s and his first leading role in a motion picture Dirty Work did not launch his career to movie stardom as it bombed at the box office and received a thrashing from the critics. A few months ago Norm MacDonald passed away and two weeks ago its director Bob Saget, mostly known as a comic actor from the ABC sitcom Full House died suddenly as well. With both of their untimely deaths still fresh in our minds Jason and Rich sit down to talk about a movie they both remember fondly from their youth. Listen to find out if Dirty Work is as funny as they recall or if the critics were right and it is a Reel Big Mistake.

It’s been cold outside and this week Jason and Rich go back to the 1980’s for the Cold War comedy Spies Like Us starring Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd. The critics were not particularly fond of it but Jason and Rich will discuss this movie and determine once and for all if it is indeed a Reel Big Mistake.

In honor of Paul Thomas Anderson’s newest film Licorice Pizza now in theaters Jason Koenigsberg and Rich Tola kick off 2022 by giving their analysis and discussion of one of P. T. Anderson’s critically praised films The Master starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Amy Adams. Jason has seen it before and disagreed with the critical consensus. Rich has never seen it so listen to find out if they feel the critics were right or if the critics are the ones who made the Reel Big Mistake.