Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast

After the dust had settled on Rocky V and it was deemed a failure, writer/star Sylvester Stallone started making noise about wanting to end the series in another way. But she was starting to catch up to him, and soon it would just look silly for a 50 plus Stallone to once again step into the ring against yet another new contender.

And then the most unexpected of all unexpected things happened. At the ripe old age of 45, George Foreman scored an unexpected knockout of heavyweight champion Michael Moorer to become the new WBO heavyweight champion of the world. As Rocky Jr says at the end of this film, now people weren’t laughing. Now Stallone had his starting point.

Yet, after fights with original Rocky producer Irwin Winkler, who refused to do another Rocky movie due to Winkler not seeing a way the character could connect anymore (a fight that would cost the two their friendship), it would take another 12 years for Stallone to finally get backing and distribution for a brand new Rocky film to be produced. And after once again stepping behind the camera to direct, Stallone would prove Winkler and all naysayers wrong when in December of 2006, Rocky Balboa finally hit theater screens to massive box office and critical success.

Here, the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast hosts close out the Stallone starring leg of the Rocky series. And at a time when legacy sequels are still front and center -anyone see the Gremlins 3 trailer?- Rocky Balboa could be seen as the start of that trend. Is it worth your time? And what are the guys reviewing for this Halloween season? The answers to both those questions might surprise you!

Where else can you go after turning your title character into a comic book character? If you’re Sylvester Stallone, it’s take him back to his roots. Bring back original director John G Avildsen. Put Adrian right back in that pet store. Move right back into that Rocky II apartment. And wax nostalgic about clothes you wore in the previous entries.

Who would have ever thought a prize fighter from Philadelphia would have been able to go to America’s number one Cold War enemy the Soviet Union, cause peace between the two bitter sides, and defeat those commie bastards once and for all? In 1985, that’s exactly where screenwriter/star/director Sylvester Stallone took his Oscar winning character of Rocky Balboa. Oh, and let’s not forget that same year’s Rambo First Blood Part II, but maybe we’ll get to talk about that one another day.

Hear all about Garrett’s first Rocky theatrical experience, as well as Adam talk about how his mom and dad were both drawn to the film for different reasons. As for Matt? After not liking last week’s cinematic WWF upstart film Rocky III, is there any chance at all that he’ll be able to go through this blockbuster $300 million box office smash and actually like it? Listen and find out!

Next week, a review of the so called black sheep of the Rocky franchise, 1990’s Rocky V!

Rocky 3 marked a turn for the franchise. Not just for its lead star. But it marked the first time the series went from full on human drama emphasized by boxing. To a boxing movie with hints of drama here and there. We also see a changing of the guard as Burgess Meredith’s Micky is killed off, and Apollo steps in, as he goes from Rocky’s arch nemesis to his boxing trainer. Oh, and did we mention two people by the names of Hulk Hogan and Mr T??

Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they dissect 1982’s Rocky 3. A film that not only helped the studio’s box office receipts. It also planted seeds for what would become the Golden Era of WWF wrestling. The results of which are still being carried on today.

So what are you waiting for suckas?? Download the new Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast now!! Or maybe you’re too busy ducking us for those setup podcasts!

At the very end of 1976’s Rocky, our title character makes it clear that he doesn’t want a rematch. But, Hollywood and boxing are extremely similar in that if something is successful, people will clamor for more. But writer/star Sylvester Stallone found himself ignoring those calls. Instead, he wanted to to prove that he wasn’t a one trick pony. But after his directorial debut Paradise Alley and the Norman Jewison directed F.I.S.T. were both critical and box office failures, Stallone and United Artists couldn’t ignore the calls for a rematch any longer.

For 1979’s Rocky II, it would seem that the deck is stacked even more against Stallone than ever. He is now behind the camera. He needs to follow up the Oscar winning underdog story that defies all underdog stories. And, he needs to prove like his lovable title character, he isn’t a one and done chump.

Join Garrett, Matt, and Adam as they dissect whether Stallone proves all three things listed above, and more. After 2 perfect 10s and a ‘high 9’ last week, will Rocky II defy its so-so reputation and be a highlight of this Rocky retrospective? Listen below to find out!!

After taking Toy Story to task and having each hosts’ list of favorites of that series be different from one another, how do you follow a series like that up?? How about stepping outside and finding out!

Here is yet another series Garrett has done in the past. But while Adam and him had plenty of Rocky marathons together as teenagers, they haven’t spoken about these films on the air. As for Matt, he came into the series around the time the first Creed was being released.

The Rocky series is going to be rolled out gradually. The first six films are going to be posted, with a break for a huge horror series for Halloween, before finally finishing up with the three Creed films.

As for this 1976 original? Garrett and Matt have said countless times that it’s scary taking on films like this because what else can be said about them? But in this case, we think there is a ton said that hasn’t been said about Rocky before. The three of us all give our backgrounds on the series, and then dive into the 1976 Best Picture winner, Rocky. Does this what some have called populist catering film ‘ring’ true for the three podcast hosts?? Download below to find out!!

We’re super excited for what should be one of the most confrontational series on the calendar. Time to ring the bell! Let’s go!!

After going through the entire Toy Story franchise, the Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast has decided to do a little house cleaning. The Odyssey will come in due time. But until then (and the end of the first leg of their next series), they review the latest film in one of the site’s most acrimonious series. The DC series.

After being released to huge fanfare last year (and despite Garrett’s negative review of it) James Gunn’s highly successful Superman film ended with a scene that immediately set up this summer’s Supergirl film. A prospect that excited Adam, and left Garrett in despair.

All that anticipation was cultivated in the latest DC film that was released and…dropped with a thud. To say the box office take of the Milly Alcock starring superhero film was a disappointment would be an understatement. But did it live up to all of Adam’s expectations? What about Garrett, whose only exposure to Supergirl consisted of Helen Slater, Laura Vandervoort, Melissa Benoist, and a three minute appearance in 2023’s Flash movie? And how about Matt, who is just looking for something different in all these DC movies?

This podcast, may be the most surprising Three Men and a Retrospective Podcast of the year. And be sure to listen to it until the end, where they reveal the latest series they are going to tackle. Hint: Be sure to have your boxing gloves ready!

For the 3rd time in this retrospective, the three co-hosts ask the same question: why and how do we have another Toy Story movie? But this time, Matt, Adam, and Garrett are seeing and reviewing it at the exact same time. That’s right. It’s time to finally conclude the Toy Story retrospective with this review of Toy Story 5!

Listen to the podcasters talk about their theatrical experiences, go detail by detail through the film’s plot, and finally reveal what they’re doing next. Here’s a hint: bring your short shorts and prepare to run on the beach!

Thanks to everyone who listened to this fun and unexpectedly emotional podcast series. Stay tuned this week for our next retro, as well as solo podcasts from both Matt and Garrett!!

Conceived and released between Toy Story 4 and 5, 2022’s Lightyear is the first film released within the Toy Story universe to be considered a flop. Rejected by audiences and critics alike, there is no reason two people who hadn’t seen it before would come away liking it.

But that, as they say, is why we record the podcast. Listen to this review of Lightyear as both Garrett and Adam watch it for the very first time. Is Lightyear’s derision deserved? What about Matt, who did actually see Lightyear when it was released to theaters?

Listen to the full review below, as well as every host’s anticipation going into next week’s review of Toy Story 5

Toy Story 3, for all intents and purposes, was the perfect end to the original Toy Story trilogy (well, maybe not in Adam’s eyes if you listen to that podcast). Woody and company were in safe hands with Bonnie, Andy was completely out of the picture while earning a college degree, and John Lasseter was ousted from the company under creepy circumstances. No, I’m not going to recap those here.

So the question has to be asked that we seem to always ask on this podcast. How, the hell, do you follow up the billion plus dollar conclusion to Pixar’s most prized franchise? Disney executives were not afraid to ask that question, as they see as many dollar signs as Woody sees dust bunnies in this film.

All of us have brought such different perspectives to each of these movies, and part 4 is no different. In contrast to when we originally did this series seven years ago (attached to this movie as a matter of fact), Adam is seeing a child of his off to college, and I have seven extra years of life experience. How will this film affect us, and can Disney do it again?? That is, make a billion dollars for their golden goose?

So much to discuss, as well as how we feel about the 2019 film itself, all building up to a review of this year’s Toy Story 5 in a couple weeks. Listen to 4 and get ready for our next podcast series, to be announced soon!!