Big Daddy Dispatch: April 2025

 Dispatch Ninety-Five, March 28th, 2025

Greetings WHM Family!

What a wild Listener Request Month! If you missed it, you are missing out on some classic bits like the one referenced in the fan art above. The month wound up being a little Eastwood-heavy, if you can believe it, and that’s actually a reason we didn’t do Unforgiven as April’s WLM, but you’re gonna love the selection we picked. We had a ball giving you control, but it stops here! No theme this month, just what we like to call at WHM “Ordinary Time” a good mix of fun titles that will be sure to make for some classic episodes. We’ve also got some real bangers coming on the Patreon, including the thrilling (and explosive) conclusion to Daddy Wars on MelR0210! You are not going to want to miss a minute of what we’re putting out in April!

Banner Credit: We Hate Movies Logo by Felipe Sobreiro
Image Credit: Gay Torino by sneakypetehill.bsky.social 

WHM GOES ABROAD

This summer is going to be momentous for your old friends at WHM! We’re going over the pond to perform in Oxford, England for the The Oxford Comedy Festival! This July we will be doing six shows in three nights, including some of our patented Patreon side shows live for the very first time! Here’s the lineup:

July 18th – Early Show: Animation Damnation on TMNT’s “Elementary My Dear Turtle”

July 18th – Late Show: WHM on Quantum of Solace

July 19th – Early Show: Gleep Glossary on Darth Vader

July 19th – Late Show: WLM on Hellraiser

July 20th – Early Show: The Nexus on TNG’s “Sub Rosa”

July 20th – Late Show: WHM on King Ralph

UPDATE: TICKETS ARE GOING VERY FAST. Get yours now before it’s too late! We don’t know when or if we’ll be allowed overseas again!

 Poster Credit: Felipe Sobreiro

LAST MONTH ON WHM

Episode 787 – Link (1986)

To start out Listener Request Month 2025, the fellas head out to the most gorgeous house to ever be run by a bunch of friendly, yet deadly monkeys. Would you accept a weekend-estate invitation from horny scientist Terence Stamp? Shouldn’t Elisabeth Shue be given some kind of training or something? What the hell kind of trade system does Dr. Stamp have with that cum-runner who comes nosing around? Keep your eye on the nice chimps, they’re the ones you really got to watch.

Episode 788 – In the Line of Fire (Patrons Only)

For Listener Request Month’s especial We Love Movies episode, the boys hit the campaign trail with a mostly unseen fake president, who is but a pawn in the proverbial chess game between pissy and pissed off political assassin John Malkovich and Clint Eastwood as the oldest social security agent in history. Is Eastwood’s character directly responsible for his partner’s death? Why is certified smoke show Rene Russo getting hot and heavy with a man who is knee-deep in osteoporosis? Would you be able to spot John Malkovich in a dirty hippy costume? Pro Tip: Assassins absolutely hate jazz piano.

Episode 789 – 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag

Continuing on in their Listener Request Month journey, Andrew, Steve, Chris, and Eric confront yet another Worst-Ever candidate as a no-energy Joe Pesci does a switcheroo with the most annoying man on Earth and loses a bag with a bunch of severed mafia cabasas in it. Who allowed this movie to be released? Is this supposed to be funny? What is going on with Kristy Swanson’s character in this movie? Hell, if we had to do a movie like this, we might turn into feral conservatives too.

Episode 789 – A Low Down Dirty Shame 

Listener Request Month rolls on as the gang head out to L.A. to help Keenen Ivory Wayans and Jada Pinkett Smith take down a drug ring run by Wishmaster himself, Andrew Divoff. Could we have another round of edits with the Charles S. Dutton character? Did Keenen Ivory Wayans just want to make his own Beverly Hills Cop and waited too long to actually do it? And boy howdy, how many of these bits were not meant to see the light of day beyond the ‘90s? Still, pretty good soundtrack, right?

Episode 790 – Wish Upon

Wouldn’t be Listener Request Month without at least one shitty horror pic. To round out LRM, Andrew, Steve, Eric, and Chris head to the bad side of town to witness Joey King’s battle against...her own selfishness? No, no, no, it’s the evil Chinese box’s fault, what with it being a box with a demon inside and really about drug addiction and all. Can we get #dumpsterdaddy going on...what, Bluesky, maybe? Is starting a weird jazz quartet that practices in the middle of your weirdly empty house not considered embarrassing? Doesn’t this just feel like a boring version of Final Destination? Can we also cool it on the game-horror movies? It’s been an absolutely miserable run thus far, guys. Get me a decent slasher or a bonafide monster movie and then we can do Nudie Deck or Loaded Dice or whatever you want.

WHAT ARE WE WATCHING?

This is a space for us to talk about some NON-We Hate Movies related content that we've shoved into our eyeballs in the last month: TV, Movies, Cartoons, and Sports (maybe?). Just about anything that isn't pornography.

Andrew:
Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004): It’s always a delight going back to this one and goodness, the Lionsgate 4K looks and sounds great. I think I appreciate this one so much more now after getting way more into films from the Shaw Brothers and stuff like that. All the scenes with Pai Mei are much more relevant and interesting to me now. Great stuff.

A Complete Unknown (2024): We finally caught up to this the afternoon of the Oscars and frankly, I was bummed I slept on it for all those months. Never doubt Mangold, man. I thought Timmy was great, but the all-star for me was Edward Norton as Pete Seeger. I think it’s some of the best work Norton has done in years and after seeing the film, I was surprised there wasn’t even more praise heaped on that performance. 

One of Them Days (2025): A pitch-perfect one-crazy-day comedy that I laughed my ass off throughout. The chemistry between Keke Palmer and SZA is fantastic and the two of them have really amazing comic timing. Keke’s comedy chops I knew of, but I don’t think I’d seen SZA act in anything before and she was hysterical also. Kind of perfect casting with Maude Apatow playing the clueless, gentrifying white girl. See this one! 

The Phantom of the Opera (1925) / Opera (1987): Always stoked when a new Joe Bob season starts up and I’m glad they’re back to the double feature formula. Admittedly, if I’m seeing a film I’ve wanted to check out for the first time and it’s featured on Joe Bob, I’ll often skip the presentation so I can watch it uninterrupted and that’s exactly what happened with the 1925 Phantom. I’d somehow always missed this one and wanted to watch it clean through, and wow, fantastic stuff. The Alloy Orchestra score put on the Kino Lorber transfer is great and creates an absolutely perfect atmosphere. The Argento flick I’d seen a ton, so I was happy to get down and dirty with Joe Bob and Darcy on that one. I still say it’s an underrated Argento!

Back to the Future (1985):  One of my all-time favorite films, and the title that got me hooked on movies as a kid, I usually revisit this sucker at least once a year. Last week just so happened to be one of those times, however it was accompanied by a live score performed by the New York Philharmonic, so yeah, real once in a lifetime stuff. Silvestri was there to introduce the evening and the whole thing was quite magical. I doubt I’ll have a better theatergoing experience this year.

Chris: Peppermint Candy: Very strong, bleak-as-hell character-driven drama from the king of South Korean bleak-as-hell dramas, Lee Chang-Dong, he of the shattering Secret Sunshine and Burning. If religion and class tinted the drama of those films, militarism and violence are at the core of this harrowing view of the life of a former corrupt cop turned busted, suicidal small-business tyrant. Sul Kyung-gu gives one of the greatest performances I’ve seen in a long time, and the film on the whole continues the storied legacy of 1999 as one of the all-time release years for movies.

Misericordia: One of the very best films thus far from one of France’s greatest filmmakers. I haven’t been swept up by an Alain Guiraudie film like this since the much-talked-about Stranger by the Lake. This one, about a young man’s bloody and gossipy return to his hometown following the death of a man he was close with, also amply borrows from Chabrol while opting for more humor and open, untamed desire randomly bubbling over for main and side characters than the late, great ultimate Hitchcock bro. Dark, strange, horny, and very funny at moments, a career high for a director I’ve been following since the early aughts. Seek this out.

Heretic: God, this fucking sucks, and Hugh Grant fills the familiar role of diamond in the rough here like so many stars have done in otherwise unwatchable horror stories. He’s the only reason to watch this movie, unless you are a major connoisseur of the colors tan and brown. Nevertheless, big fans of Grant do owe it to themselves to see him have so much fun with a premise. Still, doesn’t really feel like a movie, even when all the cards are out on the table.

Twixt: Being a long-held fan of Youth Without Youth and a recent fan of Megalopolis, it’s not exactly surprising that it turns out I am exactly the demographic for the rest of Coppola’s late-period misfits. This one feels the most autobiographical of this extended, focused on a down-and-out horror author who takes dream walks with a dead girl’s ghost (Elle Fanning), talks with Edgar Allen Poe (Ben Chaplin), and argues the finer points of story with the local sheriff (Bruce Dern). It may be a tall order to accept that this is the same man who made The Godfather, but if you can get beyond that, there’s a lot to love in this weird, haunted story of regret and personal art at any expense. 

Eric: The Carpenter (1988) - Had to finally throw this on with the passing of Wings Hauser. It’s kind of a fun ride. This movie opens with a woman being committed to a mental institution for cutting her husband's suit with scissors. When she gets released, she and her husband move into a fixer-upper. Turns out they hired bad guy construction workers, because they attempt to assault her. Don't worry though because she's defended by Wings Hauser, a ghost that's a carpenter, who appears to cut limbs off with a circular saw. They fall in love but let's just say this particular project doesn't match the blueprints in the end.

The Marine (2006) - I talk about this briefly on our Enemy of the State episode, but this movie straight up co-stars Miller Genuine Draft. So much naughty aughts product placement it’d make your head spin. I gave it two and a half stars because while dumb and pointless, Robert Patrick is pretty good as the baddie! John Cena begins and I just remember hating this lunkhead back in the day but he has the chops now and in this they’re not quite there yet. 

Blitz (2011) - A Jason Statham action movie trying to be more than a Jason Statham action movie. Big mistake. Littlefinger from Game of Thrones is a bloke going around shooting cops and we’re a thousand steps behind him. Co-stars Paddy “The King from House of the Dragons” Considine. Wasn’t really into this one. 

Duel (1971) - Still love this early Spielberg movie with a simple premise. A great example of doing a lot with very little. Not perfect, but I always have fun with it. 

Steve: Lots of fun was had running around theaters, I won’t say it here because we covered it extensively on On-Screen Live, but DO check out Soderbergh’s Black Bag in theaters if you have the chance. A sure fire best of the year contender for me. Anyways, here’s some other ones.

Bringing Out The Dead: Did a lot of re-visiting this month and this is my favorite of the films I re-watched. It’s been twenty some-odd years since I’ve seen it, but fuck if it doesn’t feel as vibrant and exciting as the day it was made. The performances are all sublime, you’ve got god-tier Cage, a needy depleted ambulance driver with a Schrader-ton of Catholic guilt, Patty Arquette in one of her best as an ex-addict losing her father in slow motion, Goodman on his miracle 90’s run, an absolutely terrifying Tom Sizemore, and the pièce de resistance, Ving Rhames. I guess it had been a bit since I’ve seen Ving “go for it” or in the case of those Mission: Impossible movies, stand up, but hot damn is he an electric presence in this film---big, energetic, hilarious, and in total control. This is a top five Scorsese for me, and absolutely one of the best soundtracks of all time.

The Avengers (2012): When I got out of Captain America: Brave New World, I had a strong hankering to revisit this one, to see where it all started, so to speak. I’m glad I did, as I’m happy to report I still have a lot of affection for this film. There’s no house style here, it’s a movie that is trying to figure out what an Avengers movie should be and Whedon (creep that he is) balances a stacked cast well and gives everyone something to do. The real revelation this time around was Ruffalo as Banner and I wish they would’ve given him his own movie. He’s not nearly as quippy in this one (no one is), he’s got a nervous energy that actually gives the Hulk some gravity and menace. I wish any of their current output took it’s time the way this one did.

Scarecrow (1973): Finally got to this during a Hackman-mourn watch this month and damn, a great little movie! It pales a little in comparison to its contemporaries of two legendary actors yelling at each other on the margins of society (Easy Rider and Midnight Cowboy), but you get to watch Al Pacino and Gene Hackman at the height of their powers jawing at each other, which is to say this film is a gift. Really great photography and exploration of the rust belt in the 70’s too. See it!

PATREON MAILBAG LIGHTNING ROUND

Here's a fun space where folks on Patreon get to ask us Questions directly. This month's entry comes from

Lauren, from the Australia who asks: If you could fully recast a bad movie to make it a great movie, what are you recasting, with who and why?”

Andrew: If I were to fully recast a bad movie? I dunno about fully, but I’ll tell you what, remove Sofia Coppola from The Godfather Part III and replace her with literally anyone else, living or dead, and you got yourself a better movie!

Chris This may be a bit basic but I would take the original Red Dawn, a very bad movie in my opinion, and I would recast the absolutely stacked list of WHM favorites, from Patrick Swayze and Powers Boothe to Harry Dean Stanton and Lea Thompson, with the cast of the Muppets. Fozzy gets the Charlie Sheen role here I think, and Gonzo takes C. Thomas Howell. He’s not as big and muscular as Swayze, but I think you obviously have to put Kermit in that position. The invading forces...? Chickens? I presume? Maybe you get a fan favorite to come in for the Powers Boothe for a big pop. Steve Martin would do it, I bet. Just my two cents.

Eric: This is a really tough question since it’s basically, what’s a good or fun premise that just has bad performances in it? Our recent episode on A Low Down Dirty Shame comes to mind with Keenen Ivory Wayans. Maybe that would’ve been a more fun movie with someone else in the lead role. Also to make a movie like The Pest with John Leguizamo (previous episode) more tolerable, maybe he could be played by, I don’t know… Max von Sydow? 

Steve: Chairman of the Board (Bored?) with Gary Oldman instead of Carrot Top, but as Carrot Top. Could you imagine a mid-90’s coked out Oldman going for it as a moronic prop inventor in a stupid wig? It would be amazing! And, bonus, then Courtney Thorne-Smith could say she’s worked with at least one good actor in her career!

APRIL SCHEDULE

Say what? The schedule in advance?! It's the least we could do! By subscribing to this newsletter, you get a sneak peek at what we're putting this month

April 1st – Enemy of the State

April 8th – Punisher: War Zone

April 15th – The Judge

April 22nd – The Accountant

April 29th – The Craft

Patreon Episodes:

April 3rd – Once in a Lifetime: Pocket Dial Murder

April 10th -- MELR0210: 90210: “Dead End” (s3, e21) Melrose Place: “No Strings Attached” (s3, e6)

April 17th -- We Love Movies – The Conversation 

April 18th -- Gleep Glossary: Nute Gunray

April 24th -- Animation Damnation: Jem and the Holograms: “Intrigue at the Indy 500” (s1, e22)

April 25th -- The Nexus: TOSTAS: “The Magicks of Megas-tu” (s1, 8), TNG: “Identity Crisis (s4, e18)

PATREON RSS BUG

If you’re having trouble with the RSS feed updating or episodes not appearing in your app, Patreon has acknowledged this bug and they have a fix: "Try unsubscribing and re-subscribing via your app by re-entering the unique RSS feed you were given and is on our Overview section of the Creator page. Or try using a different podcast app or RSS feed reader." 

Please consult this page and contact Patreon Support if the problem persists. We apologize for any inconvenience you’ve experienced on Patreon and truly appreciate your continued support!

UPCOMING NEWS AND PROMOTION

On Screen Live continues to rule! We’re back after a brief SXSW hiatus (btw, you watch that episode, it was dope!) and we’re reviewing new movies on the regular like The Alto Knights and Black Bag! Check us out on Mondays at noon/et for all that and more! Subscribe on our YouTube Channel to never miss a broadcast!

We also have all officially sanctioned VHS Trailer Game episodes up to this point. Eric has also put out great clip packages like WTF Exorcism with Marc Merrin, Dr. Loomis is the Worst Doctor, Dilf Den, George Bailey as Michael Meyers, John Wick-Mentary,  Toby Jones in Bee Movie, Sausage Claus, David! Muppet Hitchcock Presents, and many more! You can also watch the entirety of our Witchboard episode! Complete with visual gags (most of which are almost funny.). You'll find all sorts of cool shit like Mailbags, VHS Trailer Games, Full Episodes like Rampage (2018), Any Which Way You Can, Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Saw III. Like we said above these are great for sharing and introducing folks to the show. There's so much content there we can't list it all here. Just go and subscribe already! 

TJ Hooker…Is back! Join Eric and Ben as TJ gets entangled in a romantic adventure with Miguel Ferrer (I hope they kiss)!  Listen here! 

 Please note that from now until at least the end of 2025, ALL PROFITS from our Tee Public store will be going directly to the Center for Reproductive rights! Shit’s bad out there and we know it’s likely to get worse and we want to do something,  SO, If you're a fan of the show and a fan of looking sharp, you should check out our merch on our TeePublic store! We have some hot off the presses designs by Felipe Sobreiro such as the Scream 4 Live Show, Too Old For This Shit and Sheenpril Logos as well as A Certain Fat Director enjoying his favorite film filter of all time! We also have "The DILF Den", and a "Crispy Critters" design from friend of the show, Nathan Hamill!  There’s a ton of other great designs like The VHS Trailer Game Logo, Demon-o's Pizza, Egg Lawyer, The Order of the Boop, The Kornkast design and many more, with more to come! 

That's going to do it for this month's Dispatch!  Enjoy all the Gene Hackman-related content this month, we’re gonna miss that legend!

Take it easy,
Andrew, Chris, Eric, and Steve
We Hate Movies