In the marital universe of wedding parties and toprical islands of film podcasts, Fear and Loathing in Cinema sets itself apart with its irreverent blend of pop culture critique, nostalgic deep-dives, and a razor-sharp, at times almost uncomfortably candid, dissection of cinematic relics that were once scorned but now, with the benefit of time, seem worthy of a second look. Hosted by a group of unpredictable yet undeniably insightful voices; Bryan Kluger, a media director with a sharp sense of irony of offensive things; Dan Moran, a lawyer who brings an often absurd legal perspective of the film industry and Kevin Costner; Preston Barta, a film critic with a taste for the heart-warmingly obscure branch of cinema; and Chelsea Nicole, a culture critic who digs into the nuances of social dynamics and horror; Fear and Loathing in Cinema Podcast thrives in that rare space between sincere analysis and gut-busting humor.
In the latest episode of Fear and Loathing in Cinema (#111), the podcast crew embarks on a riotous yet surprisingly reflective dissection of Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016). Directed by Jake Szymanski, best known for his work with Funny or Die, and featuring a star-studded ensemble of Zac Efron, Adam Devine, Aubrey Plaza, and Anna Kendrick, the film is a raucous comedy that asks the timeless question: Does a vulgar joke ever really expire?
This Week’s Highlights:
As always, the hosts of this podcast stray far from the beaten path, sidetracking in ways that somehow feel more entertaining than the very movie they’ve gathered to dissect. The absurdities that unfold become a crucial part of the show’s charm, its conversational energy the perfect counterpart to the movie under scrutiny. Among the many bizarre diversions in this week’s discussion:
- Ted Lasso is officially returning for Season 4.
- SXSW 2025 Recap with Preston.
- Leprechaun Rankings?
And, of course, the gang winds up pondering the most ridiculous hypothetical of all: What movie trilogys’ best film is its third? If that’s not a moment of podcast gold, I’m not sure what is.
Movie Analysis: Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016)
The premise, an outlandish true story about two brothers who posted a Craigslist ad seeking dates to their sister’s wedding, seems at first glance to be a quintessential product of the early 2000s, a time when Hollywood was still riding the coattails of raunchy teen comedies and their increasingly outrageous antics. The film is steeped in slapstick and sex jokes, with a series of misadventures that see the brothers, played by Efron and Devine, clashing hilariously with their eccentric dates (Kendrick and Plaza) against the backdrop of a chaotic family wedding.
But does this high-energy, testosterone-fueled farce have staying power, or has it aged like a fine bottle of Bacardi 151; too heavy and stale for today’s more nuanced comedic palate?
As the gang discusses, one standout moment that sparks a particularly heated exchange is a reference to Jurassic Park; a gag that sent Preston into fits of laughter, only to later scowl in a rare moment of genuine irritation. The Fear and Loathing team wrestles with whether this pop culture reference is timeless or an embarrassing relic of a less-refined, more self-indulgent comedic era.
Is Mike and Dave merely an artifact of the vulgarity that once dominated the genre, or does it somehow rise above its own immaturity to offer a charm that transcends time? In a podcast that frequently questions the line between “tired” and “timeless,” this episode delivers more than a simple takedown. Instead, it offers a fascinating look at what has (or hasn’t) changed in mainstream comedy, and why some moments that once felt like lowbrow, instant-gratification humor might still manage to land a punch, just with a little more nostalgia than we care to admit.
At the end of the day, the gang’s reflections on Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates are as unexpected, comedic, and sexual as the film itself; a crazy, funny, and wild look at what it might be like to score wedding dates through an online forum. But for fans of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, it’s the direction of the conversation that makes this episode truly unforgettable.
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Thank you for listening.
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
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