Out in the comedic superhero world 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.
On episode #134 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, the four superhero sidekicks that is Bryan, Dan, Chelsea, and Preston, voluntarily subject themselves to Superman III (1983), the cinematic equivalent of doing whippets in a RadioShack parking lot.
This is the movie where Christopher Reeve, once again donning the cape, finds himself paired with Richard Pryor. Arguably the funniest stand-up comedian of all time and, according to Warner Bros. executives in 1982, also the perfect person to anchor a family-friendly superhero sequel. The result? A film so spectacularly unhinged it feels less like a continuation of the Superman franchise and more like someone dared the writers to lose a bar bet.
The episode begins where the movie begins: with a ten-minute slapstick disaster sequence that plays like Final Destination if Buster Keaton had directed it on three tabs of acid. There are toy penguins, exploding gumball machines, runaway steamrollers, and a man who somehow manages to drown inside his own car, in the middle of a Metropolis intersection, before Superman casually saves him like a distracted lifeguard on his lunch break.
The hosts break down the cocaine-fueled creative “decisions” that led to this batshit production and even attempt to draw tenuous parallels between Superman III and James Gunn’s newly released Superman. The discussion goes off the rails almost immediately. Bryan plants his flag in the chaos, defending the film with the kind of passion usually reserved for religion or Texas barbecue techniques. Meanwhile, Dan, Chelsea, and Preston question not only the movie’s logic but Bryan’s continued eligibility to participate in polite society.
Of course, Superman III gives them plenty to work with. A computer that becomes sentient and tries to kill everyone; an extended sequence in which Clark Kent literally fistfights his own alter ego in a junkyard; and Richard Pryor skiing off a skyscraper in a pink tablecloth because, well, it was 1983, and someone at Warner Bros. thought “why not?”
By the end of the episode, Bryan declares without irony, hesitation, or shame, that Superman III is better than Oppenheimer. And here’s the worst part. After listening to him explain the bizarre charm of blue tights, whiskey-filled briefcases, and Pryor’s manic energy, you start to wonder if he might actually be right.
So tune in to episode #134 of Fear and Loathing in Cinema, available everywhere podcasts are streamed. Because sometimes the dumbest superhero movie of all time is also a masterpiece. And if Bryan has his way, the Library of Congress will preserve it next to the Declaration of Independence. FACTS!
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Thank you for listening.
WRITTEN BY: BRYAN KLUGER
BRYAN KLUGER, A SEASONED VOICE IN THE REALM OF ENTERTAINMENT CRITICISM, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING ARTS+CULTURE MAGAZINE, HIGH DEF DIGEST, BOOMSTICK COMICS, AND HOUSING WIRE MAGAZINE, AMONG OTHERS.
HIS INSIGHTS ARE ALSO CAPTURED THROUGH HIS PODCASTS; MY BLOODY PODCAST AND FEAR AND LOATHING IN CINEMA PODCAST; WHICH LISTENERS CAN ENJOY ACROSS A VARIETY OF PLATFORMS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS WRITTEN WORK, KLUGER BRINGS HIS EXPERTISE TO THE AIRWAVES, HOSTING TWO LIVE RADIO SHOWS EACH WEEK: SOUNDTRAXXX RADIO ON WEDNESDAYS AND THE ENTERTAINMENT ANSWER ON SUNDAYS. HIS MULTIFACETED APPROACH TO MEDIA AND CULTURE OFFERS A UNIQUE, IMMERSIVE PERSPECTIVE FOR THOSE WHO SEEK BOTH DEPTH AND ENTERTAINMENT.
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