CONFESS, FLETCH’s Annie Mumolo Spills Secrets from the Set

Annie Mumolo Confess Fletch

In Confess, Fletch, Annie Mumolo elevates a character trope into a character for the ages. One-upping the Gladys Kravitz and Stanley Roper nosy neighbors of yore, Mumolo’s “Eve” is the busybody next-door neighbor, hyper observant about the lives of others while oblivious to her own. The actress, best known for co-writing Bridesmaids, keeps ’80s Movie…

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Why You Need to See CONFESS, FLETCH ….Twice

Jon Hamm confess fletch Ayden Mayeri

If you’re a Fletch fan (and who isn’t?), the release of Confess, Fletch, the third film in the Fletch series, is both exciting and vexing. Fans want a new movie, but at the same time, worry it won’t measure up. (When it comes to ’80s reboots, Top Gun: Maverick and Cobra Kai are anomalies). Jon…

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Why GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE is the movie we need right now

grace McKenna ghostbusters afterlife

When anyone postulates, “Who ya gonna call?” most everyone smiles, knowing the 3-syllable answer. Thirty-seven years have passed since the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man pounded the streets of New York, but there’s never been a better time for a satisfying reboot the whole family can rally behind. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is actually a rebirth, launching the franchise in…

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Podcast: Racism, rape culture & Jake Ryan: How SIXTEEN CANDLES influenced a generation

Sixteen Candles Riley Roberts

Humorously showing the emotional pain of teenagers aching for true love amid the social expectations of high school, Sixteen Candles turned a teen sex comedy into an pop cultural phenomenon that was watched by every ’80s kid. Mentored by National Lampoon, known for its intentionally offensive humor, John Hughes imbued relatable and aspirational three-dimensional characters with racist and misogynistic attitudes. The depiction of a Chinese foreign exchange…

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Podcast: ST. ELMO’S FIRE reflects how life in the ’80s truly was “out of hand.”

cast of St. Elmo's Fire 1985

St. Elmo’s Fire was a response to the teen films of the 1980s, examining what happens after college.  Joel Schumacher crafted an authentic and progressive story about the emotional lives and professional challenges of seven recent Georgetown grads, reflecting young women focused on career rather than marriage and introducing the idea of a gay lead character (a baby step, but…

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Podcast: How the U.S. Capitol insurrection can be traced back to RED DAWN

RED DAWN Patrick Swayze Lea Thompson Jennifer Grey Charlie Sheen C. Thomas Howell Darren Dalton Brad Savage

“Wolverines!” The call creates a Pavlovian swell of patriotic pride in ’80s teens. John Milius’ Red Dawn is one of the few teen action films of the ’80s — and definitely the most influential. It showed that teens were responsible, skilled, and capable enough to save their town and, possibly, the United States. It’s a blow ’em up, shoot ’em up,…

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Podcast: RISKY BUSINESS Declared Women are Products and Money is all that Matters.

Risky Business Riley Roberts

When you’re looking to explain the 1980s, look to Risky Business. Teens were attracted to the Paul Brickman comedy by the music video featuring Tom Cruise dancing in his underpants. Running constantly on MTV, teens watched and rewatched the “Old Time Rock n’ Roll” music video and its resonant clips of a line of beautiful prostitutes walking into Joel’s house,…

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