You Watched It Wrong

Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977)

Disney gets in on this Wacky Race action with the third installment in their Herbie the Love Bug franchise, starring Dean Jones, Don Knotts, Julie Sommars, and the The Young and the Restless-Guy!  More appropriately titled "Horn Dog Herbie" for reasons that will become apparent, this movie has everything: sexually aroused cars, necessary racing, unnecessary diamond heist subplots with liberal cribbing from Return of the Pink Panther, bumblers who don't bumble, fuel filler lines with widths are the size of forearms, a Muppet Borat, physics defied, and - of course - oil spurting on to people's shoes like a dog urinating on a hydrant. (It's never not funny...!)  Wade & Siggy discuss this outlier's contributions to the Wacky Races sub-genre, what works and doesn't work, and the Herbie franchise as a whole. They dig deep into the effect of later retconning Herbie's origin story and the incongruous attempt to define his personality, noting that he could very well be a narcissistic sociopath who only looks out for No. 53. And a deadbeat dad. Fun was had by all. 

Before listening to our spoiler-filled discussion, check out Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, available on Disney+ and VOD.  "It really picks up once they go to Monte Carlo!" 

Jeanne Dielman, Apal-Porsche 1600GT, 24 Heures du Mans 1977

Wade & Siggy are THRILLED to be discussing this little-seen, barely written-about 1977 sequel to Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, also directed by Chantal Akerman. This follow-up finds Jeanne Dielman behind the wheel of a race car competing in the 24-hour endurance race of Le Mans.  Jeanne Dielman 1 made quite the stir after topping Sight & Sound's 2022 Best Films Poll, which begs the question: Why did S&S's write-up (nor anyone's, frankly) not contain even a passing mention of the existence of this sequel? Wade & Siggy dig deep into the (lack of) existing information on this production, and explore what connects the two films, where this one succeeds, where it fails, and what could everyone have possibly been thinking in following up the first movie like this!  

You Awarded It Wrong for 2022

Wade and Siggy hand out their movie awards for the 2022 slate! Hear their picks for:

 

15. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

14. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

13. BEST ORIGINAL SONG (Siggy) / BEST MUSICAL SCORE (Wade)

12. BEST EDITING

11. BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

10. BEST SEQUENCE

09. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

08. BEST SCENE

07. BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

06. BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

05. BEST MOMENT

04. BEST ACTOR

03. BEST ACTRESS

02. BEST DIRECTOR

01. BEST PICTURE

The Gumball Rally (1976)

The SEVENTH entry in our Wacky Races mini-series is (somewhat?) at the mid-point of our ever-growing exploration of ensemble movies centered on a competition where the rules of the game break the rules of society.  Wade & Siggy discuss the welcome spirit The Gumball Rally brings to the genre, how conflicts that are set up but never come into play are just fine, the raw sexuality of Raúl Juliá, where has Tricia O'Neal been all our lives, a novel way of mooning people, and ticking off more boxes of the series' use of elements from Spy Hunter.  GUMBALL!!!!

SENSITIVITY WARNING:  This episode includes discussion of the film's use of the threat of sexual assault. 

Next Episode: Scavenger Hunt (1979)

Holiday Greeting 2022!

A surprise gift for you! We start off with a quick recap of 2022 (even though we agreed before recording that weren't going to do that, and Wade says in the episode that we're not doing that), we talk about the Christmas movies and specials we've watched lately (such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Spirited), talk about our perennial favorites, and present our gifts using the magical power of podcasting. May peace and goodwill reign!

Cannonball! [aka Carquake] (1976)

Why should a cannonball run when it can fly! Well this Cannonball doesn't do that either, but it is our second straight entry starring David Carradine, perhaps best known for not lending his voice to never-produced Saturday morning cartoon "Kill Bill's Wacky Racers." 

 

Death Race 2000 (1975)

Our Wacky Races series continues with its nastiest entry... but maybe its most cerebral? ... with the Roger Corman/Paul Bartel drive-in classic, DEATH RACE 2000.

Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies (1969)

Also known as Monte Carlo or Bust!, the fourth entry in our WACKY RACES series places your two favorite hosts back into cinematic care of director Ken Annakin in this follow up to Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. As Annakin brings the racing action from the sky down to the ground, will the movie have scenes that affect the rest of the movie in any way? Will this comedy have actual humor in it this time? Will it again barely tolerate its own stated themes of Women's Liberation? Find out by listening to the episode! That's how it works! 

Next Episode: DEATH RACE 2000 (1975)

The Great Race (1965)

An epic race deserves an epic episode, so Wade and Siggy are here to throw 4,000 pies in your ear. We may not have spent as much as Blake Edwards did on 1965's The Great Race, but we take at least as many detours, including bizarre and slanderous Hollywood rumors, great sweater-wearing action heroes, and some speculation about what exactly was happening under that blanket. Hit the play button, Max!

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965)

This second entry in the WACKY RACES mini-series tests the mettle of your intrepid hosts by barely qualifying for this series' criteria and barely being a comedy. Siggy provides the much needed context to place this film into the larger cinema history and significance, while Wade wrestles with his sense of self as an open-hearted cinephile which is profoundly challenged by this film. 

Next Episode: THE GREAT RACE (1965)