Since Minions & Monsters is the center of attention today, we want to address this head-on, right from the start:
The minions are, of course, on the hunt for their “big boss” to follow. Since we know their life mission is to find the perfect villain to follow, inquiring minds have asked the director if the Minions followed H*tler. He responded with a very clear “shame on you” and proceeded to explain that no, they were in a cave during H*tlers reign.
SHAME ON YOU, INTERVIEWER.
Which “big boss” do you think they would try to follow after the 1920s?
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: Minions & Monsters
Watchlist Worthy: A religious hitman
ICYMI: Patrick is back on to spoil the latest Spielberg flick w/ Josh
This week’s movie - Minions & Monsters
Letterboxd Description:
Hollywood has a monster problem.
This is the rambunctious, ridiculous and totally true story of how the Minions conquered Hollywood, became movie stars, lost everything, unleashed monsters onto the world and then banded together to try and save the planet from the mayhem they had just created.
Best Watched With
People who love history, movies, and movie making. And people who don’t kick kids.
End Credit Thoughts
The seventh installment in the Gru & Minions universe has arrived and unexpectedly hit us directly in our movie-loving hearts. We expected Minions & Monsters to be playful, humorous, and ridiculous, but we were taken by surprise to experience a touching visual love letter to Hollywood and the craft of filmmaking.
The story crawls back through history, with most of it set in 1920s Los Angeles. The animation incorporates a few styles to give vibrancy and life to the passion for moviemaking, which extends beyond the movie itself. The opening credits pay homage to early cinematic pioneers, with cameos and fun parodies of classic films sprinkled throughout.
Writer and Director Pierre Coffin (who is pushing 60, which is incredible) is fluent in Minionese, so of course he reprised his role as the voice of every yellow henchman. He’s committed to the vision so heavily that he’s not afraid to be ridiculous with his inflections and emotive expressions. Respect.
He is accompanied by some new voices in this addition: South Park’s co-creator Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, and Zoey Deutch. Quite the ensemble, all capable of being the leading actor; however, here they excel at supporting the gibberish-speaking Minions, allowing them to shine.
Maybe with the exception of Trey Parker as Goomi, who is the standout from the bunch, as the main antagonist once the movie gets going. Parker brings sinister, clothed in a faux-friendly-ness, delivered with a lisp. His line delivery brings a playful dynamic to his villainous intentions that young audiences will love.
There are some darker scenes that feature magical summoning, spellbooks, and witchcraft-adjacent conjuring. If your littles have curious and inquisitive minds, be prepared to do some explaining. Per usual with these films, there is some humor woven throughout that will fly over kids’ heads but will be appreciated by mature audiences.
If you have the cash, take the fam for an evening showing or catch a weekend matinee if you’ll be suckered into buying a box of candy for every kid, large popcorns, and $9 sodas (Eric).
Stay for the end credits to roll out to see some extended scenes.
Want to know more about our individual ratings of movies?
Follow us on Letterboxd:
@justjoshperez
@ericharrison
@kellyharrison
Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother by Bassam Tariq
Letterboxd Description:
Latif, a devoutly religious hitman, struggles to balance work, faith and fatherhood. When his wife dies, he embarks on a desperate journey across Houston to protect his children, confronting the forces closing in around him – and the beliefs threatening to unravel within.
Mahershala Ali is the MAN. We had no idea this was even a thing (okay maybe some of us did, but some of us didn’t). This looks promising. Can’t wait!!
-Eric
Also Directed by Bassam Tariq:
Mogul Mowgli (2020)
Disclosure Day: Spoilers w/ Guest Patrick D’Silva, PhD #73
🎧 Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
In this episode, Josh sits down with Patrick to spoil Steven Spielberg’s latest sci-fi blockbuster, Disclosure Day. Before breaking down the alien-human discourse, they catch up on Patrick’s latest public education ventures, explore how Gen Z is reshaping theater spaces, and critique the script’s use of classic cinematic tropes.
Spoilers throughout!
Timestamps
01:13 – Catching Up
09:25 – Disclosure Day conversation begins
11:18 – Our Personal Spielberg Nostalgia
18:29 – The Theater Experience
21:16 – Enchantment vs. Analysis
30:31 – Deconstructing the Tropes
42:19 – Theological Nuance
1:08:13 – The Progtagonists
1:11:12 – Final Verdicts
Patrick’s Links
The Religion Department: religiondepartment.com — Access to accessible religious studies courses for the general public, featuring Patrick’s upcoming course on Rumi’s Masnavi.
Substack Platform: Worlds Beyond Worlds — Patrick’s hub for his podcast episodes looking at autonomy in the college classroom and his upcoming essay series, Terraforming the Earth.
Tune in next week for | Moana Live Action
Follow us on:
Instagram: @_sweetandcondensed_
TikTok: @SweetAndCondensed
Youtube: @SweetAndCondensed