In Cold Blood: Zodiac vs Copycat

We are fascinated by serial killers, some to an unhealthy degree. Of course they’ve crept into our media, and so I’m pitting a crime drama about one of the most infamous serial killers of all time against an A+ thriller featuring a serial killer that mimics those who came before him. It’s Zodiac vs Copycat.

Zodiac features Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Dermot Mulroney, Chloe Sevigny, and about 100 other unnecessary people. Copycat stars Sigourney Weaver, Holly Hunter, and also Dermot Mulroney, who in this movie puts a cheeseburger in his pocket in one of the kindest acts I’ve ever witnessed.

Family Matters: Mrs. Doubtfire vs Striptease

Two movies that are shockingly similar in their theme of parents willing to go to any lengths for their children are Mrs. Doubtfire and Striptease. Spoiler alert, I’m going to convince you that you’re better off watching Striptease with your kids than Mrs. Doubtfire because Striptease has better morals.

Out of this World: E.T. vs Earth Girls Are Easy

Today we dig into one of the biggest disagreements among all humans: what do aliens look like?! Are they grey with big eyes? Are they super hotties? E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Earth Girls Are Easy chose different portrayals for their central aliens, but both movies feature a human in need of a friend and an alien in need of a savior. 

Tomb Raiders: Indiana Jones vs Lara Croft

It's the showdown we've all been waiting for — two movies that feature people who should really wear gloves when they go to work and stop getting their finger oils on priceless artifacts aka Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark vs Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

Wack Pack: The Grand Budapest Hotel vs Butter

The Grand Budapest Hotel and Butter both feature a bunch of weirdos with passions they excel at and children that are not annoying, a real feat for any movie. The cast of characters in both films is extensive and impressive, leading to a real grab bag of humor, emotions, and insanity. 

Glow Up: Easy A vs The Princess Diaries

Easy A and The Princess Diaries are two coming-of-age movies about young women in high school who get makeovers, stop being invisible, and have to figure out who they really are.

Anne Hathaway is a comedic gift, Mandy Moore's Wild Hope is my favorite album of all time, and none of us appreciated the friendship of Heather Matarazzo as much as we should have. 

Make a Killing: Gone Girl vs Wild Things

Here are two movies where women have complicated crime schemes and the viewer goes on a real crazy ride - it's Gone Girl vs Wild Things. 

In this episode, I also take a moment to give an impassioned defense of the erotic thriller genre as a whole. 

Spoilers ahead for both films, but honestly I could tell you every beat of Wild Things and you should still watch and enjoy it. 
 

Fear Factor: The Cabin in the Woods vs The Final Girls

The Cabin in the Woods and The Final Girls are trailblazers in the world of horror, both very unique takes on the genre that play with scary movie tropes but have as many laughs as there are scares. I get way too earnest about my deep love and appreciation for The Final Girls and Malin Akerman. I swear it's a funny movie even though I talk about it with the gravitas usually reserved for movies like Schindler's List or Sophie's Choice. 

Girl Power: Bridesmaids vs Spice World

If you asked anyone to name a comedy about a group of women, girl power, and friendship, 9 out of 10 times they would say Bridesmaids. As the tenth and most correct person, I would say Spice World. 

Who would win in a fight, Kristen Wiig + Maya Rudolph + Rose Byrne + Melissa McCarthy + Wendi McLendon-Covey + Ellie Kemper OR Posh Spice + Sporty Spice + Scary Spice + Baby Spice + Ginger Spice?
 

Mental Gymnastics: Silver Linings Playbook vs The Skeleton Twins

In this episode, I compare two dramedies about mental illness - one is a beautiful movie with an incredible cast that deserved a million Oscars and the other is a movie called Silver Linings Playbook. The one that deserves your respect and praise is The Skeleton Twins, and by the end of this episode you'd better have rented or purchased a copy. 

Also, I get into my oft-discussed hatred for Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, it's the opposite feeling of the true and real love I feel for my girl Gwyneth Paltrow.