Christmas Movies Actually

Kerry and Collin are joined by film critic B.L. Panther to talk about the 1996 made-for-TV musical "Mrs. Santa Claus," starring Angela Lansbury, Charles Durning and Michael Jeter. How did this end up being the perfect film to talk about the week of Independence Day? How is Santa magic used (or not used) in 1910 America? Finally, is it so hard for commercial-based streaming services to put their commercial breaks in where they are actually supposed to go in a made-for-TV movie? All this, plus many titles--old and new--covered on he Blu-ray Gift Exchange.

Blu-ray movies covered:

NEON:

"Enys Men"

"Bait"

"The Quiet Girl"

Music Box Films:

"Rodeo"

"Please Baby Please"

Criterion:

"Time Bandits" + "Rules of the Game" & "Red River"

Warner Bros.

"Evil Dead Rise"

"National Lampoon's Vacation"

Warner Archive:

"The Damned Don't Cry"

"Angel Face"

"The Old Man and the Sea"

"Dangerous When Wet"

"Caged!"

Kino:

"Tales From the Gimli Hospital"

"A Zed and Two Naughts / The Fall"

"Draughtman's Contract"

"Anna May Wong" Collection

Kerry and Collin take a listener request to talk about the Bing Crosby/Fred Astaire classic, "Holiday Inn" (1942). Did the movie celebrate one holiday too many? (the only acceptable answer to this question is yes) Were the norms of rom-coms in the '40s vastly different from ones made today? What would podcasts sound like during this era? Also, "We Just Say Book," the Blu-ray Gift Exchange, an overview of the Chicago Critics Film Festival and a special announcement from your hosts.

Delroy Lindo has been getting a lot of attention for his stunning performance in Spike Lee's "Da 5 Bloods," so Kerry and Collin decided to dive into "This Christmas," an ensemble comedy featuring Lindo, Idris Elba, Chris Brown and Loretta Devine. Can anyone out there explain where the name "Sock it to me cake" comes from? They also get into the topic of BLM protests and how to be a white ally in these troubled times.

Kerry and Collin dive into the immortal Hulk Hogan vehicle, "Santa With Muscles," a mid-90s, straight-to-video yuletide extravaganza, in which our hero gets amnesia, becomes Santa Claus and discovers The Dark Crystal (not the movie, the actual crystal). This episode poses the question, at what time does a T-square become a perfectly viable weapon? Also, Kerry talks about "Letter From An Unknown Woman" (1948), "The Palm Beach Story" (1942) and "Performance" (1970 for the "We Just Say Book" segment. Also... NEW FEATURE: Christmas Movie News. What's coming to a theater or streaming service near you this season?

Collin and Kerry pay tribute to the late, great Paul Sorvino as they dissect the ABC Family Classic, inexplicably titled "Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe," without having seen the MIA original. Is this Jenny McCarthy's finest work? Why is her character named Mary Class instead of Mary Claus? Why hasn't "Back To the Beach" achieved greater cult status? All these questions, plus the Book segment and a look at what's new in physical media on the Blu-ray Gift Exchange.

"We Just Say Book" featured titles:

"Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" (1988)

"A Brighter Summer Day (1991)

"Meshes of the Afternoon" (1943)

Blu-ray Gift Exchange featured titles:

"Hotel Du Nord" (Criterion)

"Dog Soldiers" (Shout Factory)

"Back To the Beach" (Paramount)