Now Playing - The Movie Review Podcast

I guess you think you're... you know, like an authority figure, with that stupid fuckin' uniform, huh buddy?

Bob Odenkirk goes from Nobody to playing a “Normal” small-town interim sheriff. Teaming up again with Derek Kolstad, does he bring the same mix of dry humor and sudden violence that made their last series work? And with Henry Winkler in the wintery mix, are we getting something closer to the quirky crime chaos of Fargo, or just another round of bumbling crooks? Nearly nobody went to see this in theaters, but our hosts did, and you can join them now for this far-from-normal movie review!

No Child Left Behind

Pedro Pascal strapped on the helmet to become The Mandalorian and help launch the Disney+ streaming service back in 2019. Is there a beating heart underneath the Beskar steel armor that convinces the cold-blooded bounty hunter to betray his client, Werner Herzog, and prevent "Baby Yoda" from falling into the hands of Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul)? Listen Now to find out if creators Jon Favreau (Iron Man) and Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) forged a Season One that honors the influences of Spaghetti Westerns, samurai flicks, and the OG Star Wars trilogy.

The Devil Wears Ghorman Twill

Four years of Star Wars spy missions have Andor (Diego Luna) ready to ditch the Rebellion with equally traumatized girlfriend Bix (Morbius' Adria Arjona). Can schemer Stellan Skarsgård keep his agents in position like the bugged antiques in his shop until he has all the Death Star intel? And is Mon Mothma too busy throwing her teenage daughter's wedding to notice best friend Jimmy Smits has been replaced by Benjamin Bratt? Listen Now to learn if the Now Playing Podcast hosts get caught in creator Tony Gilroy’s Season Two spider web.

Now You’re Playing With Millennials 

Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) rocket into another Galaxy to rescue her kidnapped sister Rosalina (Brie Larson) in the 2026 Super Mario Brothers Movie sequel. Can brothers Mario and Luigi (Chris Pratt and Charlie Day) keep the Mushroom Kingdom safe as Bowser (Jack Black) returns to full size and escapes to a homemade planet built by imaginative son Junior (Benny Safdie)? And what do video game icons Yoshi (Donald Glover), Honey Queen (Issa Rae), and Fox McCloud (Glen Powell) bring to this “Mario Party”?  Listen to Find Out Now!

Stuart's Burning Down the House on this episode...

What did we lose when video stores disappeared, and can streaming ever replace it? Arnie, Stuart, and Justin dive into that, along with immersive theater, playoff hockey, and a round of listener trivia that puts their movie knowledge to the test.

And this is still a new podcast format for us, so let us know if you enjoy the show. We welcome your feedback to help shape this new type of Now Playing Podcast! If you like this looser vibe, let us know.

We’ll be back next month!