Cinematic Underdogs

This week we ollie straight into a nostalgia inducing sports documentary: Pretending I’m a Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story. On the surface, it’s a low budget tribute to a blockbuster video game franchise—underneath, it’s a wistful time capsule of late-‘90s counterculture, skateboarding’s rise from subcultural rebellion to mainstream phenomenon, and the way digital pixels reshaped half-pipe heroics and rail grinding theatrics.We break down how a skateboarding sim became one of the most important sports titles ever made, why it still carries an emotional charge decades later, and what the doc reveals (and maybe leaves out) about skateboarding’s uneasy dance with selling out to mass commercialization. From Goldfinger to glitchy kick-flips to Fulfill the Dream, we lunge deep into skate culture, 90s mythology, and the lasting impact of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Yay!

We'e back! This week we dive into the latest batch of Netflix’s Untold episodes where sports mythmaking collides with scandal, spectacle, and self-destruction. We break down The Fall of Favre, tracing how a football legend’s reputation unraveled; dissect The Liver King, a surreal portrait of fitness culture’s most theatrical fraud; and reflect on Shooting Guards, a more tragic story of loyalty, locker room pranks, pathological hood mentality, and the shifting codes of brotherhood in basketball and on the streets.From larger-than-life heroes who stumble under the weight of their own image to the hidden costs of fame, performance, and masculinity, we explore how Untold continues to unearth the shadows behind the shine of sports mythology.

On the latest episode of Cinematic Underdogs, we step back into the huddle and open our third eye—waxing philosophic about the NFL’s most enigmatic, mystical quarterback: Aaron Rodgers.Enigma isn’t your average sports doc. It’s a new age headtrip wrapped in a spiral. One-part ayahuasca retreat, one-part playoff heartbreak, and all parts quarterback controversy. From MVP highs to media feuds, darkness retreats to Jets dreams, Rodgers’ career plays out like a Greek tragedy—if Zeus could break defenses with clever snap counts and throw a 50-yard dime off his back foot.Although we’ve been overloaded with Rodgers lately, Enigmaoffers some new insights into the man behind the immunized mythos. This isn’t just another look at Rodgers, the football player (even if it does chronicle his uprising from a Christian/conservative Central California town to a small JUCO to Cal to Green Bay). It’s a psychological expedition into the mind of a man who can read defenses and sense your aura.If you’ve ever wondered what happens when NFL talent meets psychedelic introspection and a slight distrust of modern science—this is the documentary and episode for you. Join us as we take a deep, groovy dive into the most mysterious franchise superstar in the NFL. Along with our talk on Enigma, we also enter anotherjungle—known as the AFC North, where rivalries are meaner, weather is colder, and playoff hopes get smashed like a quarterback on third and long. As Jordan breaks it down, this iteration of Hard Knocks offered an all-access pass to the NFL’s grittiest division, and let’s just say—it doesn’t disappoint.We’re talking about bad blood, big hits, primetime snowballclassics, and preacher-boy charisma that could motivate a scarecrow. Bengals, Ravens, Steelers, Browns—these teams are more than a rivalry. They are rivals with immense tradition, hostility, and attrition. Every play is personal. Every postgame quip comes wrapped in barbed wire. And every team is dealing with a completely unique position amid the midseason chaos. Last but not least, we cover Untold: The Sign Stealer—pullingback the curtain on Conner Stallions, Michigan football's most mysterious “analyst.” It’s a wild episode of collegiate spy games, sideline disguises, and a sign-stealing scandal that rocked college football harder than a Big Ten rivalry game.Now hit play and prepare for impact.

This week on Cinematic Underdogs, we’re betting itall on a suburban fever dream of bad decisions, illicit blackjack, and cameo-toting blowtorches—that is right, we’re rolling our dice on The House, a 2017 comedy wherein Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell turn middle-class desperation into high-stakes chaos.The plot is as plain as poker; When their daughter’s collegefund vanishes, two mild-mannered parents do what any rational soon to be empty nesters would do: open an illegal underground casino in their neighbor’s basement. Imagine Breaking Bad meets Vegas Vacation, with PTA moms, home improvement mishaps, and Will Ferrell slowly unraveling into a budget Scorsese mob boss.Simplistic yet promising on paper, The House feels asarchitecturally trite as your average suburban lot. It plays out as the latest, lukewarm hedge in the studio comedy genre—confiding in recycled gags, a flimsy plot, and the kind of cheap laughs that scream "first draft." Will Ferrell, once a master of absurdist escalation, seems stuck in a creative holding pattern—the same shouting and man-child meltdown, dressed up in a different movie. There’s a sense that the Semi-Pro/Blades of Glory/OldSchool formula is wearing thin. We get it: take a well-known premise, throw in some improv, ante-up with some unhinged hijinks, and double down with slapstick shenanigans, then hope it lands. Here, it doesn’t. It’s not unwatchable (we both enjoyed it as a vapid diversion); but it’s utterly uninspired — another reminder that the golden era of Ferrell-led comedies, and 21st century theatrical comedies, are long past their prime and stuck in a rut.More direly, we discuss how the odds of a revival of thisflailing genre look increasingly grim, as lackluster efforts lead to waning box office receipts. Who will break the vicious cycle? Will someone soon hit the jackpot and rake in the next decade of theatrical releases? Join us as we theorize how the Hollywood hot hands of our adolescence have grown lazy, and whether the chips are too stacked up against a once surefire sanctuary of deep belly laughs and winning escapism for a comeback.

Lace up the skates and tighten that chinstrap—because Faceoff: Inside the NHL isn’t just a docuseries, it’s a full-speed breakaway into the heart of the world’s toughest league. It’sDrive to Survive meets Slap Shot—minus the charm, plus theconcussions.Prepare yourself to go way beyond the polished post-game interview version of hockey. This is raw ice, open wounds, locker room chaos, and front-office anxiety—all filmed in glorious HD.Injuries? Everywhere. Trades? Ruthless. Emotions? Constantly checked—and we’re not talking stick infractions. From wide-eyed rookies trying to crack the roster to grizzled vets on borrowed time, Faceoff: Inside the NHL captures the beautiful brutality of a sport where every shift could be your last, and every goal might be the one that saves your season.This is hockey like you've never seen it and we try to give it the treatment it deserves—unfiltered, unflinching, and unforgiving. Enjoy!

Grab your passports and sharpen your skates, comrades—because on the latest episode of Cinematic Underdogs, we’re defecting straight into one of the most Cold War-adjacent sports docs ever crafted: The Russian Five! That’s right—we’re back and chatting about the real-life Red Dawn that hit the NHL when the Detroit Red Wings recruited five elite Soviet hockey players straight outta the Iron Curtain. Envision The Mighty Ducks facing-off against Mission: Impossible—missing teeth, Russian camaraderie, KGB henchman lurking in the shadows. The doc goes far beyond hockey, though—tapping into Cold War dynamics, draft day auspiciousness, and an on-ice revolution, whizzing by on skates.Sergei Fedorov, Slava Fetisov, Vladimir Konstantinov. Slava Kozlov, Igor Larionov: this legendary group of Soviet-born ice-skating assassins redefined line chemistry and international talent acquisition with slap shots hard enough and accents thick enough to leave opponents dizzy. They brought a USSR-informed brand of hockey to the NHL (emphasizing puck possession, short passes, constant motion, & a deep understanding of spatial awareness) and quickly revolutionized the NHL in the 90’s with a fast, fluid, & cerebral style of play, ending Detroit’s 42-year Stanley Cup drought with a championship in 1997—and again in 1998 (albeit without Konstantinov, who was paralyzed in a tragic limo accident just days after they hoisted the cup in '97). In the episode, we slice through everything: top-secret phone calls, high-stakes defections, shadowy figures in trench coats, and yes—the heartbreaking limo accident that nearly shattered the dream team and wore heavily on the players’ hearts as they repeated their championship run. From behind-the-scenes espionage to Stanley Cup glory, The Russian Five is so wild you’ll think it was ghostwritten by Tom Clancy and coached by Gordon Bombay. So lace up, comrades—because this week, we’re dropping the puck on The Russian Five. Let’s get Red-y to rumble!

On the latest episode, we discuss the wild true-crime documentary about Kansas City Chiefs' superfan Xavier Babudar, who became a viral sensation on social media and football games for his extravagant wolf costume all the while leading a secret criminal life of multi-state bank robberies to fuel his fandom and risky sports betting appetite. We discuss what the doc does well (chronicling the many slimy, mercenary players in America's criminal justice system/industry) and where it misses (overlooking the intriguing pathologies and themes of growing chronically and unsustainably addicted to the spoils and ultra-wealthy lifestyle of an alter-ego).

It's been a good minute! We're excited to drop our latest conversation on Bookie, an underrated sitcom-series on Max created by Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay. The show basically follows Danny (Sebastian Maniscalco), a bookie, and Ray (Omar Dorsey), his muscle, as they deal with an unorthodox profession in Los Angeles. Shenanigans ensue in the form of unstable clients, greedy family members, and random imbroglios. It's funny, filled with clever banter, and quite observant of Los Angeles culture; sadly, it was cancelled prematurely. We talk about its merits and lament the impatience of modern studios/platforms when it comes to letting shows find their audience. Enjoy!

The one and only Matt Belenky joins the pod to chat the Safdie's sports gambling masterpiece, Uncut Gems! We talk Adam Sandler's underrated brilliance, the ever increasing reach & budgets of A24 films, the long and winding creative development of this film, the split-up of the Safdie's, and why this film has captivated audiences of all ilk. Enjoy!

On this episode, we discuss Sean Durkin's American epic, The Iron Claw, which chronicles the Von Erich brothers as they make history in the burgeoning industry of entertainment wrestling and endure a series of tragedies under the hex of a family curse. Next up: Uncut Gems! Enjoy!

Does the Top Gun franchise exist within the domain of sports movies? You bet your callsign it does! On the latest episode (initially published on June 19th 2022 as episode 64), your friendly Underdogs discuss how sports archetypes and tropes (practice adversaries, player-coaches, and the importance of camaraderie) dominate both movies. Also stayed tuned for our divisive take on the legacy sequel (our respective opinions on its formulaic elements & banging soundtrack diverge quite dramatically). Do beware: you will be exposed to small doses of toxic negativity infiltrating the never-ending hype machine. So what are you waiting for? Queue up that mental image of Tom Cruise sprinting full steam. Queue up that swooning feeling you got when Lady Gaga began crooning her throwback 80's monster ballad before the end credits. Queue up that loving feeling and get ready for some old time rock n' roll: i.e., another heated back-and-forth about the  predictability of genre movies. Queue up the guts to handle g-force levels of bantering. Strap in, buckle up, and enjoy! 

We're back and we're pile-driving into the dark, messy history of the WWE/WWF. Under the ownership of the polarizing Vince McMahon, wrestling went from feudal territories to cable TV mania. We examine the dueling identities of its greatest promoter, trying to unpack the Vince McMahon/Mr. McMahon split personality. You also want to tune in if you're interested in a nostalgic celebration of all the eras of the WWE/WWF, including the Attitude era, the Ruthless Aggression era, as well as the WCW vs. WWE heyday where every Monday night Raw and Nitro squared off on cable TV (giving everyone a reason to flip back-and-forth between USA and TNT). Enjoy!

On this episode, we invite Mikey from Screen Nerds Podcast (an avid Tennessee Titans superfan since their arrival in Nashville) to discuss the return of Untold with "The Muder of Air McNair." Part crime-doc and part sports-recap, this episode felt vexingly conspiratorial and disjointed. We break down why we feel it is one of the weaker entries in the docu-series and wonder if it's an anomaly or a harbinger of things to come. We also chat about the never-ending slate of 2024 streaming content, from Netflix's Receivers to HBO Max's return of Hard Knocks with the Chicago Bears. There is certainly no shortage of content available to whet our appetites for another dramatic season of America's most beloved sport, the NFL. Enjoy!

Join your friendly underdogs as we chat Bronx Zoo '90: Crime, Chaos and Baseball, Peacock's 3-part docuseries on one of the worst NY Yankee's teams in franchise history. Based around a series of Joel Sherman articles first published in the NY Post, the doc covers everything from the exile of George Steinbrenner to the downfall of Mel Hall. The 1990 season was one for the record books for all the wrong reasons: a train wreck you can't help but to look at, even as you're cowering away. From a no-hitter that ended miraculously in a 4-0 loss due to a calamity of fielding errors, to Pascual Perez playing backgammon in the Caribbean instead of showing up to Spring ball, to Mel Hall's open relationship and prom date with a teenage girl, to the back-and-forth contract feud between Steinbrenner and Dave Winfield, to the extortion and blackmail saga with Howie Spira (a NY felon, gambling addict, and all around low-life, to Deion Sander's dollar sign antics and terrible batting average, to cougars (yes, the feral felines!) in the locker room, this iteration of the Yanks was a carnivalesque free-for-all that you can't look away from. Enjoy our recap of this wild tale of shenanigans in the ballpark and beyond!

Welcome to the latest episode of Cinematic Underdogs (Or should I say, Cinematic Underska? Or is it Cinematic Under Sophisti-Pop? Perhaps Cinematic Under-Christian Jangle Pop?)... Whatever cinematic multiverse you choose to join us in, you're welcome to a frothy treat! We're joined by ska and sophisti-pop connoisseur Oye Oye Estaban for a look back at BASEketball, the 1998 sports parody directed by David Zucker (Airplane, Naked Gun, Scary Movie) and starring two of the 90's premier enfant terribles, Trey Parker and Matt Stone (creaters of South Park, duh). So get out that hemorrhoid cream and get ready for some soapy psyche-outs, hot takes on ska, Real Big Fish fandom, breakdowns of "Beer" (the song, of course), and analytic tangents on the now-obsolescent juvenilia of a bygone era, because we're coming in hotter than Jenny McCarthy buffing the lobby. Enjoy!

On this episode, Sarah Curci and Juan Hernandez join the pod to talk about the rise of Track & Field as a sport, and more specifically, how its uptick in popularity nicely coincides with teh arrival of Netflix's latest docuseries, Sprint, which follows Noah Lyles, Gabby Thomas, Fred Kerley, Marcell Jacobs, Sha'Carri Richardson, the Jamaican trio (Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, and Elaine Thompson-Herah), and many other elite speedsters as they prepare for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Collectively buzzing from the highs of 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, we also share some of our favorite moments: celebrating everything from Trinity Rodman's exhilarating OT goal vs. Japan in the quarterfinals, to Mando Duplantis' WR pole vault before a crowd of 80k cheering fans, to the camaraderie of Fiji surfing. We also champion the unexpected flurry of American medal performances in Track & Field during these Olympics: citing Stanford standout Grant Fisher's breakout bronze in the 5000m & 10000m, Cole Hocker & Yared Neguse's thrilling podium finishes in the 1500m, Quincy Hall's mad dash in the 400m, and on and on. We hope ya'll enjoyed the '24 Olympics as much as we did; and if you became overnight diehard fans of all things Athletics like us, you'll not want to miss this episode! Enjoy!

On this episode, we leap back to medieval times to cover the anachronistic, rennaisance-era, sports comedy and period piece A Knight's Tale with Seth Troyer, cohost of the Unwatchables pod and director of Vertigo II. Led by the romantic chivalry of Heath Ledger, the poetic panache of Paul Bettany, and some spicy pixie-girl charisma from Shanynn Sossamon, A Knight's Tale is a fun spoof film with literary wit, sportive flair, and a romantic tongue. We have a blast digging into this anacrhonistic romp featuring a wily bard that goes by Chaucer, a squire-turned-jouster masking his peasant past, a female Scottish blacksmith, a comedic sidekick who loves to use the word "fong" in every aggressive exclamation, and an evil Count Adhemar. Enjoy our conversation of this idiosyncratic, unorthodox sports film! Enjoying our podcast? Give us 5 stars, tell your friends, and preach the joy of our little underdog podcast!

We're back and we're championing Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby! On this episode, we talk about the satirical underbite of the film's rampant product placement, the sanctity of capitalist spaces, American vs. French tensions in the early 00's, Sasha Baron Cohen's pitch perfect casting, the odd conversion of Walker and Texas Ranger, and the backstabbing innocence of Cal Naughton. Shake and Bake, baby!

The Longest Yard is a total smorgasbord of tones, jokes, and cultural winks, whiffing at laughter from start to finish. We get a jail yard-sized salmagundi of half-baked jokes. Wet Willies. Terry Crewes peddling McDonald's cheeseburgers, fries, and McAssholes. Pegging the refs in the nuts. Dan Patrick cameo as a cop, clowning on Frodo. Goldberg rockin' an XXL jockstrap. Tracy Morgan as a prison yard Ladyboy. Adam Sandler drinking a six-pack during a high-speed chase. Chris Rock riffin' on white guys and Prozac. James Cromwell acting much too prestigiously for a Happy Madison project. Rob Schneider yelling, "You can do it!" as a callback to The Waterboy. Burt Reynolds hired as a nod to the much-superior original. Bob Sapp doing his best Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Mile impression. The Great Khali looking huge. Nelly, band-aid on his cheek and all. Jim Rome and Chris Berman being themselves, offering tongue-in-cheek color commentary. Kevin Nash, Brian Bosworth, and William Fichtner doing their best as prison guards, trying to infuse redemptive nuance into their villiany. Joey Diaz being chubby, homophobic, and unfunny. Steve Austin being stone-cold silly. Suffice to say, this one wasn't for us. But we do our best to tackle it anyway. Enjoy the smackdown!

We're back with our Adam Sandler vs. Will Ferrell mini-tournament/bracket and covering the overlooked sports comedy, Semi-Pro. Chronicling the travails of Jackie Moon (Ferrell) as he tries to get his flailing minor league team, the Flint Tropics, promoted to the NBA, Semi-Pro is very much a byproduct of its era. Filled with bear wrestling, stoner humor, bantering broadcasters, a cuckolded super-fan, a classic 70s soundtrack, lots of funky callbacks to blaxploitation films, and even more cameos, Semi-Pro is definitely a laugh a minute outing. Unfortunately, much of its humor felt played-out by the time of its release, causing it to bomb at the box office and signal the end of Ferrell's silly, man-child reign of 00's studio comedies. On the pod, we discuss the comedic range (and lack thereof) of Ferrell's comedic career, his off-screen persona and presence in the sports industry, the ways in which Semi-Pro feels like an all-star mixture of tired/reused gags, and the ways in which it would have fared better if it came out earlier in his heyday. We then debate whether the film's veteran brand of dumb-bro humor should've been retired by its release or whether it offers the charm and humor of a comeback sports comedy, even if it arrived in theaters a few years past Ferrell's prime. Enjoy!