Hell Is A Musical

Earth Girls Are Easy is a 1988 science fiction comedy film directed by famed music video director Julien Temple, and written by comedian/singer Julie Brown. Based off of a song previously released by Brown, the action follows a trio of space aliens landing upon Earth, and finding themselves under the care of a lovelorn manicurist in California. The film follows the group's efforts to blend in with the rest of humanity and eventually fix their crashed spaceship. It featured acting roles from Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, Charles Rocket, Michael McKean, Julie Brown herself, and early performances from Jim Carrey and Damon Wayans, while also featuring music by legendary disco musician Nile Rodgers. Though not a major commercial success, the film has developed a devoted cult following over the years.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome back all-star guest Ashley Rogers to the program for a screening of Earth Girls Are Easy. (Which we're only kinda sure counts as a musical in the first place?) Join them as Scott expounds upon the film's connection of golden age movie musicals, Ashley draws paralells between the film and the works of Bertol Brecht, and Lilz is thoroughly confused by whatever Angelyne's whole deal was....with Lilz and Scott!

Gigi is a 1958 movie musical based on a 1944 French novella, directed by Vincente Minnelli and featuring a screenplay by Alan Jay Lerner. The film starred Leslie Caron, Louis Jordan, and Maurice Chevalier, and followed the story of a bored French playboy Gaston attempting to reignite a spark in his life, and finding it in a young friend of the family, the titular Gigi. (Who appears in much less of the film than Gaston does.) The film was a major Academy Award winner in 1958, setting a record for sweeping 9 different Oscars, (A record that would be unbroken until 2003 when Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King won 11.) and though Gigi is well-regarded by cinema historians, it has since developed a sour reputation for its themes of grooming and power imbalance.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are in way over their heads watching Gigi with return guest Patrick S. Barry. Join the trio as they are thoroughly skeeved out by themes and attitudes that have aged like milk, and are equally amused and disgusted by the antics of Maurice Chevalier, the most French human being to have ever walked this Earth....with Lilz and Scott!

Anna & The Apocalypse is a hybrid Christmas/zombie/musical/comedy film released in 2017, directed by John McPhail, and the final screenplay posthumously released by Ryan McHenry. Set in a small town in Scotland, it follows several impending graduating students who find themselves embroiled in an unfolding zombie apocalypse on the cusp of Christmas break. The titular Anna finds herself at an emotional crossroads in her life as the events of zombie infestation unfurl around her and her friends. Heavily featuring themes of emotional growth and smalltown languishing, the film starred Ella Hunt in the titular role, as well as Mark Benton, Paul Kaye, Marli Siu, and various others, with a soundtrack provided by Scottish songwriters Roddy Hart and Tommy Reilly.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome HIAM all-star Christopher Brown back to the guest chair as they discuss zombie tropes, UK confections, and Lilz misses her goddamn cue on a recurring bit. (She had one freaking job.)...with Lilz and Scott!

The Phantom Of The Opera is a 2004 movie musical, one of of innumerable amounts based upon the novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston LeRoux, and based specifically upon Andrew Lloyd Webber's famed musical production surrounding a tortured and disfigured artist's reign of terror upon an opera house. This film version was directed by Joel Schumacher and starred Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Miranda Richardson, and Minnie Driver. The film was not a major commercial success nor was it well-received critically, but has gone on to develop a cult following of it's own, especially among fans of Webber's musical.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, many years after having reviewed the sequel, Lilz and Scott finally take the time to review an actual adaptation of Phantom Of The Opera, with special return guest Susan Kim along for the ride! Join them as they're thoroughly creeped out by the age difference between Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum, dazzled by the sheer number of horses that get stolen throughout the precedings, and astonished once again by the ever increasing depths and lengths of the Rootbeerm'n's ego....with Lilz and Scott!

A Goofy Movie is a 1995 comedy-musical from Disney Animation, based heavily on the Disney Afternoon cartoon Goof Troop, which relocated the iconic Mickey Mouse character Goofy to the suburbs to raise his single child Max. A Goofy Movie follows a misguided attempt at father-son bonding over a cross-country fishing trip, the antics which ensue, and the gradual repair of their relationship. The movie featured the voices of Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Jim Cummings, and Kellie Martin, and featured music written by Tevin Campbell, and while only a moderate hit upon its release, the film developed a strong cult following over the years, and is now a beloved piece of ephemera among Disney fans.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome the return of Kendra Beltran of Crushgasm for a viewing of A Goofy Movie. Join them for a deep-digging discussion on the logistics of a high school assembly, the disturbingly Tarantino-esque levels of foot shots, Pete's tyrannical grip upon the town of Spoonerville, and...SIGH...Pauly Shore......with Lilz and Scott!

Cats is a 2019 film adaptation of the stage musical of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the infamous rootbeerm'n. The musical itself is based upon a 1939 collection of poetry by T.S. Eliot called Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats. The film version was directed by Tom Hooper (His second musical feature following a controversial adaptation of Les Misérables) and featured an ensemble cast of Judi Dench, Idris Elba, Ian McKellen, Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, Rebel Wilson, and more. The film was universally reviled by critics upon its release, with specific critique directed at the abberant CGI work, and became a box office bomb, unable to recoup its $100 million budget.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott witness the unbridled horror that is Cats, with Jon Reilly of the Life's But A Song podcast along for the journey. Join them through a twisted journey through the depths of human depravity and insanity. A journey filled with death cults, feline-human hybrid orgies, Taylor Swift and Jason DeRulo not doing much of anything, fictional butthole cuts, and Lilz' bottomless disdain for James Corden doing fat guy schtick....with Lilz and Scott!

Moulin Rouge! is a 2001 romantic drama musical directed by Baz Luhrmann, or as he's best known in Zero Science circles; "Bag Lunchman". The film followed the story of a young British poet, and his doomed romance with a burlesque dancer and courtesan in Paris during the 1900s. It was noteworthy for its usage of contemporary popular music in contrast to the turn-of-the-century setting, (An early example of a jukebox musical) its manic and off-the-rails style of editing, and for the intense detail paid to visual aesthetics, marking it as a piece of post-modernist cinema in the eyes of some critics. It starred Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent, and Richard Roxburgh, and was a major box office hit, catapulting Lurhmann/Lunchman into mainstream success.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott take in a viewing of Moulin Rouge! with special guest Hayleigh Kurland (Scott's Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiife!), and attempt to make sense of the technicolor mishmash they see before them. Join us as Scott regails the listener with stories of adjacent high school dance cringe, Hayleigh posits on Nicole Kidman's boundless happiness with divorce, and Lilz slowly loses her goddamn mind as she is dragged deeper and deeper into Bag Lunchman's jukebox musical armageddon....with Lilz and Scott!

Annie is a 1982 film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name, which itself was based upon the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. It was directed by John Huston (Previously of The Maltese Falcon, The Man Who Would Be King, and The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre?!) and starred Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry, and child actress Aileen Quinn as the titular Annie. The story followed an orphan's adventures being adopted by an eccentric billionaire, and her own journey to find her real parents. Though it was released to mixed reviews it was a box office hit and was even nominated for multiple Academy Awards.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are rejoined by Malorie Savran to discuss their respective experiences watching the titular musical Annie. Join them for frank discussions on tearjerkers, Tim Curry's Christopher Walken impression, talk of wealthy privilege, and the eternal horniness of Carol Burnett's character....with Lilz and Scott!

The Commitments is is a 1991 musical comedy-drama based on the story of the same name by Irish novelist Roddy Doyle. In it a collection of working-class youths in Northern Dublin come together to form a soul band amidst crippling poverty and miserable living conditions, and quickly experience the trials and tribulations of being a local band as tensions rise and egos develop. The film was directed by Alan Parker and featured acting performances by a vareity of Irish actors and musicians with little acting experience, including Robert Arkins, Glen Hansard, Angeline Ball, Colm Meaney, Bronagh Gallagher, and many more. Though the film was not a major hit in North America, it received rave reviews and would go on to be a cult favorite among audiences.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are graced with the return of longtime favorite Christopher Brown, still feeling bitter from the trio's previous excursion into the filmography of Alan Parker. Join them as they take in The Commitments and Scott develops theories of an extended Glen Hansard-iverse, Lilz feels like the local music side of things cuts a little too close for her comfort, and CB helps herald the return of a beloved recurring segment....with Lilz and Scott!

That Thing You Do! is a 1996 comedy film written, directed, and co-starring Tom Hanks, detailing the rise and fall of a one-hit wonder pop act from the 1960s. The cast featured Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Johnathon Schaech, and Steve Zahn among others, and included a soundtrack written largely by Hanks himself, with contributions from Adam Schlesinger of Fountains Of Wayne, and other professional songwriters. The film performed modestly at the box office while receiving rave reviews from critics, and has since gone on to be a cult classic film.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are joined by Al Gentile for a viewing of That Thing You Do!. Join them as Al discusses the intricacies of caramel camels, Lilz relives some troubling local music memories, and Scott idolizes Steve Zahn's character....with Lilz and Scott!

Josie & The Pussycats is a musical comedy film released in 2001, based on the Archie Comics series and Hanna-Barbera cartoon of the same name. The film starred Rachael Leigh-Cook, Rosario Dawson, Tara Reid, Alan Cumming, and Parker Posey, and was directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan. The film followed the adventures of the eponymous band as they attempt to achieve and eventually navigate stardom, while a conspiracy involving subliminal messaging lurks in the backdrop. The film featured a soundtrack of original rock songs written by professional songwriters like Adam Schlesinger, Adam Duritz, and Anna Waronker, among others, and featured a vocal performance by Kay Hanley of the power pop band Letters To Cleo. Though not a hit upon its release, it has since gone on to become a cult favorite for its sharp satire of commercialism.On an all new Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are joined by Kendra Beltran, writer for Collider, MTV Geek, and Cartoon Brew, as well as the host of the podcast Crushgasm. The three of them take in a screening of Josie & The Pussycats, debate the secret genius behind the film, shower praise upon MVP Alan Cumming, and REALLY work on their pronunciation....with Lilz and Scott!

Cyrano is a 2021 musical drama based on a musical theater adaptation of the Edmond Rostand play Cyrano De Bergerac. The film version was directed by Joe Wright, and featured Peter Dinklage in the title role, with Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Ben Mendelsohn. Beyond being a musical version of the play (Featuring songs written by members of indie rock group The National) what set this adaptation apart was its incorporation of Dinklage's own dwarfism into the title character. (Where previous adaptations depicted him simply as having a large nose.)On an all new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are joined by return guest Susan Kim for a viewing of Cyrano. Join them as Susan discusses key differences between the musical and the original Rostand play, Scott pitches an extended cinematic universe, and Lilz educates everyone on the proper plural form of Billy Corgan....with Lilz and Scott!

Matilda the Musical was a movie musical adaptation of the musical of the same name, which itself was a musical adaptation of children's book author Roald Dahl's famous story. It featured a cast of Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch, Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough, and Emma Thompson, and like the original musical it was adapted from featured a soundtrack of songs by British-Australian comedian Tim Minchin. It followed a story similar to the original novel, following the adventures of the titular Matilda, a girl much smarter than her peers, as she attempts to navigate the English school system and her uncaring parents.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott herald the return of all-star David Allen Prescott to the podcast to talk about their viewing of Matilda the Musical. Join them as they discuss a variety of topics pertinent to the film such as the soft drink Irn Bru, Peter Gabriel, hot air balloons, and Lilz keeps making an XTC reference that nobody else gets....with Lilz and Scott!

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a musical fantasy/Christmas film directed by David E. Talbert, and released to Netflix in 2020. It featured a cast of Forest Whitaker, Keegan Michael-Key, Anika Noni Rose, Phylicia Rashad, Ricky Martin, and introducing child acress Madalen Mills. Originally planned as a stage production, it followed the adventures of a disgraced toymaker and his granddaughter's efforts to restore his former glory. The film was a major critical success, and with many offering praise for its uplifting storyline and jubilant soundtrack.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott close out 2022 with a screening of Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. Join them as they marvel at the curious costume design, castigate a sheer lack of Ricky Martin songs, and ponder the unfettered G-rated horniness of Lisa Davina Phillip's character....with Lilz and Scott!

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story was a 2007 musical comedy directed by Jake Kasdan, and produced by Judd Apatow, featuring John C. Reilly in his first ever starring role, along with Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows, Kristin Wiig, Margo Martindale, Raymond J. Barry, and a slew of cameos. The film was an early parody of the musician biopic, following the trials and tribulations of Dewey Cox, a fictional performer who in universe has served as an unsung inspiration for years and years of rock and roll history. It depicts the life of Cox, his successes and failures, and his (Fictional) interactions with famed real world musicians like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and others. Though the film was a box office bomb, it received praise from critics, and would go on to become a cult classic.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott are rejoined by recurring guest Christopher Brown to watch one of Lilz' favorite films of all time for her 35th year on Earth. Join them for a screening of Walk Hard, and frank discussions about Johnny Tsunami, Neil Young impressions, and the grand return of the pod's award-winning, critically acclaimed segment Scott's Stories!...with Lilz & Scott!

Grease 2 was a 1982 musical romantic comedy, directed by Patricia Birch and starring Maxwell Caulfield, Michelle Pfeiffer, Adrian Zmed, and various others. It posited itself as a sequel to the hit 1978 film Grease, which itself was based on a 1971 musical of the same name. This new film followed a new cast (With a few scattered returning roles) and featured a setting taking two years after the original Grease's timeline. (Moving the action from 1959 to 1961.) Though the film maintains a modern cult following, and would prove to be a breakout film for Pfeiffer, Zmed, and actor Christopher MacDonald, it received negative reviews upon release and performed tepidly at the box office.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott sit down with return guest David Allen Prescott for a screening of Grease 2. Join the three of them for a journey full of 1950s nostalgia, poorly-timed sequelitis, boring lead protagonists, and enough Eddie Deezen to shake a stick at....with Lilz and Scott!

Sing 2 is a 2021 animated jukebox musical comedy from animation studio Illumination. It was directed by Garth Jennings, and featuring an ensemble cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Bono, and various others. A sequel to the original 2016 film Sing, the plot (Such as it was) featured a cast of anthromorphic animal characters attempting to put together a show in the fictional entertainment capital of the world, Redshore City. The film itself released to mixed reviews from critics, but was a box office success, which would go on to become the highest grossing animated film of 2021.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome the return of past guest Patrick S. Barry for a screening of Sing 2, while once again neglecting to view the original. Join them for a general sense of confusion and dread over the anthomorph-inhabited world Illumination created, wonder and befuddlement over Bono's barely present American accent, and for Scott to become thoroughly broken over the course of the movie....with Lilz and Scott!

Rock Of Ages was a 2012 film adaptation of the broadway musical of the same name, directed by Adam Shankman, and starring Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta alongside an ensemble cast including Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and many more. The film, which takes place in Los Angeles during the late 1980s, follows the romantic journeys of two fresh-faced young individuals trying to make it big in rock & roll, while the inevitable closure of an institution rock club looms overhead. Upon its release, the Rock Of Ages would be snubbed by critics who considered it bland and unappealing, disowned by the creators of the original broadway musical, and bombed at the box office.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott welcome back return guests Rock Candy to discuss everything that they enjoyed about Rock Of Ages. (Spoiler: Nothing.) Join them for a thorough thrashing of this paen to 80s glam metal, as Lilz invokes the spirit of Aaron Neville, Scott licks Ewan MacGregor, and Ashleigh and Maggie still love Wings....with Lilz and Scott!

Xanadu is a musical fantasy film directed by Robert Greenwald, starring Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, and Michael Beck. Containing a soundtrack heavily featuring the music of the band Electric Light Orchestra, Xanadu followed the story of a struggling artist in Los Angeles, who suddenly finds himself in the company of a mysterious woman, who encourages him to open a nightclub alongside a former big band orchestra leader, and mysterious circumstances abound. Though the film was a failure commercially and critically, and even helped inspire the creation of the Golden Raspberry Awards, the film would develop a strong cult following, even inspiring a Broadway show based on the film, and several songs from the movie would become Billboard top 40 hit singles.On this episode of Hell Is A Musical, with the recent passing of Olivia Newton-John fresh in their heads, Lilz and Scott sit themselves down for an impromptu screening of Xanadu. Join them as Scott flubs Michael Beck's name, Lilz eats delicious chicken wings, and both of them do egregiously bad Australian accents.Seriously.The worst....with Lilz & Scott!

The Music Man is a 1962 musical adaptation of the Meredith Wilson musical of the same name. Taking place in the early 1910s of America, it follows the national con man Harold Hill, as he slowly develops a plot to swindle the town of River City, Iowa (Based on Wilson's own hometown of Mason City) out of its money via the creation of a boys' marching band. The film version starred Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett, Paul Ford, and Hermione Gingold, and has gone down as one of the greatest musical films of all time according to critics and historians.On a new episode of Hell Is A Musical, Lilz and Scott tackle the verbose Meredith Wilson musical head on, with a screening of The Music Man. Join them as they question the veracity of Harold Hill's conning abilities, the general sanity of River City itself, and the appropriateness of the virile, sexual stallion that is Buddy Hackett....with Lilz & Scott!