Critics vs. Fans Podcast

You asked. (?) We delivered. It's time for Bumblebee. Will Mike ever receive justice for Mikaela Barnes? Is Andrew the Michael Winslow of a new generation? And are you ready for a HUGE TWIST? Transform and roll out as we reboot/retcon the Summer of Bay on Critics vs. Fans. Edited by: Mike Sholars

Get a load of these clowns! In a conversation that starts out focused on clowns and ends up as a meditation on empathy and inner fears, your favourite movieboys are back! Did Andrew end up becoming the Fancy Clown his professor said he could be? Should Mike get a new mic? And has our Month of Clowns already come to an end? It ends here on Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

We're back, babies! After a truly eventful summer, your favourite movie friends are back for Season 2. This time with 100% more clowns! And to kick off Clowntember, we're covering both It movies! Can Mike figure out how to not pick up all of his background noise? Is Andrew the Fancy Clown this world deserves? And should good horror be alienating, or fun? Welcome back to Critics vs. Fans! We all float down here. Edited by: Mike Sholars

All good things must come to an end. And on an unrelated note, so must the Spring of Snyder. (We kid. Maybe?) Why does Mike sing the Avengers theme song at the top of his lungs? Who is the true Green Lantern? And are you ready for an emotional goodbye? It's the end of an era on the first episode of Critics vs. Fans: Year Two! Edited by: Mike Sholars

One year of episodes, and we're finally at the one that inspired this very podcast! (And no, we didn't plan this around the New 52.) Is Mike the Batman that 2019 deserves? Is Andrew the Batfan that he thought he was? And is this accidentally a Marvel episode? Let's make this happen on the count of 1, 2, MARTHA. Edited by: Mike Sholars

The "S" stands for Hope. And we hope you like our penultimate episode of the Spring of Snyder! Will Mike ever find someone who shares his love of Booster Gold? Should Andrew just wear a cape all the time? And are you ready for 10 minutes of your hosts arguing about Ben Affleck? Look up in the sky for another episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

This might be our shortest episode ever, and I'm sure there is a VERY GOOD REASON for that. The Spring of Snyder throws us for a loop with Sucker Punch! Did Mike forget to think up a goofy voice for his Zack Snyder impression? Is Andrew the feminist of your dreams? And can two dudes manage to not mansplain all over this thing? Get your sexy dance ready, and escape into another episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

It's time for the least popular and most obscure movie we've ever talked about! How many times will Andrew break into a Michael Bolton-esque power ballad? Does Mike know what owls actually sound like? And is this episode proof that we should add an Explicit Content tag? The Spring of Snyder flies onwards on this episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

This one goes out to Alan Moore, the Metal Snake God we all deserve. As the Spring of Snyder rolls on, we confront Watchmen, the ONLY (?) Hollywood blockbuster to have onscreen blue penis. Is this Mike's voice actor demo now? Will Andrew finally reread the comic? And could Kevin Smith please notice us now? Put on your nerd goggles for another episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

Get out your red capes and crimson speedos, because we're doing this. As the Spring of Snyder continues, we're discussing 300, a movie about screaming men and the people who hate them. Are you ready for our longest coin flip discussion ever? Can Mike cram an entire media studies class into one episode? And should Andrew receive a copy of Dredd on Blu-ray for his birthday? THIS. IS. CRITICS VS FANS! Edited by: Mike Sholars

A new season is upon us. Following the success (?) of the Winter of Night, join us on an 8-week journey into every movie directed by the ever-divisive Zack Snyder. And today we're talking Dawn of the Dead! Are you prepared to hear the phrase "zombie baby" a lot? Will Mike ever get over Chips The Dog? And get ready for Zombie Story Time With Uncle Andrew. Get your chainsaws and your ironic music covers, it's time for Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

Last week it was horror, this week it's comedy! We keep you guessing, because we love you. We're talking about Popstar: Never Stop Stopping. Which one of our hosts is a huge musical comedy nerd? Does Mike even, like, enjoy laughing? And Will Andrew ever see Weird Al on tour? Enjoy the laughs before the (spring) storm on this episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

Things are about to get real. You have been warned. Hereditary has been described as one of the most disturbing and terrifying movies of the decade. We talked about it, and also recapped our thoughts about the 2019 Oscars! What is Mike's true fear? Can Andrew remember the Three Types Of Horror? And what celebrity would each of them choose to be for a day? Grab your safety blanket and turn on the night light; it's time for Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

Happy Birthday to us! A year ago, we were covering Netflix movies people had already forgotten and yelling about the Oscars. Now we're just doing one of those things as we discuss Green Book! Are you ready to watch two guys disappear into their improv roles? Can Mike body double for Mahershala Ali as a side gig, or will he have to move to LA? Will Andrew finally receive his honorary Italian citizenship? Hit the road with us on our pre-Oscars episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

It's a musical episode! Kind of! We're talking about Bohemian Rhapsody, the smash-hit divisive Oscar contender. Is musical improv Mike's greatest weakness? Is Andrew a delightful stereotype? And would you fund our Patreon for a Wu-Tang biopic? Don't stop us now, because it's time for Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

Every Night has an ending, and this is ours. We're talking about Glass, the final episode in our Shyamalanamarathon before everything goes back to normal. Have our hosts learned anything over 10 episodes? Will Andrew finally get us sued for royalties? And are you ready for the story of Mike The LARPer? Get ready for a bittersweet ending on this episode of Critics vs. Fans. Edited by: Mike Sholars

We're almost there, y'all. As the Winter of Night draws to a close, we talk about Split. Will Andrew send a message to his Future Son? Can Mike talk about mental health without monologuing? And are you ready for our Biggest Twist/Reveal yet? Step into the light on another Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

Don't call it a comeback. We're talking about The Visit, the movie that brought M. Night Shyamalan back into positive critical discussion (and profitable movies). Can Mike resist the urge to ruthlessly criticize a child? Do Andrew's fatherly instincts keep him from seeing the truth? And are you ready for a 5-minute tangent about Infinity War? The Night is almost over on this episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

This week, it's two Smiths for the price of one as the Shyamalanamarathon continues! Can we can through the whole episode without an After Earf joke? Can Mike talk about that one Fresh Prince episode without crying? Did Andrew succumb to Stockholm Syndrome? Take your breathing fluid and set a course for Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

Here it is: The one you've all been waiting for: The Last Airbender. Can you figure out which one of us is the Avatar fanboy? Will Andrew ever watch anime in his life? Is the James Cameron bit working for you? The Winter of Night rolls on in this episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

It's Happening, y'all. In our first episode of 2019 (and our last recording session of 2018) we tackle possibly the most divisive Shyamalan movie of them all. Is Andrew the Hype Man of your dreams? Will Mike finally run out of words? And can you please stick around for our hilarious outro? Get ready to outrun the wind on this episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

The Shyamalanamarathon enters its most controversial chapter yet as we discuss Lady in the Water. Will Mike finally have a heart attack on air while trying to explain why Jumanji is great? Is Andrew out of touch, or is it the children who are wrong? And most importantly: Does Paul Giamatti play Fortnite? Watch out for Evil Dogs and try to spot a Narf on this Holiday edition of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

The Shyamalanamarathon continues as we head to The Village. Things are gonna get divisive, y'all. Did Mike ring in the holidays by making a dark pact with an elder God? Are you ready for karaoke with Andrew? And is it possible for two men to mangle the Spanish language like this? Stay away from the Bad Colour as we face another episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

The Shyamalanamarathon continues as we talk about Signs, AKA The Last Time We All Liked Mel Gibson. Is Mike seriously going to talk about an internet theory for this whole episode? Can Andrew tell jokes under pressure? And once again: Mel Gibon, right? Grab a fresh glass of water for this round of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

We joked about it. We threatened to do it. It's happening. The Shyamalanamarathon: Winter of Night. And we're starting with Unbreakable. Can we do months of M. Night Shyamalan movies without hating our lives and each other? Is The Mask of Zorro as good as Mike says? Will Andrew ever see a modern DC movie? Enter our best idea yet on Critics vs. Fans: WINTER OF NIGHT. Edited by: Mike Sholars

What better way to end Nerdvember than with the nerdiest movie ever? It's time to enter the Oasis with Ready Player One. Will Andrew ever get to be a Goonie? Did Mike fail his childhood self? And does a lack of memes mean something isn't popular? Get ready embrace nostalgia with another episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

You want nerdy? LET'S GET NERDY. As Nerdvember continues, we discuss a movie that made the majority of its money overseas, earned half a billion in box office, and still was too unprofitable to get a sequel: Warcraft. Can Andrew correctly recall a single character name? Does Mike reveal how he spent his childhood by name-dropping Grand Admiral Thrawn? And are you ready for our nerdiest outro yet? Warm up the dark portal, because it's time to enter the World of Critics vs. Fans. Edited by: Mike Sholars

This is it. This is our goofiest episode. You have been warned. We're kicking off NERDVEMBER by talking about Venom, the Cinderella story of an unlikable man who found the alien bodysuit of his dreams and earned all the money in the world. Is this episode officially a musical? Will Mike continue to slowly reveal his backstory? Does Andrew truly have a killer Tom Hardy accent? We are ready to find out in this week's episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars

What's scarier than Halloween? Finishing your scary movie marathon in NOVEMBER! We're here to finish our Spooktober coverage by talking about Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, a divisive Canadian comedy-horror that has gained a cult following since its release. Are you ready for Mike's newest comedy creation? Was Satan involved in this week's coin flip? And are you ready for Andrew's big exciting twist? Get ready for some hot takes on another episode of Critics vs. Fans! This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

Let's get meta! This week, as Spooktober rolls on, we discuss the divisive 2012 Comedy-Horror film that launched a thousand internet arguments. Does Mike actually know what "post-modernism" means? Should Andrew embrace his inner Nic Cage? And can you catch when Mike accidentally ruins the whole podcast? Get ready to sacrifice yourself to the Podcast Gods with another episode of Critics vs. Fans! This episode was recorded at the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

WE'RE BACK! After a brief (Canadian) Thanksgiving break, we're continuing our Spooktober coverage by talking about The First Purge, the 4th Purge movie. It's not confusing. Will Mike finally love a movie like he loves Speed Racer? Did Andrew create Atlantic Canada's first French language hip hop magazine? And are you ready for our first celebrity guest, James Cameron?? Find out how it all began on this episode of Critics vs. Fans! This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

The witching hour begins as we ring in SPOOKTOBER (name still under review) with a full month of scary movies. But what's scarier than two dudes trying to talk about feminism in a meaningful and helpful way? Let's find out! Can an entire movie be defined by its final scene? Can Andrew's opinions be trusted, ever? And did Mike really bookend this episode with Wu-Tang verses? If you're ready to live deliciously, join the coven and check out another episode of Critics vs. Fans! This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

This week we're talking about A Wrinkle In Time, and we probably should have read the book! Ava DuVernay's 2018 adaptation of the famous novel failed to make a splash at the box office, but it definitely made a splash with us. Will we reveal Oprah Winfrey's actual height? Did Mike really just compare this movie to an infamous mecha anime? And has Andrew finally turned into the grumpy old man he was always destined to become? Fight your Light, and Tesser into this week's episode of Critics vs. Fans! This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

Our female-led-adaptations month continues with 2018's Annihilation, starring Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodrigues, and what Mike and Andrew have dubbed "A Zombie Nightmare Bear." Are you ready to hear your favourite podcast dads politely disagree once more? Can we get away with cold opens this long indefinitely? And is Mike just too scared of bears to think straight? Step into the Shimmer and find out in this week's episode of Critics vs. Fans! This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

WARNING: This episode has the best Cold Open we've ever done and ever will do. It is 4 minutes long. Skip it if you hate joy. But enough about skipping; we're talking about skating! This week we're discusing I, Tonya, and boy are we conflicted. Can too much popular music be a bad thing? Will Andrew ever take the hint and watch The West Wing? And can anyone take Mike seriously as an adult after learning about His Incident? Find out for yourself with another episode of Critics vs. Fans! This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

Who ya gonna call? After realizing we suck at covering movies with female leads, we're making a concentrated effort this month to do just that, starting with 2016's reboot of Ghostbusters! (With an added subtitle on home release because Reasons.) Is this movie as bad as the internet would have you believe? Can Mike make it through a single episode without basically delivering an Aaron Sorkin speech? And will Andrew finally admit to using a cursed coin the whole time? Find out on this week's episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC.

Did someone say "controversial?" We did! Which is why we thought the best way to move forward after the #SummerOfBay was to talk about one of the most hyped and analyzed art films in recent memory: Mother! Will Marvel's lawyers finally come after us after this episode? Are you ready to hear the word "allegory" said repeatedly and incorrectly? And can your emotions handle our first ever Actual Fight? (But not really.) Grab your religious studies textbook and get ready to forgive our lack of gender diversity on this week's episode of Critics vs. Fans! Edited by: Mike Sholars This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive studios in Vancouver, BC.

Friends, lovers, autobots. The sun has set on the #SummerOfBay but we're going out with laughter and yelling, as always. Has Mike developed Stockholm Syndrome with this franchise? Does Andrew really just want to run a wrestling podcast? And who, exactly, is the Last Knight? Thank you for your love and patience during these Michael Bay days, and join us for another episode of CRITICS VS. FANS! This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

All in all, it's just another brick in the Wahlberg, as the Transformers franchise nears its end. As does the Summer of Bay! Does an entirely new cast change the game for these movies? Did a witch curse our coin? And are you ready for the second-last (possibly ever) time we talk about robot aliens? Grab your paleontology textbook, because it's time for a dino-mite episode of Critics vs. Fans! #SummerOfBay Edited by: Mike Sholars This epsiode was recorded in the Daily Hive studios in Vancouver, BC.

It's time to say goodbye to some old friends, as the Sam Witwicky saga of the Transformers franchise comes to an end. But the scorching SUMMER OF BAY continues; as do the hot takes. Will you shed a tear as we memorialize Mikaela Barnes? Do you care about the plot of these movies, like, at all? And are you ready for a world-exclusive premiere of Space Jam 2? You'll find all of this and more in this week's episode of Critics vs. Fans! #SummerOfBay Edited by: Mike Sholars This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive studios in Vancouver, BC.

We've FALLEN and we can't get up. The weather is hot and our takes are even hotter as the Summer of Bay continues with the second chapter of the Transformers franchise. Will one of our hosts finally break down? Was Megan Fox taken from the franchise too soon? And are you mentally prepared for a "world of douchebags?" Pack your bags for Egypt in yet another episode of Critics vs. Fans! #SummerOfBay This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

It's going down: We're taking on what may be the most divisive movie franchise of the 21st century: Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS. Will Andrew turn out to be more of an Autobot or a Decepticon? Should Mike quit his job and become a professional voice actor? And are you ready for the spectacle of two straight dudes talking about feminism and sexualization in a non-horrible way? Bumblebee, stop lubricating the man; it's time for CRITICS VS. FANS! #SummerOfBay This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

And just like that, the SUMMER OF BAY(!) is upon us. For the rest of the summer, or until Mike and Andrew get really tired of explosions, we will be talking about films from one of the most divisive directors on the planet: Michael Bay. And we're kicking it off with his mid-budget true crime thriller: Pain & Gain. Will we fully transition into a TV theme song podcast? Did Mr. Bay finally manage to make a true art film? And is there any real life tragedy that cannot be improved by slow motion explosions? Get your pump on and join us in this week's episode of Critics vs. Fans. #SummerofBay This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! We continue our dive into misunderstood comics adaptations with Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Will we see our biggest lie ever? Can both sides successfully argue about such a cult classic? And does this count as our musical episode? Get a life and find out in this BIRTHDAY SPECTACULAR episode of Critics vs. Fans! This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

As they say farewell to our two weeks of Pride Month episodes (whoops), Mike and Andrew go for one of the most divisive movies of the 2000s: Speed Racer. This hyperkinetic comic book adaptaiton from The Wachowskis was panned upon release but has emerged as a cult classic. Will this be the episode that tears their friendship apart? Should this just become a Sister Act Podcast instead? And will we ever learn the identity of the mysterious Racer X? Listen and find out! BONUS: This episode features the return of beloved (?) segment, "John Goodman's So Good, Man." This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

Happy Pride Month! To celebrate the works of LGBT people in Hollywood (several weeks late, but it's cool), Mike and Andrew have decided to have their Independence Day (Resurgence) by looking at Roland Emmerich's sequel to his 1996 smash hit. Will their low energy threaten to ruin the entire episode? Will they solve the case of the missing microphones? Will Andrew end up like an iconic Batman villain? And is Will Smith sexier than The Rock? All this and more will be revealed in this episode of Critics vs. Fans! This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

Dear Nerds: We have some words for you. In an extra-long (but not really) episode, Andrew and Mike are back to talk about Star Wars, and this time they don't have a baby with them! Can they bounce back from real talk to be real funny? Will Jason Derulo sue them and end the show? And is this indeed the Horniest Star Wars Film? Let's find out on Critics vs Fans: A Friendship Story. This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by Mike Sholars.

May the forced references be with you! In this episode, Andrew and Mike embrace their next two-part special, and it's Star Wars-themed! This week, we're talking about the first-ever movie spinoff in the franchise: Rogue One! And as a special surprise/a running joke about Star Wars fans, we have Andrew's infant son joining us in the studio! Will Thatcher have to watch his father be a liar? Will Mike give a stirring speech about what Star Wars means to him? Will the Ninja Turtles come up a lot near the end? Choose your callsign, steal the Death Star plans, and hope for a happy ending with us! This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

As our cold opens get hotter and our outros get longer, welcome back to another episode of Critics vs. Fans! This week, Mike and Andrew finish their Cloverfield two-parter by talking about The Cloverfield Paradox (A Netflx Original). How will the coin flip fall? Will J.J. Abrams finally make our hosts break? Will they just get really exhausted near the end and start talking about Star Wars? Let's open up the Mystery Box and find out! This episode was recorded in the Daily Hive Studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

Don't call it a comeback; they've been here for weeks. Hot off equally important family-related milestones (but not really), Andrew and Mike are back on schedule, and they're talking about 10 Cloverfield Lane. Will Mike finally get to stop lying for like, an hour? Will Andrew ever see a good disaster movie? Are you ready for an extra 15 minutes of our hosts just laughing and getting off-topic? Open the airtight hatch of your underground bunker, and let's find out! This episode was recorded at the Daily Hive studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars

You're not dreaming; Mike and Andrew are back to finish their Leonardo DiCaprio two-parter with Inception! (Now with competent audio levels.) Will Andrew be forced to talk smack about his (second) favourite movie of all time? Will Mike be uninvited from Leo's next supermodel yacht party? Will anyone ever hear the terrible Ira Glass impersonations that Mike cut from the edit? Spin your totem and dive in! This episode was recorded at the Daily Hive studios in Vancouver, BC. Edited by: Mike Sholars