Invalid Culture

Rather than torture everyone with terrible movies, this holiday season our 2024 guests have offered up some good film recommendations for you to enjoy. A list of the recommended films, and the episode's transcript, can be found (as always) at invalidculture.com

Jeff, sar and Beth are back from part 2 of FDR: American Badass. This episode we dig down into the plot of the film, considering the raunchy humour and (possible) historical anachronisms. Tune in and find out where this parody flick falls on the Invalid Culture scale! As always, transcripts can be found at invalidculture.com

To celebrate Remembrance Day, sar and Jeff are joined by media studies legend Beth Haller to discuss the documentary FDR: American Badass. The film, a campy, over-the-top spoof, features Franklin D. Roosevelt as a werewolf-hunting president who contracts polio from a werewolf bite. Join us as we chat about some of the broader issues of disability representation in media, the challenges faced by disabled filmmakers, and the impact of ableism in Hollywood.

Billie Anderson returns to help make sense of the bizarre disability revenge fantasy film, Clowns in the Woods (2021). Will the disability inclusion be enough for the film to receive a decent grade on the Invalid Culture scale or will this spooky film please the ghost of Jerry Lewis? As always, transcripts are available on invalidculture.com

Just in time for spooky season, PhD candidate Billie Anderson joins Jeff and Sarah to help make sense of the bizarre disability revenge fantasy film, Clowns in the Woods (2021). A rare example of disability film made by a predominantly disabled production team, Clowns in the Woods is a low budget film about a disabled man of indeterminable age who, after being bullied to death, teams up with a group of clowns to get revenge. But is disability inclusion enough for the film to fare well on the Invalid Culture scale? As always, transcripts are available on invalidculture.com

We're back with the conclusion of our episodes on "I Am Potential", a biopic based on the life of blind musician Patrick Henry Hughes. Jeff and sar are joined by 21st Century Disability host, Hollis Pierce, to consider the representation of disability in the film. After finishing up our analysis of the film's plot and tropes, we put this movie to the ultimate test: the Invalid Culture Scale. But is it Jerry Lewis worthy? As always, episode transcript can be found at invalidculture.com

Just in time for back to school, join the IC gang and guest victim Hollis Pierce as we discuss the film "I Am Potential". The movie is based on the true story of Patrick Henry Hughes, exploring the struggles and triumphs of Patrick and his family, particularly his father, who had to adjust his (beer league basketball) expectations and dreams for his son. Our conversation discusses the film's portrayal of disability, the performances of the actors, and the film's context within the broader landscape of disability representation in media. We also discuss the film's focus on the father's involvement in a local basketball league, the family's financial struggles and wrap with a discussion about the film's depiction of a charity telethon. As always, full episode transcript can be found at invalidculture.com

Guest victim Liv join Jeff and sar once again to dig into the plot of "comedy" film Special Unit. Join us as we critique the film's humor, which often relies on offensive slurs and jokes about disability, and consider moments of insight and humour, particularly in its critique of ableism. Will this film warrant a Jerry Lewis Seal of Approval or is it an accidental piece of art? Content warning: the following episode (and the film covered) includes uncensored use of the r-word slur. As always, transcripts are available on invalidculture.com

Sar and Jeff are joined this month by guest victim and award-winning poet, Liv Mammone, to try and unpack this "screwball comedy" that watches like a bad episode of South Park that attempts to draw together disability, policing, and political (in)correctness! Content warning: the following episode (and the film covered) includes uncensored use of the r-word slur. As always, transcripts can be found at invalidculture.com

Jeff, sar and Derek get back together to dig deeply into the "baseball" movie, The Hill...a movie, it turns out, with very little baseball or disability. Tune in to hear some excellent critical analysis and find out how the film does on the famous Invalid Culture scale! As always, transcripts can be found at invalidculture.com

Joined by special guest Derek Silva, co-host of the End of Sport podcast, we dig into the religious bio-pic of disabled baseballer Rickey Hill as he struggles to make the major leagues. Will he succumb to his disability or overcome, through faith and hard work, to make the big leagues? While there was very little actual baseball in the movie there was a lot to discuss! As always, full transcripts can be found at invalidculture.com

We return this week to discuss the "darkly erotic" transability film Quid Pro Quo with disability expert Lawrence Carter-Long. Together, we try to make sense of the disability subculture lingo, the efficacy of magic shoes and how this movie is a hilarious mess. Tune in to find out if we have our first Jerry Lewis Seal of Approval of the season! As always, transcripts are available at invalidculture.com

This month we dig into explore a psychological thriller that, at times, feels a bit like talking to your parents about sex -- jaw-dropping but certainly not darkly erotic. To help us unpack the representation of disability in this deeply upsetting film, we are joined by the legendary Lawrence Carter-Long who regales us with tales about how Quid Pro Quo played an unexpected role in the NYC disability rights movement. As always, transcripts can be found at invalidculture.com

Join guest victim Adam Kearney as we conclude our discussion of the magically bizarre "The Great Land of Small". While the film doesn't explicitly address disability, it does fall into certain tropes, such as casting disabled people as magical characters and associating disability with childlike qualities. Tune in to find out how this film fares on the prestigious Invalid Culture evaluation scale! As always, transcripts can be accessed at invalidculture.com

This month we travel to the magical forests of......Quebec(?) to learn all about the power of belief, the delights of cob and the corrupting influence of magic gold dust. Guest victim Adam Kearney helps us untangle the representation of disability in this wonderfully strange straight-to-TV Cirque du Soleil LSD-feud nightmare. As always, full episode transcript can be found at invalidculture.com

Following up on Part 1, this episode we dig into the film Tiptoes, discussing the film's portrayal of little people, the performances of the actors, and the film's bizarre plot. Was this a case of heavy edits making the plot feel disjointed or was this film always doomed to fail? As always, transcripts can be found at invalidculture.com

To celebrate the season of love, we decided to watch the shockingly star-studded cast bumble their way through the nearly unknown film Tiptoes, a controversial movie about a man (played by Matthew McConaughey) who hides from his girlfriend (Kate Beckinsale) that his family are all little people. While the movie itself is perfect content for this podcast, the stories around the film are perhaps even more interesting. We're joined by special guest and friend of the pod, Ian Carroll, who helps us try to get to the bottom of this perplexing film. As always, transcripts are available at invalidculture.com

In Part 2, Jeff and Sarah continue discussing the film "The Amazing Mr. No Legs." Despite what you might expect, the portrayal of disability in this film is surprisingly progressive for its time. Combined with the film's humor and action sequences, will this film set a new IC record score? As always, transcripts are available at invalidculture.com

The new season starts off with a bang, heading to the mean streets of Tampa Bay to learn about drug smuggling and murder cover-ups. Despite what the title of the film implies, Mr. No Legs is weirdly absent throughout much of the film...but will that hurt or help it's rating? In the 1978 film "The Amazing Mr. No Legs," a college boy turned drug dealer accidentally kills his girlfriend and seeks the help of the wheelchair-bound Mr. No Legs to solve the problem. The movie is a grindhouse film with elements of drugs, murder, and martial arts. It has gained a cult following and has been praised for its unique premise and low-budget production values. As always, transcripts can be found at invalidculture.com

Anyone can see it is Christmas-time, but will a blind man spot the benefits of using a guide dog? Do you need eyes to be a man and a professor? In our 2023 Christmas special, Jeff and sar peep the recently released Hallmark Channel made-for-television film My Christmas Guide. Join us in gazing into the Christmas vomit abyss that is this romantic (?) holiday thriller woke-a-thon. As always, full transcript available at invalidculture.com

This very special holiday episode of Invalid Culture takes us in a slightly different direction than last year, celebrating the season of peace and good will with a mental illness "induced" killing rampage! Join Erika, Jeff and special guest Sarah as we unpack cult classic Christmas Evil, a holiday slasher that finally answers the question of what happens when a young boy sees mommy kissing Santa Claus. As always, podcast transcript can be found at invalidculture.com. This episode is dedicated to Moss Garcia.

What happens when the movie "Mean Girls" has a baby with the movie "Carrie"? You get the excessively strange Christian inspiration porn adjacent film "Touched By Grace"...apparently. Currently viewable for free on YouTube, this film follows teenager Cara's evolution from high school bad girl to caring youth group member, a metamorphosis made possible by a special friendship with a young woman with down syndrome. Join Erika and Jeff as they dive into promposals, questionable eulogies and possible crimes against humanity in another thrilling episode of Invalid Culture. As always, text transcripts can be found at invalidculture.com.

Season 2 of Invalid Culture launches with a cult classic helper monkey horror flick just in time for spooky season! Will one of the most professional films covered so far on this pod win over our skeptical guest? How can you not love a George Romero film?! Transcript available on invalidculture.com

A very special holiday episode of Invalid Culture features guest Josh Cassidy, Paralympian turned disabled actor who stars in the Hallmark festive bonanza "Swept Up By Christmas". Join Erika & Jeff as they chat with Josh about a movie they didn't totally hate! Audio transcript available at invalidculture.com

Set in California, Mac & Me follows young Eric Cruise as he attempts to catch, befriend and eventually save a disturbing looking alien child who is addicted to Coca Cola. A movie that is almost universally hated by critics, how will Mac & Me fair when considered through the lens of disability?

An autobiography written and scored by Lyle Hatcher, this 2013 film was almost doomed to the bargain bin of Dollar Stores across the nation when a miracle happened: streaming services like Amazon Prime and Tubi decided they did not care what quality of film was included in their libraries. Join Jeff & Erika as they explore this bio-pic about the trials and tribulations of two young disabled boys growing up in Spokane, Washington. Oh and also it's about using plastic tubes to pee. Theme song: "Hard Out Here For a Gimp" by Wheelchair Sports Club Interlude song: "Passionfruit" by Drake Audio transcript available at invalidculture.com

Released just before Frank Muniz would become a household name, Miracle In Lane 2 is the "true" docu-dramedy of Justin Yoder, a young boy with a physical disability who just wants to win a trophy gosh darnit! Join Erika & Jeff as they unpack the odd disability and gender politics of this made-for-TV Disney movie. Audio transcripts can be found at invalidculture.com Music: "Hard Out Here For a Gimp" by Wheelchair Sports Camp