Reel Underdogs

Special guests Loren Skinker and Josh Gann join the Reel Underdogs to discuss just what exactly (or inexactly) makes a movie moment memorable before running down a list of their favorites. Does it take brains? Does it take brawn? Does it take a hit right to the feels? Or does it simply take Tim Meadows saying "You never once paid for drugs" over and over again? Listen on to find out! Merry Christmas from all of us at Reel Underdogs! We are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Subscribe to catch every new discussion! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Listen to The Gann the Fan Podcast on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5s1inpZ4ooXsTaGnsbstj6?si=HP45m0TwQAmz-6mRJS9O0A Visit Loren Skinker's blog at lorenjskinker.com Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

There's a good chance you're listening to this after completing your first week back at school (sort of), so we decided to dedicate an episode to the movies that remind us how fun, awkward, confusing and downright scary our years in school can be. John, Justin and Trent each offer their five favorite back-to-school movies for you to enjoy after a long week of learning from home (or at least trying to). From professors peddling poetry or punk rock to fake I.D.s and knocked-up teens, you're sure to find someone to love in the colorful cast of characters our list conjures up. Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Subscribe to catch every new discussion! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

It all comes down to this. Four awesome properties. Four even awesomer podcasters. In the end, only one contender will be crowned the Ultimate Fandom Bracket champion. Who will it be — The Lord of the Rings, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Office, or Up? Listen to our final collaborative episode with Josh Gann (host of the Gann The Fan Podcast) to find out! Listen to The Gann The Fan Podcast on Spotify here: spoti.fi/2V8vTtT Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Subscribe to catch every new discussion! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Josh Gann on Twitter: @gannthefan Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

On this collaboration with Josh Gann of the Gann The Fan Podcast, we continue our trek through the Ultimate Fandom Bracket by celebrating and voting on our favorite TV shows! Join us as we venture to Bikini Bottom, grab some joe to-go from Central Perk, discover the meaning of Jeremy Bearimy and more. It all leads to that most fateful of questions: Which beloved show will get the final rose? Listen to find out! Listen to The Gann The Fan Podcast on Spotify here: spoti.fi/2V8vTtT Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Subscribe to catch every new discussion! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Josh Gann on Twitter: @gannthefan Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

We are collaborating with Josh Gann, host of The Gann The Fan Podcast, to bring you the Ultimate Fandom Bracket — a celebration of the movies and TV shows we're most itching to revisit while self-isolating! In this second installment of the five-part series, we run down a list of our 16 favorite Disney films and film franchises and undergo the grueling process of deciding which is truly the bracket champion. Will your favorite make it all the way? Listen to find out! Listen to The Gann The Fan Podcast on Spotify here: https://spoti.fi/2V8vTtT Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Subscribe to catch every new discussion! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Josh Gann on Twitter: @gannthefan Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

The 2010s was maybe the best movie decade we've ever seen. (Take it from three dudes who have only been around since the late '90s.) And what better time to celebrate such a milestone than on the one-year anniversary of Reel Underdogs?? After we run through our thoughts on the Oscar nominations from earlier this month, we each discuss in-depth our five favorite movies from 2010 to 2019. (Yes, Justin, 2010 *was* the beginning of the decade. Get over yourself.) Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Subscribe to catch every new discussion! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

Need a new movie to ring in the New Year? See what we have to say about the latest flicks playing on a big screen or streaming service near you. Then prep for Sunday's Golden Globes ceremony with our takeaways and predictions of the nominees! Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Subscribe to catch every new discussion! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

The last few weeks have seen some pretty big movies ... and some that flew *way* under the radar. We saw a lot of both and talked about them. Also, cysts made their way into the conversation somehow. Visit the Reel UnderBlog at reelunderdogs.com. Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every month! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

We took a week off from the theater to give Netflix's latest original movie a chance. Simply put, it's the follow-up to one of the best, if not the best TV drama ever created — and thus has some pretty big shoes to fill. Does El Camino live up to the super-high expectations set by its predecessor? Plus, we throw a few curveballs with our Watches of the Week. Read Trent's Halloween movie blog post here: http://www.reelunderdogs.com/2019/10/14-essential-horror-thrillers-for-your.html Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every week! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

One of the year's most controversial movies is now on the way to becoming one of its biggest hits. And, lucky for us, it was the only one released this week, making it the Underdog by default. We discuss Joker for our newest episode! Plus grief, Gladwell and gadgets all make appearances in our Watches of the Week. Read John's blog post on Joker here: http://www.reelunderdogs.com/2019/10/how-joker-brilliantly-toes-line-between.html Read John's review of Joker for the Loudoun Times-Mirror here: https://www.loudountimes.com/entertainment/review-joker-is-a-harrowing-expertly-crafted-origin-story/article_0dce3296-e92c-11e9-8468-f3742a0cc02c.html Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every week! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

Due to scheduling conflicts, we were unable to record a discussion of It Chapter Two this week. Instead, given the potentially streaming-heavy awards race this year, we thought it'd be timely to republish a discussion John and former panelist Karlyn Chen had back in March on whether the streaming revolution is helping or hurting cinema. Read John's review of It Chapter Two for the Loudoun Times-Mirror here: https://www.loudountimes.com/entertainment/review-it-chapter-two-is-a-soulless-overlong-sequel/article_7106924a-d3e2-11e9-a49d-cf45cb7bba62.html Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every week! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

Despite its title, this week's Underdog has nothing to do with your favorite sandwich spread or birds of prey. Rather, it's a very sweet story about the family you choose. We discuss SXSW Audience Award winner "The Peanut Butter Falcon!" Plus, we retread old ground — twice — and break the fourth wall a *lot* for our Watches of the Week. Read John's review for the Loudoun Times-Mirror here: https://www.loudountimes.com/entertainment/review-the-peanut-butter-falcon-is-the-feel-good-indie/article_cfabfe68-cf26-11e9-a0e9-e35424099bee.html Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every week! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

This week we discuss the new horror film Ready or Not, starring Samara Weaving. Plus, zombies on a train, not-so-woke jokes and good boys gone bad? Sounds like our Watches of the Week! Read John and Trent's blog post 'Faith, Horror and Ari Aster: where do we draw the line?' here: http://www.reelunderdogs.com/2019/07/faith-horror-and-ari-aster-where-do-we.html Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every week! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

We're loving our special discussions lately! This time around, we tackle stand-up comedy on Netflix — how it's helped change and mould our relationships to performers, what our favorite specials are, and where stand-up fits in with the future of entertainment. Featuring special guest and improv performer Amita Rao (@amitawow)! Watch Amita's improv group, Blue Collard Greens, perform here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5EXc5czdgA Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every week! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

The Fast & Furious franchise takes a slight detour with Hobbs & Shaw, a spin-off in which Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham take center stage. The two travel the globe to neutralize a deadly manmade virus but struggle to overcome their many differences, all while facing a villain who’s essentially a superhuman cyborg. Does Hobbs & Shaw have lasting thrills, or does it run out of gas way too fast? Plus, we share our Watches of the Week, ranging from Netflix originals to Coen Brothers classics! Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

Quentin Tarantino’s highly anticipated new film, Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood, has arrived. It throws us back to 1969 Los Angeles, where a fading Western star, his trusty stuntman, and the up-and-coming actress next door are all coming to terms with their place in the rapidly changing film industry. It’s been three years since Tarantino’s last venture; is this movie worth the wait? (SPOILERS from 42:42 to 1:03:23.) Plus we dig into ballots, blind kids and bad times for our Watches of the Week! Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

We figured talking about The Lion King would be a moot point, as it’s been the subject of widespread discussion and criticism for the last two weeks. Instead, we’re going to spend this week’s episode talking about the modern cinematic paradigm of endless reboots and remakes. Is it the death of cinema that some lament it to be, or is there something to be said for telling classic stories through a new lens? Plus, we discuss our Watches of the Week! Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

Stu is just your average Uber driver who is desperate to keep his job. But when he gets stuck with the passenger from hell — a hulking, cantankerous cop with an agenda — he gets thrown into an adventure where there’s much more on the line than his four-star rating. This week, we review Stuber, discuss the trailers for Mulan and Hustlers and share our Watches of the Week. Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

Everyone’s favorite web-slinger returns in Spider-Man: Far from Home, the first new movie from Marvel Studios since Avengers: Endgame. Peter Parker hopes to take a break from his responsibilities as Spider-Man on a high school class trip to Europe, but inevitably, that plan doesn’t last very long. Did this movie give us hope for the future of the MCU? Listen to find out! (WARNING: spoilers from 43:18 to 1:04:38) Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook and at reelunderdogs.com!

(Originally uploaded June 20, 2019) After nearly two decades, Shaft is back. We follow the young and naive John Shaft, Jr. as he reconnects with his estranged, free-wheeling father to investigate his best friend’s death. Does this installment do its predecessors justice, or does Hollywood need to finally let Shaft retire? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentNeely1 Justin Redman on Twitter: @YoungJRed Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded May 16, 2019) Tolkien tells the story of the young man who would become the acclaimed author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Orphaned at a young age, J.R.R. Tolkien’s vast imagination and love for language, as well as the influences of friendship, romance and war, combine to birth his vision for the now-classic tales of Middle Earth. Does Tolkien do its subject justice for both fans and newcomers to his work? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded on May 9, 2019) Zac Efron, once a teen heartthrob featured in movies like High School Musical and 17 Again, takes a drastic turn for the sinister as famed serial killer Ted Bundy in Netflix’s new original biopic, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. We watch through the eyes of both Bundy and his longtime girlfriend over a span of two decades as the list of accusations against him grows too long to ignore. Does the film do justice to the sensationally horrifying true story? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

We dive deep into spoilers for Avengers: Endgame! Featuring Josh Gann, host of the Gann the Fan sports podcast, as a guest panelist. Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded on April 25, 2019) Breakthrough follows the true story of fourteen-year-old John Smith, who miraculously showed signs of life after falling into a frozen lake and drowning. As John fights for his life, his mother, Joyce, endures a test of faith as she hopes for God to restore her comatose son back to health. We’re here to find out: does Breakthrough do its source material justice, and is it a worthwhile watch for anyone from any religious background? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded on April 18, 2019) The Oscar-nominated animators at Laika has returned with Missing Link, a stop-motion adventure tale. Despite its top-notch visuals and voice talent, it came in ninth during a very disappointing weekend at the box office. We’re here do find out: Does Missing Link have the substance to match its style? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded on April 11, 2019) The Best of Enemies documents the historic rivalry between an African-American civil rights advocate and the local President of the Ku Klux Klan in 1970s Durham, North Carolina. Through a lengthy debate and voting process, they work to resolve an educational crisis and, some hope, toward long-overdue school integration. Though it struggled at the box office, we gave the story of Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis a shot — but does it get our vote of confidence? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded on April 4, 2019) We decided to do things a little differently this week. Instead of our usual trip to the theater, we spent a night watching The Highwaymen, Netflix’s new film starring Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson as the Texas Rangers who tracked down Bonnie and Clyde. Listen on to our thoughts on the new crime drama — plus, we give our recommendations for underappreciated films available for you to stream right now. Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded on Us, Jordan Peele’s follow-up to the 2017 smash-hit Get Out, follows a family whose summer vacation is thrown out of control when they are harassed by their malicious doppelgangers. It was the only new movie given a wide release over the weekend, making it this week’s underdog by default. We’re here to find out: what’s all the fuss about Us? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded on March 21, 2019) Captive State, the new science fiction film from director Rupert Wyatt, takes place in a futuristic Chicago ten years into a totalitarian alien occupation, and follows mankind’s attempt at an uprising. It didn’t exactly rise up against the box office competition, opening at number seven. We’re here to find out: Does Captive State captivate, or will it leave you itching for escape? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded on March 14, 2019) We here at Reel Underdogs are currently on spring break, which means we won’t be discussing a new movie today. Instead, we decided to turn our attention to a topic that has been subject to recent debate within the film community: Streaming. Karlyn and I discussed the effects the streaming revolution has on cinema and television, and ask the big question: Is it helping or hurting? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded on March 7, 2019) It’s a tale as old as time: Girl finds purse, girl returns purse to elderly owner, elderly owner turns out to be a maniacal stalker. That’s right, I’m talking about this week’s underdog, Greta, the chilling new thriller starring Isabelle Huppert and Chloe Grace Moretz. It had a weak start in the U.S. box office last weekend, coming in at number eight, and we’re here to find out: Will you regret-a seeing Greta? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded on February 28, 2019) If you’ve seen How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, you know that the ending gave us plenty to talk about. We advise that those of you who haven’t seen the new film go listen to our spoiler-free discussion, because we won’t only talking about the eventful end of a movie; we’ll be talking about the emotional end to a beloved film trilogy. But if you’ve seen it, listen on! Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded February 28, 2019) How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World was the only new movie given a wide release this weekend, so it’s this week’s underdog by default! We all grew up watching and loving the original How to Train Your Dragon and its sequel, and we’re here to find out: Does the new film do justice to its predecessors, and does it make for a worthy conclusion to an awesome series? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentNeely1 Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally published February 21, 2019) As you might expect, Happy Death Day 2U had plenty of twists, turns and surprises that we couldn’t resist talking about...so, we did! If you have yet to see the movie, we would advise that you listen to our spoiler-free discussion; otherwise, enjoy our spoiler-filled conversation about the delightful new horror film. Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded February 21, 2019) Happy Death Day 2U, the sequel to the surprise comedy-horror hit Happy Death Day, was released during a busy Valentine’s Day at the box office. Ultimately, it was commercially slashed by the week’s other new releases, Alita: Battle Angel and Isn’t It Romantic. We’re here to find out: Does this frightening follow-up have power to please like the original did? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentNeely1 Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded February 14, 2019) The Lego Movie 2 led the charge of last weekend’s four new movie releases, while The Prodigy was left trailing at number six. We shook off our inhibitions and braved the new supernatural horror film; is it as smart and effective as its title suggests? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentNeely1 Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded February 7, 2019) Miss Bala, the new crime thriller starring Gina Rodriguez, was the only new film given a wide release in the U.S. last weekend. Still, it couldn’t climb its way to number one at the box office, as Glass and The Upside continue to reign at the top. We’re here to find out: Does the gun-toting Gloria Fuentes have what it takes to shoot her way into our hearts? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentNeely1 Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded January 31, 2019) Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway reunited over the weekend in Serenity, a seaside suspense thriller that isn’t all that it seems. It couldn’t quite dethrone The Kid Who Would Be King at the U.S. box office, so we’re here to find out: Does Serenity hold water, or was it doomed to sink from the beginning? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentNeely1 Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

(Originally uploaded February 14, 2019) So it turns out one discussion of The Prodigy just wasn’t enough for us. Karlyn, Trent and I decided to record a shorter bonus episode for those of you who have seen the new horror film and wanted to hear our take on that remarkable ending. If you haven’t seen the movie, we’d encourage you to listen to our spoiler-free discussion, but otherwise, enjoy this extra bit of content. Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Karlyn Chen and Trent Neely. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentNeely1 Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

Yesterday, Jack Malik was a failed musician ready to give up. But after a global blackout leaves the world without any memory of the Beatles, Jack records the Fab Four’s catalogue from memory and is rapidly launched to international superstardom. But can he live with the lie? And more importantly, can Yesterday live up to the brilliance and originality of its concept? Plus, we discuss the new trailers for Jumanji: The Next Level and Knives Out, Always Be My Maybe, the Democratic debates, Bill Hader and more! Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!

Director Luc Besson returns to the spy-thriller genre with Anna, in which a downtrodden Russian woman seeks refuge and release in violent espionage, only to crave a way back out. Does Anna make the best of its talent on both sides of the camera, or is it just another run-of-the-mill spy flick? Reel Underdogs are John Battiston, Trent Neely and Justin Redman. Catch a new discussion every Thursday! Reel Underdogs on Twitter: @ReelUnderdogs John Battiston on Twitter: @JB3Writes Trent Neely on Twitter: @TrentHNeely Justin Redman on Twitter: @Young_JRed Visit us on Facebook or email us at reelunderdogs@gmail.com!