In this episode of Rush to Reason, guest host Andy Pate explores the phenomenon of fixation, starting with a humorous take on the infamous Trump Derangement Syndrome. Joined by guests Luke Cash and Ashley Cart, they debate the merit and misallocation of resources on studying this so-called syndrome. The conversation takes a festive turn as Andy encourages listeners to carry the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas into their everyday interactions, a potential remedy for political and ideological divides.
SPEAKER 09 :
It’s finally Friday on Rush to Reason with your host, John Rush. So I tell him I’m a pro jack. And who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama himself. So we finish 18, and he’s gonna sniff me. And I say, hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know? And he says, oh, uh, it won’t be any money. But when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness. So I got that going. And movie reviews with Andy Payne.
SPEAKER 14 :
I think that you got the wrong impression about me. I think in all fairness, I should explain to you exactly what it is that I do.
SPEAKER 16 :
What I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you.
SPEAKER 15 :
What do you want to do tonight?
SPEAKER 09 :
The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over the world. Stick a fork in me, Jerry. I’m done. Now, here is your host of Rush to Reason, John Rush.
SPEAKER 13 :
Filling in is Andy Pate, party of choice.
SPEAKER 04 :
And I’m your host, Andy Pate, filling in for John Rush yet again. He’s out for yet another week. I’m very happy for him. I don’t know if you know how much John works, but it’s like nonstop. Just so you know, he’s a workaholic. So, John, get some rest. We will hold down the fort until you’re back. Joining me once again, we have Luke Cash. Ma’am. And Ashley Cart. Her. That’s right, man and woman. We got two guys, one girl, and yet the guys are outnumbered. It’s amazing. You’re a powerful creature. You know that, Ashley?
SPEAKER 05 :
Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.
SPEAKER 04 :
Exactly. Okay, I’m going to talk, first of all, something that’s not entirely balanced, in my opinion, okay? All right. Being a little judgy here.
SPEAKER 05 :
I love being judgy.
SPEAKER 04 :
Okay, Arizona State Senator Janae Schaump, and I believe she’s a Republican, so she’s one of mine, is advancing legislation that would require Arizona to commission a formal study of Trump derangement syndrome, arguing that the phenomenon constitutes a legitimate mental health condition. Now… Let me tell you, she’s right. It does. OK, no, I’m serious. I’ve known people with TDS. I mean, the ones who really have it, not just people who don’t like Trump. I’m talking TDS. They can be dangerous. Some are deadly. Sure. Some are very violent. Some are. We had one the other day we were talking about who, you know, we had the lady who wound up getting fired, who attacked a target. employee who was just wearing a Charlie Kirk t-shirt.
SPEAKER 12 :
Oh yeah, I saw that.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, it was terrible. Okay, TDS, TDS, TDS. Here’s why I think, though, that this is a dumb decision. First of all, I want to ask, what do you think? Do you think this makes sense to actually have a commission to study TDS?
SPEAKER 05 :
No, I think it sounds absolutely ridiculous.
SPEAKER 04 :
How come?
SPEAKER 05 :
Well, first of all, it sounds like it would be a waste of Arizona’s taxpayer dollars if they’re putting together a committee for this stuff and doing research on it. Why would you? The other thing is it’s putting labels on more things that are just people being crazy. You don’t need to label every individual aspect of someone being crazy. They’re just crazy.
SPEAKER 04 :
Right. I agree. Luke, how about you? I mean, you’re a deranged individual. You’re enraged. You’re enraged all the time, blindly shooting out your car window nonstop while you drive. What do you think of a study of TDS?
SPEAKER 08 :
Yeah, I think it’s a bit ridiculous. I understand, I guess, in part where it’s coming from. I get kind of the intent, but I agree with Ashley. We have more important things to be spending tax dollars on, right? I would think so. Everyone can kind of agree that we’d rather have that money spent better elsewhere. I think it’s kind of a bad look, but I also think it’s a byproduct of a real thing in the sense that I’m not the biggest fan of Trump, and I’ve made that very clear. Yeah, you’re not. But I’m not a raging lunatic. And there are some serious raging lunatics out there. It’s not like this is coming out of nowhere, right?
SPEAKER 04 :
No, no, no. But you don’t have TDS. That’s a different thing. You don’t like Trump, but you don’t… You’re not deranged about it. You’re a lefty-leany, and I’m sitting in here with a righty-leany. And that’s fine. And you know me. I’m a righty-extremy. I’m a crazy person. I’m that person who talks to himself on the bus. That’s me. I really like my political beliefs. Folks, this is why we do not need this. And if anybody knows the state senator in Arizona, please let her know. I sympathize with your feelings. I have dealt with people with TDS, and it is really something. It’s intense. It is deeply dysfunctional. But what you should really be studying is the DS part, just derangement syndrome, because all it is really is fixation. And you can have it on anything. It doesn’t have to be Trump. You can have a fixation in favor of Trump. OK, we were talking the other day, weren’t we, about people who will defend Trump no matter what he says or does.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, I would almost call that like Trump support syndrome or something like that, where you cannot see any wrongdoing in him at all. You’ve got two ends of the spectrum.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, what you really have is anti-Trump derangement system and pro-Trump derangement system. What you have, and it was really interesting because in the elections that he’s had, both the one against Hillary and the one against Joe Biden, the two against Joe Biden, nobody ever voted for Hillary or Joe Biden. Not one person in America did. They voted for or against Donald Trump. I understand that we have, people in America are incredibly fixated on this individual. And I understand he’s very provocative. He says things that are offensive at times. He also takes big actions. He also does some incredible things that we’ve been wanting done for a very long time. Where I look at it, you know, I love the guy. I love what he does. But, you know, I’m also very open about saying, okay, he shouldn’t have put this that way. He shouldn’t have put this that way. Come on, man. You can do better than that. Okay? People are fixated on this big personality. It was similar during Obama. Obama supporters treated him… Look, Trump never had… Greek columns erected for him to come down and speak between them, okay? Trump didn’t have posters all over the country that literally said the word hope on them with a stylized picture of him.
SPEAKER 05 :
I still hate those posters.
SPEAKER 04 :
I know, but that’s treating somebody like a god at that point, okay? Do you have a cult that basically worships Trump? There is one, yeah. Did you have a cult that worshiped Obama? Absolutely, okay. Look, we’ve seen it before. Folks, what it really is, is this. It’s fixation. So here’s my advice. We don’t need a study. You just did one. It was called Christmas. And you did another one. It was called Thanksgiving. The study was you sitting down with people around the dinner table who didn’t share all your beliefs at times. Even if they were on your side, you’re going to have some differences. I want you to take that ability to set aside your differences enough and coexist and enjoy each other. and just use it the rest of the year, okay? That’s the whole idea. That’s the beauty of Christmas. That’s the beauty of Thanksgiving. You take that wonderful feeling, that time when you can get together and you can sit down and talk with people who aren’t entirely like you and coexist. Yes, you can have your differences. Yes, you can be passionate about them, okay? But you can take that moment and use it 365 times a year. Yeah, yeah. That’s how you fix TDS, anti-TDS, pro-TDS, or things that have nothing to do with Trump. You can be fixated on your job. You can be fixated on your sports team. You can be fixated on anything. And by the way, I think pretty much everybody does have one, two, or three things that they are overly fixated on. I think we all do. OK, Trump just happens to be such a provocative figure, both pro and con, that a lot of people are focusing on that derangement syndrome. I got news for you, folks. We all have derangement syndrome. I want you to think about Christmas. I want you to think about Thanksgiving. And I want you to be that way all year. And wouldn’t we be better then?
SPEAKER 05 :
I think the world would be happier and healthier if we were like that all year round, for sure.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, I think that’s kind of what we need to do. OK, before we go to break. I want to talk about something that, as I was saying, I got a lefty-leany, righty-leany. I consider you both swing voters. And me, I’m an extreme right wacko. I’m one of these scary people.
SPEAKER 05 :
You said it, not me.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I’m going to go, you know, after this, I’ll go to my militia meetings. Not really, but I want to. I want to be in a militia, okay? One thing, though, that I’ve noticed with all couples is that they have something very much in common.
SPEAKER 05 :
What is that?
SPEAKER 04 :
It is very difficult deciding what to eat. Oh, no. Or what movie to watch. Okay. And so this one couple, they’re called the Holderness family. They put together this little, he is an incredible singer and she’s a very funny actress. And they’re also very happily married. They do couples counseling and give people advice on relationships. And to the tune of Beauty and the Beast, they discuss, what do you want to eat? Oh, this is going to be good. Here we go.
SPEAKER 10 :
I’m tired. Can we get takeout for dinner? I don’t really care. You pick.
SPEAKER 11 :
You pick, but something else. No, the cheese will make me bloaty and farty. Nah. Nah. You pick as long as it’s what I want.
SPEAKER 10 :
Oh, she’s crazy. Ew, no, ick. Why would you say it? Greasy. You said that I could pick. Uh-huh. That was just a lie. Now you’re getting it. Okay, so like a salad. Yes, kale salad, perfect. Leafy greens and cold meat.
SPEAKER 11 :
Yep. Yes, I always lose.
SPEAKER 10 :
Yeah.
SPEAKER 11 :
So glad that I could choose. Good choice. What we’re going to eat.
SPEAKER 10 :
Since you chose this time, I’ll just pick next time.
SPEAKER 04 :
Okay, guys, I just want you to know that was true. That was the truest song ever sung. There are many biblical songs, and you know I’m a born-again Christian. There are many biblical songs about God, but they’re not as true as that, okay?
SPEAKER 05 :
That is a depiction of my nightly struggle.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yes, no man has ever actually been allowed to choose. You think you are. You think that you are choosing. Let me tell you something. You are not. She is in charge.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, and usually it’s better for the man to just accept it. Like, I’ve seen this great strategy of if you don’t know what to eat, go to your girlfriend, your wife, whatever, and go, hey, guess where I’m taking you to eat? The first thing she says, go, yes, how did you guess that? You win every time.
SPEAKER 04 :
I do. What I do is I just do what she likes a lot. What do you do, Luke? How do you grovel? I mean, what’s your style on one knee, two knees? Do you do it on the phone? I mean, do you do it in the next room because you can’t stand the face to face? How do you do it?
SPEAKER 08 :
Usually it’s full supplication, head on the pavement, you know, arms extended, Japanese style. Though, see, me and my girlfriend, we have the opposite problem in the sense that we say yes to everything. We’re like, do you want tacos? Yes. Do you want burgers? Yes. Well, if we both want both of these things, what do we do?
SPEAKER 04 :
We don’t know. You’re still not deciding.
SPEAKER 08 :
We’re still not deciding. It’s just we’re down for everything.
SPEAKER 04 :
Okay, but you do understand the universal rule of who has the veto vote. And you do know it’s not you. No. OK, I just make it sure.
SPEAKER 05 :
Have you guys seen that app that is actually on the market? That’s like it’s supposed to be food Tinder where you and your partner just swipe left or right on the food options. And the first one that you match on is your dinner option.
SPEAKER 04 :
That’s doing the same thing, only not verbally.
SPEAKER 08 :
OK, I think doing it not verbally is going to save you from a lot of fights.
SPEAKER 04 :
Maybe, you know, that’s a good point. But I don’t know why. After 22 years of marriage, I actually enjoy being put in my place. And we go through this also when we decide what movie to watch that she wants. And so we’ll talk about this in the next hour because we’ll do our favorite movies. By the way, folks, in hour number two today, it is Best Comedies.
SPEAKER 12 :
Woo-hoo!
SPEAKER 04 :
Yes, your favorite comedies of all time if you want to call in on those 303. 477-5600. We’re going to have a lot of fun with those. But I just wanted to talk for a moment about what it’s like, because now that we’ve gotten through the holidays, it is time to order out. It is time to get something different. Guys, don’t you dare have an opinion. I care about you. I love you all. All right. I’m on your team. I’m on your side. I want you to be happy. And I don’t want her to be stabby. All right. So there you go. It’s Beauty and the Beast. What are we going to eat? Do you agree?
SPEAKER 12 :
Yes. Okay.
SPEAKER 04 :
It’s beautiful. It is beautiful. It’s very touching. Let’s take a break. We’ll come back to a couple movies. Here we go. Dr. Scott Faulkner. Get a doctor who innovates to keep you safe and healthy. For you first medicine on the cutting edge, call Dr. Scott at 303-663-6990.
SPEAKER 13 :
What if you could get over 110 lab biomarkers tested just like Dr. Mark Hyman advertises but for a fraction of the cost and with a doctor who actually explains the results? At Castle Rock Regenerative Health, Dr. Scott Faulkner has recreated this powerful biomarker test panel at a substantial savings. We have a special price for both men and women. Just $689. That’s a savings of over $2,500 over the standard price. And here’s the difference. With Hyman, you get numbers on a page. With Castle Rock Regenerative Health, you get Dr. Faulkner and his team walking you through every result, showing what’s off and creating a personalized plan to fix it. What’s even better, you don’t even have to be a concierge patient to get this pricing. This is open to everyone. Think about it. Most people’s deductible is higher than this special price. And your regular doctor, if he could get approved by your insurance, would never order this many tests, let alone know what to do with them. Call 303-663-6990 today or visit CastleRockRegenerativeHealth.com. That’s 303-669-6990. Take control of your health at Castle Rock Regenerative Health.
SPEAKER 04 :
Roof Savers, winter is here, but there are still plenty of warm days to get your roof the protection it needs. Before you have leaks and a blizzard, call Roof Savers at 303-710-6916.
SPEAKER 06 :
Were you concerned about potentially being dropped by your insurance, and how did RoofMax ease those concerns?
SPEAKER 17 :
I was kind of concerned that my insurance company that I had previously was going to either cancel me or increase my premium. When Dave came over and he said, Gil, he said, your roof looks good. I will give you a bid. And he said, I can give you a warranty of five years. And I said, whoa, that’s great.
SPEAKER 06 :
Would you recommend RoofMax to friends, family or neighbors and why?
SPEAKER 17 :
Well, because they were very prompt in getting the job done. They were very efficient in the time, maybe three days to four days max to get everything, paperwork, come and inspect my roof and complete the job. The price was very good. I was very impressed with the appearance of our roof after it was completed. So yes, absolutely, I would recommend RoofMax and especially Dave Hart.
SPEAKER 06 :
Work with Roof Savers today by going to klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 04 :
Group insurance analyst Paul Inigro and his team shop all the insurance options for you, and it doesn’t cost a dime extra. Call JIA at 303-423-0162.
SPEAKER 18 :
The good news for seniors on Medicare is that you have more options today than ever before. The challenge is that all of these new options can be very confusing and making the wrong choice can cost you thousands of dollars more out of your pocket. Call Paul Linagro at GIA Insurance and his team of Medicare specialists will help you find the right plan for your needs. As independent brokers, GIA Insurance can help you navigate the maze of Medicare options so that you get the right plan to fit your needs and at the best premium. GIA never charges fees, and your premiums will never be any higher than going directly to the insurance companies or buying online. Receive the local hands-on service that you don’t get with a call center or online. Whether it is a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplements, a standalone prescription plan, long-term care, or final expense insurance, GIA has got you covered. Call 303-423-0162, extension 100. 303-423-0162. Or go online to e-gia.com. Suck it up, Buttercup. Back to Rush to Reason.
SPEAKER 04 :
And welcome back to Rush to Reason, Denver’s Afternoon Rush, KLC 560, Andy Pate filling in for John Rush along with Luke Cash. Man. And Ashley Cart. Her. Okay. Luke, buddy. Yeah, what’s going on, man? Are you ready for a movie? I am ready for a movie. All right, Luke. Well, a young man goes through hell to play ping pong in Marty’s Supreme. I have a purpose. Okay.
SPEAKER 14 :
Let me ask you something. Do you make money off this little table tennis thing?
SPEAKER 15 :
Not yet. Do you have a job? No.
SPEAKER 11 :
Backhand! Backhand! Forehand! How do you live?
SPEAKER 06 :
Well, I live with the confidence that if I believe in myself, the money will follow.
SPEAKER 15 :
And what do you plan to do if this whole dream of yours doesn’t work out? That doesn’t even enter my consciousness. Maybe it should. Everything in my life is falling apart, but I’m going to figure it out.
SPEAKER 11 :
Do you need any help? I could help you.
SPEAKER 09 :
You want to go hustling again? Put your money where your mouth is.
SPEAKER 11 :
What’s 76? What’s 77? What’s 78? The mouse is back, baby, yeah! Mari.
SPEAKER 01 :
I can’t support your mother. You’re not going to have to. Because I’m going to step up. I’m going to step up in a way you can’t even imagine.
SPEAKER 15 :
Marty, I’m going to make you an offer. I got to do it completely on my own. Every man for himself where I come from. That’s just how I grew up.
SPEAKER 11 :
Hey, what are you doing?
SPEAKER 15 :
I don’t think you understand the stakes here. Why is that funny? I get nervous laughter sometimes.
SPEAKER 03 :
My eyes broke over that mouse. Thank you so much. You’re my pup. We believe in you.
SPEAKER 11 :
Hey, I’ll rip that unibrow right off his forehead!
SPEAKER 09 :
You want to get physical? Like an ape?
SPEAKER 11 :
Come on! He’s right here! Come on! Have you ever thought about what you’re doing to me? Give us our money! When they do, I’ll be right.
SPEAKER 15 :
And it’s only a matter of time before I’m staring at you from the cover of a Wheaties box.
SPEAKER 09 :
You think it’s that simple?
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, I do. Okay, Luke, what do you think of Marty Spring?
SPEAKER 08 :
I know absolutely nothing about Marty Supreme, but I like Timothee Chalamet.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yep, here we go. By the way, probably my favorite young actor today is Timothee Chalamet. And he plays Marty Mauser, a championship ping pong player after World War II. So we’re a few years after World War II, still kind of dealing with some of the aftermath there. Now, Marty is hyper, arrogant, and completely uncaring about everyone around him. In every moment, he wants what he wants and will demand it, even when it’s foolish to do so. He’s a consummate con man. So Marty is a human wrecking ball, knocking out all the walls and the structure around him, totally unaware the roof is going to cave in. He is brilliantly idiotic. We’ve met people like this. I mean, we have. They are incredibly brilliant or they’re incredibly talented and they blow up everything around them because they simply don’t understand that they have to coexist with the world around them. They run right through it. All right. Marty is also an angry Jew, even though that heritage is just more leverage for him. The guy practically has no soul. He doesn’t care. He’s just an angry guy, really. Perhaps this explains his love for ping pong. Not only is he spectacular, but this is the only time he cons no one and can fully be himself. It’s art, combat, pure, no hiding. Just him, the other player, and the table. And I think that’s the only time you see him actually settle down for a moment and become himself. Even though he’s very emotional there, he’s not working an angle all the time. Next, the film is loaded with other characters, including two women Marty both loves and uses at every turn. He impregnates his secret girlfriend, Rachel, she’s played by Odessa Azian, and has a furious affair with an aging Hollywood actress named Kay Stone, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Well, he uses Kay’s wealthy husband, Milton Rockwell, played by Kevin O’Leary, and he uses his friends. Basically, just like in ping pong, everything is strategy to Marty. And people are just balls. He smacks around the table. He sees the potential. He sees the potential in any situation, including his life. But these people around him mean nothing to him. These are chess pieces. That’s it. And once again, we’ve met people like that. The people around them are chess pieces, nothing more. Well, unfortunately, when you’re this much of a user and abuser, you’re going to blow up your life. There are terrible money problems. You get criminals, violence, scams, lost friends. Oh, my gosh, it’s all blowing up. Sounds pretty intense, doesn’t it, Ashley?
SPEAKER 05 :
It sounds really intense for a ping pong movie.
SPEAKER 04 :
It is very intense. Okay, but Marty has one goal. He wants a rematch. Why? Well, early on, he loses the world championship to a fantastic Japanese player named Enzo. And Marty will do anything for another match. I mean anything. But can he ever make it back? Can such talent built on such personal collapse ever win? And that’s the story of Marty Supreme. Luke, what do you think?
SPEAKER 1 :
I…
SPEAKER 08 :
I think actually I had the right of it. Seems pretty intense for a ping pong movie.
SPEAKER 04 :
It really is. Okay, let’s jump in here. What works in Marty Supreme? Well, first of all, this is basically Oscar bait all the way. It’s an acting bonanza from everyone, especially Chalamet. And I’ll tell you right now, because come Wednesday, and you’re going to be here, Ashley, Wednesday is going to be one of my favorite shows of the year because I’m going to do my top tens, bottom tens, and several other lists, all dealing with 2025 and the films. And the reason that’s going to be important, folks, is you’re coming into January through March when you’re going to want movies to rent. And you’re going to want to know which ones are good, which ones to avoid, and so forth. Well, one of the things I do is best actor, of course, like best actress. And I guarantee you, Chalamet, for this performance, is going to be top five. Easily. He may be number one. I haven’t decided yet. I’ve got to look through them all. It was fantastic. Chalamet was at the top of his game. And he always is. I haven’t seen this kid yet put in a performance where he mailed it in. He is that good, okay? Next, the time period, the look was outstanding coming in the decade after WWII. Some of the times, you know, they don’t really pull it off. They did here. You really felt that you were in that time and dealing with this guy’s life. The last quarter of the film is nearly five-star quality. It really is. The last quarter of the film, wow. There are several moments of fast dialogue, steamy lust, competition, and outright fear. And trust me, he has reasons to fear. But you see, these people blow up their lives. It’s almost like… And he’s not a drug addict, but it’s almost like a drug addict, right? If you know somebody who’s a drug addict, they blow up their lives, and then they’re always in fear about what’s coming to get them, the justice that’s coming their way. That’s how it is for Marty. And finally, there’s one great message, and that’s this. There are big consequences for reckless actions, and they can’t all be reversed. You don’t always get a Hollywood ending that fixes everything. And I kind of like that. The greatest life can be destroyed by arrogance and selfishness. And boy, you can destroy virtually any relationship. Okay, what doesn’t work in Marty Supreme? Well, first of all, folks, it’s far too long. It really is. It’s exhausting. Several scenes could have been replaced with a couple comments. Far too much stuff we don’t care about with far too little stuff that we want. Now, this is really surprising, okay? You know what was missing the most? The ping pong training. There wasn’t enough ping pong. My goodness. There wasn’t enough ping pong and there wasn’t enough training. If I’m watching somebody who’s a competitive athlete in anything, I want to watch them training, training, training, getting ready. If you want to go play this Enzo again, you got to get ready for that. This guy is spectacular. Okay. And I don’t care how talented you are. And so they really, really left that out. There was no time also for any backstory. You come into this movie and instantly he’s already one of the very top ones in the world. Even though he’s basically broke on the streets of Brooklyn. This guy’s a nobody. Yet he’s already one of the top in the world. He’s already arrogant. He’s already everything that he is. But you don’t get to see just a few moments of his childhood, a few moments of coming up and see how did he become this way? Because if you had done that, you would have embraced the character a lot more. As it is, he’s just unbelievably annoying. And a number of the reviewers really came through with this. They basically said, you just made me watch two and a half hours of somebody I hated. an absolutely annoying person and part of the reason guys is that there was no backstory i mean when you see something like this ashley don’t you want to see some backstory see how they got that way so you can have a chance to embrace them i don’t know i’m a little torn at this point because i’m a little over origin story movies i kind of like no i’m not talking super heavy where there’s like 45 minutes of back setup i’m not talking that just a little
SPEAKER 05 :
I mean, a little, sure. A little would be fine, but to go overboard on it, I don’t think it’s necessary.
SPEAKER 04 :
No, and I agree. I wouldn’t want that. Okay? What I would want is about five minutes.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, five minutes would be a good time.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, seven tops. Just a little something to see where he came from. Build him up a little. You know, create the character before you launch him in our face. I want a chance to, well, there’s no way you’re going to like this guy. Okay, unless you really like mean people, I guess, you know, then that’s your thing. But this is something where it’s really hard to get into the character that you’re about to spend two and a half hours of your life with. Okay, next. Marty is a supremely obnoxious, unlikable character in a movie filled with unlikable characters. Two and a half hours of unlikable characters doing idiotic, evil things. That can be very artistic. Don’t get me wrong. There’s wonderful artistic qualities to this movie. But it is depressing, irritating, and frankly, it’s predictable. Okay, that’s something I don’t like. When I’m seeing characters just do exactly what you come to expect them to do, and the outcomes are exactly what you would expect, it’s kind of boring getting there, especially since every single portion of this is 20, 30 minutes. That’s long. I saw a lot of bored people in the audience. Next. Even after finishing with The Flourish, the film wrap-up at the very, very end is totally uninspiring. With such gifted actors, there are many opportunities for humor. Timothee Chalamet is a very funny young guy.
SPEAKER 05 :
Oh, yeah, he’s hilarious.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yes, he is. And some of these other actors are very funny, too. And they could have done a lot of really funny moments. They do a little bit, a little bit, but not nearly what you could have done. Break this up with more humorous moments. Boom, boom, here, here, here, here, here. And that’s going to make things much more endearing. It’s going to speed along the pace. It’s going to make it much more easy to get through two and a half hours. Or better yet, cut it to two. Right. This it just wasn’t very entertaining. OK, I was bored, bored out of my mind. Next, I just spent 150 minutes watching someone pursue an Oscar, not move a story. That was the problem. I was watching a spectacular young talent, folks. And I’ve said this of Timothee Chalamet since he first burst on the scene. Okay, I’ve said this to him all along. I still want him to be the next Bond. Nobody agrees with me there. But I think he is spectacular. But you’re watching a guy do an Oscar movie that you don’t really want to watch. All right. This is a pure love-hate film. Viewers either went gaga for Chalamet or despised every inch of the film. Now, I despised the first two hours and I loved the last half hour. But I’m reviewing this for everyone. I’m not reviewing it for me. I’ll be honest. It’s a tough film to review. It’s a very tough film to review because if you just like going in and watching, you know, Tom Hanks do Forrest Gump, although I think that was a much better movie, much better. All right. But you want to watch a spectacular performance by somebody who’s creating a character you’ve never seen before. And that’s all you want. You’re going to love this movie. And I looked in. I actually looked through over 100 movies. audience members reviews i just want to see what they were saying and out of five stars you had virtually no threes and almost no twos and fours that’s wild i was all almost all ones and fives okay and so you had the people who just oh he’s so incredible oh he’s so incredible oh he’s so incredible then you had a bunch of people just saying this is the most boring thing yeah he’s great everybody felt he’s great i was bored out of my mind And I’ll be honest, I’m in that group. For me, this is a one-star movie. I hated this movie. This is one of those things where you have tons of people just saying, why would I want to spend two and a half hours watching somebody I can’t stand? Why? To watch the art of acting? I can rent any old movie with a great actor. I can watch Silence of the Lambs, watch two people do great acting. I mean, why do I want to spend the money it takes and pop down that money and get the popcorn and drink to watch this for two and a half hours of my life? I’ll tell you, it was a hard watch. Here we go. Rotten Tomatoes. Now, of course, these are movie critics. This is the Oscar community.
SPEAKER 08 :
These are my people. This is your… Well… Are they wearing turtlenecks with padded elbows?
SPEAKER 04 :
Yes. But here’s the thing. I actually think you’re more mainstream than them, Luke. I really do. I know we talk about the art house thing, but I could see Luke getting pretty bored during portions of this movie. I could. I would see Luke and Ashley getting into Chalamet’s performance. You can’t miss that. Okay. But, you know, I’m sorry, but you’ve already gotten everything you’re going to get out of his performance after 30, 40 minutes. Then you got the rest of the movie to watch. Okay. 94% is what Rotten Tomatoes gave this movie. No. Just no.
SPEAKER 05 :
That sounds about right for an Oscar bait movie.
SPEAKER 04 :
It is an Oscar bait movie. You’re right, and that’s why they gave it. I’m not going to give it a terrible review. I’m going to split the difference. I’m going to give it two and a half stars. I’ll say one and a half for me because I did love his performance. By the way, I thought some other people, Gwyneth Paltrow put in a fine performance, very self-deprecating. She’s playing an aging star who wants some of that young lust in her life. She’s in the frustrating marriage, and she did a fine performance, and she can. She’s a very fine actress. But I’m not going to watch a bunch of people acting. I’m going to watch a story. I’m going to watch something I actually want to see again, which, of course, there is no power on earth that could get me to watch this movie again.
SPEAKER 05 :
Would you watch it again if they added a new scene where Timothee Chalamet’s character is playing ping pong against Forrest Gump?
SPEAKER 04 :
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, I’m there.
SPEAKER 04 :
I’d watch that scene. Definitely. The ping pong scenes are great, by the way. They’re terrific. Wonderful. And his acting is wonderful. Oh, my gosh. What a movie. You’ve got to trudge through to get there. This movie, you want to know how much in two and a half hours, how much ping pong you had?
SPEAKER 05 :
I’m going to guess a solid 15 minutes.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah. Thereabouts. 20 tops. Maybe 20.
SPEAKER 12 :
Yeah.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah. I mean, it was awful. Okay. So I’m going to say two and a half stars. And political three didn’t say anything more religious, too, for obvious reasons. Knock it down. Because, you know, it’s pretty real. Folks, do I recommend going to martysupreme.com? It’s not about the movie. It’s about you. Look in the mirror and say, am I the kind of person who delights in this? And you might be. If you’re the kind of person who loves Oscar bait, go to this movie. You’re going to see it, and you’re going to love that because you won’t care how long it is or how repetitive the story is. But if you are a mainstream viewing American, don’t go to this movie. You’re going to be bored. Sound fair? Sounds fair. All right. Let’s take a break. We’ll come back and have a mainstream movie called Anaconda. Up next is Veteran Windows and Doors. Hey, you can trust Dave from Veteran for the best quotes and a five-year labor warranty. Let me say that again. A five-year labor warranty, folks. That means you can totally trust them. Call Veteran at 303-529-0720.
SPEAKER 19 :
For exceptional quality and truly unique design options for your windows and doors, you need Veteran Windows and Doors. As a platinum dealer for Provia, Veteran offers exclusive features you won’t find with traditional companies. And because they’re a direct-to-factory distributor, they pass those cost savings directly onto you. With Veteran, you can choose from a wide range of colors and design options to elevate your curb appeal. And they can even help you create your own custom design to achieve the exact look you want. They also carry Provia Endure windows, the number one rated vinyl window known for being cost-effective, low maintenance, and available in multiple classic wood grain finishes. A quick heads up, Provia is discontinuing their Heritage and Embark door series at the end of the year. So now is the time to order. When it comes to unmatched cost and value, no one compares to veteran windows and doors. Find them at klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 04 :
Golden Eagle Financial. America’s economy seems to change every week. To plan your retirement in shifting terrain, you need Al Smith at 303-744-1128.
SPEAKER 16 :
KLZ’s relational financial advisor, Al Smith of Golden Eagle Financial, can make a big difference in the success of your retirement. Al looks at your entire picture, your goals, your lifestyle, the time you want for volunteering, and even potential long-term care needs because it all matters. We’ll be right back. We’ll be right back. We’ll be right back.
SPEAKER 04 :
Mile High Coin. Precious metals have been skyrocketing. So if you have any valuables needing to be assessed, call David Gonzalez at Mile High Coin. 720-370. I always say 730. 720-370-3400.
SPEAKER 13 :
Mile High Coin and Brokerage will come to you. The owner, David Gonzalez, believes in building trusted relationships with his clients, and that starts with making it as easy as possible for them. He also guarantees free and fair appraisal of your valuables as part of that position of trust. David has been meeting clients in person for over 30 years and has worked successfully with all the reasons people decide to sell their coin collections, inherited jewelry and other valuables. And by coming to your home, David makes it easy and safe for you. No need to pack and transfer your collection to a dealer you don’t know or trust. Just call Mile High Coin and explain what you have and when it’s right for you. David can meet wherever it’s convenient for you. Mile High Coin & Brokerage is our trusted and highly rated partner that treats each person with honesty and integrity. Call 720-370-3400 or you can find KLZ’s professional coin and jewelry expert, Mile High Coin & Brokerage at klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 15 :
The best export we have is common sense. You’re listening to Rush to Reason.
SPEAKER 04 :
And welcome back to Rush to Reason. Denver’s Afternoon Rush. KLC 560. Andy Pate filling in for John Rush along with Luke Cash. Man. And Ashley Karsh. Her. Okay, Ashley. Are you ready for a movie? I am ready for a movie. Oh my gosh. That was intense. See, you were thinking Marty Supreme. I agreed for a movie. I was, yeah. It’s wonderful. Okay, well, it’s a remake about a movie to remake a movie in Anaconda.
SPEAKER 01 :
This holiday season, only one cinematic event is so big, it will leave you breathless. This is Anaconda. We’ve dreamed of making this movie ever since we were kids. Action!
SPEAKER 19 :
Now we need to find the snake for our snake movie.
SPEAKER 11 :
What was that noise? My Anaconda!
SPEAKER 14 :
We came here to make Anaconda. Now we are in it.
SPEAKER 11 :
There are snakes around here. I can feel it. What does it feel like? I don’t know. It’s just very snakey. Is that like a technical term? Turn around! And now we die! Who the hell is that? Ice Cube? You’re gonna need that. Oh. Are you sure? Of course.
SPEAKER 09 :
I got another one. Respect.
SPEAKER 04 :
All right, Ashley, what do you think of Anaconda?
SPEAKER 05 :
I’m already over here laughing. I think it sounds hilarious.
SPEAKER 04 :
All right, here we go. Paul Rudd and Jack Black, who, by the way, are hilarious. I love these two actors. I really do. Did you ever see the first Ant-Man? No. It’s funny. Very funny. Paul Rudd. Did you ever see Jumanji? Yes. Okay. Very funny, Jack Black. So you know what they can do. Well, these two stars, Griff and Duck, a couple old friends who once made a no-budget horror film as kids. Both dreamed of making movies, but it hasn’t worked out. See, Griff, and that’s Paul Rudd, is an aging actor playing bit roles on shows like SWAT. He needs a jump start. Doug directs wedding films. Okay, you already know where this is going. The guy is miserable in his life, but it pays okay and his boss wants him to take over. But his wife and son see his frustration. Well, when Griff tells Doug he purchased the rights for their favorite old horror movie, Anaconda, he asks if Doug would be willing to remake the film with him. Doug resists, but his wife says he needs this. So it’s interesting. She’s pushing him. Well, she sees him every day. She sees the misery, and she sees him wanting to be more, wanting to be the director he was always meant to be. Well, old friends Claire, she’s played by Thandui Newton, and Kenny, played by Steve Zahn, they’re going to help too. Claire likes Griff, so she fronts the cash. She’s got a crush on him. Kenny is a loser and drunk, so this is his last chance. Let’s go. They head to the Amazon and everything unravels. The boat they were promised isn’t available. They get another one with a gorgeous young woman named Anna. And there are armed men who are after her. So already you got some intrigue here, right? And the snake trainer, Santiago, is highly eccentric. Well, they push on, but when things go tragically wrong, they’re running from villains. Oh, no. Pretty intense, right, Ashley? Oh, yeah. It’s not Marty Supreme intense, but I’m telling you it’s intense. Then, shockingly, Griff, Doug, and their little band, they come face to face with a massive anaconda. Not the littler one that they brought. It’s a real thing. It’s huge. It’s about 50 feet long with a head like a dinosaur. And it moves fast. Well, the anaconda is a killing machine. So now they must find a way to survive it while also fleeing human villains too. It’s danger at every turn in Anaconda. Ashley, what do you think? I think I need to go see this movie. Well, there you go. What works in Anaconda? Well, the second half is best. Definitely best. Especially in a psych gag involving a pig. And that’s all I’m going to tell you. It is hilarious. All right. As expected, Black and Rudd have good chemistry. And you knew they would. While Steve Zahn, he plays his usual loser self. And he does it well. Steve Zahn almost always plays the loser. And some characters are just really good at it. Right. And Steve Buscemi. Maybe it’s all Steve’s. All right. I’m not sure. But they play incredible losers. And he does it well. Let’s see here. The snake is scary. It’s Jurassic Park stuff. And the film clocks in at a tidy little hour and 39 minutes. Ooh, I like a nice short film. Well, that helped me after Marty Supreme, I’ll tell you. Okay, that was a bit rough. What else works in Anaconda? Nothing, in my opinion, unfortunately. Here we go. What doesn’t work in Anaconda? Well, where to begin? This movie is flat out not funny most of the time. That’s highly disappointing. It is highly disappointing because you got such incredible talents. Those three guys right there and the girls in this are really good, too. You’ve got talent all over the place. The script is really lacking. It just is. The first half is lifeless. And Corey and I were just looking at each other like, is this going to take off anytime here pretty soon? Because the two lead actors are mugging for the camera with these lines that just aren’t hitting. So they’re saying lines and they’re doing them right. And they’re just not very funny for the most part. Naturally, the plot is ridiculous. That’s not a big issue, but it’s no strength either. The villain provides a plot twist, but it’s hard to care. And the South American characters are truly awful. Daniela Melchior, and I’ve seen her in other things. She’s a supermodel as Anna, but she can’t act. I’m sorry. I was not impressed at all. They should have made the film without any of these characters, honestly. I would have taken all the villains out and just had this group fighting the anaconda. Let’s get to it, man.
SPEAKER 05 :
I thought you were saying just give you an hour and a half of just the snake.
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, you know, fighting it. Yeah. I mean, I would have gotten to the snake a lot sooner. Psych gags like the pig. They should have had four more of them. Okay. Some really funny moments. I wanted to see more Jumanji and less of this is what I really want to see. I don’t know if you’ve seen Jumanji. Yeah. How many times did you laugh in Jumanji?
SPEAKER 05 :
I was laughing throughout the whole thing.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, there you go. Now you get it. Okay, that’s what I want to see when I see one of these adventure comedies, and especially an adventure comedy horror. Those are fun. I enjoy those. There were moments, don’t get me wrong, but way too few. And I did read through, oh, about a dozen other reviews. I like to peruse and see what the other reviews. It was almost universal. Not nearly funny enough. Not nearly funny enough. Not nearly funny enough. Okay. Selton Mello is excruciating as Santiago the snake trainer. I mean, he’s supposed to be funny, but it’s just weird and pointless. Please, please feed this guy to the snake. Hey, I’ll help. All right. That’s how I was feeling. I want this guy eaten. OK, get him off the screen. I’m rooting for the snake. When you’re rooting for the snake, you’re probably not real happy with the movie. There’s a urination scene that’s supposed to be a knee slapper. It’s an epic fail. OK, with Steve’s on, it’s just I mean, it’s OK. It’s just not very funny.
SPEAKER 05 :
I hate to keep bringing up Jumanji, but it’s like you can’t do a urination scene right after Jumanji made. They’re so funny.
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, that’s just it. Jumanji had the, I know people are saying, okay, it’s KLZ radio and we’re talking urination. Sorry, folks, I’m being honest about the movie. The Jumanji scene with that was hysterical. Absolutely hysterical. Jack Black just knocked it out of the park, didn’t he?
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah.
SPEAKER 04 :
He was so funny. That’s his niche. Oh, my gosh. It’s totally his niche. And here, it’s not that Steve Zahn didn’t do everything he could with the script. He did. It just wasn’t very funny. All right? The snake, CGI. Okay, it comes and goes. I’ll be honest. There are impressive moments, but there are plenty of cheesy, cheap moments, too. And here’s the thing. With the size and speed of this snake, how could anyone survive in that jungle? I mean, seriously. At least in Jurassic Park with the T-Rex, it doesn’t move that fast, and it has to move its head side to side.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, your horror creature has to have some kind of weakness to build that tension.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, not this thing. It flies through the water. It flies along the ground. It’s lightning fast. It gobbles people up instantly. It is, you know, I mean, it’s like a perfect killing machine. It’s worse than Alien. All right. Because it’s a lot bigger. OK. And and so I’m just thinking to myself, if you have this thing really out in this section of the jungle, would everybody be dead everywhere?
SPEAKER 05 :
Probably.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, because this thing doesn’t stop feeding. All right. They try a pyrotechnic scene for killing the steak, which is embarrassing. Oh, my gosh. It was so lame. Oh, sure. Lighting off some silly little explosions on each side of this monster are really going to hurt it. No, they aren’t. That’s BBs against a tank. What are you doing? It was boring. It was stupid. The final scene is set up a couple minutes in advance and takes forever to finish. Get to it. We see what you’re about to do. Do it. Okay. Hour 39, so basically an hour 40, right? It felt longer. You know, it didn’t feel two and a half, nothing like that, but it felt pretty close to two. It was dragging, and there just weren’t enough jokes hitting. You weren’t really milking these wonderful comedic talents. Now, Rotten Tomatoes gave this 51%. Which for a short movie like this, that is a total crowd-pleasing type of movie, that’s a low score.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah.
SPEAKER 04 :
Okay, that’s a low score. I’m going to give it quality one and a half stars. I’m going lower. All right? And don’t get me wrong. The one and a half stars are deserved because there’s one and a half stars of really good sight gags and moments in this movie. Cool moments. Okay? Problem is you got three and a half stars of boredom. And that’s the problem. Political three, moral religious three, doesn’t preach at all. I like that. Folks, do I recommend going to Anaconda? No, I don’t. But if you do, I will say this, because there are a lot of long movies that have come out in the last couple weeks. Really long and not worth the time. Not worth the time. I will say this. Anaconda was the least painful movie I’ve been to in the last couple weeks. It really was. It was easier. I could handle it more. So if you just want to go see an action comedy with a big snake, is it going to be terrible, terrible? No, it isn’t. It’s just not going to be a lot of fun. This isn’t Jumanji, folks. I know you’re hoping for that. You’re not going to get it. I don’t recommend Anaconda. There you go.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, I recommend staying home and just watching Jumanji.
SPEAKER 04 :
Yeah, rent Jumanji. Then you’ll be happy. Okay, up next is Geno’s Auto Service. That’ll make you happy. If you’re on the west side of town, get your car fixed by the best. Call Geno’s at 303-794-6700.
SPEAKER 02 :
It’s the holiday season and a great time to take advantage of Geno’s Auto Services Alignment and Tire Rotation Special. Winter in Colorado can be tough on your car. Now, through the end of the month, save $30 and get your vehicle aligned and all four tires rotated. Geno’s can also check to see that your heater is working properly with the cold months ahead. Have you ever noticed how your tires have a way of finding holes in the pavement? With consistent alignments every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, your vehicle will get better gas mileage and longer tire life. At Geno’s, we offer loaner vehicles so you can drop your car off and pick up when ready. Geno’s is AAA approved and located at Bowles and Platt Canyon. Save $30 on an alignment and tire rotation. Geno’s Auto Services is celebrating our 43rd holiday season. Thank you to all our clients and longtime customers for your patronage and support. We truly appreciate it. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Stop in or visit us online at genosautoservice.com.
SPEAKER 04 :
Cub Creek Heating and Air. Hey, your heater is working. That’s great, okay, but will it still work in February? Folks, don’t guess. Don’t have a freezing night when the thing is out. Be sure with an honest inspection from Cub Creek at 303-656-5467.
SPEAKER 03 :
Cup Creek Heating and AC are your friends in the business, here to help you navigate the new ultra-low NOx regulations taking effect January 1st. These changes could raise your energy bill by $60 to $100 a month. And after the new Colorado legislation takes effect, replacing a unit could cost up to 60% more. Cup Creek isn’t like those big corporate HVAC companies. They’re a father and son team who care more about doing what’s right than pushing a sale. In fact, Hunter talks often about how the industry has shifted towards sales instead of comfort and how Cub Creek refuses to operate that way. Hunter and the ream certified pro partner technicians at Cub Creek are true craftsmen. They take pride in their work. They operate with integrity and they’re always on your side. So let them give you an honest assessment of your furnace. If it still has life left, they’ll tell you. And if it’s time for a replacement, they’ll walk you through easy, affordable options before the new regulations drive prices up. Schedule your no-obligation consultation today at klzradio.com slash HVAC.
SPEAKER 04 :
Ridgeline Auto Brokers. Right now, new cars are too expensive. Luke, is that true?
SPEAKER 08 :
That is very true.
SPEAKER 04 :
That is very true. So get used cars at dealers you can trust with Ridgeline. For locations in Boulder and Fort Collins, find Ridgeline Auto at klzradio.com.
SPEAKER 18 :
Looking for the right car at the right price? Ridgeline Auto Brokers makes it easy. They specialize in quality vehicles priced between $15,000 and $25,000. Perfect for first-time drivers, families, or anyone who wants real value without the hassle. Every vehicle is thoroughly inspected by Legacy Automotive, a trusted drive radio sponsor. That means you can buy with confidence knowing your next ride is ready for the road. No dealer fees. Competitive financing and trades are welcomed. A 30-day warranty on every vehicle and your first oil change is just $1. Explore detailed videos of every car at RidgelineAutobrokers.com before you visit. Ridgeline also has a great consignment program to assist you in the sale of your car, truck, or SUV. So if you’re ready to buy, trade, or sell your vehicle, call 303-442-4141 or visit RidgelineAutoBrokers.com. Ridgeline Auto Brokers, the right car, the right price, right now.
SPEAKER 01 :
Now back to Rush to Reason on KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 04 :
And welcome back to Rush to Reason. Denver’s Afternoon Rush. KLZ 560. Andy Pate filling in for John Rush. Along with Ashley Cart. Her. And Luke Cash. Man. That’s right. Okay. Man and her. Okay. Guys. Really quick here. We’ve got a minute and a half. Comedies. I believe comedies are like a foot fingerprint. Okay. In that different people like totally different comedies. They do. There is no wrong answer to which comedy do you like. It is so personal. Because different people like totally different. Let me give you an example. John Rush. John Rush is a highly intelligent, highly intellectual guy. Not with comedies. He doesn’t want to be. He can be. He doesn’t want to be. He wants dumb comedies to turn off the brain. He wants dumb and dumber. He wants that kind of thing because he enjoys it. Okay. And I think everybody’s different. Ashley, what do you think?
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, I mean, I would agree. My husband tends to veer towards the kind of just dumb, silly comedies. So do I. Not saying that he doesn’t have intelligent comedies, too, but I tend to go towards the intelligent comedies. I like things that have smart jokes.
SPEAKER 04 :
Smart jokes.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, like, it’s not a movie, but my husband recently got me into Futurama, and I like that because all their jokes are so smart. They’re so intellectual.
SPEAKER 04 :
Futurama is hilarious. It’s great. Okay, Luke, what do you think?
SPEAKER 07 :
Yeah, I agree.
SPEAKER 04 :
Is comedy, I mean, do the comedies you love define you?
SPEAKER 08 :
Oh, that’s a good question. Man, I don’t know. I kind of like both. One of my favorite comedies that I truly laugh the hardest at is like Super Troopers.
SPEAKER 11 :
Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER 08 :
It’s stupid, but man, I also really love like highbrow intellectual, like really smart, quippy, witty, quick stuff.
SPEAKER 04 :
It’s kind of both. But here’s the brilliance of Super Troopers really quick here and then we’ll take off. movies like that have come out that were done poorly, okay, that were boring, that dragged. There’s a brilliance in the stupidity of a great stupid comedy. It’s very true. Okay, folks, give us a call in the next hour, 303-477-5600. Let us know what comedies you like. We want to hear from you. That’s it for our number one and our two. Once again, we’re going to be doing best comedies. And until then, keep it right here on Rush to Reason, KLZ 560.
SPEAKER 11 :
Average guys. Average guys.
