Bad Dads Film Review

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! This week, we're diving headfirst into the chaotic, outrageous, and undeniably quotable world of Wedding Crashers (2005), a film that helped define mid-2000s comedy with its mix of raunch, romance, and relentless party energy.Directed by David Dobkin, the film stars Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn as John and Jeremy—divorce mediators by day and professional wedding crashers by night. Their philosophy? Weddings are the perfect place to score free food, drinks, and flings, all while soaking up the joyful atmosphere and dancing with old ladies.Everything changes when the pair infiltrates a high-profile political wedding hosted by the powerful Cleary family. What begins as another con turns unexpectedly sincere when John falls for Claire Cleary (played by Rachel McAdams), throwing a wrench into the duo’s longstanding bro-code. Meanwhile, Jeremy finds himself entangled in a wildly unhinged relationship with Claire's aggressively forward sister Gloria (Isla Fisher), leading to one of the film’s most memorable comedic arcs.The movie thrives on the chemistry between Vaughn and Wilson, with Vaughn delivering mile-a-minute riffs and Wilson grounding the story with unexpected romantic sincerity. It’s a perfect example of the era’s “man-child comedy” formula: crude jokes balanced by a sentimental core and a redemptive character arc.But let’s be honest—Wedding Crashers hasn’t aged entirely gracefully. Some of its attitudes toward dating, gender roles, and consent feel uncomfortable through a modern lens, and the film’s relentless pursuit of laughs sometimes comes at the expense of taste. That said, it still delivers big on energy, memorable one-liners, and the sheer absurdity of the crash-and-burn lifestyle.Also: shoutout to Bradley Cooper as the smarmy villainous boyfriend and Christopher Walken doing his usual weird brilliance as the Cleary patriarch. Plus, the film’s surprise cameo in the third act is still one of the all-time great rom-com twists.Ultimately, Wedding Crashers remains a significant entry in the bro-comedy canon—problematic in parts, yes, but undeniably influential and still packed with crowd-pleasing laughs. Whether you're in it for the romance or the ridiculousness, there’s plenty to talk about. 🎉💒🥂🕺💬We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! This week we’re dusting off our ruffled shirts and setting our time machines to the 1980s as we revisit The Wedding Singer (1998), a rom-com that’s equal parts sweet, silly, and synth-soaked.Directed by Frank Coraci and starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, this nostalgic crowd-pleaser finds Sandler in perhaps his most charming role as Robbie Hart, a down-on-his-luck wedding singer trying to recover from heartbreak. After being jilted at the altar, Robbie befriends Julia (Barrymore), a waitress engaged to a Grade-A sleazeball, and the two strike up a will-they-won’t-they friendship filled with awkward moments, big hair, and a killer retro soundtrack.The Wedding Singer balances slapstick with sincerity and is elevated by the natural chemistry between its leads. Barrymore’s sweetness softens Sandler’s usual chaos, making for a genuinely endearing romantic pairing. And let’s not forget Christine Taylor, Steve Buscemi’s brilliant drunken best man speech, and Billy Idol playing himself in one of the most gloriously absurd plane-based finales ever filmed.The movie also serves as a love letter to the 1980s, cramming in everything from breakdancing to New Wave fashion to Wall Street-era villainy. It’s unashamedly sentimental, but also knowingly daft—like a mixtape of cheesy love songs and punchy jokes that somehow hits all the right notes.Whether you grew up in the ‘80s or just wish you had, The Wedding Singer delivers that warm, fuzzy vibe that makes it ideal for rewatching with mates—or maybe even at a wedding. 🎤💍🕺🍾🎬We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review, where this week we’re going full rom-com with a film that brings swagger, charm, and a surprisingly heartfelt message to the genre: Hitch (2005).Directed by Andy Tennant and starring Will Smith in peak smooth-talking form, Hitch follows Alex “Hitch” Hitchens, a professional dating consultant known as the “Date Doctor.” His job? Helping awkward men win over the women of their dreams. His golden rule? No tricks, just helping guys be the best version of themselves. But when Hitch meets his match in cynical gossip columnist Sara Melas (played by Eva Mendes), he quickly discovers that love isn’t something you can plan—or dodge.Alongside the central romance, the film pairs Kevin James and Amber Valletta in a charmingly awkward subplot where Hitch tries to coach James’ character, Albert, into wooing a high-powered heiress. The physical comedy here is excellent, and James’ earnestness offers a perfect counterpoint to Smith’s practiced cool.What sets Hitch apart from other rom-coms of its era is its big-hearted message: behind every confident exterior, there’s vulnerability, and real connection comes from authenticity. It’s stylish, funny, and doesn’t take itself too seriously—but still manages to land some surprisingly sincere moments.Will Smith brings effortless charisma, but it's the ensemble that makes the film tick, and its breezy pacing keeps the whole thing light and engaging. Hitch might be formulaic in structure, but it sticks the landing thanks to strong performances and a script that knows when to wink and when to swoon.Perfect for a date night, guilty pleasure viewing, or just remembering when rom-coms had swagger and sincerity in equal measure. 💘🕶️🕺📓🎬We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review, where things get a little surreal this week as we juggle fire-eaters, human oddities, and digital freakshows in our Top 5 Circuses in Film and TV. We also run away to the big top with Guillermo del Toro’s noir thriller Nightmare Alley, and finish with the technicolour brain-melt that is The Amazing Digital Circus.🎪 Top 5 Circuses in Film and TV:1. The Circus (1928) – Charlie Chaplin’s silent-era classic features The Tramp joining a circus by accident and—naturally—becoming its star. Melancholy and magic in perfect balance.2. Dumbo (1941) – Disney’s iconic tale of the big-eared elephant is equal parts heart-breaking and heart-warming. A cautionary tale about cruelty under the big top.3. The Greatest Showman (2017) – Hugh Jackman’s razzle-dazzle musical take on P.T. Barnum’s life is light on facts but heavy on spectacle (and earworms).4. Nightmare Alley (2021) – Guillermo del Toro paints the circus in grotesque hues in this moody noir where carny life is a gateway to darker temptations.5. The Amazing Digital Circus (2023– ) – This animated YouTube sensation turns the circus concept inside out, trapping characters in a surreal digital hellscape ruled by a chaotic AI ringmaster. It's wild, weird, and surprisingly poignant.🎥 Main Feature: Nightmare Alley (2021)Del Toro’s remake of the 1947 noir is a haunting, slow-burn descent into manipulation, identity, and the rot lurking under showbiz sheen. Bradley Cooper stars as Stanton Carlisle, a drifter who learns the tricks of mentalism at a travelling carnival, only to push the illusion too far in the high-society circuits of New York.The early circus scenes are packed with atmosphere—muddy tents, geek shows, and broken dreams—and del Toro leans hard into classic noir aesthetics, all velvet shadows and moral ambiguity. Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, and Rooney Mara round out a strong cast, but it’s Cate Blanchett who steals the second act as a coolly manipulative psychiatrist.It’s a stylish, cynical fable about ambition, deception, and the masks we wear—under the tent and in the world.📺 Kids Feature: The Amazing Digital CircusThis one might not be for everyone, but it’s become a phenomenon. Set in a liminal VR prison run by the hyperactive and unhinged Caine, this wildly stylised show follows digital avatars trying to retain their sanity in a world where logic and limbs can bend at any moment.It’s bright, bizarre, existential, and occasionally terrifying—like ReBoot meets Five Nights at Freddy’s, with a dash of Beetlejuice energy. For older kids and teens into edgy internet humour, it’s compelling, creepy, and oddly emotional.🎭 Discussion Points:Why is the circus such a fertile space for stories about identity, illusion, and reinvention?Nightmare Alley as a mirror to both carny life and high society: are they really so different?Can a digital circus be more unsettling than a real one?Whether it's big toWe love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! This week, we travel back to the shadowy underworld of post-revolutionary France with The Emperor of Paris (2018), a gritty historical crime drama that combines lavish period detail with pulpy intrigue and one of France’s most infamous figures—Eugène-François Vidocq.Directed by Jean-François Richet (Mesrine), The Emperor of Paris stars Vincent Cassel as Vidocq, a real-life criminal turned detective who forged a remarkable path from the depths of prison to become the head of France’s first modern detective agency. This cinematic retelling dramatizes his journey as he battles both the criminal underworld he once ruled and the powerful institutions that mistrust his redemption.The film excels in its production design, immersing viewers in the dank alleys, foggy courtyards, and grand salons of Napoleonic Paris. The costumes, sets, and atmosphere evoke an oppressive, corrupt society where everyone’s wearing a mask—metaphorically, if not literally.Cassel brings gravitas and grit to the role of Vidocq, portraying him not as a clean-cut hero but a deeply flawed, resourceful survivor—a man at constant war with his past and those who’d rather see him dead than reformed.Why It Stands OutVincent Cassel is magnetic as ever, anchoring the film with intensity and quiet menace.The action sequences—knife fights in narrow passageways, rooftop chases, and prison breaks—are shot with stylish energy.It explores themes of identity, reputation, and redemption, questioning whether a man can ever truly escape his past.A Dad’s TakeIf you like your period dramas with more grime than gloss, The Emperor of Paris delivers. It’s a fascinating look at a real historical figure who straddled both sides of the law. Think Les Misérables with less singing and more stabbing. Not quite a family watch—but definitely one for fans of moody, slow-burn crime epics.🎩⚔️🇫🇷📜We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review, where this week we slither into our Top 5 Snakes in movies and TV, and shed our skins with two slinky features: the gritty 2023 Hong Kong action flick The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon, and a far more family-friendly offering in Patchwork Pals.Top 5 Snakes in Film & TVKaa – The Jungle Book (1967/2016) Hypnotic eyes, silky voice, and a penchant for wrapping himself around unsuspecting jungle creatures—Kaa is the ultimate slithering villain. Whether voiced by Sterling Holloway or Scarlett Johansson, he leaves a lasting impression.Nagini – Harry Potter series Voldemort’s devoted reptilian sidekick and eventual Horcrux, Nagini is both a terrifying presence and a tragic figure with a deeper backstory revealed in Fantastic Beasts.Snake Plissken – Escape from New York (1981) OK, not a literal snake—but Kurt Russell’s eye-patched anti-hero is too iconic to leave off. He’s venomous in attitude if not species.The Basilisk – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) A giant snake living in Hogwarts’ plumbing system? Sure. Just don’t look it in the eyes.Sir Hiss – Disney’s Robin Hood (1973) This snooty, sycophantic serpent floats around in a basket and gets on everyone’s nerves—just the sort of snake you love to hiss at.Main Feature: The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon (2023)Directed by Wong Ching-po, this brutal neo-noir action thriller tells the story of Mok, a terminally ill gangster who finds out he has only days to live. With nothing left to lose, he sets out on a violent spree to go out in a blaze of infamy. But as his legend grows, so does the bounty on his head—and he becomes prey for a series of contract killers with styles as flamboyant as they are deadly.With its hyper-stylized violence, morally bankrupt characters, and pitch-black humour, this one is not for the faint of heart. It’s a fever dream of bloodshed, masculinity, and fatalism, with moments that almost border on the surreal. The action choreography is tight, the visuals are stylish, and the tone walks a fine line between grindhouse and art film. There are snakes here—not just the metaphorical kind—and they’re not easy to charm.Kids TV: Patchwork PalsIn need of something to balance out the darkness? Enter Patchwork Pals, the gentle animated show aimed at preschoolers. Each short episode centres on a different soft toy animal who has a problem—and must find a creative, cooperative solution. The snake in Patchwork Pals is a colourful, friendly creature who isn't scary at all—just a bit stuck and in need of help from their pals.Wholesome, sweet, and ideal for very young viewers, it’s the kind of thing that soothes minds and teaches emotional intelligence, problem-solving, and kindness.Whether you’re charmed or chilled, this week’s show is full of bite. 🐍💥👶🎬We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review, where this week we tackle one of the more provocative and unexpected Southern dramas of the 2000s: Black Snake Moan. Directed by Craig Brewer (coming off the back of Hustle & Flow), this 2006 film is a steamy, blues-soaked morality tale that’s equal parts sweaty melodrama, redemption story, and twisted fairy tale.Set in the heat-hazed Deep South, the film centres around Lazarus (Samuel L. Jackson), a recently heartbroken, God-fearing bluesman trying to make sense of his life after his wife leaves him. One morning he discovers Rae (Christina Ricci), a beaten, half-naked young woman, lying unconscious on the roadside outside his home.Rae, it turns out, is in the grip of a destructive form of hypersexuality, fuelled by childhood trauma and exacerbated by the departure of her boyfriend Ronnie (Justin Timberlake), who's been sent off to the military. Convinced that he’s been given a sign from God, Lazarus decides to "cure" Rae of her demons—by chaining her to his radiator and keeping her indoors until she’s healed.Yes, you read that right. Samuel L. Jackson gives one of his more underrated performances here, dialling down the swagger and leaning into quiet intensity. Christina Ricci is absolutely fearless—vulnerable, unhinged, and magnetic. Together, their dynamic is unpredictable and uncomfortable, but strangely compelling.Black Snake Moan is not one for a casual Friday night with the kids. It’s adult in every sense—narratively, thematically, and visually. But for those looking for a film that gets under the skin, challenges moral assumptions, and leans into some serious swampy weirdness, it’s worth the plunge.It’s also a rare thing: a redemption story that’s not afraid to be messy, ambiguous, and morally murky. You might not love it, but you probably won’t forget it.Like the blues songs it honours, Black Snake Moan is raw, aching, and full of contradictions. It’s about broken people trying to find healing in a world that doesn’t offer easy answers. Misunderstood by some, championed by others, it’s a film that howls with pain but hums with strange hope.🎸⛓️🔥🌾👨‍👧‍👦🍿We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!🎬 Miracle Mile (1988)Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! This week we’re taking a trip back to the late ’80s for a cult favourite that defies expectations and genre conventions: Miracle Mile. Written and directed by Steve De Jarnatt, this 1988 thriller starts like a quirky romantic comedy before turning into a full-blown apocalyptic nightmare. It’s a film that asks a terrifying question: what would you do if you knew the world was ending—in 70 minutes?Harry (Anthony Edwards), a sweet, slightly awkward musician, meets Julie (Mare Winningham) in Los Angeles and sparks fly. They arrange to meet later that night, but fate intervenes when Harry accidentally sleeps through his alarm. Arriving at the diner hours late, he’s met with confusion—until a random call on a payphone changes everything.The caller, believing he’s reached his father, is panicked: nuclear war is imminent. The U.S. has already launched its missiles and retaliation is on the way. Harry suddenly has the burden of knowing the world may end in just over an hour—and worse still, nobody believes him.The film unfolds in real-time as Harry tries to find Julie and escape the city, all while chaos slowly blooms around them. The once-quirky atmosphere turns dark, frantic, and despairing, as Los Angeles begins to tear itself apart in anticipation of annihilation. Underrated in its time, Miracle Mile has grown a strong cult following thanks to its uncompromising narrative and haunting synth-heavy Tangerine Dream score. It’s one of those films you watch once and can’t quite shake.Miracle Mile isn’t one for the kids. The growing sense of dread, sudden violence, and bleak ending make it better suited to older teens and adults who can appreciate its boldness and craft. It’s a film about the end of the world—on a very human scale.It also feels eerily prescient in the age of social media, misinformation, and global anxiety. The panic is contagious, and the idea that everything could fall apart in a matter of minutes hits harder than ever.A strange, sad, and singular film, Miracle Mile is one of the great what-would-you-do thrillers. It doesn’t offer easy answers or comforting closure, but what it does provide is a uniquely gripping vision of love, fear, and impending doom. A true '80s oddity that’s well worth rediscovering.💥🕒📞🌆👨‍👧‍👦🍿We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review, where this week we’re dusting off the golf clubs and heading to the green for one of Adam Sandler’s most beloved and chaotic comedies: Happy Gilmore. Directed by Dennis Dugan and released in 1996, this sports-comedy cult classic swings hard with juvenile gags, unexpected heart, and more fistfights than you’d ever expect in a golf movie.Happy Gilmore (Sandler) is a failed hockey player with a temper problem and a surprisingly powerful slapshot. After discovering that his unique (and deeply unorthodox) swing can drive a golf ball the length of a football field, he stumbles into the PGA tour—not out of love for the sport, but to raise money to save his beloved grandmother’s house from foreclosure.But golf, as it turns out, is full of smug pros, snooty country clubs, and unspoken rules. Happy’s arrival—complete with loud trousers, foul language, and literal wrestling moves—ruffles feathers, especially with tour golden boy Shooter McGavin (a scene-stealing Christopher McDonald), who quickly becomes Happy’s nemesis.With the help of former pro Chubbs Peterson (Carl Weathers, complete with a wooden hand) and love interest/publicist Virginia Venit (Julie Bowen), Happy sets out to conquer golf in his own anarchic way. There’s also an unforgettable appearance from Bob Barker—yes, that Bob Barker—in one of the most unexpected and hilarious cameos in movie history.Happy Gilmore is probably best suited to older kids and teens thanks to the language and violence (including a man being hit by a Volkswagen and another being mauled by an alligator). But for grown-up kids of the ’90s, it’s a nostalgic gem that still delivers laughs—often in spite of itself.It’s not highbrow, it’s not subtle, and it’s certainly not refined, but it knows exactly what it is: a hilarious, scrappy underdog sports comedy with a foul mouth and a huge heart.Happy Gilmore is loud, juvenile, and a little bit stupid—and that’s exactly why it works. It’s a goofy celebration of doing things your own way, sticking it to pompous gatekeepers, and punching your way to success… even on the golf course. Fore! ⛳️👊👨‍👧‍👦🍿We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads

You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!🎬 Missouri Breaks: The Ballad of Missouri Bill (2024)Welcome back to Bad Dads Film Review! This week we’re heading west—way west—with a striking little indie feature that punches well above its weight: Missouri Breaks: The Ballad of Missouri Bill. Directed by Jarrod Christman and Weston Grillo, this 2024 low-budget Western was filmed entirely in the Idaho wilderness and tells a stripped-back, gritty story of one man’s battle with his past and the unforgiving land around him.Set in the Idaho Territory in 1880, we follow the quiet, haunted figure of Missouri Bill—played with quiet intensity by Jon Grillo—a veteran of the Civil War who’s fled the violence of the East for a new life out West. But peace proves elusive. When a ghost from Bill’s bloody past emerges in the form of a mysterious pursuer, he’s forced to confront both physical and psychological demons in a brutal showdown that’s as much about memory as it is survival.Shot on location with a local cast and crew, this film leans into its limitations. There’s no grandiose shootouts or sweeping vistas here—just dusty trails, tense silences, and character-driven storytelling. The production design is minimalist but authentic, and the cinematography makes excellent use of the rugged Idaho landscape. The music—written and performed by director Jarrod Christman—underscores the mournful tone, adding a real sense of place and mood.Though made on a shoestring budget, Missouri Breaks: The Ballad of Missouri Bill is all about doing more with less. It's a quiet film, meditative in places, but with sharp edges. Think The Assassination of Jesse James on a micro-budget. The story isn’t breaking new ground, but its sincerity and focus on internal conflict give it emotional weight. And while the dialogue is sparse, the performances—particularly Grillo’s—carry the emotional load with surprising depth.This one may fly under the radar for most, but for fans of the genre—or anyone who appreciates a slow-burn indie drama with a dusty heart—this is well worth your time. It’s rough, it’s raw, and it’s got a heart as heavy as a saddlebag full of regrets.Final Verdict: A rugged, introspective indie Western that favours mood and character over action and spectacle. One for the lonesome cowboy in all of us. 🤠🌄👨‍👧‍👦🍿We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at baddadsjsy@gmail.com or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads