Episode 115 ~ Weird: The Al Yankovic Story [2022]

This was the obvious follow-up from last week: it's the other Weird Al movie! And wouldn't you know it, this one is just as good as UHF from 1989!

Weird simultaneously skewers music documentaries with the same brand of Weird Al comedy you definitely know so well by now. To go into what it gets right (and wrong) about Al Yankovic's life story would require an entire episode itself, but what it does get right is the comedy. This film is easily on par with the cult favorite UHF.

Find out how in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Problem Child!

Episode 114 ~ UHF (1989)

We can finally cross this one off our list! After year's of promising 1989's UHF and not delivering, we eventually managed to get around to it! If you don't know what this is, I don't think I can do much to describe it in enough detail to have it make sense. It's the "Weird" Al Yankovic movie with the memes you've probably seen online.

And it not only holds up, it's still as good a movie as ever. You will have just as much of a blast watching UHF today as you did in 1989.

Check out why in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Weird!

Episode 124 - Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984) [Revisited]

Once again we take a fresh look at a movie we don't think we covered very well at the beginning of our run. That would be the sequel to the megahit Breakin' from 1984! We originally saw this in abysmal quality and it quite affected our enjoyment of it.

However, watching it with fresh eyes, years separated from our first episode on it shows how much we missed on that viewing. Check the episode to see exactly how our thoughts have shifted since, and why we now highly recommend Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo more than we even do the original film! It's more enjoyable than you think!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Up Next: The Company of Wolves!

Episode 109 - The Apple (1980) [Revisited]

We said this season would be a little different! Turns out we decided to rewatch one of our earliest covered films since we now have more perspective to cover it. That's right, we gave another look to 1980's infamous musical The Apple!

What exactly changed in our opinion from last time? You'll have to give the episode a listen to find out, but you would be surprised. There is quite a lot to discuss in this film as it is, and we go over all we can. Turns out there might be more to it than we originally thought.

But at the end of the day, it's still The Apple. That hasn't changed!

Randy's Score: 2/5

JD's Score: 2/5

Up Next: Tough Guys Don't Dance!

Non-Cannon ~ Episode 56 - The Forbidden Dance (1990)

For the final episode this year we are taking a gander at the other lambada movie of 1990, this being the one released by Golan to compete with his cousin's own movie. There is a bit of a behind the scenes story as to how all this happened, but that is mostly covered in the episode above. As for this movie, it is far more confused and less coherent than Cannon's effort, but definitely worth the discussion.

Somehow Golan and Globus keep surprising, even over a decade since claiming Cannon for themselves. It's been quite a season, but we're finally nearing the end on this overlong season. Keep tuning in as we continue into next year!

Randy's Score: 1/5

JD's Score: 2/5

Up Next: Midnight Ride!

Episode 87 - Lambada (1990)

1989 was not a good year for Cannon, but they tried changing tact a bit with 1990. Instead of focusing on hastily assembled action movies that had nowhere near the care of their best work, they leaned harder on their lower budget work. It ended up creating an intriguing gem in Rockula and creating quite a fun little picture in Lambada.

It's not quite up their with their best, but it's a fun little picture that we enjoyed talking about. Our full impressions above should make that clear.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Up Next: The Forbidden Dance!

Episode 85 - Rockula (1990)

This was a surprise. We haven't had the best luck with musicals on Cannon Cruisers, we especially didn't enjoy the infamous bomb known as The Apple. The songs just weren't that good and the plot was confusing. However, Rockula was a very different experience from that. For one: we actually enjoyed it!

This movie is bizarre, but it uses its creativity to its advantage, creating a plot and cast of characters as memorable as its soundtrack. The result is a cult classic that deserves its cult status. If anything, it deserves a bit more attention than what it gets. Find out why in the episode above!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Up Next: The Adventures of Hercules!

Episode 67 - Salsa (1988)

During the 80s the dance movies reigned supreme. We've already covered some of Cannon's biggest hits and misses in the genre, but this is one few talk about. It's not the best, or even all that great, but it has quite a few surprisingly good bits to it. Be sure to listen to the episode above to hear exactly why.

And get ready to party!

Randy's Score: 2/5
JD's Score: 2/5



Up Next: The Philadelphia Experiment!

Episode 48 - Dutch Treat (1987)

Now we return to our normal schedule of movies.

This one is a bit of an odd duck in that we don't know when this one properly was released to theaters or how long it was there for. We aren't even sure if anyone was aware this movie existed. It's so strange that it's hard to imagine that it did.

Starring the pair from Detective School Dropouts, a movie we both detested, this one is instead part music movie and part screwball comedy. Nonetheless, this isn't all that good. However, it did impress us in several ways that surprised us. See the episode to understand why, but it wasn't as painful as we expected.

What a weird way to begin season 4!

Randy's Score: 2/5
JD's Score: 2/5


Up Next: Assassination!

Episode 26 - Rappin' (1985)

What is considered the end of the unofficial Breakin' trilogy, Rappin' stars Mario Van Peebles as an ex-con with a gift for the gab. Ostensibly a musical, Rappin' shows the rise of a rapper as he also fights to protect his neighborhood from land developers.

As you can tell, this film has a lot in common with the last Breakin' film in its plot, but thankfully the result isn't anywhere near as dismal. Not a good film, but not a disaster, either. Check out our full thoughts above.

Randy's Score: 2/5
JD's Score: 2/5


Up Next: Invasion USA

Episode 24 - Thunder Alley (1985)

In the tradition of the band movie comes this entry from Cannon. Join these ragtag musicians as they rise up from the bar scene toward stardom as temptations such as drugs and women lure them astray. Basically, if you've ever seen a band movie then you know where this is going. There aren't very many wrinkles in this one.

That said, it's a pleasant enough watch that is enjoyable on its own. If you like a solid band film then this might be for you. Tune in to listen to our full thoughts on this obscure music film.

Randy's Score: 3/5
JD's Score: 3/5


Up Next: Escape From New York

Episode 17 - Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)

The original Breakin' was a surprise hit for Cannon. No one expected it to be that big, and yet it was a phenom. There was nothing particularly great about the film. It was a dance picture with a lot of charm and spirit and was a guilty pleasure for many. But it was also a surprise hit, being one of Cannon's most profitable movies. This led to a sequel being cranked out remarkably fast to capitalize on their success. Unfortunately, the result of striking when the iron was hot lead to this film.

While the original was unremarkable and yet absorbing, this film is an objective failure on every front. The plot is missing, the dancing is ridiculous, and the acting is even worse. Breakin' 2 is everything a sequel shouldn't be, and well deserves the reputation it has.

To find out our full thoughts, check out the episode above. Needless to say, we hated it.

Randy's Score: 1/5
JD's Score: 1/5


Up Next: Season 01 Wrap-Up!

Episode 15 - Ninja III: The Domination (1984)

Happy New Year! Today we great the end of 2017 with the end of Cannon's Ninja Anthology trilogy. Unlike the first two, this one is bonkers.

Starring Lucinda Dickey and Sho Kosugi, Ninja 3 contains horror elements, dance movie elements, and action movie elements into one almost cohesive whole. None of the three actually mix, but they're all pretty inoffensive and make up for one entertaining package.

That said, it is the weakest of the three and will probably only be enjoyed by those who liked the first two. It still remains recommended, however.

Randy's Score: 3/5
JD's Score: 3/5


Up Next: Missing in Action

Episode 12 - Breakin' (1984)

Breakin' was a movie unlike any other that eventually became a template for films that made it like every other.

This is a dancing movie filled with break-dancing and old school hip hop. There's a pretty standard plot to go along with the then-new music. It was made to capitalize on the break-dancing trend at the time and was a big hit due to impeccable timing.

It also holds up surprisingly well. The music is great, the dancing is exciting, and the film oozes charm.

To hear out full impressions, listen to the full episode above.

Randy's Score: 3/5
JD's Score: 3/5


Up Next: Making the Grade!

Episode 4 - The Apple (1980)

After an unexpected delay, today we bring you our review of The Apple directed and written by Menahem Golan.

This film is a story about two new arrivals from the country who sign a deal with a totalitarian record label and end up absorbed into the tortured world of the music industry. We start as the begin their career at their first performance and end at the rapture as they are brought to heaven in a Rolls Royce. Yes, the movie is a (very) loose adaption of The Book of Genesis with songs written by someone you wouldn't expect.

If you haven't surmised by now, this film is awful. It is not awful on the same level as anything we have reviewed so far: those movies were competent and just not made very well. This was flawed on every level from conception to execution to acting to pacing to music and to the basic level of simple storytelling. The other movies were just bad films-- The Apple is legitimately one of the worst movies ever made. Listen to the full review to hear why.

Randy's Score: 1/5
JD's Score: 1/5


Up Next: Enter the Ninja