You know we love our wrestling here at the BFE (well… some of us do). Join Ian as he's joined by Stew from the Stew World Order as we once again break format and lace up the boots for a deep dive into SummerSlam 2025.
We’re asking the big questions: were we fooled by a worked injury? Has Cody Rhodes finally stopped crying? Should Johnny Gargano and Candace LaRae be in couples counselling? What do you do when what's called "literal handcuffs" aren't actually handcuffs on a card that will have actual handcuffs later in the night? Why is SmackDown's tag roster so strong compared to Raw and the same for Raw's women's division vs Smackdown? How do we feel about the John Cena heel turn, it's subsequent babyface turn and the big surprise ending to both nights?
Plus, Ian reveals a punny future feud for Big Bronson Reed.
We’re unpacking all that and more from WWE SummerSlam 2025—and of course, we’ll tell you whether you should SEE IT or SKIP IT.
Hear so much more of Stew on his website - https://swoproductions.com/
and on his podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stew-world-order/id1559913522
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6fLcKIHFrYBwMqhFryFMM6
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Episode 290 - The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad
“Nice beaver.” / “Thanks, I just had it stuffed. Join Ian & B-Tech Kev for our 290th episode as we suit up, slip up, and dive headfirst into the gloriously ridiculous world of The Naked Gun (1988). We’re trading time-travelling dystopias for banana peels, police files, and a barrage of visual gags as we discuss:
In slapstick, how silly is too silly? Is there a line—or is the whole point to obliterate it with a steamroller and a tuba?
Kev shares stories from his recent trip to New York City: the sights, the sounds, and whether each of us are New York or Los Angeles people
Ian talks about the return of the weight game and how this is a summer of inward reflection
Ian also shares some personal stories about his father—and how certain films like The Naked Gun carry more than just laughs; they carry memories.
We explore Leslie Nielsen’s genius—how his straight-faced absurdity became the gold standard for parody.
Can a film this silly still resonate in today’s comedy landscape? Or is this brand of humour an extinct species?
Do background jokes, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sight gags, and tightly wound chaos make this more than just a spoof—Does it become precision parody?
Baseball anthems, the Queen in peril, exploding toilets, and a police officer with the worst undercover skills in cinematic history.
And finally, whether The Naked Gun is the Best Film Ever—or just a walk down memory lane
Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE.
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Episode 289 - Idiocracy (w/ BFF of the BFE: Synthia)
“Welcome to Costco. I love you.” Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian & Liam – with BFF of the BFE: Synthia beaming in from the not-so-distant future as we crack open the absurd, prophetic, and depressingly accurate Idiocracy (2006). We’re trading shark-infested waters for Gatorade-irrigated crops and President Camacho in our 289th episode as we ask:
Was Idiocracy always this smart, or has the world just gotten that dumb?
We explore how a film that bombed at release has somehow become the most referenced dystopia not named Orwell.
What does it say about society that Mike Judge’s lowbrow future doesn’t seem that far off?
Synthia breaks down the subtle and not-so-subtle satire—and why this film still hits different in a post-algorithm world.
Ian wonders whether the comedy lands… or whether it’s just too bleak to laugh anymore.
Liam confesses which part of the film made him physically cringe (hint: it's not just the opening montage).
We talk about the difference between satire and smugness, and where Idiocracy walks that tightrope.
Is the film's central conceit plausible… or offensively oversimplified?
With the film's conceit being that everyone is stupid, are we allowed to get frustrated with the tone for being too stupid?
Why Terry Crews as President Camacho might be the most pitch-perfect casting choice in a dystopian comedy ever.
What modern products or trends Idiocracy weirdly predicted (we’re looking at you, reality TV and clickbait).
And finally, whether Idiocracy is the Best Film Ever—or just the most important film people still haven’t seen.
Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE.
We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:
Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
Hermes Auslander
James DeGuzman
Synthia
Shai Bergerfroind
Ariannah Who Loves BFE The Most
Andy Dickson
Chris Pedersen
Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
Randal Silva
Nate The Great
Rev Bruce
Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
Richard
Ryan Kuketz
Dirk Diggler
Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
NorfolkDomus
John Humphrey's Right Foot
Timmy Tim Tim
Aashrey
Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/.
Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of Mistake by Luckydog. Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor, at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor.
Also, massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song. You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/.
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2:38:08
See It or Skip It? - Fantastic Four: First Steps
FIRST 43:15: Spoiler-Free Review with our See It/Skip It Verdict
AFTER 43:15: Full Spoiler Review
It’s another edition of See It or Skip It, and this time Ian is back with Stew from SWO Productions as they stretch, flame on, go invisible, and rock up for Fantastic Four: First Steps — Marvel’s long-awaited reboot of its first family.
But does First Steps finally get the formula right, or are we in for another cosmic misfire? Ian and Stew dive into Marvel’s bold new take on Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben to see whether this origin story is a launchpad for greatness or just another lab experiment gone wrong.
Is the chemistry there? Does this new cast feel like a family, or a focus group-approved placeholder for bigger MCU plans? The lads explore whether First Steps captures the heart, weirdness, and wonder of Marvel’s most important team—or if it's just spinning its wheels in the Negative Zone.
How do you reboot a franchise that’s already had multiple false starts? Is this a fresh coat of cosmic paint, or more of the same with shinier suits?
All this and more in this week’s See It or Skip It review of Fantastic Four: First Steps—and of course, Ian and Stew will let you know if you should SEE IT or SKIP IT.
Here so much more of Stew on his website - https://swoproductions.com/
and on his podcast
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stew-world-order/id1559913522
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6fLcKIHFrYBwMqhFryFMM6
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Episode 288 - Jaws (featuring Carlo from The Movie Loot)
“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting crew – Ian & Megs – as we head out to sea with special guest Carlo from The Movie Loot for our 288th episode, diving deep into Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster breakthrough Jaws (1975). We’re trading crane kicks for chum buckets and mechanical shark mishaps as we discuss:
The real-life beef between Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw—method acting, ego clashes, and barbed insults at sea.
Spielberg’s first reaction to hearing the now-iconic Jaws theme from John Williams… and why he thought it was a joke.
Just how crucial it is to find an actress who can tick all the boxes—especially when it comes to screaming convincingly.
The urban legend behind the film’s POV shots—and whether the broken shark really made the film better.
Is the actual shark reveal a thrilling payoff… or a rubbery letdown? We break down whether it holds water.
We all agreed it’s a film of two halves—but did we agree on which half was better?
Would Jaws still work with a female character in one (or more) of the core trio? We explore casting, gender dynamics, and cabin tension.
How many big screams should a film have? Is there a magic number—or do we just love that head-in-the-boat moment too much?
Does Brody have the worst wife ever for casually revealing his deepest fear to a total stranger at dinner?
The key changes from the Peter Benchley novel—and why most of them were for the better (goodbye, mafia subplot).
Why Spielberg was convinced he'd never work again after Jaws—and how it nearly swallowed his career whole before making him a legend.
And finally, whether Jaws is the Best Film Ever.
Catch so much more of Carlo on The Movie Loot on Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-movie-loot/id1578191119
or on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/4o5ZvtvZ64XAoxIIxiAj1q
Become a Patron of this podcast and support the BFE at https://www.patreon.com/BFE.
We are extremely thankful to our following Patrons for their most generous support:
Juleen from It Goes Down In The PM
Hermes Auslander
James DeGuzman
Synthia
Shai Bergerfroind
Ariannah Who Loves BFE The Most
Andy Dickson
Chris Pedersen
Duane Smith (Duane Smith!)
Randal Silva
Nate The Great
Rev Bruce
Cheezy (with a fish on a bike)
Richard
Ryan Kuketz
Dirk Diggler
Stew from the Stew World Order podcast
NorfolkDomus
John Humphrey's Right Foot
Timmy Tim Tim
Aashrey
Buy some BFE merch at https://my-store-b4e4d4.creator-spring.com/.
Massive thanks to Lex Van Den Berghe for the use of Mistake by Luckydog. Catch more from Lex's new band, The Maids of Honor, at https://soundcloud.com/themaidsofhonor.
Also, massive thanks to Moonlight Social for our age game theme song. You can catch more from them at https://www.moonlightsocialmusic.com/.
South Africa