Klaus (2019)

JJ: 00:00:00

Because it's not untrue.

JJ: 00:00:01

Like it's, you know, someone does something nice for you and you want to do something nice for someone else.

JJ: 00:00:06

Maybe not Alec, but the rest of us kind of feel that way.

Alec: 00:00:08

I was gonna say no.

Alec: 00:00:09

I like being a dick too much.

Matz: 00:00:11

I'm not changing most normal people, but we know Alec's not normal.

JJ: 00:00:23

Welcome to the what's up Podcast where we fashion ourselves cinematic judge and Jerry.

JJ: 00:00:27

My name is JJ Carter.

JJ: 00:00:28

I'm here with my co host Matz.

Matz: 00:00:31

Better Red Than Dead and Alec Burgess.

Alec: 00:00:34

Let's get it.

JJ: 00:00:35

We appreciate you tuning in.

JJ: 00:00:36

Go ahead, hit that Follow subscribe like bell notification buttons.

JJ: 00:00:40

Hit them all.

JJ: 00:00:40

To help you keep up with our new episodes and what's coming out and get alerts and all that fun stuff.

JJ: 00:00:45

We also appreciate your help growing the podcast.

JJ: 00:00:47

So go ahead, tell a friend, family member about us.

JJ: 00:00:50

Tell a bunch of miserable townspeople about us.

JJ: 00:00:53

Maybe we'll brighten their day.

JJ: 00:00:54

You never know.

JJ: 00:00:57

See how it goes.

JJ: 00:00:58

But definitely tell an old man that makes toys in the middle of nowhere.

Alec: 00:01:02

Definitely don't tell any old men who make toys about me.

Alec: 00:01:05

Ever.

JJ: 00:01:09

Alec, those are your people.

JJ: 00:01:10

No, I'm just kidding.

JJ: 00:01:14

Yeah.

JJ: 00:01:14

We're in the final week of December and it's time for hopefully what we all consider a pretty good movie.

JJ: 00:01:22

And finally, this month or this week, we're reviewing Klaus.

JJ: 00:01:26

,: 2019

JJ: 00:01:30

It was written by Sergio Pablos, Jim Bohoney and Zach Lewis.

JJ: 00:01:35

It was directed by Sergio Pablos and Carlos Martinez Lopez.

JJ: 00:01:38

It stars Jason Schwartzman, J.K.

JJ: 00:01:41

simmons, Rashida Jones, Will Sasso, Nita, Marguerite Leiba, Sergio, Pablo, Snore McDonald, Joan Cusack and Jaden Betancourt.

JJ: 00:01:52

It is about a simple act of kindness that always sparks another, even in a frozen, far away place.

JJ: 00:01:58

When Smearnsberg new postman Jesper befriends toy maker Klaus, their gifts melt an age old feud and deliver a sleigh full of holiday traditions.

JJ: 00:02:08

Now that's a synopsis right there, gentlemen.

JJ: 00:02:12

Alec, this was your pick, buddy.

Alec: 00:02:14

Yeah, you're welcome.

JJ: 00:02:16

Yeah, way to save the month.

Matz: 00:02:17

Yeah, don't say that because you picked trash before.

Matz: 00:02:21

So, okay, thanks for balancing it out.

Alec: 00:02:24

Crash too.

Matz: 00:02:25

I know I don't have problems, but don't be saying you're welcome.

Alec: 00:02:28

Yes, you're welcome, Matson, because you like this movie.

Matz: 00:02:31

You're the person that puts out bear traps to trap them and then also puts like a jar of honey after they get trapped.

Matz: 00:02:36

And you're like, yes, I'm a sour patch kid.

Alec: 00:02:39

First I'm sour, then I'm sweet.

Alec: 00:02:41

You're proving my point.

JJ: 00:02:43

If I.

JJ: 00:02:44

I'm gonna go ahead and say thank you to the.

JJ: 00:02:46

You're welcome.

JJ: 00:02:47

Because you f.

JJ: 00:02:48

Like, I finally watched a movie for Christmas that didn't blow.

JJ: 00:02:51

So thank you.

Matz: 00:02:53

You're not here to think, Al.

Matz: 00:02:54

He's out here to make my life miserable.

Matz: 00:02:56

But I'll stop.

Matz: 00:02:57

I'll give him his air time.

Matz: 00:02:58

We'll let him talk.

JJ: 00:03:00

Yeah, tell us.

JJ: 00:03:01

Tell us why you picked this.

Alec: 00:03:03

So I stumbled on it a few years ago and loved it.

Alec: 00:03:08

And it's.

Alec: 00:03:09

I think we talked one of the previous years we've done Christmas movies about the fact that the best ones seem to be a story that can exist outside of Christmas, but Christmas is the backdrop for it, which this is.

Alec: 00:03:22

This is a great story that doesn't necessarily need to take place at Christmas, but they use as a backdrop, and it comes out.

Alec: 00:03:30

I don't know who allowed this to go through in Netflix because everything else they put out is dog shit.

Alec: 00:03:35

And then this is the one that got through, and it's phenomenal.

Alec: 00:03:39

And I've watched this outside of Christmas season because I like it so much.

Alec: 00:03:43

It's a got a banger song, good story, and great sense of humor throughout the entire thing.

Alec: 00:03:51

J.K.

Alec: 00:03:52

simmons, dude, as always.

Alec: 00:03:55

As always, it's phenomenal.

Alec: 00:03:58

So, yeah, I stumbled upon it.

Alec: 00:04:00

Just done the, you know, Netflix binge, and liked it enough to keep it around.

JJ: 00:04:05

Nice.

JJ: 00:04:07

I had seen this movie.

JJ: 00:04:09

I was gonna put this on the list too, but you beat me to it.

JJ: 00:04:13

Like I said, Netflix Christmas movies is like the staple around here.

JJ: 00:04:16

ned on back, I think probably: 2019

JJ: 00:04:25

And then she fell asleep, so I stayed up and watched it.

JJ: 00:04:29

She never actually finished watching it.

JJ: 00:04:30

And I've told her a few times, you should watch it.

JJ: 00:04:32

And then I again, like, I was watching movies I invited her to watch the other day when I was watching these, Polar Express, she got pissed.

JJ: 00:04:39

This movie sucks.

JJ: 00:04:40

And then because I back to backed Polar Express and Klaus, like, she was like, no, I don't trust your ass anymore.

JJ: 00:04:47

And so she didn't watch it yet again.

JJ: 00:04:49

So I had to remind her again when I was done, I was like, you really should watch Klaus.

JJ: 00:04:53

It's really, really good.

JJ: 00:04:54

Like, I like it, I think.

JJ: 00:04:56

And I've bitched about animation before, but I like the quirky animation that this has because of the nature of the story.

JJ: 00:05:03

And you're going to this, like, really weird place of Smearnsburg.

JJ: 00:05:07

And, like, it's just.

JJ: 00:05:08

I like it.

JJ: 00:05:09

I.

JJ: 00:05:10

I enjoy the animation.

JJ: 00:05:12

I enjoy the voice acting.

JJ: 00:05:14

It's funny.

JJ: 00:05:15

The.

JJ: 00:05:16

Yeah, there's a lot of comedic relief in there, but it still tells the story.

JJ: 00:05:20

And I.

JJ: 00:05:20

I really love, like, all the little hints at how he's, like, trying to get these letters sent and he's using the Santa Claus, like, tropes to make it happen.

JJ: 00:05:34

Like, and leans into, like, all.

JJ: 00:05:36

How all the story of Santa Claus came about through this whole situation.

JJ: 00:05:42

Like, I just, like, I think it's cute, it's funny, and I enjoyed it.

JJ: 00:05:46

Made me happy.

JJ: 00:05:47

Like, that's the kind of.

JJ: 00:05:48

This is a Christmas movie that I'm like, see, it gets it right.

JJ: 00:05:51

Like, it's not.

JJ: 00:05:54

There's a little love story in there.

JJ: 00:05:56

There's, like, kids all over the place, but there's really.

JJ: 00:05:59

It's just about the.

JJ: 00:06:00

About Christmas and the idea of, like, what it's truly about and like, that.

JJ: 00:06:05

I liked it.

JJ: 00:06:06

I really like this movie.

JJ: 00:06:08

What about you, Madsen?

JJ: 00:06:10

First time sucked.

Matz: 00:06:11

No, I wish I could.

Matz: 00:06:12

No, I don't even wish.

Matz: 00:06:13

This movie was awesome.

Matz: 00:06:16

So much to say about this movie.

Matz: 00:06:18

I think the biggest compliment is.

Matz: 00:06:20

And maybe they said this on the Patreon, but they took.

Matz: 00:06:25

They had the ability to tell what would a story about Santa Claus look like in real life in, like, a.

Matz: 00:06:33

Just a realistic manner and have, like, a step by step progression, minus the insane, like, sledding scene where they're, like, watching himself above.

Matz: 00:06:41

Above the little town.

Matz: 00:06:44

They got to throw that in there for the kids.

Matz: 00:06:45

But it was.

Matz: 00:06:46

I was just.

Matz: 00:06:47

It's just fun to see how that could play out.

Matz: 00:06:50

And then this is a movie where many of the other movies we reviewed this month actually had character progression and endeared you to the main characters and what was happening and gave you something to feel.

Matz: 00:07:02

And I really love that.

Matz: 00:07:04

And it's just whimsical.

Matz: 00:07:06

It's fun and it's emotional.

Matz: 00:07:09

And then that song as Alec talked about, I mean, damn, I added that to my Spotify and I was like, oh, this is a great.

Matz: 00:07:16

I've listened to it like, 10 times after I watched the movie.

Matz: 00:07:22

Yeah, just really good.

Matz: 00:07:24

Just fun and just.

Matz: 00:07:27

I liked every step of it.

Matz: 00:07:28

I was really happy to have seen this.

Matz: 00:07:29

This movie will be something I watch every Christmas.

JJ: 00:07:33

This is your first time watching it, right?

Matz: 00:07:35

Yeah.

Matz: 00:07:36

I'd never seen it before.

Matz: 00:07:37

I don't even remember hearing about it before, but I think I told Tay she'd seen it.

Matz: 00:07:42

I was like, man, where was this movie?

Matz: 00:07:43

Why Didn't I know about this?

Matz: 00:07:44

Why didn't I watch this?

Matz: 00:07:45

And as we where we were actually talking about our Patreon.

Matz: 00:07:49

For those of you that aren't members, go join it.

Matz: 00:07:51

We talk about some other things.

Matz: 00:07:53

There's just.

Matz: 00:07:53

I think this movie is also a byproduct of as Alec was talking about.

Matz: 00:07:57

There's so much that gets released.

Matz: 00:07:58

It's just hard to know like that mean how I love to see some stat.

Matz: 00:08:02

Maybe chat GPT could tell us like how many just movies or TV shows in general release yearly.

Matz: 00:08:09

But then you take it to the Christmas time.

Matz: 00:08:11

There's so many that are pumped out from all the streaming services, Hallmark, etc.

Matz: 00:08:17

This movie I think was just a Netflix only release.

Matz: 00:08:20

It wasn't in theaters.

Matz: 00:08:21

Right.

JJ: 00:08:22

It was in limited theaters, but not world.

JJ: 00:08:24

Yeah.

Matz: 00:08:24

Not limited theaters.

Matz: 00:08:26

Which usually tells you don't go see it because it's not going to be very.

Matz: 00:08:29

I mean at least that's how I was bred.

Matz: 00:08:33

And I wish I would have known about this but it's just so hard to take a chance on things because you get burned time and time and time and time again and then you find something like this.

Matz: 00:08:44

But I'm just really happy to have come across it.

Matz: 00:08:46

And there's going to be other movies, obscure ones like this that are out there.

Matz: 00:08:50

They're just hard to find.

Matz: 00:08:51

But I'm really glad I found this one.

JJ: 00:08:55

Yep.

JJ: 00:08:57

I think one of the things that I like the most about it is like that running besides the little hints at how Santa Claus, like I do love the part where he's in that kid's face like he's got a list.

JJ: 00:09:11

The naughty list.

Matz: 00:09:13

Oh, the mic drop moment.

Matz: 00:09:14

That was awesome.

JJ: 00:09:17

But I think like this statement that's there like, you know, the, the act of kindness breeds another kind of thing like that to me.

JJ: 00:09:28

Like, I like that and I think not to get all like philosophical or anything, but I think outside of Christmas, like if we could all do that, like man be a much better world.

JJ: 00:09:41

Like that's the kind of that like if you just do something nice and stop worrying about yourself all the time.

JJ: 00:09:48

All, all the time.

JJ: 00:09:49

And it's a good lesson for me.

JJ: 00:09:50

Like I'm an.

JJ: 00:09:51

And I know that but like that's the kind of thing that I love when a good Christmas movie hits is like, I know it's good because I don't walk away and go, that movie sucked.

JJ: 00:10:01

I walk away and go, I could probably learn a little bit from that movie.

JJ: 00:10:04

Like, and that's that this Kind of movie.

JJ: 00:10:06

This movie.

JJ: 00:10:07

Like every time I watch it I'm like, yeah, I should probably focus on doing some acts of kindness more often than I actually do here and there.

JJ: 00:10:16

Because it's not untrue.

JJ: 00:10:17

Like it's.

JJ: 00:10:17

You know, someone does something nice for you and you want to do something nice for someone else.

JJ: 00:10:22

Maybe not Alec, but the rest of us kind of feel that way.

Alec: 00:10:25

I was gonna say no.

Alec: 00:10:26

I like being a dick too much.

Matz: 00:10:27

I'm not changing most normal people, but we know.

Matz: 00:10:30

Alex not normal.

Matz: 00:10:31

But I think Alligator's movie the biggest compliment.

Matz: 00:10:34

I wouldn't watch this movie outside of Christmas because it has too much Christmas in it.

Matz: 00:10:38

I'm a pretty big stickler on enjoying Christmas when it should be enjoyed.

Matz: 00:10:42

But to Alex point I can't agree with.

Matz: 00:10:44

This movie is just a good movie.

Matz: 00:10:47

It.

Matz: 00:10:48

It isn't good just because it's Christmas good.

Matz: 00:10:51

If that makes sense.

Matz: 00:10:52

I think it's just a good movie all around.

Matz: 00:10:54

And I think that is really hard to do because most Christmas movies you give him some grace because it's that time of year.

Matz: 00:11:02

It evokes those feelings.

Matz: 00:11:03

But this movie's just good all around.

JJ: 00:11:06

Agreed.

Alec: 00:11:07

I will say so.

Alec: 00:11:08

The part that sold me on this movie because the start is like you don't know what it's about right?

Alec: 00:11:14

As soon as.

Alec: 00:11:15

And it's a very kind of open ended start.

Alec: 00:11:18

But as soon as he starts going north and it's that sequence of thanks dad that ends with the ferryman.

Alec: 00:11:25

I was like oh, this is.

Alec: 00:11:27

This is something good.

Alec: 00:11:30

It was that point that sold me on.

Alec: 00:11:32

It's about 10, 15 minutes into the movie.

Alec: 00:11:36

But once we got there I was like oh, this is actually gonna be good because it's just a stupid little sequence.

Alec: 00:11:44

But it's so funny to me.

Alec: 00:11:47

You know, the spoil a spoiled rotten rich kid having to go do something life.

JJ: 00:11:55

Yeah.

JJ: 00:11:57

The other thing that I love is like the funny like the.

JJ: 00:12:03

The like the clan People like Ms.

JJ: 00:12:07

Crumb Dude.

JJ: 00:12:08

Joan Cusack kills it like and like the.

JJ: 00:12:10

The quotes and I cannot remember.

JJ: 00:12:12

God, I wish I'd have watched it today instead of couple days ago.

JJ: 00:12:15

But like the.

JJ: 00:12:18

There's a line where he's talk.

JJ: 00:12:19

She's talking to the other guy.

JJ: 00:12:21

I can't remember his name like billing ho or whatever it is.

JJ: 00:12:25

And she says like one line because he's just a.

Alec: 00:12:28

And like how have we never defeated you?

Matz: 00:12:31

Oh yeah.

JJ: 00:12:34

He just.

JJ: 00:12:35

He's like but how have we never.

JJ: 00:12:38

Like she's so disappointed in herself.

JJ: 00:12:40

Like it's just.

Alec: 00:12:42

You Ask me who right now.

JJ: 00:12:44

It's so great.

JJ: 00:12:47

And she, you know, it's.

JJ: 00:12:48

I.

JJ: 00:12:48

I like it too because Alec, we talk a lot about in this podcast and especially you like a good villain and this movie has great villain because it's so relatable.

JJ: 00:13:01

And I hate like that sounds bad to say but like how often do we get stuck in our own humdrum.

JJ: 00:13:07

This sucks.

JJ: 00:13:08

And I say this because like I have people that I'm very close to that are like that where it's constantly like the world's out to get me, blah blah, blah.

JJ: 00:13:15

And like they find joy in the terrible.

JJ: 00:13:21

Right.

JJ: 00:13:22

Or like the you know, awful stuff.

JJ: 00:13:24

And like because it's something to about and it's makes it easier to be the victim.

JJ: 00:13:28

Whatever you want to call it, like whatever world that.

JJ: 00:13:31

And I think we all have at least one or two people that.

JJ: 00:13:33

And we've probably been there ourselves but like that epitome of these two clan people that are just like.

JJ: 00:13:38

And her final line like near the end where she's like this place is gonna stay a.

JJ: 00:13:43

Or like whatever it is.

JJ: 00:13:44

I can't remember the line.

JJ: 00:13:45

But it's gonna stay terrible for as long as, you know, we're around or whatever it is.

JJ: 00:13:51

And I like it's just such an interesting.

JJ: 00:13:54

I think that's the other thing that wraps this movie up for me is like the relatable characters that allow you to say I can see a little bit of myself or other people in that.

JJ: 00:14:03

And like can you truly overcome that kind of an attitude or that or are you so stuck in that that it's bad?

JJ: 00:14:09

But like the play it with some really funny lines with them is.

JJ: 00:14:14

It's great.

Matz: 00:14:16

I have a question JJ and Alec, you can answer to which love story do you like more in this movie?

Alec: 00:14:23

Pumpkin and what's his bucket?

JJ: 00:14:27

Mine.

JJ: 00:14:28

Mine.

JJ: 00:14:29

It was so good.

JJ: 00:14:31

So good.

JJ: 00:14:31

I do love the Ed like turn around and she's got him cradled and he's like love you mine.

JJ: 00:14:38

And turns around and walks away.

JJ: 00:14:41

What a great freaking.

Matz: 00:14:43

JJ was complaining.

Matz: 00:14:44

And if you've been listening to this this month about what is about Christmas.

Matz: 00:14:47

Movies always need a love story.

Matz: 00:14:48

And this time I was like, I think JJ probably appreciated them.

JJ: 00:14:52

I did.

JJ: 00:14:53

I did two things like so I love.

JJ: 00:14:58

Gosh, why can't I think of the name main character's name Jasper.

JJ: 00:15:02

I love Jasper's love story with the teacher.

JJ: 00:15:04

Like especially I think one of my favorite parts of the movie is like when he walks into the school and she's like spent her Savings to spruce it up.

JJ: 00:15:10

And he's like, the.

JJ: 00:15:14

Like, that part's really good.

JJ: 00:15:15

And then it's.

JJ: 00:15:16

You know, it turns around and he's just.

JJ: 00:15:19

Because she's such a dick and all she wants to do is get out.

JJ: 00:15:22

And, like, they have that in common of I want to get out.

JJ: 00:15:25

And then as he's trying to get out, they obviously, they work their way into creating happiness in the town and improving things.

JJ: 00:15:34

And so I like that because they fall in love, not because the love story is not forced.

JJ: 00:15:41

That's what I like about it.

JJ: 00:15:43

Like, it's.

JJ: 00:15:43

It feels natural and it makes sense because they kind of at each other the first little bit, and then they find some common ground in their negativity, and then they are able to find common ground in what they've done to help with selfish means.

JJ: 00:15:58

Right.

JJ: 00:15:58

For selfish ends.

JJ: 00:15:59

But the.

JJ: 00:16:00

The.

JJ: 00:16:01

Those acts of.

JJ: 00:16:03

You know, it works.

JJ: 00:16:05

It's.

JJ: 00:16:06

Yeah, that's what I like.

JJ: 00:16:08

It's a good writing.

Matz: 00:16:10

Now, about Alec.

Matz: 00:16:12

Alec, as this movie progressed, I feel like you would have been a strong proponent and resident of Smearnsburg.

Matz: 00:16:17

Like, this is your kind of town, your kind of people.

Matz: 00:16:22

Did you.

Matz: 00:16:23

Were you saddened by the collective change of the community?

Matz: 00:16:27

Just.

Matz: 00:16:27

I'm curious if you.

Matz: 00:16:31

All the.

Matz: 00:16:31

All the pranks and different things, did you appreciate the city for what it was?

Alec: 00:16:36

Yeah.

Alec: 00:16:36

Smirnsburg is a cultural hub and local folklore, traditions, it's fantastic.

Alec: 00:16:43

But they did a good job of making the switch.

Alec: 00:16:47

Hard to realize because as soon as Sami showed up, I was Team Sami.

JJ: 00:16:52

Oh, dude, not me.

Alec: 00:16:55

I jumped ship so quick.

JJ: 00:17:01

You guys.

Alec: 00:17:01

Yeah.

Alec: 00:17:03

What the.

Alec: 00:17:04

I was Team Sami.

JJ: 00:17:07

I love that.

JJ: 00:17:09

That's hilarious.

Alec: 00:17:11

But I do, like, to your point, Matson, like, all the.

Alec: 00:17:15

We'll call it shenanigans that are happening right throughout the town on both sides.

Alec: 00:17:19

My favorite one is when Jesper is, like, starting to figure out there is no mail in this town, and the ferryman's telling them, oh, it's.

Alec: 00:17:28

You know, they.

Alec: 00:17:29

These people really have one thing to say to each other.

Alec: 00:17:31

And in the background, someone opens up their window and sticks a cannon out.

Alec: 00:17:39

Oh, yeah, there's a cannon.

Alec: 00:17:40

While he's, like, just having this conversation.

Alec: 00:17:43

And it's the little things like that that add to this movie as a whole to help the storytelling because it's.

Alec: 00:17:49

It's just.

Alec: 00:17:50

It's just a little piece of background animation that you don't have to have in there.

Matz: 00:17:55

Did they consult with you, Alec?

Matz: 00:17:56

I feel like this.

Matz: 00:17:56

You'd get like, what are the.

Matz: 00:17:58

We need 10 things where this town just, like, goes off on each other now, too.

Matz: 00:18:02

I got this.

Matz: 00:18:03

I got this.

Matz: 00:18:04

You do this.

Matz: 00:18:04

He's just like, I got no shortage of things.

Matz: 00:18:06

My favorite one was the.

Matz: 00:18:08

Like, the linen sheets that were just hanging up and, like, the lady walks out and just dumps her stuff on.

Matz: 00:18:13

And then later the kids take it down right before.

Matz: 00:18:16

Or like the.

Matz: 00:18:17

When the town starts to get nice and those two ladies, like, spitefully, one shares the cherries because the kids didn't not take them.

Matz: 00:18:26

And then one bakes a pie from the cherries.

Matz: 00:18:29

You know, like, all the things you just.

Matz: 00:18:31

You just laugh because it's kind of how.

Matz: 00:18:34

Because we've all been that.

Matz: 00:18:36

Where you're like, damn it, they did something nice for me.

Matz: 00:18:38

I gotta, like, figure out.

Matz: 00:18:39

I gotta.

Matz: 00:18:39

I gotta do something.

Matz: 00:18:41

And then at some point, if you keep doing it, you're probably happy about doing it.

Matz: 00:18:44

Like JJ talks about.

JJ: 00:18:47

It's true.

JJ: 00:18:48

I hate getting on the Secret Santa list.

JJ: 00:18:50

I'm like, God damn it, now I gotta do some.

JJ: 00:18:52

But I will say one thing that we do, always do.

JJ: 00:18:54

And I'm curious.

JJ: 00:18:55

Here's my question for you guys.

JJ: 00:18:56

Since we're in the Christmas and we're wrapping up the Christmas month.

JJ: 00:19:03

So one thing Casey and I always do is, like, the store, you have, like, the trees with the kids and stuff.

JJ: 00:19:08

So we grab.

JJ: 00:19:10

We grab three or four every year.

JJ: 00:19:14

Those cards and, like, go buy stuff for the kids and specific needs, right?

JJ: 00:19:21

Like, I love it.

JJ: 00:19:21

They have the cards and like, here's.

JJ: 00:19:23

Here's the things that they want.

JJ: 00:19:24

Here are the things that they actually need.

JJ: 00:19:25

And so we.

JJ: 00:19:26

We do four or five of those.

JJ: 00:19:28

And those makes me feel good, right?

JJ: 00:19:30

Like, because I think that's a damn shame is.

JJ: 00:19:33

And that's no fault to anybody other than the circumstance that kids can't.

JJ: 00:19:38

I feel bad if there's kids that can't enjoy that aspect of Christmas, right?

JJ: 00:19:42

So, like, that's something that Casey and I do.

JJ: 00:19:45

Like, she loves all the pomp and circumstance of Christmas, but I love, like, people feeling good about Christmas and like that.

JJ: 00:19:51

So that's.

JJ: 00:19:52

We do that.

JJ: 00:19:52

Like, what are some things?

JJ: 00:19:53

What do you guys do?

JJ: 00:19:54

Like, what are your Christmas traditions?

JJ: 00:19:55

Do you have any, Alec?

JJ: 00:19:56

Or are you just a heartless, soulless, broken, soulless.

JJ: 00:20:02

I mean, I'm a pretty Scrooge McDuck myself, so that's the one thing that I get, like, pretty excited about for Christmas.

JJ: 00:20:09

But what about you guys?

Alec: 00:20:12

You think you're matching?

Matz: 00:20:14

No, you go, Alec.

Alec: 00:20:15

Okay.

Alec: 00:20:16

The Biggest one, I don't do it anymore because it was only when I was working in the facility, was playing Santa.

Alec: 00:20:24

So a little bit of a shameless plug here for myself.

Alec: 00:20:28

But I'm very good at remembering names and obscure, stupid details that people take tell me, like, there's no real marketable value for this at all.

Alec: 00:20:41

But when Christmas rolls around, like, I would, you know, be dressed up in the Santa get up, and the kids would come in, and a lot of them were people who came in a lot.

Alec: 00:20:50

So I knew their name and I knew this stupid fact that kids blurred out, right?

Alec: 00:20:55

Like, I have a loose tooth, right?

Alec: 00:20:59

So I got this one kid because I'm evil too, right?

Alec: 00:21:03

One kid's like 10, right?

Alec: 00:21:05

So I knew his name, knew the fact that I lose two.

Alec: 00:21:07

So right there, I'm Santa Claus.

Alec: 00:21:09

There is nothing that's gonna change this kid's mind.

Alec: 00:21:13

And so he was.

Alec: 00:21:15

He was goofing off with some other kids, like on the trampolines, you know, kind of picking on someone else.

Alec: 00:21:21

And so whenever I played Santa, I would have the staff, instead of saying stuff over the pa, just come back and tell me.

Alec: 00:21:28

And then I'd send them out as my little elves.

Alec: 00:21:29

Dude, this kid was, like, shaking in his boots when he heard that I wanted him to come back again and to tell him not to beat up on kids on the trampoline.

JJ: 00:21:43

That's hilarious.

Alec: 00:21:44

But it's.

Alec: 00:21:44

It was the Santa stuff, because you could get, like, keep that magic going for kids and honestly convince them of, oh, no, Santa Claus is real, and that's him.

Alec: 00:21:55

And it's a little bit of a, you know, a little bit of a, I guess, dick move to the parents, right?

Alec: 00:22:02

Because whenever you go see Santa, it's like, oh, that's one of his helpers.

JJ: 00:22:05

That's this.

Alec: 00:22:06

That's that.

Alec: 00:22:06

There's infinite reasons not to.

Alec: 00:22:08

Parents had no goddamn excuse.

Alec: 00:22:14

And so that.

Alec: 00:22:14

That was always fun because you have, you know, kids coming in, they're nervous or this or that, but they leave always thinking that I was the real Santa Claus.

JJ: 00:22:22

Yeah.

Alec: 00:22:22

And the parents would be like.

JJ: 00:22:28

This guy.

Alec: 00:22:29

Yeah.

Alec: 00:22:30

Yeah.

Alec: 00:22:31

100.

Alec: 00:22:33

Like, how am I gonna ruin my Christmas now?

JJ: 00:22:35

I love that.

JJ: 00:22:38

That's funny.

JJ: 00:22:39

It's a good one.

JJ: 00:22:41

What about you?

Matz: 00:22:44

And this is just on the, like, the sake of, like, helping other people.

Matz: 00:22:47

Are we talking?

JJ: 00:22:48

Oh, just traditional.

JJ: 00:22:50

Like, that's just.

Matz: 00:22:51

Yeah.

Matz: 00:22:51

I'm trying to think about what my biggest family tradition growing up was.

Matz: 00:22:58

I mean, there's a few, but the one I was favorite from my childhood was when we'd.

Matz: 00:23:02

Because I have a big family, I was number seven of eight.

Matz: 00:23:05

So my little brother would wake up first and he'd light his candle, and then he'd light mine.

Matz: 00:23:12

And then we'd go up through the food chain.

Matz: 00:23:14

We'd go all the way upstairs.

Matz: 00:23:15

We'd have to walk past the music room.

Matz: 00:23:17

You couldn't peek in because that's where all the Santa gifts were.

Matz: 00:23:19

That was always super hard because that's like, we had.

Matz: 00:23:22

We had a fine Christmas, but it's not like I.

Matz: 00:23:25

I wasn't getting, like, spoiled rotten.

Matz: 00:23:27

But, like, the Santa gifts, that's for, like, the PS2 and all the cool stuff, the things you, like, you really wanted.

Matz: 00:23:32

Like, what did I get?

Matz: 00:23:33

So, yeah, you had to not peek in there.

Matz: 00:23:34

And we got upstairs, let my sisters and then my parents, my dad always took forever to get ready.

Matz: 00:23:40

Always, like, you know, just milking that.

Matz: 00:23:42

Milking it, milking it.

Matz: 00:23:43

And then once everyone's were lit, then we'd line up and get in a train and sing Silent Night as we'd go downstairs.

Matz: 00:23:52

And then we go into the Santa Claus room.

Matz: 00:23:55

And I really like doing that because we tried to.

Matz: 00:23:59

Why I liked it.

Matz: 00:24:00

It's just.

Matz: 00:24:00

It was.

Matz: 00:24:01

Brought our family together before we opened presents, and we made it like a family event because I know some families, like, people just kind of wake up and they start opening gifts and it's fine.

Matz: 00:24:10

But I appreciated that my family, like, we tried to be together as possible.

Matz: 00:24:15

Um, and then besides that, like, I used to do Christmas caroling with some people in the neighborhood.

Matz: 00:24:21

Used to do a lot of service with my church and making sure people had meals and some presents.

Matz: 00:24:26

I do less of that now, and I probably should.

Matz: 00:24:29

This is making me feel guilty that I probably should do something more like that.

Matz: 00:24:34

I've definitely, like, I put lights up for one of our.

Matz: 00:24:37

Our ward members because they're older and I've done that.

Matz: 00:24:39

And it's little things.

Matz: 00:24:42

And I think that's what.

Matz: 00:24:43

It's sad that this time of year, it.

Matz: 00:24:46

It's what reminds humanity to, like, be nice, slow down, appreciate what you have.

Matz: 00:24:52

Because the retail side of it, it's like, buy, buy, buy, buy.

Matz: 00:24:55

But at the end of the day, like, especially all of us on this podcast, we're adults.

Matz: 00:25:00

We have what we need.

Matz: 00:25:01

Like, I.

Matz: 00:25:02

I think I'm getting, like, one thing for Christmas, and we're doing, like, a trip because I care about memories.

Matz: 00:25:06

I don't.

Matz: 00:25:07

There's so much crap out there, but I think that's what People forget, and it's sad that it takes this time of year to remind us that it's just about appreciating what you have and who you're with.

Matz: 00:25:17

But we forget that all the time.

JJ: 00:25:21

It's true.

JJ: 00:25:22

No, it's good.

JJ: 00:25:23

I like it.

JJ: 00:25:24

Yeah.

JJ: 00:25:24

I was just curious because that's what it was like.

JJ: 00:25:27

And I think what got me is the end of this movie, like, where they.

JJ: 00:25:30

They go through this whole movie with just perfect writing.

JJ: 00:25:34

When it comes to, like, like I said, implementing the.

JJ: 00:25:37

The different little story bits of.

JJ: 00:25:40

Of Santa Claus, like, and then at the end, the.

JJ: 00:25:43

The cookies and milk thing, like, I was like, okay, that's cool.

JJ: 00:25:47

Like, and it's so that he can see his friend once a year.

JJ: 00:25:50

Right.

JJ: 00:25:50

And the implication, like, when Clouse goes and he's like, I don't know what happened.

JJ: 00:25:56

I can't explain it.

JJ: 00:25:57

But now once a year, I get to see my friend, and he's got the milk and cookies.

JJ: 00:26:00

I was like, what a perfect way to end this movie.

JJ: 00:26:04

Like, because it just works and it completes the whole story.

JJ: 00:26:08

And so I think that's.

JJ: 00:26:09

I think what got me going is every time I watch this, I'm just like, this is good because this makes even the Santa Claus bits, like, about something more than just, it's Santa Claus, right?

JJ: 00:26:21

Like, where do these little history lessons come from?

JJ: 00:26:25

Because, I mean, obviously St.

JJ: 00:26:26

Nicholas was where the.

JJ: 00:26:27

One of the original pieces, but then how do all the other things come about?

JJ: 00:26:31

And so, like, I just love that they created their own to fit this story.

JJ: 00:26:35

And, like, this is now my new favorite Santa Claus origin story when I watched it.

JJ: 00:26:40

So it's just like, yeah, it's a feelgood movie.

JJ: 00:26:43

It was written really well, and it's a lot of fun with a banger of a tune all around.

JJ: 00:26:49

Good stuff.

Matz: 00:26:50

Yeah.

Matz: 00:26:50

I mean, I think it's well said.

Matz: 00:26:53

I'm really, like I said, I'm just happy to have enjoyed it.

JJ: 00:26:57

Yeah.

JJ: 00:26:58

And I want a wooden sled with a sail on it.

Matz: 00:27:01

It's good enough that I might watch it again before Christmas, which, for those that really know me in this podcast, you know, I don't repeat watch things very often.

Matz: 00:27:09

It's certainly that close.

Matz: 00:27:10

Like, this is a very good movie.

Matz: 00:27:11

I was actually thinking about that the other day in terms of the podcast.

Matz: 00:27:14

Christmas movies like Home Alone, that's probably my most watched movie because I watch it basically every year, and I'm what, 33 now?

Matz: 00:27:22

And I probably started watching that when I was like, five or something.

Matz: 00:27:25

Yeah, that's probably what it is.

Matz: 00:27:28

When thinking about them.

Matz: 00:27:29

I never really dawned on me like, that I don't think I've seen any movie close to the amount as I've seen like Home Alone or like A Christmas Story.

Matz: 00:27:37

And then these.

Matz: 00:27:38

My co host out here.

Matz: 00:27:40

Depth like Alex.

Matz: 00:27:41

I've seen movies like hundreds of times and Jay's just like, I saw Star wars like six times in a week when it came out.

Matz: 00:27:47

Dude, Crazy people.

JJ: 00:27:50

I would.

JJ: 00:27:51

I agree though.

JJ: 00:27:51

I.

JJ: 00:27:52

I will say that Christmas is like the only time of the year that I can say that I intentionally watch.

JJ: 00:27:59

Like, it's planned.

JJ: 00:28:01

Like, I rewatch movies all the time, but it's planned for Christmas time.

JJ: 00:28:07

Like there's a series of movies that we go through and they get watched every year and then this is one of them.

JJ: 00:28:14

So it's just.

JJ: 00:28:15

Well, at least I watch this one every year.

JJ: 00:28:16

Casey.

JJ: 00:28:17

Still.

Matz: 00:28:17

Yeah, this is, this is in the rotation for me, which I, I think I said earlier for me is hard to do because it's pre.

Matz: 00:28:22

Clamp down.

Matz: 00:28:23

Like, it's.

Matz: 00:28:23

It's tough to.

Matz: 00:28:24

To weasel your way in there because Christmas is all about what you grew up with.

JJ: 00:28:28

Yeah.

JJ: 00:28:30

Yeah.

JJ: 00:28:31

And the, the last thing for me, at least, Alec, you touched on it like, J.K.

JJ: 00:28:35

simmons won.

JJ: 00:28:36

He's just J.K.

JJ: 00:28:38

simmons.

JJ: 00:28:38

And even in voice, acting, like, kills it.

JJ: 00:28:40

But like, I was impressed by quite a few, like, and some of the actors in this I'm not a huge fan of.

JJ: 00:28:46

Like, Rashida Jones is not one of my favorites, but she does really good as the teacher in this.

JJ: 00:28:51

And then, oh, why can't I think of the guy that plays Jesper?

JJ: 00:28:54

He's one that.

JJ: 00:28:55

Jason Schwartzman, Jason Schwarzman, like, he made some very odd movies in the past.

JJ: 00:29:03

Not my favorite actor, but I liked him in this too.

JJ: 00:29:06

Like, he's really, really good.

JJ: 00:29:09

And then I, you know, I gotta think because of my Dungeons and Dragons obsession, like, there's voice actors that I'm like, I hear him and go, oh, I know who that was.

JJ: 00:29:18

There's.

JJ: 00:29:18

Travis Willingham is in this somewhere along the line, because I remember watching it this time and I heard his voice.

JJ: 00:29:23

Hey, what?

JJ: 00:29:24

That's Travis.

JJ: 00:29:26

So I, I really enjoyed the acting too.

JJ: 00:29:29

Like the way that they played it and just goes along with the writing.

JJ: 00:29:32

But yeah, it's just.

JJ: 00:29:34

It's a good movie.

JJ: 00:29:35

It's a good choice, my friend.

Alec: 00:29:37

Thank you.

Matz: 00:29:38

Good way to end it.

JJ: 00:29:39

Yeah.

JJ: 00:29:40

All right.

Matz: 00:29:41

For next year, but not really.

JJ: 00:29:44

Yeah, I don't know what to do next year.

JJ: 00:29:45

We'll see how this goes, we're gonna eventually run out of good ones.

JJ: 00:29:49

We really work.

JJ: 00:29:51

We really.

JJ: 00:29:52

I got a few up my sleeve.

JJ: 00:29:53

We really worked hard this year to not watch any good ones like it was.

JJ: 00:29:58

It was a rough list this year, but thankfully this one finished it off with a bang and strong.

JJ: 00:30:07

Alec, it's your movie.

Alec: 00:30:12

One of them.

Alec: 00:30:13

And I think it's easily one of the most perfect movies to watch at Christmas, hands down.

Alec: 00:30:20

It does a great job of telling a story that has been told hundreds, dozens, countless times, and it tells it in a new and unique fun way, and it does it all in a reasonable time.

JJ: 00:30:36

That's fair too.

Alec: 00:30:38

This is.

Alec: 00:30:38

This is one that I can watch anytime, anywhere.

Alec: 00:30:40

So, yeah, 100 of five.

JJ: 00:30:42

I like it.

JJ: 00:30:43

I'm gonna give it a five too.

JJ: 00:30:44

I.

JJ: 00:30:45

I think when I think about Christmas movies, there's a lot of Christmas movies that we watch a lot, and I can't think of one that to me, really hits the head, nail on the head when it comes to, like, the spirit of Christmas and what we should be paying attention to and yet still entertains me and doesn't feel like it's shoving it down my throat.

JJ: 00:31:06

And to your point, Alec tells it in a very unique way from the point of view of a mailman.

JJ: 00:31:11

And like, that's so wild.

JJ: 00:31:13

But very good, very entertaining.

JJ: 00:31:16

Glad we watched it and did it as a podcast.

JJ: 00:31:20

It's, it's.

JJ: 00:31:21

It's a good movie.

JJ: 00:31:21

So five for me too.

JJ: 00:31:23

Matson, bring us home, buddy.

Matz: 00:31:25

Five.

Matz: 00:31:26

You guys already said it.

Matz: 00:31:27

Good to go.

JJ: 00:31:28

I like it.

JJ: 00:31:30

It's been a while since we've had fives across the board, so well done, Alec.

Alec: 00:31:35

Thank you.

JJ: 00:31:36

Strong December has been redeemed and with that finish December strong by telling everybody where they can find us.

Alec: 00:31:46

Happy to jj.

Alec: 00:31:47

With December being finished, I think this means our last movie is Klaus, right for the year.

JJ: 00:31:53

Oh, yeah.

Alec: 00:31:54

End it all on all fives.

Alec: 00:31:56

I think we started out: 2024

Alec: 00:32:00

So I think ended the year of: 2024

Alec: 00:32:06

So kudos, gentlemen, with that.

Alec: 00:32:09

Best way to find us is on YouTube where you can see our smiling faces or Matson's, you know, little spark he does.

Alec: 00:32:17

Outside of that, Patreon's a place to go where you can join our wonderful patrons, Rich mel Brooks and JJ's Extra Large Pepperidge Farm wiener in selecting monthly topics for us to pick movies for and then selecting the movies we watch from those suggestions.

Alec: 00:32:34

That's Also Patreon's got 400 something episodes, I think up there now, JJ of extra content, behind the scenes content guys can get involved in picking movies quarterly requests that we watch and review.

Alec: 00:32:47

And so that's the best place to find us at.

Alec: 00:32:49

What's our verdict with that?

Alec: 00:32:51

kick it back one last time in: 2024

Alec: 00:32:56

J.

JJ: 00:32:57

That's wild to think about.

JJ: 00:32:59

The last episode of: 2024

Matz: 00:33:03

Thank you all for listening.

Matz: 00:33:05

Appreciate your support in the pod.

Matz: 00:33:09

Wow.

JJ: 00:33:10

Yeah.

JJ: 00:33:10

That's crazy, isn't it?

JJ: 00:33:13

Yeah, we have quite a bit on Patreon.

JJ: 00:33:15

We got a lot on YouTube.

JJ: 00:33:16

We have over 500 videos on YouTube.

JJ: 00:33:18

Like, we have almost 400 movie episodes.

JJ: 00:33:22

We're coming up on our 400th movie episode.

JJ: 00:33:25

If you watch, we have another channel that we haven't put anything on there in a while, but we did some TV for a while.

JJ: 00:33:30

If you added them together, I think we're almost 450.

Matz: 00:33:33

Yeah, well, hey, there's technically one more.

Matz: 00:33:35

Somebody some people be watching.

Matz: 00:33:37

J.J.

Matz: 00:33:37

is going to be.

Matz: 00:33:37

We're revealing Finding Nemo as a Requested by our Patreons.

Matz: 00:33:41

Pure spite of JJ which is a beautiful thing.

JJ: 00:33:45

Yeah, it's rare.

Matz: 00:33:45

It sounds like he hates this movie and I can't wait to hear why.

Matz: 00:33:48

I've tried to refrain from asking questions.

JJ: 00:33:51

Yeah, I can't wait to talk about that one.

JJ: 00:33:54

But, yeah.

Matz: 00:33:55

Can you wait though, Jay?

Matz: 00:33:56

It sounds like you probably could if you could.

JJ: 00:33:57

Oh, if I go back and unwatch it for the.

JJ: 00:34:01

I hate it.

Matz: 00:34:02

Have you watched it yet?

Matz: 00:34:03

I'm curious.

Matz: 00:34:03

Did you already watch it?

JJ: 00:34:04

Oh, yeah.

JJ: 00:34:05

As soon as it popped up, I watched.

JJ: 00:34:06

I was like, I gotta get this over with because it's like sticking ice picks underneath my fingernails.

JJ: 00:34:13

I hate it.

JJ: 00:34:14

It's terrible.

JJ: 00:34:15

Anyway, we just finished a really great movie.

JJ: 00:34:18

We started this year with Psycho.

JJ: 00:34:20

Did we give it fives across the board?

Alec: 00:34:22

Matson probably ruined it.

JJ: 00:34:25

Fair.

JJ: 00:34:26

I forgot.

JJ: 00:34:27

We started it with.

JJ: 00:34:29

With like.

Matz: 00:34:30

Hey, I really like that movie, though.

JJ: 00:34:32

Yeah, No, I mean, maybe it was.

Alec: 00:34:34

Taylor that ruined it.

JJ: 00:34:37

Because.

JJ: 00:34:38

Yeah, we started it with like, weird with some old movies in January.

JJ: 00:34:42

Like, I don't even remember what the topic was.

JJ: 00:34:45

It would.

JJ: 00:34:46

So Psycho, Rear Window, Silence of the Limbs.

Alec: 00:34:50

Oh, no.

Alec: 00:34:51

Psychological trailers.

Matz: 00:34:55

We should have called it Alec Just Got His Eyes Done and Killed.

Alec: 00:34:59

No, that was the.

Alec: 00:35:00

That was the top hundred.

Alec: 00:35:01

Right.

Alec: 00:35:01

Movies.

JJ: 00:35:02

Oh, you're right.

JJ: 00:35:03

It was the I Am American film.

JJ: 00:35:07

It's the efi.

Matz: 00:35:09

You know, it's funny about this list.

Matz: 00:35:10

It's all.

Matz: 00:35:12

It's just all oldies.

JJ: 00:35:13

Subjective.

Alec: 00:35:14

Man of the people saying the list doesn't matter.

JJ: 00:35:18

What?

JJ: 00:35:21

All right, before.

JJ: 00:35:22

That's a whole nother episode in and of itself, fellas.

JJ: 00:35:25

But as always, we appreciate everybody tuning in.

JJ: 00:35:29

Happy New Year, Merry Christmas, all the things.

JJ: 00:35:33

And we'll catch you on the next one.

Alec: 00:35:37

Hasta la vista, baby.

JJ: 00:35:39

Cinematic ra.