Artwork for podcast Hip Hop Movie Club
The Underdoggs (2024)
Episode 548th February 2024 • Hip Hop Movie Club • Hip Hop Movie Club
00:00:00 00:34:20

Share Episode

Shownotes

The Underdoggs (with two g's) is the story of Jaycen "Two Js" Jennings (Snoop Dogg), a former NFL superstar wide receiver who is sentenced to community service. He decides to coach a rough-and-tumble ragtag youth football team as a means to regain his popularity and post-playing career opportunities.   

Topics discussed:

  • Snoop Dogg's likability and humor 
  • Whether you should be alarmed by the profane language in the film  
  • Mike Epps' comedic performance  
  • Snoop's real-life youth football league  
  • The plot flaws and unnecessary roughness in the film  

Also check out:

Snoop Youth Football League

Correction: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson graduated from Freedom High School, not Liberty High School. (We apologize for the error, Patriots!) The Freedom High football team got new gear from The Rock a few years ago.

"Mediate" music video by INXS, and the inspiration for it: "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Bob Dylan

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. We have a bunch of live events happening in the first half of 2024. You can see them at hiphopmovieclub.com, including our February 28 screening and live talkback of the 1992 classic Juice at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA – get your free tickets now!

And remember:

Don't hate...liberate!

Transcripts

Speaker:

Welcome to Hip Hop Movie Club, the show

that harmonizes the rhythm of hip hop with

2

:

the magic of movies.

3

:

Today we're discussing Underdoggs, the

newly released comedy starring the one and

4

:

only Snoop Dogg.

5

:

We are three old heads who put their old

heads together to vibe on these films for

6

:

you.

7

:

I'm DynoWright, podcaster, filmmaker,

longtime hip hop fan, and Charles Stone

8

:

III, the director of this film, changed my

life.

9

:

He directed the video where I Left My

Wallet in El Segundo, A Tribe Called

10

:

Quest, which cemented me as a hip hop fan

for life.

11

:

I'm JB, 80s and 90s nostalgia junkie, long

time hip hop fan, and my favorite hip hop

12

:

collective is the Native Tongues, which

included a crew that has the same nickname

13

:

as I do, the JB's.

14

:

I'm BooGie, a DJ, long time hip hop fan,

and I stand with Jay-Z in his acceptance

15

:

speech for the Dr.

16

:

Dre Global Impact Award at the Grammys.

17

:

He said what he said.

18

:

In this episode, we'll answer the

question, is Underdoggs an instant classic

19

:

sports underdog film?

20

:

And we'll give you five key takeaways to

make you a smarter hip hop movie fan.

21

:

Underdoggs with two G's is the story of

Jaycen "Two Js" Jennings, a former NFL

22

:

superstar wide receiver who was sentenced

to community service and decides to coach

23

:

a rough-and-tumble, ragtag youth football

team as a means to help regain his

24

:

popularity and post-playing career

opportunities.

25

:

Alright, let's dig in here.

26

:

First of our five key takeaways is, Snoop

Dogg is still likeable and funny, even

27

:

while playing a conceited, self-centered,

arrogant former athlete.

28

:

Let me kick it to you, DynoWright.

29

:

What are your thoughts around that topic?

30

:

Sure.

31

:

So football was the case that they gave

him.

32

:

He had run into some problems in the

courtroom and he was sentenced to

33

:

community service and he decides to

fulfill the debt to society he was gonna

34

:

coach a youth football team.

35

:

And he was fun to watch, even if he was a

real self-centered jerk.

36

:

Yeah, I agree.

37

:

The fact that he could pull it off, being

a self-centered jerk, a former athlete

38

:

with no other really redeeming qualities

except that he's Snoop Dogg in real life,

39

:

that I was still laughing at him.

40

:

He was quick-witted.

41

:

He always had a quick quip.

42

:

He snapped back at anybody that would, you

know, try to degrade him, even the kids,

43

:

other colleagues, former colleagues.

44

:

Yeah, Snoop did a great job.

45

:

He had a lot of dialogue and it all went

really smoothly.

46

:

He just says everything that Snoop touches

goes smoothly pretty much.

47

:

BooGie, what are your thoughts on Snoop

Dogg being likable and funny even in this

48

:

role?

49

:

Nah, he was funny.

50

:

He was like somebody's crazy uncle that

just woke up one morning and said, you

51

:

know what, I'm gonna coach a football

team.

52

:

And had no clue of what it took to be a

coach.

53

:

I mean, his whole experience with football

was from the player side.

54

:

And he decided to just go on down there

and give it a shot because he wanted to

55

:

improve his image.

56

:

But the way he was showing up, it had me

cracking up because he's showing up and

57

:

he's got these like head to toe Fendi

suits on.

58

:

his metallic gold G-Wagon Mercedes Benz

with the sun.

59

:

Like when we first pulled up, the kids

couldn't even see the light was hitting

60

:

them and I was like, what the heck is

going on?

61

:

Like, in a way, in a conversation, I mean,

even with the language though, some of the

62

:

conversations between him and the kids had

me cracking up.

63

:

I mean, I wasn't really into it.

64

:

I tried to watch it.

65

:

I watched it twice.

66

:

The first time I started watching, I

wasn't into it.

67

:

But the second time I started watching it

and I started listening to some of what

68

:

they were saying.

69

:

It was pretty funny because little kids, I

mean kids at that age, they're very quick

70

:

witted.

71

:

So the back and forth, you know, like they

were almost like snapping on each other

72

:

back and forth, cracking jokes on one

another.

73

:

And he was just letting them have it.

74

:

Like he was giving it to them.

75

:

Oh man.

76

:

Classic Snoop stuff.

77

:

yeah, classics do, I laughed at him.

78

:

Of course there had to be a scene where he

was toking up with Mike Epps.

79

:

That was par for the course.

80

:

I had some issues obviously with his

character, but that's who he was.

81

:

You know, he stayed true to himself the

entire time.

82

:

My problem with him as an individual, like

not him, but Jaycen Jennings, "Two Js",

83

:

was.

84

:

Man, he was only out for himself and he

was kind of using the kids as a means to

85

:

better his lot in life.

86

:

He was at rock bottom after his playing

days were over and he was irrelevant and

87

:

he was down on his luck and he was

literally using his kids to better

88

:

himself.

89

:

There's that part with his former high

school coach played by George Lopez with a

90

:

ripped couch and a tiny office.

91

:

I'm like, man, all that money he made.

92

:

and he had such an affinity for his coach,

he couldn't pay to upgrade his facilities.

93

:

I mean, that was off-putting a little bit

to me.

94

:

Yeah, the couch I had duct tape on it.

95

:

It wasn't there.

96

:

problem with it.

97

:

I mean, it's his money.

98

:

He can do whatever he wants with it.

99

:

He didn't want to pay for coach's couch.

100

:

That's a coach's problem.

101

:

I mean, if the coach had wanted it, I

think he could have made it happen.

102

:

But I mean, you would think with his

career, I don't know if it was or not, but

103

:

hopefully it should have been like Jaycen

Jennings Field and this complex, and they

104

:

should have had state of the art

facilities.

105

:

I know in real life, like by me, close to

Bethlehem PA, there's Liberty High School,

106

:

Dwayne The Rock Johnson played there for

like a year or two.

107

:

He shipped them all the latest gear.

108

:

He upgraded their facilities.

109

:

I mean, it seems like Jaycen Jennings, his

house was so lavish.

110

:

statues of himself.

111

:

Those are crazy too, with the big booty

and everything.

112

:

With the...

113

:

the big

114

:

buttocks.

115

:

Yeah, yeah.

116

:

I mean...

117

:

Behind his bed, the arms raised, wings,

like he was an angel, I think.

118

:

I mean, it would just be a drop in the

bucket to help out Coach.

119

:

Air Jordan poster.

120

:

That was funny.

121

:

That made me laugh.

122

:

so I took issue with it.

123

:

But, so I think, BooGie, you alluded to

this, but like another takeaway is despite

124

:

the warning at the beginning, which was

kind of a joke as well, it's rated R, and

125

:

it said that the children's cursing,

because those MFers say what they wanna

126

:

say, but the amount and the extent of the

children's cursing was alarming to me.

127

:

So let me just talk briefly to that.

128

:

I'll hand it over to you, DynoWright in a

minute.

129

:

But as a father,

130

:

It was hard for me to watch the kids just

straight up cursing the adults out, like

131

:

literally saying like, F you.

132

:

And I'm like, wow, is nothing sacred

anymore?

133

:

And because of that, I think it would

prevent this movie from being a classic.

134

:

Um, I just like, where's the discipline?

135

:

Like you got to show these kids how to act

with a little more class.

136

:

Now the vernacular, right?

137

:

This is Long Beach.

138

:

California and maybe a lot of people talk

that way, but if you want to mold someone

139

:

to show a little bit more respect because

then they talk trash to each other,

140

:

they're talking trash in a nasty way to

the other team like when they come out

141

:

with that rallying call at the end.

142

:

I was put off by that.

143

:

What are your thoughts DynoWright?

144

:

I had the opposite reaction.

145

:

I thought The Warning was funny.

146

:

It's a rated-R film, so that's what we're

in for.

147

:

I'm not prepared to judge how profane kids

from Long Beach are.

148

:

I've never been to Long Beach, which is

kind of the point of The Warning.

149

:

This is how they are.

150

:

And so it doesn't match up with our

sensibility, okay.

151

:

But, you know, the...

152

:

whether they act this way or not, I think

that was secondary to the point of the

153

:

movie.

154

:

And the point of the movie was you have

to, you have to put forth an effort and

155

:

you have to believe in yourself.

156

:

And so they did that.

157

:

And so they accomplished that part of the

movie.

158

:

The cursing was sort of secondary.

159

:

Snoop said the cursing was real.

160

:

And so I'm not here to debate Snoop on

whether the cursing was real or not,

161

:

because that's where he lives and that's

not where I live.

162

:

And-

163

:

To do a no cursing story would, I thought,

miss the point of the emotional

164

:

undercurrent that's in this film, which is

how they really feel.

165

:

And these kids are disadvantaged, and so

to be tone police with them is not

166

:

something I'm interested in.

167

:

They've got real problems.

168

:

The way they talk is the last of their,

the least of their problems.

169

:

Point taken.

170

:

I just think it detracts from the overall

film because this is for the masses.

171

:

It's out there on, this was on Amazon

Prime and right or wrong, it's gonna be

172

:

judged harshly because of that.

173

:

And I would hope that it, I was hoping

that would maybe have a more lasting

174

:

effect and be more of a classic going

forward like we see in some of these

175

:

underdog stories.

176

:

BooGie, what's your take on that with the

language?

177

:

Yeah, I mean, I kind of rode the fence a

little bit.

178

:

I mean, like I explained earlier, like the

first time I started watching it, I was

179

:

like, what in the heck?

180

:

Like I was almost turned off a little bit,

but then I went back and I watched it a

181

:

second time and it was kind of like, all

right, you know, whatever.

182

:

And then it kind of, I almost, I almost

didn't even hear it as much.

183

:

But also to the point that DynoWright was

saying, I used to teach in New Brunswick

184

:

and...

185

:

the kids were about that age and they

definitely had some mouths on them.

186

:

So, I mean, it was, in a sense, I guess

that would be, it was very real in that

187

:

aspect, but I also see JB's point about it

going out to the masses.

188

:

It could be off-putting for some people.

189

:

Hopefully, you know, people do give it a

shot.

190

:

Like I watched it the second time.

191

:

and I was able to enjoy it because there

is a message there.

192

:

And it's very clear.

193

:

And I think even the end of the final

football game, the result wasn't what we

194

:

all hoped for in a classic underdog story.

195

:

But even though the result wasn't there,

the lasting effect with the team and how

196

:

they were able to come together.

197

:

That overall message was definitely

conveyed.

198

:

Was that a spoiler alert or should we not

talk about the ending?

199

:

I meant to bring that up.

200

:

Yeah, just a little more on the language.

201

:

So yeah, the language being harsh, I get

it.

202

:

I get it in the sense that if this is how

they speak, it's how they speak.

203

:

Don't sanitize things, I'm not all about

that.

204

:

But I think there was some clear

disrespect from the children, you know,

205

:

like, where's the respect for your elders?

206

:

I swear that one kid, I think he said, F

you to Snoop Dogg at one point.

207

:

And I'm like, there was no, you know,

yeah, I'm like, there's no repercussion

208

:

for that?

209

:

Like that should not be allowed.

210

:

If somebody, like you would,

211

:

I would never put a hand on a child, but I

would be in that kid's face like this, and

212

:

I'd be shouting like, you know, you do not

speak with me.

213

:

And I would bench that kid.

214

:

That kid didn't even get benched, I don't

think.

215

:

I mean, like, how is the kid going to

learn if they continually get away with

216

:

that disrespect?

217

:

That's what really bothered me is like,

the language was disrespectful, and you

218

:

don't treat other people, you don't use

that language on other people.

219

:

Especially...

220

:

your elders.

221

:

So like, I was like, you know, there's

gotta be, you gotta draw a line somewhere.

222

:

That's my

223

:

Yeah, I mean, like I said, like I've seen

that same exact language directed at

224

:

teachers, but there was repercussions.

225

:

I mean, it's not to say that the kids

didn't do it, they definitely I've seen

226

:

it.

227

:

I've seen it firsthand.

228

:

But yeah, I do see I do agree that in the

sense of, you know, an extracurricular

229

:

activity like football, you might want to

kind of put in there like

230

:

you know, bench him or make him run an

extra lap or do some pushups or something.

231

:

Yeah, definitely.

232

:

If you're trying to mold these kids to be

productive members of society and overcome

233

:

some of those challenges that they're

faced with, you have to show a little bit

234

:

more class and respect for elders at the

bare minimum.

235

:

So that's where it bothered me more so

than the language itself.

236

:

So yeah, I thought that could have been

handled a little bit better.

237

:

Um...

238

:

Alright, I think we covered that topic

pretty well.

239

:

I do have some other flaws, but the plot

we'll get to later, like in the final

240

:

takeaway, but let's do something a little

bit more upbeat, humorous even.

241

:

Mike Epps' character.

242

:

He further cements himself as a zany

sidekick in these hip hop films.

243

:

He's so good.

244

:

He provides comic relief and every scene

he's in is very funny.

245

:

And it's also based on real life

ex-gangsters that were coaching in Snoop's

246

:

league.

247

:

So that was kind of a nice nod to them to

use Mike Epps and his comedic talent for

248

:

that was a nice touch.

249

:

Really funny.

250

:

Mike Epps has been in dozens and dozens of

these hip hop related or hip hop adjacent

251

:

movies and he just crushes it like every

time.

252

:

We saw him in a couple that we had done

like You People, On the Come Up and a few

253

:

others.

254

:

He steals scenes and this one he was

outrageous.

255

:

He was just trying, he just wanted to tag

along with Snoop and be the assistant

256

:

coach and like just bizarre.

257

:

He would just

258

:

ramble and say some incoherent things and

like when he first pulled up on Snoop like

259

:

he had a gun to his head and he was just

like oh man and he kept forgetting that

260

:

the safety wasn't on and Snoop's like are

you kidding me you know so it was wild and

261

:

like he did provide some needed comic

relief.

262

:

BooGie what are your thoughts on Mike Epps

as the assistant?

263

:

Yeah, so if Snoop's character was the

crazy uncle, Mike Epps was the even

264

:

crazier uncle.

265

:

And he just like throughout the film

though, like his intentions were good.

266

:

Like he definitely wanted to be

supportive, but he had no idea how to do

267

:

it correctly.

268

:

But he wanted to be there.

269

:

Even something as simple as addressing the

crooked.

270

:

the crooked referee, you know?

271

:

Yeah, you wanna say something to him, but

the way he went about it.

272

:

You know, it's little stuff like that.

273

:

And like the scenes where he was always

trying to, he would always have that gun

274

:

and it would not be, the safety wouldn't

be on, it was funny.

275

:

But his antics throughout the film, you

know, made for some really funny scenes.

276

:

And he just like, it's something about

him.

277

:

Like he doesn't even have to say a joke.

278

:

He just starts saying a regular sentence

and I'm cracking up because of the way he

279

:

delivers it.

280

:

Yeah, he was he was hysterical.

281

:

Yep.

282

:

Um, love Mike Epps in this one.

283

:

So I think you mentioned also, DynoWright?

284

:

The movie is based on the true story.

285

:

Snoop's real life youth football league.

286

:

So Snoop's done a lot in his community of

Long Beach, California, to help under

287

:

privileged kids and create a youth

football program.

288

:

And thousands upon thousands of kids have

come through.

289

:

Some have played in the NFL.

290

:

There was a little footnote epilogue at

the end that

291

:

talked about that, that was a nice touch.

292

:

Yeah.

293

:

According to the film, 85,000 kids played

in this program.

294

:

I think the website says another number,

but still that many kids coming through,

295

:

20,000 of them went to college, which is

great.

296

:

And even some NFL players that people have

heard of.

297

:

So pretty cool.

298

:

Yeah, I mean, I just saw an article just

last week where CJ Stroud mentions that

299

:

his former football coach, Snoop Dogg has

been a blessing in his life.

300

:

You know, CJ Stroud, for those who don't

know, he's the Houston Texans quarterback,

301

:

but he played in Snoop Youth Football

League while he was living in Rancho

302

:

Cucamonga, California while he was in

middle school.

303

:

And even to this day, Snoop also has fond

memories of him as well.

304

:

and referred to him as being laser, like

so laser-focused.

305

:

He referred to him as being spiritual and

positive and just carrying that with him

306

:

throughout the league.

307

:

And they had nothing but kind of words to

say for one another, you know, something

308

:

like, it's like, wow.

309

:

Yeah, at the time of this recording, C.J.

310

:

Stroud is a likely winner of the offensive

rookie of the year.

311

:

He had an amazing season, led Houston into

the playoffs.

312

:

In his rookie season, he put up like

almost close to 5,000 passing yards, which

313

:

is unheard of.

314

:

He broke some rookie records.

315

:

So yeah, he was a joy to watch.

316

:

Yeah, that's just one example.

317

:

One example.

318

:

Yeah, there's been many, many more.

319

:

So kudos to Snoop and what he did in real

life to help out underprivileged kids.

320

:

And final take, LBC.

321

:

I was thinking...

322

:

to the NFL.

323

:

Now you got me thinking of the opening

lines of Gin and Juice.

324

:

Final takeaway, and again, I wrote this,

but I'm going to support it too.

325

:

The plot and the film are littered with

some flaws and unnecessary roughness, to

326

:

use a football term.

327

:

For me, it's almost like a non sequitur in

that it's a kids story, the Underdoggs,

328

:

but they're like ruling the roosts.

329

:

I don't see where the discipline is.

330

:

I don't see the kids really reforming

themselves.

331

:

And I don't see Snoop reforming himself.

332

:

Snoop was like a jerk the whole time in

terms of his self-centeredness, his being

333

:

an egomaniac.

334

:

Yeah, lessons learned.

335

:

But like the kids coming out and rallying

when they're down and the half, and using

336

:

like expletives to kind of rally together

and almost taunt the other team.

337

:

I didn't like that.

338

:

Yes, there's a lesson to be learned, but

that was a big flaw to me.

339

:

Again, Snoop not giving back to his old

coach, and the only reason he's doing the

340

:

community service and helping these kids

is a means to an end to help himself.

341

:

And when he got that role at Fox, big

dilemma, and he made the decision, you

342

:

know, he made a tough decision.

343

:

I won't give it away.

344

:

But that was his end goal, was to get a

contract on national TV.

345

:

And so that was it.

346

:

And then it's like, what happened to the

kids?

347

:

So yeah, I had some issues with that.

348

:

DynoWright, what are your thoughts about

any of the flaws or unnecessary roughness,

349

:

so to speak?

350

:

I'm picking up the flag.

351

:

It's a sports movie.

352

:

And so a lot of sports movies follow

formula, not unlike rom-coms.

353

:

And so this one ends in a championship

game, of course.

354

:

And they have this moral dilemma that

Snoop has to decide whether to go to Fox

355

:

or coach the championship game for the

kids.

356

:

And so we've seen this in other films.

357

:

And you can imagine what happens.

358

:

Without talking about the result of the

game, the result of the game actually

359

:

works in favor of the message of the film.

360

:

I thought to me that one of the messages

is you have to put forth a sincere effort

361

:

and let the results take care of

themselves and in short trust the process.

362

:

The second was to find strength in your

family and from where he came.

363

:

And so, yes, I don't think Two Js, he

finds about 80% redemption, but he does.

364

:

find strength in where he from where he

came from.

365

:

And so, you know, that part, that part was

accomplished.

366

:

And finding strength in his, Mike Epps'

character was, I'm in for that.

367

:

But yeah, is it a perfect film?

368

:

No, of course not.

369

:

Is it a classic underdog sports movie?

370

:

I don't know if it's a classic, but it

definitely follows the underdog formula.

371

:

BooGie, what are your thoughts about the

flaws in the plot and the film overall?

372

:

Yeah, I mean, I agree that there was some

plot holes there.

373

:

But you know me, I'm always there for the

cameos.

374

:

So cameos, let's talk about them.

375

:

Yeah, Tony Gonzalez, Deion Sanders, Terry

Bradshaw, Curt Menafee, Michael Strahan,

376

:

Howie Long, Jay Glazer.

377

:

I mean, all big names in football and the

commentary and Fox football commentaries

378

:

and Fox NFL Sunday commentators.

379

:

So.

380

:

It was cool to see them because it always

adds a tad bit of authenticity to the

381

:

film.

382

:

So anytime I see that kind of thing

happen, I always get a little bit excited.

383

:

I like spotting people and saying who's

who in the movie.

384

:

But yeah, there was some definite plot

holes in it.

385

:

And but I mean, it's not a perfectly made

movie.

386

:

I think that the overall message was

achieved somewhat.

387

:

Would I watch it again?

388

:

Absolutely.

389

:

It took a little bit to get to get me to

catch on to it, but I enjoyed it when it

390

:

was all said and done.

391

:

Yeah, I just thought that they left, they

left a little bit on the field in terms

392

:

of, to use that, in terms of like Snoop

having a little bit more of an impact to

393

:

reform the children.

394

:

They learned, but I think you're kind of

stretching a little bit like what they

395

:

really learned.

396

:

I mean, the one child was a personal

connection where he kept asking to be

397

:

dropped off in front of the sneaker store.

398

:

He's like, I'm gonna buy some kicks or

check it out.

399

:

And it was all about him just being

embarrassed of where he lived.

400

:

Snoop did go to the extent of figuring it

out that he was embarrassed and said, hey,

401

:

I lived in trailer park, such and such

number.

402

:

But like, I wish he would even take it a

step further.

403

:

Like, why doesn't he help him confront his

fear and like maybe get out of the car and

404

:

walk him to his home and maybe meet his

parent or caregiver and say, hey, listen,

405

:

I know what you're going through.

406

:

And...

407

:

Maybe I can help you out somehow, or maybe

use his influence or something.

408

:

Like someone that's a former athlete that

could still maintain a house like that has

409

:

a lot more resources.

410

:

And I just don't think that they were

applied, yeah, you know, as much as they

411

:

could.

412

:

I don't want to tell someone how to spend

their money though.

413

:

Like, oh, you have to...

414

:

It's not coming from a place of, you know,

a sincere place in Two Js's heart.

415

:

So it's not gonna...

416

:

It wasn't gonna happen and it wouldn't

have worked.

417

:

So, I mean, there was something there.

418

:

I think he...

419

:

Knowing what this kid was going through

and figuring out that he didn't really

420

:

have a new pair of kicks every time, I

think the best he could have done was

421

:

relate to him like, hey, I used to live in

the trailer park too.

422

:

and I was able to get out.

423

:

And I think...

424

:

To make him do more, I think that'd be a

little ham-handed to me.

425

:

I mean he did he did buy him new kicks

though.

426

:

He brought some kicks.

427

:

Yeah, yeah, the new kicks.

428

:

Yeah, I don't know.

429

:

I wanted a better moral compass inside of

Two Js and just wasn't there.

430

:

But again, that was his character.

431

:

I don't know.

432

:

It's not a Disney movie.

433

:

So you're not going to have these

wholesome qualities that I might be

434

:

looking for.

435

:

few miles north of Long Beach.

436

:

That's a good one.

437

:

So also, yeah, no, I guess, you know, we

differ, we differ on that.

438

:

And that's fine.

439

:

I mean, I didn't want to mention, I'd be

remiss if I didn't mention a couple of

440

:

other performances in this film.

441

:

Tika Sumpter was stunning as, you know,

Snoop's love interest.

442

:

Kal Penn was in it playing his agent and

he was funny as usual.

443

:

We mentioned George Lopez as the high

school coach.

444

:

Andrew Schulz, so I didn't really know

that well.

445

:

He played a good villain in terms of the

opposing coach.

446

:

He had his team in like a militaristic

drill sergeant type fashion.

447

:

He was like the Bill Belichick, I guess,

of youth league.

448

:

Joyles Bill Belichick style.

449

:

I think they were like the Colonels.

450

:

They looked like the Patriots uniforms.

451

:

they really did.

452

:

They really were.

453

:

I think they intentionally probably

modeled them after that.

454

:

oh yeah.

455

:

Yeah, I see that.

456

:

Yep.

457

:

I see that.

458

:

Yep.

459

:

Yeah.

460

:

Yeah, but if you want to talk about any of

those co-stars, you can go ahead.

461

:

there's really good supporting cast.

462

:

And some of the subtle humor worked better

for me than some of the more obvious joke

463

:

lines in this movie.

464

:

And so there's one scene where Two Js

calls his agent Harold and Kumar, looking

465

:

person So a great, subtle reference to Kal

Penn's breakout role as Kumar.

466

:

Mm-hmm.

467

:

Very funny.

468

:

Charles Stone III is good for that.

469

:

He knows his stuff.

470

:

I think it was good.

471

:

I think all of the characters that were

showcased, they added to the movie.

472

:

Like one of the, when it caught me off

guard was Judge Tara.

473

:

I was like, huh.

474

:

I looked at her face and I'm like, wait a

minute, I know who that is.

475

:

It's Kandi Burruss from platinum-selling

group Xscape.

476

:

And um also a solo artist and she plays on

those hip hop shows.

477

:

I can't remember which one, but yeah, I

was like, huh, here she goes.

478

:

Isn't she a real housewife in Atlanta or

something?

479

:

Yeah.

480

:

That was it.

481

:

Okay.

482

:

Yeah, good crew.

483

:

I saw the funny subtle joke too is that

Snoop mentions or Two Js mentions like,

484

:

oh, I thought I was gonna get the Martha

Stewart treatment or something like that.

485

:

And in real life Snoop and Martha are

buddies.

486

:

And Martha had the white collar crime when

she was like insider trading and she got

487

:

like a slap on the wrist.

488

:

He still got, I guess, preferential

treatment and that he was up for.

489

:

jail sentence and he's like, you're gonna

get community service.

490

:

He's in there with his neck brace and

everything after the accident.

491

:

Looking a mess.

492

:

But I thought that was a funny line also.

493

:

Yeah, I definitely did laugh a lot.

494

:

I'm not saying it was joyless, but I

outlined a lot of the issues I had.

495

:

Anything else to add on the film that you

guys wanted to discuss?

496

:

This is a well timed for Super Bowl week.

497

:

Yes, football film, definitely.

498

:

this during Super Bowl week.

499

:

Go Niners!

500

:

Our resident Niners fan is ready to go.

501

:

Put him in, coach.

502

:

Ha ha ha.

503

:

Ha ha ha.

504

:

a jersey.

505

:

Ehh!

506

:

You gotta get a Run CMC shirt.

507

:

I got the Run DMC.

508

:

You gotta get Run CMC for Christian

McCaffrey.

509

:

Yeah.

510

:

I got my Run the Jewels shirt on in honor

of Killer Mike winning a Grammy this week.

511

:

Oh, nice.

512

:

He went in the crate.

513

:

Free Killer Mike.

514

:

Yes.

515

:

Yeah, apparently got arrested after the

show.

516

:

That's crazy.

517

:

Awful timing.

518

:

Why'd I do that to my man?

519

:

You've been down with Killer Mike for

years, yeah.

520

:

Yup.

521

:

It was crazy because I heard about that.

522

:

I was going to go watch the Grammy Awards

with a few of my friends.

523

:

And I was like, I was running about 20

minutes late, 15, 20 minutes late.

524

:

And the Grammy started at eight o'clock

and about eight, 10, or eight oh five,

525

:

eight, 10, I see the headlines popping up.

526

:

Like Killer Mike arrested.

527

:

And I went to the Grammy party, I was

like, y'all did y'all hear about Killer

528

:

Mike?

529

:

He said, what happened with Killer Mike?

530

:

I'm like.

531

:

He just got arrested, they're like, he

did.

532

:

Cause it hadn't, the news hadn't even, it

hadn't even popped up for anybody who was

533

:

watching the Grammy's live, didn't even

know.

534

:

It's like, wow.

535

:

That's not right.

536

:

Yeah.

537

:

I saw he posted today thanking everybody,

that supporter and everything.

538

:

So it looks like he's out and everything's

good.

539

:

That's good.

540

:

All right, so let's do our rating here for

the movie Underdoggs, which is freshly

541

:

released.

542

:

I think it came out something like January

23rd or something, so we hop right on this

543

:

one on Amazon Prime.

544

:

Yeah, it's amazing.

545

:

But all right, DynoWright, let's kick it

off with you first.

546

:

Would you say bring this funky flick back

or leave it in the vault?

547

:

I would bring this funky flick back, um, I

don't know if I'd watch it again, but I

548

:

thought it was good.

549

:

All right, BooGie?

550

:

but good.

551

:

Yeah, I'll bring the funky flick back for

now.

552

:

I mean, I'll probably definitely, I'm

almost positive I'll watch it at least one

553

:

or two more times because I'll come across

somebody that has never seen it and

554

:

they'll probably wanna watch it and I end

up watching it with them.

555

:

Will it hold up as a classic?

556

:

Remains to be seen.

557

:

but I'll bring it back for now.

558

:

Alright, and for myself, I spouted too

much negativity, so I will have to say,

559

:

leave it in the vault.

560

:

I will spend the time watching Soul Plane

and other...and just watching Snoop

561

:

videos.

562

:

Which I enjoyed much more.

563

:

All right.

564

:

Soul Plane...

565

:

Can't stop laughing now.

566

:

Hehehehe

567

:

Oh man.

568

:

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your

HHMC's JB, BooGie and DynoWright.

569

:

The music by BooGie.

570

:

We've got a bunch of live events in the

first half of:

571

:

You can learn more at our website,

hiphopmovieclub.com.

572

:

On February 28th at Steel Stacks in

Bethlehem, we are presenting a screening

573

:

of Juice and a talkback.

574

:

Free tickets at steelstacks.org.

575

:

Whether you're listening to the podcast or

watching us on YouTube, we appreciate you.

576

:

Thanks for tuning in.

577

:

Remember, don't hate, liberate.

578

:

Free Killer Mike.

579

:

That's right

580

:

I think it's already free, so yeah, stay

free.

581

:

Yeah.

582

:

I'm gonna soon have to go through that

INXS, INXS a video with the cue cards.

583

:

We could drop that in the show notes they

had a lot

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube