Speaker: 00:00:04

Welcome to Hip Hop Movie Club, the show

that harmonizes the rhythm of hip hop with

2

: 00:00:08

the magic of movies.

3

: 00:00:10

Today we're discussing Underdoggs, the

newly released comedy starring the one and

4

: 00:00:14

only Snoop Dogg.

5

: 00:00:15

We are three old heads who put their old

heads together to vibe on these films for

6

: 00:00:19

you.

7

: 00:00:20

I'm DynoWright, podcaster, filmmaker,

longtime hip hop fan, and Charles Stone

8

: 00:00:24

III, the director of this film, changed my

life.

9

: 00:00:27

He directed the video where I Left My

Wallet in El Segundo, A Tribe Called

10

: 00:00:30

Quest, which cemented me as a hip hop fan

for life.

11

: 00:00:34

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

time hip hop fan, and my favorite hip hop

12

: 00:00:39

collective is the Native Tongues, which

included a crew that has the same nickname

13

: 00:00:45

as I do, the JB's.

14

: 00:00:51

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

and I stand with Jay-Z in his acceptance

15

: 00:00:56

speech for the Dr.

16

: 00:00:57

Dre Global Impact Award at the Grammys.

17

: 00:00:59

He said what he said.

18

: 00:01:02

In this episode, we'll answer the

question, is Underdoggs an instant classic

19

: 00:01:06

sports underdog film?

20

: 00:01:08

And we'll give you five key takeaways to

make you a smarter hip hop movie fan.

21

: 00:01:13

Underdoggs with two G's is the story of

Jaycen "Two Js" Jennings, a former NFL

22

: 00:01:20

superstar wide receiver who was sentenced

to community service and decides to coach

23

: 00:01:24

a rough-and-tumble, ragtag youth football

team as a means to help regain his

24

: 00:01:29

popularity and post-playing career

opportunities.

25

: 00:01:34

Alright, let's dig in here.

26

: 00:01:36

First of our five key takeaways is, Snoop

Dogg is still likeable and funny, even

27

: 00:01:43

while playing a conceited, self-centered,

arrogant former athlete.

28

: 00:01:47

Let me kick it to you, DynoWright.

29

: 00:01:49

What are your thoughts around that topic?

30

: 00:01:51

Sure.

31

: 00:01:52

So football was the case that they gave

him.

32

: 00:01:55

He had run into some problems in the

courtroom and he was sentenced to

33

: 00:02:00

community service and he decides to

fulfill the debt to society he was gonna

34

: 00:02:07

coach a youth football team.

35

: 00:02:09

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

real self-centered jerk.

36

: 00:02:18

Yeah, I agree.

37

: 00:02:19

The fact that he could pull it off, being

a self-centered jerk, a former athlete

38

: 00:02:22

with no other really redeeming qualities

except that he's Snoop Dogg in real life,

39

: 00:02:28

that I was still laughing at him.

40

: 00:02:31

He was quick-witted.

41

: 00:02:32

He always had a quick quip.

42

: 00:02:34

He snapped back at anybody that would, you

know, try to degrade him, even the kids,

43

: 00:02:41

other colleagues, former colleagues.

44

: 00:02:43

Yeah, Snoop did a great job.

45

: 00:02:48

He had a lot of dialogue and it all went

really smoothly.

46

: 00:02:51

He just says everything that Snoop touches

goes smoothly pretty much.

47

: 00:02:57

BooGie, what are your thoughts on Snoop

Dogg being likable and funny even in this

48

: 00:03:00

role?

49

: 00:03:01

Nah, he was funny.

50

: 00:03:03

He was like somebody's crazy uncle that

just woke up one morning and said, you

51

: 00:03:10

know what, I'm gonna coach a football

team.

52

: 00:03:11

And had no clue of what it took to be a

coach.

53

: 00:03:15

I mean, his whole experience with football

was from the player side.

54

: 00:03:19

And he decided to just go on down there

and give it a shot because he wanted to

55

: 00:03:23

improve his image.

56

: 00:03:24

But the way he was showing up, it had me

cracking up because he's showing up and

57

: 00:03:28

he's got these like head to toe Fendi

suits on.

58

: 00:03:33

his metallic gold G-Wagon Mercedes Benz

with the sun.

59

: 00:03:37

Like when we first pulled up, the kids

couldn't even see the light was hitting

60

: 00:03:40

them and I was like, what the heck is

going on?

61

: 00:03:42

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

even with the language though, some of the

62

: 00:03:52

conversations between him and the kids had

me cracking up.

63

: 00:03:55

I mean, I wasn't really into it.

64

: 00:03:58

I tried to watch it.

65

: 00:03:59

I watched it twice.

66

: 00:04:00

The first time I started watching, I

wasn't into it.

67

: 00:04:02

But the second time I started watching it

and I started listening to some of what

68

: 00:04:06

they were saying.

69

: 00:04:06

It was pretty funny because little kids, I

mean kids at that age, they're very quick

70

: 00:04:12

witted.

71

: 00:04:13

So the back and forth, you know, like they

were almost like snapping on each other

72

: 00:04:17

back and forth, cracking jokes on one

another.

73

: 00:04:20

And he was just letting them have it.

74

: 00:04:21

Like he was giving it to them.

75

: 00:04:22

Oh man.

76

: 00:04:27

Classic Snoop stuff.

77

: 00:04:29

yeah, classics do, I laughed at him.

78

: 00:04:30

Of course there had to be a scene where he

was toking up with Mike Epps.

79

: 00:04:37

That was par for the course.

80

: 00:04:39

I had some issues obviously with his

character, but that's who he was.

81

: 00:04:42

You know, he stayed true to himself the

entire time.

82

: 00:04:47

My problem with him as an individual, like

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

83

: 00:04:52

was.

84

: 00:04:54

Man, he was only out for himself and he

was kind of using the kids as a means to

85

: 00:04:58

better his lot in life.

86

: 00:05:01

He was at rock bottom after his playing

days were over and he was irrelevant and

87

: 00:05:06

he was down on his luck and he was

literally using his kids to better

88

: 00:05:12

himself.

89

: 00:05:13

There's that part with his former high

school coach played by George Lopez with a

90

: 00:05:19

ripped couch and a tiny office.

91

: 00:05:22

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

92

: 00:05:24

and he had such an affinity for his coach,

he couldn't pay to upgrade his facilities.

93

: 00:05:30

I mean, that was off-putting a little bit

to me.

94

: 00:05:34

Yeah, the couch I had duct tape on it.

95

: 00:05:38

It wasn't there.

96

: 00:05:38

problem with it.

97

: 00:05:39

I mean, it's his money.

98

: 00:05:40

He can do whatever he wants with it.

99

: 00:05:42

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

100

: 00:05:47

That's a coach's problem.

101

: 00:05:48

I mean, if the coach had wanted it, I

think he could have made it happen.

102

: 00:05:54

But I mean, you would think with his

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

103

: 00:05:57

hopefully it should have been like Jaycen

Jennings Field and this complex, and they

104

: 00:06:01

should have had state of the art

facilities.

105

: 00:06:04

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

Bethlehem PA, there's Liberty High School,

106

: 00:06:09

Dwayne The Rock Johnson played there for

like a year or two.

107

: 00:06:12

He shipped them all the latest gear.

108

: 00:06:14

He upgraded their facilities.

109

: 00:06:16

I mean, it seems like Jaycen Jennings, his

house was so lavish.

110

: 00:06:24

statues of himself.

111

: 00:06:28

Those are crazy too, with the big booty

and everything.

112

: 00:06:30

With the...

113

: 00:06:30

the big

114

: 00:06:31

buttocks.

115

: 00:06:32

Yeah, yeah.

116

: 00:06:33

I mean...

117

: 00:06:35

Behind his bed, the arms raised, wings,

like he was an angel, I think.

118

: 00:06:40

I mean, it would just be a drop in the

bucket to help out Coach.

119

: 00:06:44

Air Jordan poster.

120

: 00:06:45

That was funny.

121

: 00:06:46

That made me laugh.

122

: 00:06:48

so I took issue with it.

123

: 00:06:52

But, so I think, BooGie, you alluded to

this, but like another takeaway is despite

124

: 00:06:59

the warning at the beginning, which was

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

125

: 00:07:04

it said that the children's cursing,

because those MFers say what they wanna

126

: 00:07:08

say, but the amount and the extent of the

children's cursing was alarming to me.

127

: 00:07:14

So let me just talk briefly to that.

128

: 00:07:17

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

minute.

129

: 00:07:18

But as a father,

130

: 00:07:20

It was hard for me to watch the kids just

straight up cursing the adults out, like

131

: 00:07:26

literally saying like, F you.

132

: 00:07:27

And I'm like, wow, is nothing sacred

anymore?

133

: 00:07:31

And because of that, I think it would

prevent this movie from being a classic.

134

: 00:07:36

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

135

: 00:07:40

Like you got to show these kids how to act

with a little more class.

136

: 00:07:45

Now the vernacular, right?

137

: 00:07:46

This is Long Beach.

138

: 00:07:49

California and maybe a lot of people talk

that way, but if you want to mold someone

139

: 00:07:54

to show a little bit more respect because

then they talk trash to each other,

140

: 00:07:58

they're talking trash in a nasty way to

the other team like when they come out

141

: 00:08:02

with that rallying call at the end.

142

: 00:08:07

I was put off by that.

143

: 00:08:08

What are your thoughts DynoWright?

144

: 00:08:10

I had the opposite reaction.

145

: 00:08:12

I thought The Warning was funny.

146

: 00:08:15

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

in for.

147

: 00:08:21

I'm not prepared to judge how profane kids

from Long Beach are.

148

: 00:08:24

I've never been to Long Beach, which is

kind of the point of The Warning.

149

: 00:08:27

This is how they are.

150

: 00:08:29

And so it doesn't match up with our

sensibility, okay.

151

: 00:08:34

But, you know, the...

152

: 00:08:39

whether they act this way or not, I think

that was secondary to the point of the

153

: 00:08:44

movie.

154

: 00:08:44

And the point of the movie was you have

to, you have to put forth an effort and

155

: 00:08:49

you have to believe in yourself.

156

: 00:08:51

And so they did that.

157

: 00:08:53

And so they accomplished that part of the

movie.

158

: 00:08:55

The cursing was sort of secondary.

159

: 00:08:58

Snoop said the cursing was real.

160

: 00:08:59

And so I'm not here to debate Snoop on

whether the cursing was real or not,

161

: 00:09:04

because that's where he lives and that's

not where I live.

162

: 00:09:08

And-

163

: 00:09:08

To do a no cursing story would, I thought,

miss the point of the emotional

164

: 00:09:12

undercurrent that's in this film, which is

how they really feel.

165

: 00:09:15

And these kids are disadvantaged, and so

to be tone police with them is not

166

: 00:09:21

something I'm interested in.

167

: 00:09:23

They've got real problems.

168

: 00:09:26

The way they talk is the last of their,

the least of their problems.

169

: 00:09:32

Point taken.

170

: 00:09:33

I just think it detracts from the overall

film because this is for the masses.

171

: 00:09:39

It's out there on, this was on Amazon

Prime and right or wrong, it's gonna be

172

: 00:09:46

judged harshly because of that.

173

: 00:09:48

And I would hope that it, I was hoping

that would maybe have a more lasting

174

: 00:09:52

effect and be more of a classic going

forward like we see in some of these

175

: 00:09:56

underdog stories.

176

: 00:09:58

BooGie, what's your take on that with the

language?

177

: 00:10:00

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

little bit.

178

: 00:10:03

I mean, like I explained earlier, like the

first time I started watching it, I was

179

: 00:10:08

like, what in the heck?

180

: 00:10:10

Like I was almost turned off a little bit,

but then I went back and I watched it a

181

: 00:10:14

second time and it was kind of like, all

right, you know, whatever.

182

: 00:10:17

And then it kind of, I almost, I almost

didn't even hear it as much.

183

: 00:10:21

But also to the point that DynoWright was

saying, I used to teach in New Brunswick

184

: 00:10:28

and...

185

: 00:10:29

the kids were about that age and they

definitely had some mouths on them.

186

: 00:10:35

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

that would be, it was very real in that

187

: 00:10:41

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

going out to the masses.

188

: 00:10:48

It could be off-putting for some people.

189

: 00:10:51

Hopefully, you know, people do give it a

shot.

190

: 00:10:54

Like I watched it the second time.

191

: 00:10:58

and I was able to enjoy it because there

is a message there.

192

: 00:11:03

And it's very clear.

193

: 00:11:04

And I think even the end of the final

football game, the result wasn't what we

194

: 00:11:11

all hoped for in a classic underdog story.

195

: 00:11:16

But even though the result wasn't there,

the lasting effect with the team and how

196

: 00:11:23

they were able to come together.

197

: 00:11:26

That overall message was definitely

conveyed.

198

: 00:11:29

Was that a spoiler alert or should we not

talk about the ending?

199

: 00:11:35

I meant to bring that up.

200

: 00:11:38

Yeah, just a little more on the language.

201

: 00:11:39

So yeah, the language being harsh, I get

it.

202

: 00:11:43

I get it in the sense that if this is how

they speak, it's how they speak.

203

: 00:11:46

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

that.

204

: 00:11:49

But I think there was some clear

disrespect from the children, you know,

205

: 00:11:52

like, where's the respect for your elders?

206

: 00:11:55

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

you to Snoop Dogg at one point.

207

: 00:11:59

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

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

208

: 00:12:03

for that?

209

: 00:12:04

Like that should not be allowed.

210

: 00:12:05

If somebody, like you would,

211

: 00:12:07

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

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

212

: 00:12:13

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

speak with me.

213

: 00:12:15

And I would bench that kid.

214

: 00:12:16

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

think.

215

: 00:12:18

I mean, like, how is the kid going to

learn if they continually get away with

216

: 00:12:22

that disrespect?

217

: 00:12:24

That's what really bothered me is like,

the language was disrespectful, and you

218

: 00:12:30

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

that language on other people.

219

: 00:12:35

Especially...

220

: 00:12:36

your elders.

221

: 00:12:37

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

gotta be, you gotta draw a line somewhere.

222

: 00:12:42

That's my

223

: 00:12:44

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

that same exact language directed at

224

: 00:12:49

teachers, but there was repercussions.

225

: 00:12:53

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

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

226

: 00:12:57

it.

227

: 00:12:57

I've seen it firsthand.

228

: 00:13:00

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

sense of, you know, an extracurricular

229

: 00:13:04

activity like football, you might want to

kind of put in there like

230

: 00:13:10

you know, bench him or make him run an

extra lap or do some pushups or something.

231

: 00:13:14

Yeah, definitely.

232

: 00:13:17

If you're trying to mold these kids to be

productive members of society and overcome

233

: 00:13:23

some of those challenges that they're

faced with, you have to show a little bit

234

: 00:13:27

more class and respect for elders at the

bare minimum.

235

: 00:13:31

So that's where it bothered me more so

than the language itself.

236

: 00:13:36

So yeah, I thought that could have been

handled a little bit better.

237

: 00:13:45

Um...

238

: 00:13:48

Alright, I think we covered that topic

pretty well.

239

: 00:13:53

I do have some other flaws, but the plot

we'll get to later, like in the final

240

: 00:13:56

takeaway, but let's do something a little

bit more upbeat, humorous even.

241

: 00:14:02

Mike Epps' character.

242

: 00:14:04

He further cements himself as a zany

sidekick in these hip hop films.

243

: 00:14:13

He's so good.

244

: 00:14:17

He provides comic relief and every scene

he's in is very funny.

245

: 00:14:26

And it's also based on real life

ex-gangsters that were coaching in Snoop's

246

: 00:14:30

league.

247

: 00:14:30

So that was kind of a nice nod to them to

use Mike Epps and his comedic talent for

248

: 00:14:38

that was a nice touch.

249

: 00:14:40

Really funny.

250

: 00:14:44

Mike Epps has been in dozens and dozens of

these hip hop related or hip hop adjacent

251

: 00:14:49

movies and he just crushes it like every

time.

252

: 00:14:54

We saw him in a couple that we had done

like You People, On the Come Up and a few

253

: 00:15:00

others.

254

: 00:15:02

He steals scenes and this one he was

outrageous.

255

: 00:15:05

He was just trying, he just wanted to tag

along with Snoop and be the assistant

256

: 00:15:09

coach and like just bizarre.

257

: 00:15:12

He would just

258

: 00:15:13

ramble and say some incoherent things and

like when he first pulled up on Snoop like

259

: 00:15:17

he had a gun to his head and he was just

like oh man and he kept forgetting that

260

: 00:15:21

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

you kidding me you know so it was wild and

261

: 00:15:27

like he did provide some needed comic

relief.

262

: 00:15:31

BooGie what are your thoughts on Mike Epps

as the assistant?

263

: 00:15:36

Yeah, so if Snoop's character was the

crazy uncle, Mike Epps was the even

264

: 00:15:39

crazier uncle.

265

: 00:15:41

And he just like throughout the film

though, like his intentions were good.

266

: 00:15:47

Like he definitely wanted to be

supportive, but he had no idea how to do

267

: 00:15:51

it correctly.

268

: 00:15:53

But he wanted to be there.

269

: 00:15:56

Even something as simple as addressing the

crooked.

270

: 00:16:01

the crooked referee, you know?

271

: 00:16:04

Yeah, you wanna say something to him, but

the way he went about it.

272

: 00:16:08

You know, it's little stuff like that.

273

: 00:16:09

And like the scenes where he was always

trying to, he would always have that gun

274

: 00:16:13

and it would not be, the safety wouldn't

be on, it was funny.

275

: 00:16:17

But his antics throughout the film, you

know, made for some really funny scenes.

276

: 00:16:23

And he just like, it's something about

him.

277

: 00:16:27

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

278

: 00:16:29

He just starts saying a regular sentence

and I'm cracking up because of the way he

279

: 00:16:33

delivers it.

280

: 00:16:36

Yeah, he was he was hysterical.

281

: 00:16:42

Yep.

282

: 00:16:43

Um, love Mike Epps in this one.

283

: 00:16:46

So I think you mentioned also, DynoWright?

284

: 00:16:50

The movie is based on the true story.

285

: 00:16:52

Snoop's real life youth football league.

286

: 00:16:53

So Snoop's done a lot in his community of

Long Beach, California, to help under

287

: 00:16:59

privileged kids and create a youth

football program.

288

: 00:17:02

And thousands upon thousands of kids have

come through.

289

: 00:17:05

Some have played in the NFL.

290

: 00:17:06

There was a little footnote epilogue at

the end that

291

: 00:17:11

talked about that, that was a nice touch.

292

: 00:17:16

Yeah.

293

: 00:17:18

According to the film, 85,000 kids played

in this program.

294

: 00:17:21

I think the website says another number,

but still that many kids coming through,

295

: 00:17:26

20,000 of them went to college, which is

great.

296

: 00:17:29

And even some NFL players that people have

heard of.

297

: 00:17:31

So pretty cool.

298

: 00:17:34

Yeah, I mean, I just saw an article just

last week where CJ Stroud mentions that

299

: 00:17:43

his former football coach, Snoop Dogg has

been a blessing in his life.

300

: 00:17:47

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

know, he's the Houston Texans quarterback,

301

: 00:17:52

but he played in Snoop Youth Football

League while he was living in Rancho

302

: 00:17:57

Cucamonga, California while he was in

middle school.

303

: 00:18:00

And even to this day, Snoop also has fond

memories of him as well.

304

: 00:18:04

and referred to him as being laser, like

so laser-focused.

305

: 00:18:07

He referred to him as being spiritual and

positive and just carrying that with him

306

: 00:18:15

throughout the league.

307

: 00:18:16

And they had nothing but kind of words to

say for one another, you know, something

308

: 00:18:19

like, it's like, wow.

309

: 00:18:21

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

310

: 00:18:23

Stroud is a likely winner of the offensive

rookie of the year.

311

: 00:18:27

He had an amazing season, led Houston into

the playoffs.

312

: 00:18:31

In his rookie season, he put up like

almost close to 5,000 passing yards, which

313

: 00:18:36

is unheard of.

314

: 00:18:36

He broke some rookie records.

315

: 00:18:38

So yeah, he was a joy to watch.

316

: 00:18:41

Yeah, that's just one example.

317

: 00:18:45

One example.

318

: 00:18:46

Yeah, there's been many, many more.

319

: 00:18:49

So kudos to Snoop and what he did in real

life to help out underprivileged kids.

320

: 00:18:56

And final take, LBC.

321

: 00:19:01

I was thinking...

322

: 00:19:02

to the NFL.

323

: 00:19:04

Now you got me thinking of the opening

lines of Gin and Juice.

324

: 00:19:13

Final takeaway, and again, I wrote this,

but I'm going to support it too.

325

: 00:19:19

The plot and the film are littered with

some flaws and unnecessary roughness, to

326

: 00:19:22

use a football term.

327

: 00:19:24

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

that it's a kids story, the Underdoggs,

328

: 00:19:29

but they're like ruling the roosts.

329

: 00:19:31

I don't see where the discipline is.

330

: 00:19:34

I don't see the kids really reforming

themselves.

331

: 00:19:38

And I don't see Snoop reforming himself.

332

: 00:19:40

Snoop was like a jerk the whole time in

terms of his self-centeredness, his being

333

: 00:19:45

an egomaniac.

334

: 00:19:47

Yeah, lessons learned.

335

: 00:19:48

But like the kids coming out and rallying

when they're down and the half, and using

336

: 00:19:55

like expletives to kind of rally together

and almost taunt the other team.

337

: 00:20:01

I didn't like that.

338

: 00:20:03

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

that was a big flaw to me.

339

: 00:20:10

Again, Snoop not giving back to his old

coach, and the only reason he's doing the

340

: 00:20:16

community service and helping these kids

is a means to an end to help himself.

341

: 00:20:22

And when he got that role at Fox, big

dilemma, and he made the decision, you

342

: 00:20:30

know, he made a tough decision.

343

: 00:20:31

I won't give it away.

344

: 00:20:33

But that was his end goal, was to get a

contract on national TV.

345

: 00:20:41

And so that was it.

346

: 00:20:42

And then it's like, what happened to the

kids?

347

: 00:20:45

So yeah, I had some issues with that.

348

: 00:20:51

DynoWright, what are your thoughts about

any of the flaws or unnecessary roughness,

349

: 00:20:55

so to speak?

350

: 00:20:58

I'm picking up the flag.

351

: 00:21:00

It's a sports movie.

352

: 00:21:02

And so a lot of sports movies follow

formula, not unlike rom-coms.

353

: 00:21:06

And so this one ends in a championship

game, of course.

354

: 00:21:09

And they have this moral dilemma that

Snoop has to decide whether to go to Fox

355

: 00:21:15

or coach the championship game for the

kids.

356

: 00:21:19

And so we've seen this in other films.

357

: 00:21:23

And you can imagine what happens.

358

: 00:21:28

Without talking about the result of the

game, the result of the game actually

359

: 00:21:30

works in favor of the message of the film.

360

: 00:21:32

I thought to me that one of the messages

is you have to put forth a sincere effort

361

: 00:21:36

and let the results take care of

themselves and in short trust the process.

362

: 00:21:41

The second was to find strength in your

family and from where he came.

363

: 00:21:44

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

finds about 80% redemption, but he does.

364

: 00:21:56

find strength in where he from where he

came from.

365

: 00:22:00

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

accomplished.

366

: 00:22:07

And finding strength in his, Mike Epps'

character was, I'm in for that.

367

: 00:22:18

But yeah, is it a perfect film?

368

: 00:22:20

No, of course not.

369

: 00:22:22

Is it a classic underdog sports movie?

370

: 00:22:26

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

definitely follows the underdog formula.

371

: 00:22:33

BooGie, what are your thoughts about the

flaws in the plot and the film overall?

372

: 00:22:42

Yeah, I mean, I agree that there was some

plot holes there.

373

: 00:22:47

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

cameos.

374

: 00:22:50

So cameos, let's talk about them.

375

: 00:22:55

Yeah, Tony Gonzalez, Deion Sanders, Terry

Bradshaw, Curt Menafee, Michael Strahan,

376

: 00:23:01

Howie Long, Jay Glazer.

377

: 00:23:03

I mean, all big names in football and the

commentary and Fox football commentaries

378

: 00:23:09

and Fox NFL Sunday commentators.

379

: 00:23:11

So.

380

: 00:23:12

It was cool to see them because it always

adds a tad bit of authenticity to the

381

: 00:23:18

film.

382

: 00:23:18

So anytime I see that kind of thing

happen, I always get a little bit excited.

383

: 00:23:23

I like spotting people and saying who's

who in the movie.

384

: 00:23:27

But yeah, there was some definite plot

holes in it.

385

: 00:23:28

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

movie.

386

: 00:23:31

I think that the overall message was

achieved somewhat.

387

: 00:23:38

Would I watch it again?

388

: 00:23:39

Absolutely.

389

: 00:23:40

It took a little bit to get to get me to

catch on to it, but I enjoyed it when it

390

: 00:23:44

was all said and done.

391

: 00:23:49

Yeah, I just thought that they left, they

left a little bit on the field in terms

392

: 00:23:54

of, to use that, in terms of like Snoop

having a little bit more of an impact to

393

: 00:24:00

reform the children.

394

: 00:24:01

They learned, but I think you're kind of

stretching a little bit like what they

395

: 00:24:05

really learned.

396

: 00:24:06

I mean, the one child was a personal

connection where he kept asking to be

397

: 00:24:10

dropped off in front of the sneaker store.

398

: 00:24:12

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

check it out.

399

: 00:24:14

And it was all about him just being

embarrassed of where he lived.

400

: 00:24:18

Snoop did go to the extent of figuring it

out that he was embarrassed and said, hey,

401

: 00:24:23

I lived in trailer park, such and such

number.

402

: 00:24:27

But like, I wish he would even take it a

step further.

403

: 00:24:29

Like, why doesn't he help him confront his

fear and like maybe get out of the car and

404

: 00:24:36

walk him to his home and maybe meet his

parent or caregiver and say, hey, listen,

405

: 00:24:43

I know what you're going through.

406

: 00:24:45

And...

407

: 00:24:46

Maybe I can help you out somehow, or maybe

use his influence or something.

408

: 00:24:49

Like someone that's a former athlete that

could still maintain a house like that has

409

: 00:24:57

a lot more resources.

410

: 00:24:59

And I just don't think that they were

applied, yeah, you know, as much as they

411

: 00:25:03

could.

412

: 00:25:04

I don't want to tell someone how to spend

their money though.

413

: 00:25:06

Like, oh, you have to...

414

: 00:25:09

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

a sincere place in Two Js's heart.

415

: 00:25:15

So it's not gonna...

416

: 00:25:16

It wasn't gonna happen and it wouldn't

have worked.

417

: 00:25:18

So, I mean, there was something there.

418

: 00:25:20

I think he...

419

: 00:25:21

Knowing what this kid was going through

and figuring out that he didn't really

420

: 00:25:25

have a new pair of kicks every time, I

think the best he could have done was

421

: 00:25:29

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

the trailer park too.

422

: 00:25:33

and I was able to get out.

423

: 00:25:36

And I think...

424

: 00:25:39

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

little ham-handed to me.

425

: 00:25:45

I mean he did he did buy him new kicks

though.

426

: 00:25:49

He brought some kicks.

427

: 00:25:51

Yeah, yeah, the new kicks.

428

: 00:25:52

Yeah, I don't know.

429

: 00:25:54

I wanted a better moral compass inside of

Two Js and just wasn't there.

430

: 00:25:58

But again, that was his character.

431

: 00:26:00

I don't know.

432

: 00:26:01

It's not a Disney movie.

433

: 00:26:03

So you're not going to have these

wholesome qualities that I might be

434

: 00:26:11

looking for.

435

: 00:26:12

few miles north of Long Beach.

436

: 00:26:15

That's a good one.

437

: 00:26:17

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

differ, we differ on that.

438

: 00:26:21

And that's fine.

439

: 00:26:22

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

remiss if I didn't mention a couple of

440

: 00:26:26

other performances in this film.

441

: 00:26:30

Tika Sumpter was stunning as, you know,

Snoop's love interest.

442

: 00:26:35

Kal Penn was in it playing his agent and

he was funny as usual.

443

: 00:26:42

We mentioned George Lopez as the high

school coach.

444

: 00:26:44

Andrew Schulz, so I didn't really know

that well.

445

: 00:26:46

He played a good villain in terms of the

opposing coach.

446

: 00:26:51

He had his team in like a militaristic

drill sergeant type fashion.

447

: 00:26:59

He was like the Bill Belichick, I guess,

of youth league.

448

: 00:27:02

Joyles Bill Belichick style.

449

: 00:27:06

I think they were like the Colonels.

450

: 00:27:08

They looked like the Patriots uniforms.

451

: 00:27:10

they really did.

452

: 00:27:11

They really were.

453

: 00:27:12

I think they intentionally probably

modeled them after that.

454

: 00:27:15

oh yeah.

455

: 00:27:15

Yeah, I see that.

456

: 00:27:17

Yep.

457

: 00:27:17

I see that.

458

: 00:27:18

Yep.

459

: 00:27:19

Yeah.

460

: 00:27:20

Yeah, but if you want to talk about any of

those co-stars, you can go ahead.

461

: 00:27:25

there's really good supporting cast.

462

: 00:27:27

And some of the subtle humor worked better

for me than some of the more obvious joke

463

: 00:27:31

lines in this movie.

464

: 00:27:32

And so there's one scene where Two Js

calls his agent Harold and Kumar, looking

465

: 00:27:39

person So a great, subtle reference to Kal

Penn's breakout role as Kumar.

466

: 00:27:48

Mm-hmm.

467

: 00:27:51

Very funny.

468

: 00:27:51

Charles Stone III is good for that.

469

: 00:27:55

He knows his stuff.

470

: 00:28:00

I think it was good.

471

: 00:28:01

I think all of the characters that were

showcased, they added to the movie.

472

: 00:28:06

Like one of the, when it caught me off

guard was Judge Tara.

473

: 00:28:12

I was like, huh.

474

: 00:28:14

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

minute, I know who that is.

475

: 00:28:17

It's Kandi Burruss from platinum-selling

group Xscape.

476

: 00:28:21

And um also a solo artist and she plays on

those hip hop shows.

477

: 00:28:26

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

was like, huh, here she goes.

478

: 00:28:30

Isn't she a real housewife in Atlanta or

something?

479

: 00:28:32

Yeah.

480

: 00:28:36

That was it.

481

: 00:28:37

Okay.

482

: 00:28:39

Yeah, good crew.

483

: 00:28:40

I saw the funny subtle joke too is that

Snoop mentions or Two Js mentions like,

484

: 00:28:47

oh, I thought I was gonna get the Martha

Stewart treatment or something like that.

485

: 00:28:50

And in real life Snoop and Martha are

buddies.

486

: 00:28:55

And Martha had the white collar crime when

she was like insider trading and she got

487

: 00:29:02

like a slap on the wrist.

488

: 00:29:04

He still got, I guess, preferential

treatment and that he was up for.

489

: 00:29:10

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

get community service.

490

: 00:29:16

He's in there with his neck brace and

everything after the accident.

491

: 00:29:21

Looking a mess.

492

: 00:29:23

But I thought that was a funny line also.

493

: 00:29:26

Yeah, I definitely did laugh a lot.

494

: 00:29:27

I'm not saying it was joyless, but I

outlined a lot of the issues I had.

495

: 00:29:35

Anything else to add on the film that you

guys wanted to discuss?

496

: 00:29:39

This is a well timed for Super Bowl week.

497

: 00:29:43

Yes, football film, definitely.

498

: 00:29:45

this during Super Bowl week.

499

: 00:29:47

Go Niners!

500

: 00:29:49

Our resident Niners fan is ready to go.

501

: 00:29:52

Put him in, coach.

502

: 00:29:53

Ha ha ha.

503

: 00:29:54

Ha ha ha.

504

: 00:29:55

a jersey.

505

: 00:29:57

Ehh!

506

: 00:30:01

You gotta get a Run CMC shirt.

507

: 00:30:02

I got the Run DMC.

508

: 00:30:03

You gotta get Run CMC for Christian

McCaffrey.

509

: 00:30:06

Yeah.

510

: 00:30:07

I got my Run the Jewels shirt on in honor

of Killer Mike winning a Grammy this week.

511

: 00:30:10

Oh, nice.

512

: 00:30:12

He went in the crate.

513

: 00:30:13

Free Killer Mike.

514

: 00:30:15

Yes.

515

: 00:30:16

Yeah, apparently got arrested after the

show.

516

: 00:30:17

That's crazy.

517

: 00:30:20

Awful timing.

518

: 00:30:20

Why'd I do that to my man?

519

: 00:30:24

You've been down with Killer Mike for

years, yeah.

520

: 00:30:28

Yup.

521

: 00:30:29

It was crazy because I heard about that.

522

: 00:30:33

I was going to go watch the Grammy Awards

with a few of my friends.

523

: 00:30:37

And I was like, I was running about 20

minutes late, 15, 20 minutes late.

524

: 00:30:43

And the Grammy started at eight o'clock

and about eight, 10, or eight oh five,

525

: 00:30:47

eight, 10, I see the headlines popping up.

526

: 00:30:50

Like Killer Mike arrested.

527

: 00:30:52

And I went to the Grammy party, I was

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

528

: 00:30:55

Mike?

529

: 00:30:55

He said, what happened with Killer Mike?

530

: 00:30:56

I'm like.

531

: 00:30:57

He just got arrested, they're like, he

did.

532

: 00:30:59

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

hadn't even popped up for anybody who was

533

: 00:31:03

watching the Grammy's live, didn't even

know.

534

: 00:31:05

It's like, wow.

535

: 00:31:10

That's not right.

536

: 00:31:11

Yeah.

537

: 00:31:11

I saw he posted today thanking everybody,

that supporter and everything.

538

: 00:31:15

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

good.

539

: 00:31:18

That's good.

540

: 00:31:22

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

the movie Underdoggs, which is freshly

541

: 00:31:28

released.

542

: 00:31:28

I think it came out something like January

23rd or something, so we hop right on this

543

: 00:31:32

one on Amazon Prime.

544

: 00:31:35

Yeah, it's amazing.

545

: 00:31:36

But all right, DynoWright, let's kick it

off with you first.

546

: 00:31:42

Would you say bring this funky flick back

or leave it in the vault?

547

: 00:31:49

I would bring this funky flick back, um, I

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

548

: 00:31:54

thought it was good.

549

: 00:31:56

All right, BooGie?

550

: 00:31:57

but good.

551

: 00:31:59

Yeah, I'll bring the funky flick back for

now.

552

: 00:32:02

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

almost positive I'll watch it at least one

553

: 00:32:06

or two more times because I'll come across

somebody that has never seen it and

554

: 00:32:09

they'll probably wanna watch it and I end

up watching it with them.

555

: 00:32:14

Will it hold up as a classic?

556

: 00:32:15

Remains to be seen.

557

: 00:32:18

but I'll bring it back for now.

558

: 00:32:20

Alright, and for myself, I spouted too

much negativity, so I will have to say,

559

: 00:32:26

leave it in the vault.

560

: 00:32:28

I will spend the time watching Soul Plane

and other...and just watching Snoop

561

: 00:32:36

videos.

562

: 00:32:40

Which I enjoyed much more.

563

: 00:32:45

All right.

564

: 00:32:50

Soul Plane...

565

: 00:32:53

Can't stop laughing now.

566

: 00:32:55

Hehehehe

567

: 00:32:58

Oh man.

568

: 00:33:00

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your

HHMC's JB, BooGie and DynoWright.

569

: 00:33:04

The music by BooGie.

570

: 00:33:06

We've got a bunch of live events in the

first half of: 2024

571

: 00:33:10

You can learn more at our website,

hiphopmovieclub.com.

572

: 00:33:13

On February 28th at Steel Stacks in

Bethlehem, we are presenting a screening

573

: 00:33:17

of Juice and a talkback.

574

: 00:33:19

Free tickets at steelstacks.org.

575

: 00:33:23

Whether you're listening to the podcast or

watching us on YouTube, we appreciate you.

576

: 00:33:27

Thanks for tuning in.

577

: 00:33:30

Remember, don't hate, liberate.

578

: 00:33:35

Free Killer Mike.

579

: 00:33:37

That's right

580

: 00:33:40

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

free.

581

: 00:33:42

Yeah.

582

: 00:33:44

I'm gonna soon have to go through that

INXS, INXS a video with the cue cards.

583

: 00:33:54

We could drop that in the show notes they

had a lot