Episode 311 - Mallrats (6 Year Anniversary)
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb? This week is extra special as Troy and Brad celebrate six years of cinematic redemption, deep dives, financial flops, and the occasional chocolate-covered pretzel.
To mark the anniversary, the guys are heading back to the mid‑’90s to revisit Kevin Smith’s sophomore effort — Mallrats. Released in 1995, this follow‑up to Clerks was supposed to launch Smith into the mainstream. Instead, it belly‑flopped harder than Brodie Bruce off an escalator. Critics weren’t impressed, audiences stayed home, and Universal watched its teen‑comedy gamble turn into a full‑blown financial wipeout. Of course, like many Not A Bomb favorites, Mallrats eventually found a second life on home video, becoming a cult staple for slackers, comic‑book nerds, and anyone who has ever loitered in a food court.
But how does Mallrats hold up nearly three decades later? Is it an unfairly maligned comedy that deserved better, or a chaotic, juvenile relic that only works if you lived through the era of Magic Eye posters? Troy and Brad dig into the film’s legacy, its infamous production woes, and the early signs of the View Askewniverse taking shape.
Snootchie bootchies — and listen now!
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Welcome back to Not A Bomb! — the podcast where we resurrect cinema’s most infamous box office disasters and ask the burning question: is it a bomb? This week is extra special as Troy and Brad celebrate six years of cinematic redemption, deep dives, financial flops, and the occasional chocolate-covered pretzel.
To mark the anniversary, the guys are heading back to the mid‑’90s to revisit Kevin Smith’s sophomore effort — Mallrats. Released in 1995, this follow‑up to Clerks was supposed to launch Smith into the mainstream. Instead, it belly‑flopped harder than Brodie Bruce off an escalator. Critics weren’t impressed, audiences stayed home, and Universal watched its teen‑comedy gamble turn into a full‑blown financial wipeout. Of course, like many Not A Bomb favorites, Mallrats eventually found a second life on home video, becoming a cult staple for slackers, comic‑book nerds, and anyone who has ever loitered in a food court.
But how does Mallrats hold up nearly three decades later? Is it an unfairly maligned comedy that deserved better, or a chaotic, juvenile relic that only works if you lived through the era of Magic Eye posters? Troy and Brad dig into the film’s legacy, its infamous production woes, and the early signs of the View Askewniverse taking shape.
Snootchie bootchies — and listen now!
Want to help support the show? Head over to the Not A Bomb Tee Public store and check our merchandise. Special thanks to Ted Blair for the amazing designs!
We're committed to hearing your feedback and suggestions. If there's a cinematic flop you'd like us to delve into, please reach out to us at NotABombPod@gmail.com or through our contact page. Your reviews and feedback are what drive us. If you enjoy our content, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Episode 136 - Mystery Men
Welcome back to your favorite podcast about some of the most notorious cinema bombs of all time. On this week’s episode, the gang not only welcomes back Josh from The VHS Files Podcast but podcaster extraordinaire., Nate Simmons. This super team assembles to discuss 1999’s superhero/comedy - Mystery Men. What do you get when you mix a first-time movie director and some of the funniest comedians of the 90’s? Well, if the box office is any indication, a huge flop! The boys are ready to breakdown this hidden gem and see if the absurdhist humor and comic book satire work better in 2022. Was Mystery Men ahead of it’s time? Can an entire film of improvisation and leftover sets from Batman & Robin stand out against the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Download and find out!
Timestamps: Intro - (0:57), Comic Book Discussion - (4:40), Box Office Results and Critical Response - (21:40), Behind the Camera - (28:02), In Front of the Camera - (37:19), Production and Development - (54:50), Commercial Break - (62:41), Mystery Men Discussion - (65:03), Is it a bomb? - (124:16), Breaking Brad News - (137:32), Listener Suggestion - (139:14), and Outro - (145:38)
Mystery is directed by Kinka Usher and stars Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, WIlliam H. Macy, Greg Kinnear, Janeane Garofalo, Paul Reubens, Kel Mitchell, Wes Studi, Geoffrey Rush, Lena Olin, Eddie Izzard, Claire Forlnai, and Tom Waits.
Please sure to check out The VHS Files wherever you get you podcasts and subscribe to their YouTube channel - The VHS Files YouTube.
Be sure you subscribe to Nate’s numerous podcasts:
AIPT Comics - AIPT Comics on Apple Podcasts
Oh! That’s a Scary Movie - Oh! That's A Scary Movie on Apple Podcasts
The Silver Linings Playlist - The Silver Linings Playlist on Apple Podcasts
If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Welcome back to your favorite podcast about some of the most notorious cinema bombs of all time. On this week’s episode, the gang not only welcomes back Josh from The VHS Files Podcast but podcaster extraordinaire., Nate Simmons. This super team assembles to discuss 1999’s superhero/comedy - Mystery Men. What do you get when you mix a first-time movie director and some of the funniest comedians of the 90’s? Well, if the box office is any indication, a huge flop! The boys are ready to breakdown this hidden gem and see if the absurdhist humor and comic book satire work better in 2022. Was Mystery Men ahead of it’s time? Can an entire film of improvisation and leftover sets from Batman & Robin stand out against the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Download and find out!
Timestamps: Intro - (0:57), Comic Book Discussion - (4:40), Box Office Results and Critical Response - (21:40), Behind the Camera - (28:02), In Front of the Camera - (37:19), Production and Development - (54:50), Commercial Break - (62:41), Mystery Men Discussion - (65:03), Is it a bomb? - (124:16), Breaking Brad News - (137:32), Listener Suggestion - (139:14), and Outro - (145:38)
Mystery is directed by Kinka Usher and stars Ben Stiller, Hank Azaria, WIlliam H. Macy, Greg Kinnear, Janeane Garofalo, Paul Reubens, Kel Mitchell, Wes Studi, Geoffrey Rush, Lena Olin, Eddie Izzard, Claire Forlnai, and Tom Waits.
Please sure to check out The VHS Files wherever you get you podcasts and subscribe to their YouTube channel - The VHS Files YouTube.
Be sure you subscribe to Nate’s numerous podcasts:
AIPT Comics - AIPT Comics on Apple Podcasts
Oh! That’s a Scary Movie - Oh! That's A Scary Movie on Apple Podcasts
The Silver Linings Playlist - The Silver Linings Playlist on Apple Podcasts
If you want to leave feedback or suggest a movie bomb, please drop us a line at NotABombPod@gmail.com. Also, if you like what you hear, leave a review on Apple Podcast.