The Next Reel Film Podcast

Do Reiner and Martin make another hit or flop? How funny is this parody/homage of mad scientist films? Does Kathleen Turner handle comedy well? Tune in to this week’s show to get these answers and more!

Show Notes

"I’ve had the top of her head off, but that’s as far as it went.”

When Steve Martin and Carl Reiner reunited for a third time, they took some of the parody comedy joy the found in Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid and the absurd comedy from The Jerk, to make The Man With Two Brains. There is a clear sense here that they enjoy playing with conventions from mad scientist films, but it’s not as much an homage like their last film. It also feels like they’ve grown quite a bit in their comedy writing, as the jokes work really well here, especially the ones that repeat throughout the film. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Steve Martin series with Reiner’s 1983 film The Man With Two Brains.

We talk about why this film works so well for us, and why the comedy tends to stick more often in this one. We look at elements of the comedy that also didn’t work as well, and why that may be. We chat about Martin and Kathleen Turner, looking at what they each bring to the table, along with other cast members. We complain about the editing and wonder if it’s the fault of the editor or if it was a problem inherent in the script before they realized what the issues were. And we chat about some of our favorite comedy bits throughout.

It’s a fun film and we have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in to this week’s show. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

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Film Sundries

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What is The Next Reel Film Podcast?

The Next Reel team has been dedicated to reviews, news, and commentary on world film for a decade. This podcast is The Next Reel master feed including all the episodes of The Next Reel, Trailer Rewind, The Film Board, The Speakeasy, and the other shorts, interviews, and specials we've produced over the years.