What’s Aged the Best?
Halle Berry’s performance (final first choice), Jeffrey Holder’s ads, the Martin origin story, slang, Murphy’s reactions and clothes, role reversal, Strangé ads, Star Trek riff, Angela’s breakup, and the recovery arc
In the discussion (14)
Approx. transcript time · 01:17:03Read transcript
- Jeffrey Holder makes the deliberately vulgar Kissable ad pitch funny through the character’s sincere disappointment at being restrained. — Van Lathan
- The episode reports that Murphy’s praise of Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell helped inspire their pairing on Martin. — Bill Simmons
- “Hammer time” and “the twizzah” remain instantly recognizable bits from the movie. — Bill Simmons
- Murphy’s comic orgasm and Grace Jones’s helicopter entrance are singled out as physical and visual comedy. — Bill Simmons
- Angela is praised as an unusually complete romantic-comedy character whose humor, warmth and natural presence were underused later. — Van Lathan
- The film’s gender role reversal remains clear in how Jacqueline controls the sexual relationship with Marcus. — Bill Simmons
- The first Strangé commercial and Eartha Kitt’s horrified reaction preserve the campaign’s escalating absurdity. — Bill Simmons
- Marcus improvising Spock Jenkins is praised as an early example of casual pop-culture conversation inside a movie. — Bill Simmons
- Angela’s breakup line and real slap give the emotional turn force. — Bill Simmons
- Marcus’s no-tie wardrobe is described as sharp and still wearable. — Bill Simmons
- The loss and recovery of Marcus’s confidence is treated as an identifiable relationship arc. — Bill Simmons
- Halle Berry’s charisma and complete performance receive the final selection. — Van Lathan
- A longer discussion argues Black actors can receive different, often richer opportunities from Black directors, producers and writers. — Wesley Morris
- Berry’s uneven 1990s roles are contrasted with the promise visible in Boomerang. — Bill Simmons