J.Lo magazine covers; the Six Chicks; Kathy Baker as the mom; wardrobe color shifts; Billy Joel; Ruffalo's wardrobe; luxury references; New York exteriors; the pink slip dress; the 61 Fifth Avenue apartment
Obviously and unquestionably the J.Lo magazine covers in a Garner movie, right as J.Lo is about to split from Ben Affleck, whom Garner is about to date. — Bill Simmons
Near the end Jenna takes down the J.Lo Sparkle covers; the hosts say that five months later Garner and Affleck debuted at Fenway for Game 1 of the World Series, which the speaker says they attended. — Bill Simmons
The hosts say the J.Lo relationship didn't go over with the fan base because she was an unabashed Yankees fan from the Bronx; showing up at the 2004 World Series with Garner, who had a 100 percent approval rating, is a Nick Hornby moment. — Bill Simmons
The Six Chicks as a gimmick: a group of mean girls in a rom-com has a 100 percent success rate, and the name works. — Bill Simmons
Asked about the mechanics, the answer is that row position reflects closeness to the center of power, so the one on the periphery got pushed out. — Juliet Litman
Mean Girls and the Plastics arrived a week later, which is said to have hurt this movie. — Juliet Litman
Kathy Baker as the mom is great casting that looks like mother and daughter, with a good line about not regretting her mistakes. — Bill Simmons
Ariana Grande's thank u, next video homages this movie, with the dream house. — Bill Simmons
Wardrobe shifts to warmer colors as Jenna softens and darker as Lucy turns ruthless; Garner has reportedly worked with the costume designer, Susie, about ten times since. — Bill Simmons
The green Thriller dress reportedly ended up in a costume warehouse and was spotted on a Sex and the City extra, looking different. — Bill Simmons
Billy Joel from the mid-2000s on has aged incredibly, and the 1987 mixtapes are well done. — Bill Simmons
Matt's girlfriend, an attractive anchorwoman moving to Chicago, introduces the term commuter couple and belittles his vitamin-bottle photos. — Bill Simmons
Ruffalo's wardrobe (Adidas, CBGB shirt, well-fitted pants) and his pendant light are still in style. — Bill Simmons
Luxury references like St. Barts and the San Ysidro Ranch remain aspirational. — Bill Simmons
New York locations such as 444 Madison and 61 Fifth avoid anything gimmicky; the movie shows a sunny, crime-free New York without acknowledging 9/11. — Juliet Litman
The pink slip dress is something people would wear now. — Juliet Litman
The apartment at 61 Fifth, 7C, in Greenwich Village would rent for about $55,000 a month now; an Alec Baldwin and Hilaria sighting nearby follows. — Juliet Litman
Remove the Amy romance and center Jim’s relationship with Lamar, including the ethical conflict of point shaving and the athlete’s exceptional talent. — Bill Simmons
Crime films packed with accomplished actors in brief supporting roles define the period, though examples trace the pattern back through The Departed to True Romance. — Bill Simmons
Gail was written for Kristen Wiig, with Amy Poehler also considered; both possibilities interest the panel, but Banks and her chemistry with Higgins are strongly supported. — Juliet Litman
Brie Larson reportedly auditioned; Beca is inferred rather than confirmed, with Aubrey also suggested. Her Scott Pilgrim coolness, try-hard quality and pop-singing background make her possible but not clearly preferable.
Cooper's Apex is American Sniper, which he funded and which is his action Apex; it is not this movie.
Relativity Media is raised: they gamed the system, turning a $40 million movie into $170 million and proving their formula. — Chris Ryan
Abbie Cornish gets a yes; she seemed to be having a moment, also with Ryan Philippe, before Brie Larson, in a garbled line, corrected her out of it.
Little-kid ice-skate attacks are definitely a peak: choosing the eight-year-old's skate over gardening shears or a baseball bat is crazy.
For skating-rink attempted murders The Good Son is chosen over this; a riff imagines the dad explaining the afternoon to his wife.
Fake Russian accents are up there but not the top; Malcovich (as transcribed) in Rounders is in the conversation, preferred over Connery's 'one ping only' for quotable lines. — Chris Ryan
Subway fights get a no: not even a podium finisher behind The Warriors, Fast and Furious 6 and Neo versus Agent Smith in The Matrix.
Drugs that give all-being powers are floated as an Apex candidate without a stated answer. — Chris Ryan
The guy version of the Pretty Woman glow-up montage, from extra-looking to perfectly fitted suit with sit-ups and great skin, is raised as a candidate without a stated answer. — Chris Ryan
Composer Paul Leonard Morgan's score is called his Apex: it sounds like what becoming smart would sound like inside your head.
