Bonus Frotcast: 'Gladiator II,' with Scott Weinberg (Patreon)

Matt and Brendan couldn't (wouldn't?) Frot with me this week, but content waits for no one, and so I brought on Philadelphia's phinest philm critic, Scott Weinberg from Overhated to scream at about Gladiator II. Scott has had me on Overhated quite a few times, to discuss all the bad movies I love, from the Point Break remake to Chappie, as well as an upcoming episode about Jonah Hex. And so I brought Scott on the Frot to discuss a movie neither of us quite loved or hated. Actually, that's not quite true. I loved AND hated Gladiator II. I loved it so much I saw it twice, and enjoyed myself both times, but also hated it because it's kind of accidental fascist apologia, and in a way that was entirely avoidable and mostly only happened because it just couldn't help repeating the laziest sequel tropes. And yet! Denzel shreds! Fred Hechinger is a perfect villain! Paul Mescal has a masculine nose and thighs! Plus rhinos, baboons, and sharks! So many things to love and hate about this movie, it just had to be discussed, dissected, and debated.