Movie Memory Machine

"We're trapped on a podcast about forgotten movies, but at least we’re not upside down on a sinking ship. Welcome to Movie Memory Machine."

Episode Description

In this episode of Movie Memory Machine, Landen and Truman are joined by comedians and writers Lauren Pritchard and Joe Roche to dissect Wolfgang Petersen’s 2006 disaster film, Poseidon. With a star-studded cast including Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas, and Richard Dreyfuss, this high-stakes remake of The Poseidon Adventure flips the disaster genre on its head. Expect fiery debates, tales of cruise ship life, and sharp critiques of why this film couldn’t keep afloat at the box office. Did Poseidon sink under its own weight, or does it deserve a second look? Climb aboard to find out.

Special Guests

• Lauren Pritchard
  
  
  • Actor, Writer, Comedian
  
  
  • Mad TV, HBO’s True Blood, Dropout TV’s Make Some Noise, and at least five different Disney shows!
  
  
  
  



• Joe Roche
  
  
  • Writer, Actor, Comedian
  
  
  • The Thundermans, Telenovela, Kill Me Deadly
  
  
  • Co-writer of Meth Gator and Planet Dune
  
  
  
  

Support Lauren and Joe by checking out their work in comedy and film, including Meth Gator and Planet Dune. Follow their creative projects and enjoy their unique take on storytelling!

Major Cast and Crew

• Director: Wolfgang Petersen


• Writers: Mark Protosevich (screenplay), Paul Gallico (novel)


• Main Cast:
  
  
  • Josh Lucas as Dylan Johns
  
  
  • Kurt Russell as Robert Ramsey
  
  
  • Richard Dreyfuss as Richard Nelson
  
  
  • Emmy Rossum as Jennifer Ramsey
  
  
  • Jacinda Barrett as Maggie James
  
  
  • Mike Vogel as Christian
  
  
  • Mia Maestro as Elena
  
  
  • Jimmy Bennett as Conor
  
  
  • Andre Braugher as Captain Michael Bradford
  
  
  • Stacy Ferguson (Fergie) as Gloria
  
  
  
  

Film Synopsis

A New Year’s Eve celebration aboard the luxury ocean liner Poseidon is cut short when a massive rogue wave capsizes the ship. Stranded upside down and sinking fast, a group of survivors, led by gambler Dylan Johns (Josh Lucas) and firefighter-turned-mayor Robert Ramsey (Kurt Russell), must navigate the flooded wreckage to escape. With time running out and peril at every turn, will they survive, or will the ship become their tomb?

Episode Highlights

• Disaster films as the “slasher movies of Mother Nature.”


• Lauren Pritchard’s real-life cruise ship survival training—watertight doors and all.


• The infamous flaming waterfall scene: how they pulled it off (and why).


• Richard Dreyfuss’ character: groundbreaking representation or undercooked writing?


• Fergie’s “lady lumps” as flotation devices—yes, we went there.

What’s your favorite disaster movie, and how does Poseidon stack up? Let us know in the comments or on social media!

Enjoyed the episode? Tell us what you think by leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform—we’d love to feature your thoughts in future show notes!

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