Angels & Demons (2009; Ron Howard) – Dare Daniel Podcast Episode 45

“This movie makes no sense, the logistics make no sense, and when you find out the reveal, it makes less sense.”

Synchronize your ticking clocks for this shifty-eyed episode of the Dare Daniel podcast. Suspiciously good priest Daniel Barnes and Assistant to the Regional Pope Corky McDonnell review Tom Hanks as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon in Angels & Demons.

The even-trashier sequel to The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons is another mirthless Catholic scavenger hunt from Ron Howard and Dan Brown. Essentially one long, red herring-strewn chase scene, Angels & Demons finds Langdon explaining, man-splaining, self-splaining, and even mutter-splaining.

Elsewhere, Daniel and Corky discuss Hanks taint, exposi-coptering, papal Gallagher shows, and Armin Mueller stalling tactics.

NEW DARES

1972 Yellow House (Joe Campbell)

Captive State (David Paul)

ANGELS & DEMONS FACTS AND FIGURES

U.S. theatrical release date: May 15, 2009

Domestic box office: $133 million domestic; $486 million worldwide (production budget: $150 million)

Critic scores: 37 on Rotten Tomatoes; 48 on Metacritic

This week’s craft beer: Claimstake Brewing‘s Krispy Stache (5.0% ABV)

This week’s Darer: David Paul

Why did David Paul dare Daniel and Corky to watch Angels & Demons? “Guys, did you know everything is an interconnected web of secret nefarious organizations plotting to control our very reality? As a former info warrior, I can tell you this sort of conspiracy-laden view of the world can be fun to get into. But this film based on notorious information abuser Dan Brown’s “book” is most definitely not fun to get into. This movie manages to make two things I still unabashedly enjoy, conspiracy theories and church history, and make them endlessly dull. Despite how unwatchable it is I’ve watched it at least four times.”

IMDB synopsis: “Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon works with a nuclear physicist to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican during one of the significant events within the church.”

This week’s referenced movies: The Da Vinci Code; Inferno; Angels With Dirty Faces; Angels in the Outfield; Angel (1984); Slumber Party Massacre; Warcraft; Hellboy; Leave No Trace; Lord of the Rings franchise; California Typewriter; the Indiana Jones movies; Cool as Ice; The Goonies; John Wick

Ratings for Angels & Demons: Daniel – Dare; Corky – Double Dare

RELATED CLIPS AND CLIPPINGS

Tom Hanks at The Pantheon

Burned at the stake

Daniel’s 2009 review of Angels & Demons

Ron Howard: Bump or Dump?

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