TAGGED AS: Comedy, Film, movies, Podcast
(Photo by Nolis Anderson)
Music superstar Chance the Rapper has been calling us out for years over certain Tomatometer scores that have rubbed him the wrong way. You may even recall, back in September of 2017, that Chance made headlines when he took particular issue with the score for the Amy Poehler-Will Ferrell comedy, The House, which was Rotten at the time with a score of just 17%. (It has since eked its way up to 20%.)
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In a Tweet that has accumulated 14,000 likes, Chance said The House was “funny as f—k” and addressed us directly: “Wtf @rottentomatoes.”
Yesterday I watched a movie that I never heard of. It had a 17% on @RottenTomatoes … it was funny as fuck. Wtf @RottenTomatoes
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) September 29, 2017
According to reports, Chance had put us “on notice,” was “very unhappy,” and there was suddenly considerable “beef” between us and the Chicago legend. (Editor’s note: There certainly wasn’t any beef – we have a lot of time for The House, too!).
So, naturally, we’ve always wanted him to join us on our podcast Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong – he was basically its inspiration. And it turns out dreams can come true. For our very special 52nd episode – which marks one year since we launched in September 2020 – Chance the Rapper sat down with host Mark Ellis to talk about several movies whose Tomatometer scores have made him go, “WTF Rotten Tomatoes!?,” over the years.
First up, another comedy: the Andy Samberg-starring Hot Rod, the cult favorite about am accident-prone stuntman fundraising to get his stepdad an operation… so he can then beat him up. Its Rotten score of 39% is unfathomable, according to Chance, who says it belongs in the same breath as The Godfather, Casino, and Citizen Kane: “It’s in the pantheon of amazing cinematic accomplishments,” he told us.
And then there’s 1998 political satire, Bulworth, co-written by, directed by, and starring Warren Beatty, which also comes with a score – Certified Fresh at 76% – that Chance… let’s just say, disagrees with. “It’s one of the most heinous things to ever happen on camera for an hour-and-a-half,” he said. “It’s so disturbing. When you watch it, you will not believe that this is a real movie.”
In a fascinating and extended conversation, the star talks with Mark about his love for Samberg and Hot Rod, his repulsion with Bulworth, dishes on backstage stories from his times on SNL, and puts out a controversial opinion about The Godfather movies.
Plus: He takes us behind the scenes of his own new movie, the documentary concert film Chance the Rapper’s Magnificent Coloring World, which some critics are calling a game-changing entry in the genre.
Check in every Thursday for a new episode of Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong (A Podcast From Rotten Tomatoes). Each week, hosts Jacqueline and Mark and guests go deep and settle the score on some of the most beloved – and despised – movies and TV shows ever made, directly taking on the statement we hear from so many fans: “Rotten Tomatoes is wrong.”
Check out some more episodes of Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong:
If you have a suggestion for a movie or show you think we should do an episode on, let us know in the comments, or email us at rtiswrong@rottentomatoes.com.
Meet the hosts
Jacqueline Coley is an editor at Rotten Tomatoes, with a focus on awards and indie coverage but with a passion for everything, from the MCU to musicals and period pieces. Coley is a regular moderator at conventions and other events, can be seen on Access Hollywood and other shows, and will not stand Constantine slander of any kind. Follow Jacqueline on Twitter: @THATjacqueline.
Mark Ellis is a comedian and contributing editor for Rotten Tomatoes. He currently hosts the Rotten Tomatoes series Versus, among others, and can be seen co-hosting the sports entertainment phenomenon Movie Trivia Schmoedown. His favorite Star Wars movie is Jedi (guess which one!), his favorite person is actually a dog (his beloved stepdaughter Mollie), and – thanks to this podcast – he’s about to watch Burlesque for the first time in his life. Follow Mark on Twitter: @markellislive.
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