Kermode and Mayo's Film Review · BBC Radio 5 Live

Vin Diesel, FF9, Freaky, Fear Street, Another Round & Cannes preview

·2 hr 7 min·5 clips

Robbie slams French Exit as 'Wes Anderson without the style or humour,' questioning its charm and emotional depth.

This episode features guest host Ali Plum, a BBC Radio 1 film critic, joining Robbie Collin to review new releases and discuss cinema etiquette. They cover a wide slate of films, from blockbusters to indie dramas, and preview the Cannes Film Festival. The main review is for "French Exit," starring Michelle Pfeiffer as an aging socialite who moves to Paris with her adult son. They critique its overly arch, camp tone and irritating characters, comparing it unfavorably to Wes Anderson's work. The hosts also discuss an email about a disruptive child watching YouTube on a phone during "F9," condemning the behavior as disrespectful to the cinematic experience. Ali reviews the Pixar film "Luca," calling it a sweet, mid-tier story about friendship that he feels is slight but charming. Robbie argues its intimacy is a strength unfairly relegated to streaming. They debate the British feel-good film "Dream Horse," with Robbie finding it patronizing and Ali enjoying its emotional manipulation. Listener emails prompt discussions on the horror film "In the Earth" and dementia-themed dramas "The Father" and "Supernova." A surprising claim is that "French Exit" fails because its eccentric characters are not charming but wildly irritating, with performances described as camp to the point of drag. Ali reveals he interviewed Bob Odenkirk about his radical career shift from "Little Women" to the action film "Nobody." A memorable moment is the hosts' unified outrage over the cinema phone incident, with Robbie comparing a movie theater to a funeral requiring respect. The discussion on "Luca" highlights a divide: Ali sees it as pleasant but forgettable, while Robbie laments that its intimate story is now culturally deemed "not big screen." They share a poignant listener email about a volunteer-run student cinema's emotional first post-lockdown screening of "Little Women." The tone is conversational and debate-driven, blending critical analysis with humorous anecdotes and listener interactions. It is educational for film fans seeking nuanced reviews but also casually entertaining. This episode would delight listeners who enjoy detailed film criticism, debates about cinema culture, and a mix of blockbuster and indie coverage. Those seeking only news or interviews with the announced guest, Vin Diesel, might skip it, as that segment is not reached in this transcript.

As heard by us

A lively, loose film conversation that keeps criticism and banter in the same room.

Ali Plum comes in with a clear point of view and keeps the talk moving. The back-and-forth stays busy and opinionated, with criticism, correction, and banter all sharing the same space. That gives the conversation some snap, even when it starts to roam.

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Why you'd press play

You want film chatter that dives into a Biggie-and-Tupac documentary and keeps widening the frame.

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