In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman salvage the vibes Loser forgot with five better movies about young adulthood, awkwardness, and post-graduation growing pains. From classic Billy Wilder masterpieces to peak 90s party flicks, these picks show that coming-of-age comedies can be heartfelt, hilarious, and, crucially, not cursed with inexplicable symbiotic sex kitten scenes.
Films Discussed:
The Apartment (1960)
Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
The Graduate (1967)
American Pie (1999)
Topics Covered:
The Apartment as the secret DNA behind Loser (and how it went horribly wrong)
Can’t Hardly Wait and the good kind of teen chaos
Amy Heckerling's legacy: from Fast Times greatness to Loser missteps
The Graduate and the universal post-college existential panic
American Pie: accidental co-conspirator in Loser’s tonal disaster
Key Takeaways:
Jack Lemmon can charm and infuriate simultaneously
90s teen comedies either aged gracefully (Can’t Hardly Wait) or turned into cautionary tales (Loser)
Amy Heckerling deserves better than studio meddling
Dustin Hoffman’s Benjamin Braddock walked so countless indie protagonists could mope
Some genre blends (sex comedy + suicide drama) should stay theoretical
Listener Prompt:
Which "awkward young adult" movie still holds up for you—and which ones went full Loser? Share your picks with #MovieMemoryMachine.
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