Megamind (2010)

Megamind was a moderately successful film, but it was buried during an especially competitive year for family-friendly animated films. Tangled, Toy Story 3, How To Train Your Dragon, Shrek Forever After, The Secret World Of Arriety, and Despicable Me also came out in 2010; so yeah, Megamind isn't even the only family-friendly animated film of 2010 to feature a supervillain as its protagonist. Even among cartoon nerds, this movie is frequently overlooked. So, why are we covering it on this show? Well, it's a sentimental childhood favorite of Rachel, who really wanted to talk about it. Ryan is less enthusiastic (he's not a big fan of the Dreamworks formula), but he tries to give Megamind a fair appraisal. Thematic motifs that are discussed during this episode include the entitlement complex of incels, nature vs. nurture, and how even the most advanced CGI effects can look a bit dated after ten years. Ryan, not able to help himself, spends some time bitching about how big-budget animated films frequently indulge in celebrity stunt casting, lazy needle drops, asinine pop culture references in lieu of actual jokes, and dance party ending montages. There's also an extended bit where Ryan and Rachel discuss the various permutations of the "evil Superman" trope; The Boys, Squadron Supreme, Brightburn, Watchmen, Irredeemable, Edison Rex, and Miracleman are brought up here.