Quiz Guy John Chaneski’s latest puzzle involves changing a movie plot by adding a single letter to the original title. For example, the movie in which Melissa McCarthy plays a deskbound CIA analyst becomes a story about the same character who has now become very old but still lively and energetic. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Add a Letter to Movie Titles Game”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
I’m Martha Barnette.
And I’m Grant Barrett, and it’s time for that magical man of mystery, John Chaneski, our quiz guy.
Hello, John.
Hey, Grant. I’m Martha. How are you?
Hey, John. What’s up, dude?
Doing well. What’s up?
I’m doing great. I have a nice little puzzle for you today.
Yes, please.
You guys know movie makers. They’re always taking something that works well, and then they just add more and more and more to it. They can never leave well enough alone. And they’re so lazy, they just add a letter to the title.
Remember that Melissa McCarthy movie from last year where she played a desk-bound CIA analyst who becomes a field agent?
Yeah, a spy.
They just added a letter to the title, and suddenly she’s playing the same character who’s become very old, but is still active, lively, and energetic.
Spry.
Spry, yes.
What’s the deal with that?
I thought you were going to say she became a veterinarian.
Oh, that would have been nice, too.
See, now, any ideas generated on the way with words, copyright, meat. Now, last year’s crop of films was particularly fertile.
Here are movies inspired by 2015 films.
Take one.
In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron run into a strange new tribe, people who enjoy dressing up as anthropomorphic animals in…
Furry Road.
Mad Max Furry Road is correct.
Nice.
In this Disney sequel, young Riley isn’t so young anymore. Instead of her emotions, we get to see what it’s like to have acute inflammatory arthritis.
Inside gout.
Inside gout.
I, for one, would not go see that movie.
No, the horrible failed sequel.
No, not good.
But before we get away from superheroes, the strangest Marvel superhero yet, he can transform into his father’s sister.
Weird, but it’s very similar in sounding.
It’s…
Aunt Man.
It’s Aunt Man, yes.
Hello, dearie!
It’s like, what is up with this?
How about…
During the Cold War, Tom Hanks’ lawyer character negotiates the release of pilot Francis Gary Powers. The sequel reimagines the prisoner exchange on a very pointy overpass.
Watch your step in…
Something peak.
I don’t remember.
It’s not The Bridge.
Yeah.
Is it The Bridge?
The name of the movie is not The Bridge.
No.
It’s Bridge of…
Spies?
Bridge of…
Bridge of…
Spires.
Oh, that’s…
I’ll take that.
I was looking for Bridge of Spikes.
I like Bridge of Spires.
Bridge of Spires.
I probably would have gone with sort of a church thing there, but that’s very good.
Very good.
I think you’ll like this one.
The buildup of the housing and credit bubble during the early 2000s was fascinating. But how did it affect Crossword Editor of the New York Times, huh?
Watch Steve Carell as the title character in the sequel…
The Big Shorts.
The Big Shorts.
Now that one I’d go watch.
He’s looming over the Empire State Building, batting down airplanes.
Oh, what an image.
It’s terrible.
Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan return, but it’s not boxing. This time it’s rowing.
Jordan’s character somehow recruits a ragtag bunch of oarsmen to make up a team for the Yale rowing squad in…
Crude.
Crude.
C-R-E-W-E-D.
That’s right.
Making up a crew.
That was pretty good, you guys.
Congratulations.
You always say that, no matter how poorly we do, and I appreciate that.
But I think we did earn it this time.
Yes, you did.
I’ll see you at the movies.
I’ll see you at the movies.
A big thumbs up to you, JC.
Two thumbs up.
Bye-bye.
Bye, John.
Bye.
This is a show about words and language and lots of things that are connected to them and a few things that aren’t.
Email words@waywordradio.org.
