Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi joins Adam to break down the first theatrical Star Wars feature in eight years, The Mandalorian and Grogu. They discuss whether its wall-to-wall action reveals true character, how the helmet creates a literal performance straitjacket, and if the film works for anyone walking into the theater without three seasons of television homework. Then, they pivot to a very different kind of crew in Boots Riley’s politically uncompromising sophomore feature I Love Boosters.

This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off.

(Timecodes will vary with ads.)

Intro (00:00:00-00:02:11)

The Mandalorian and Grogu (00:02:11-00:35:33)

Filmspotting Family (00:35:34-00:41:54)

Poll: Paul Rudd's MVP Supporting Role (00:41:55-00:49:05)

'20s/'30s Madness, Filmspotting Fest II (00:49:06-00:54:52)

I Love Boosters (00:54:53-01:27:53)

New Releases / Outro (01:27:53-01:34:43)

Links:

-Roxana Hadadi at Vulture

https://www.vulture.com/author/roxana-hadadi/

-Matt Singer’s review of The Mandalorian and Grogu 

https://screencrush.com/mandalorian-and-grogu-review/

-Filmspotting Fest II: June 27-28, 2026

https://www.filmspottingfest.com

-Roxana on the ending of I Love Boosters

https://www.vulture.com/article/i-love-boosters-ending-and-skins-explained.html

Feedback:

-Email us at feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠-Ask Us Anything⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.

Support:

-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access.

https://filmspottingfamily.com

-Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more.

https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠

Follow:

-Watch Filmspotting on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/filmspotting

-Adam/Filmspotting:

Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky

-Josh/LarsenOnFilm:

Letterboxd | Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky

Vulture critic Roxana Hadadi joins Adam to break down the first theatrical Star Wars feature in eight years, The Mandalorian and Grogu. They discuss whether its wall-to-wall action reveals true character, how the helmet creates a literal performance straitjacket, and if the film works for anyone walking into the theater without three seasons of television homework. Then, they pivot to a very different kind of crew in Boots Riley&rsquo;s politically uncompromising sophomore feature I Love Boosters.
This episode is presented by⁠ Regal Unlimited⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. <a href="https://experience.regmovies.com/join-unlimited?utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=filmspotting">Use code FILMSPOT26 to take 15% off</a>.
(Timecodes will vary with ads.)
Intro (00:00:00-00:02:11)
The Mandalorian and Grogu (00:02:11-00:35:33)
Filmspotting Family (00:35:34-00:41:54)
Poll: Paul Rudd's MVP Supporting Role (00:41:55-00:49:05)
'20s/'30s Madness, Filmspotting Fest II (00:49:06-00:54:52)
I Love Boosters (00:54:53-01:27:53)
New Releases / Outro (01:27:53-01:34:43)
Links:
-Roxana Hadadi at Vulture
<a href="https://www.vulture.com/author/roxana-hadadi/">https://www.vulture.com/author/roxana-hadadi/</a>
-Matt Singer&rsquo;s review of The Mandalorian and Grogu&nbsp;
<a href="https://screencrush.com/mandalorian-and-grogu-review/">https://screencrush.com/mandalorian-and-grogu-review/</a>
-Filmspotting Fest II: June 27-28, 2026
<a href="https://www.filmspottingfest.com">https://www.filmspottingfest.com</a>
-Roxana on the ending of I Love Boosters
<a href="https://www.vulture.com/article/i-love-boosters-ending-and-skins-explained.html">https://www.vulture.com/article/i-love-boosters-ending-and-skins-explained.html</a>
Feedback:
-Email us at <a href="mailto:feedback@filmspotting.net">feedback@filmspotting.net⁠⁠</a>.
<a href="https://forms.gle/Bm7jULnbk7ASK647A">⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>-<a href="https://forms.gle/Bm7jULnbk7ASK647A">Ask Us Anything</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we might answer your question in bonus content.
Support:
-Join the Filmspotting Family for bonus episodes and archive access.
<a href="https://filmspottingfamily.com">https://filmspottingfamily.com</a>
-Filmspotting Shop for T-shirts and more.
<a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/shop%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">https://www.filmspotting.net/shop⁠⁠⁠</a>
Follow:
-Watch Filmspotting on YouTube:
<a href="https://youtube.com/filmspotting">https://youtube.com/filmspotting</a>
-Adam/Filmspotting:
<a href="https://letterboxd.com/filmspotting/">Letterboxd</a> |<a href="https://instagram.com/filmspotting%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0"> Instagram</a> |<a href="https://facebook.com/filmspotting%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0"> Facebook</a> | <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/filmspotting.bsky.social">Bluesky</a>
-Josh/LarsenOnFilm:
<a href="https://letterboxd.com/larsenonfilm%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">Letterboxd</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/larsenonfilm/">Instagram</a> |<a href="https://facebook.com/larsenonfilm"> Facebook</a> | <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/larsenonfilm.bsky.social">Bluesky</a>

Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).

New and classic movie reviews and top 5 lists.

Filmspotting

A disappointing cinematic return for Star Wars, and Boots Riley's radical I Love Boosters.

The Mandalorian and Grogu and I Love Boosters | #1066

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7abed582-3bbe-401f-82d5-b4580150afc7/transcript