It Takes Two – Details, episodes & analysis

It's time for a Hallmark Christmas episode! This year we are comparing November Christmas (2010) and The Christmas Heart (2012) - two films about communities coming together to support a family in need at the holidays.

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The Movies:

November Christmas (2010)

Directed by Robert Harmon

Written by Pnenah Goldstein

Based on the book by Greg Coppa

iMDb Rating: 7.5

The Christmas Heart (2012)

Directed by Gary Yates

Written by Michael Heaton

iMDB Rating: 6.0

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Content Warning: Discussions of death, loss, injury, illness, organ donation, cancer, gambling, criminal activity

This week we are comparing The Running Man (1987) and The Running Man (2025) - two films about a man fighting for his life as a cog in the media machine.

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The Movies:

The Running Man (1987)

Directed by Paul Michael Glaser

Written by Steven E. de Souza

Based on the novel by Stephen King

iMDb Rating: 6.6

The Running Man (2025)

Directed by Edgar Wright

Written by Edgar Wright & Michael Bacall

Based on the novel by Stephen King

iMDB Rating: 6.8

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Content Warning: Discussions of death, murder, injury, illness, criminal activity, drug use, prostitution

This week, we are comparing Upgrade (2018) and Venom (2018) - twin films about a down-on-his-luck guy forming an unlikely bond with a non-human sentient being.

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The Movies:

Upgrade (2018)

Directed by Leigh Whannell

Written by Leigh Whannell

iMDb Rating: 7.5

Venom (2018)

Directed by Ruben Fleischer

Written by Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg & Kelly Marcel

Based on characters by Todd McFarlane & David Michelinie

iMDB Rating: 6.6

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Content Warning:

Mentions of violence, gore, death, injury, suicide, body modifications

For this week's episode, we've watched Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020) and Unpregnant (2020), two movies about pregnant teens who must cross state lines to receive a medical procedure without parental consent.

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The Movies:

Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020)

Directed by Eliza Hittman

Written by Eliza Hittman

IMDb Rating: 7.4

Unpregnant (2020)

Directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg

Written by Jenni Hendriks, Ted Caplan, Rachel Lee Goldenberg, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson & Bill Parker

Based on the book by Jenni Hendriks & Ted Caplan

IMDb Rating: 6.3

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Content warnings: Abortion, medical procedures, pro-life rhetoric, pro-choice rhetoric, some political discussion

For this week, we have watched two movies about young girls meeting a young relative and working through feelings of grief. Listen to our exploration of When Marnie Was There (2014) and Petite Maman (2021)

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The Movies:

When Marnie Was There (2014)

Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Written by Keiko Niwa & Masashi Ando

Based on the novel by Joan G. Robinson

IMDb Rating: 7.7

Petite Maman (2021)

Directed by Céline Sciamma

Written by Céline Sciamma

IMDb Rating: 7.4

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CW: Death, grief, mental illness, physical illness

Finally our Dune episode has arrived! We compare two adaptations of Frank Herbert's novel - Dune (2021) and Dune (1984)

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The Movies:

Dune (2021)

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Written by Denis Villeneuve, John Spaihts & Eric Roth

Based on the novel by Frank Herbert

IMDb Rating: 8.2

Dune (1984)

Directed by David Lynch

Written by David Lynch

Based on the novel by Frank Herbert

IMDb Rating: 6.3

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CW: Imperialism

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from It Takes Two! This week's episode features The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992) and Scrooged (1988) - Two different takes on adapting the classic Dickens novel A Christmas Carol.

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The Movies:

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Directed by Brian Henson

Written by Jerry Juhl

Based on the novel by Charles Dickens

IMDb Rating: 7.7

Scrooged (1988)

Directed by Richard Donner

Written by Mitch Glazer & Michael O'Donoghue

Based on the novel by Charles Dickens

IMDb Rating: 7.0

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In the first of our Christmas episode, we watch Moonlight & Mistletoe (2008) and Christmas Land (2015)

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The Movies:

Moonlight & Mistletoe (2008)

Directed by Karen Arthur

Written by Joany Kane & Duane Poole

IMDb Rating: 6.3

Christmas Land (2015)

Directed by Sam Irvin

Written by Daisy MacLean, Robin Archer & Jay Cipriani

IMDb Rating: 5.9

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For this week's episode, we've watched The Truman Show (1998) and EDtv (1999), two movies about men whose lives are followed as part of a 24/7 reality TV show.

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The Movies:

The Truman Show (1998)

Directed by Peter Weir

Written by Andrew Niccol

IMDb Rating: 8.1

EDtv (1998)

Directed by Ron Howard

Written by Lowell Ganz

Based on an original screenplay by Émile Gaudreault & Sylvie Bouchard

IMDb Rating: 6.1

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In this episode, we have a look at Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) and Back to the Future (1985)

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The Movies:

Back to the Future (1986)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Written by Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale

IMDb Rating: 8.5

Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Written by Jerry Leichtling & Arlene Sarner

IMDb Rating: 6.4

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