5 For: Lightning Jack (1994)

In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman ride out with five better buddy adventures that deliver what Lightning Jack couldn’t: chemistry, momentum, laughs, and actual dialogue. From unlikely action duos to cowboy comedies that still hold up, these films prove that the buddy formula needs more than Paul Hogan free-associating for 90 minutes.

Films Discussed:

1. Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991)

2. Shanghai Noon (2000)

3. Midnight Run (1988)

4. Maverick (1994)

5. Three Amigos (1986)

Topics Covered:

• Mickey Rourke and Don Johnson’s chaotic buddy magic in Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man

• Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson’s easygoing charisma in Shanghai Noon

• Charles Grodin and Robert De Niro redefining road trip dynamics in Midnight Run

• Mel Gibson’s surprisingly fun (and less problematic) cowboy comedy in Maverick

• Why Three Amigos remains a timeless comedy miracle

Key Takeaways:

• Buddy comedies need two fully developed characters, not one chatterbox and one mime

• Charisma > Coolness when you're trying to sell a buddy dynamic

• Lightning Jack wishes it had even half the joy or pace of any movie on this list

• Three Amigos remains an absolute blueprint for how to do ensemble buddy comedy

Listener Prompt:
What’s your favorite odd-couple buddy movie? Tell us using #MovieMemoryMachine.

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