AIR BUD: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

Every now and then, usually when the main HBO show is taking a break for a weekend or two, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver drops a web exclusive video that isn’t so much about politics or its usual focus, but instead some pop cultural tangent that is a fun mix between obsessive pedantry and open mic ranting.

This week, with the show being off (for Earth Day? No idea.), John Oliver and staff turn their attention to AIR BUD. The 1997 family comedy sports film in which there is no rule that says a dog can’t play basketball is patently absurd and also weirdly lucrative, spawning 13 sequels. All of this is covered in this video along with an approach that having the film hinge on heroes being technically correct ends up cutting against a lot of the other plot points. It’s fun, weird, and probably one of the best breakdowns of the movie (until we get a special commentary track by Charles Barkley and Cesar Millan).