How to Lose A Popularity Contest is the second of two Tubi movies so far this year that I have had the distinction of watching. Usually, these teen romance movies I can enjoy even with all of the cliches here but this one, unfortunately, just doesn’t have much to offer for me.

In this video, Epictastic Joshua’s Joshua Drake Randall talks about and gives a calming rant on “How to Lose A Popularity Contest” and why this is one of his least favorite movies of 2026 and why this just kinda bored the hell out of me despite some good things in here.

*Timecodes*

0:00 - intro

0:10 - review starts/cast and crew

0:46 - plot sypnosis

0:58 - why I was cautiously optimistic

1:58 - The Light (pros)

2:55 - The Dark (cons)

7:30 - overall thoughts/rating

8:52 - conclusion and outro

Sypnosis

A rebellious student and a perfectionist overachiever form an unlikely alliance in their race for student body president, discovering unexpected feelings along the way.

CAST & CREW

Directed by

Stephen S. Campanelli

Written by

Dorian Keyes

Kaitlin Reilly

Produced by

Tony Chung

Jason Fischer

Shayla Hardy

Chase Hudson

Lindsay MacAdam

Lori Massini

Wendy McKernan

Devorah Moos-Hankin

Christy Thomas

David Way

Jessica Young

Starring

Chase Hudson

Sara Waisglass

Lillian Doucet-Roche

Graham Verchere

Ecstasia Sanders

Kyra Leroux

Aiden Howard

Jana Morrison

Sebastien Roberts

Sean Amsing

Janelle Beadall

Bob Frazer

Tyler Roberge

Yvette Dudley-Neuman

Composer

Matthew Rogers

Cinematographer

Stephen Maier

Editor

Richard Schwadel

Production company

Great Pacific Media

Blue Fox Entertainment

Distributed by Tubi

Rated: TV-14

Running time: 1 hour 42 minutes

Genre: Comedy, romance, teen film

Release date: January 16, 2026

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more movie/TV, music and anime reviews, top ten lists/ranking, commentaries, reactions, and more.

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@EpictasticJoshua

Get your own palette here at (discount code: (FUTURE15) https://moviepalette.com

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:

Email at: joshuadrake287@gmail.com

Cash App: https://cash.app/$J9shuaDrake

Chime: $JoshuaDrake-2

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

LINKS HERE

ALL LINKS: https://linktr.ee/EpictasticJoshuaYT

INSTAGRAM/THREADS: epictasticjoshua

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Joshuathemovielover2049 /

https://www.facebook.com/EpictasticJoshuaYT

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/epictasticjoshua.bsky.social

LETTERBOXD/SNAPCHAT: EpictasticJosh

Serializd: EpictasticJoshuaYT

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theepictasticjoshua

PODCAST: https://open.spotify.com/show/2hYoGnrm2GWhxKBI7DcOjc?si=sswWVyImRRuXHBwUt8hxZw

TWITCH: https://www.twitch.tv/EpictasticJoshuaYT

Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2VKNXSJC7M58R?ref_=list_d_wl_ys_list_1

Want to send fan mail? DM or email me for permission to do and address above:

COPYRIGHT FAIR USE NOTICE, Title 17, US Code (Sections 107-118 of the copyright law): All media in this video is used for purpose of review & commentary under terms of fair use. All footage, music & images used belong to their respective companies.

I do not own any of the clips, images or music I use all credit goes to their rightful owners. No copyright infringement is intended in any way, shape, size or form. The material used is meant for purposes of entertainment and commentary.

Welcome to start of my little historical/fantasy epics review series leading and buliding up to the release of “The Odyssey”, releasing this July and I’m very excited to get into this review series as I have been hyping and planning this since ghe last half of last year.

For the first film in this big review series, I decided to start with an underrated gem that no one really talks about as much as they did nearly 23 years ago and a movie that I have always loved since I saw it as a kid and wanted to put some respect on its names along with getting more people to acknowledge it, so here’s my review for “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” as I talk about the pros/cons, production history, my history with it and what do I think of this movie nowadays.

*Timecodes*

0:00 - introduction

0:10 - review starts/cast and crew

2:24 - plot synopsis

2:45 - a look back at Master and Commander

4:58 - production history

6:55 - my experience with the film

8:08 - The Light (pros)

19:58 - The Dark (cons)

21:44 - overall thoughts/rating

23:14 - conclusion and outro

Sypnosis

During the Napoleonic Wars, a brash British captain pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America.

CAST & CREW

Directed by

Peter Weir

Screenplay by

Peter Weir

John Collee

Based on Aubrey–Maturin series

by Patrick O'Brian

Produced by

Samuel Goldwyn Jr.

Duncan Henderson

Peter Weir

Starring

Russell Crowe

Paul Bettany

James D'Arcy

Edward Woodall

Chris Larkin

Robert Pugh

Max Benitz

Max Pirkis

Lee Ingleby

Richard McCabe

Ian Mercer

Tony Dolan

David Threlfall

Billy Boyd

Bryan Dick

Joseph Morgan

George Innes

Patrick Gallagher

John DeSantis

Cinematography

Russell Boyd

Edited by

Lee Smith

Music by

Iva Davies

Christopher Gordon

Richard Tognetti

Production companies

20th Century Fox

Miramax Films

Universal Pictures

Samuel Goldwyn Films

Distributed by

20th Century Fox

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Historical epic, action adventure, drama, war film, epic period drama

Release date: November 14, 2003

Running time: 2 hours 18 minutes

Budget: $150 million

Box office: $211.6 million

#MasterandCommander #MasterandCommanderTheFarSideoftheWorld #russellcrowe #paulbettany #billyboyd #jamesdarcy #josephmorgan #peterweir #historicalepics #EpictasticJoshua

Continuing my little 2025 review catch up with another film that came out during the summer movie season and it’s a Wes Anderson film, called “The Phoenician Scheme”.

In this review/video, Epictastic Joshua’s Joshua Drake Randall gives his full pros and cons about The Phoenician Scheme, from its direction to the cinematography, performances, story and how much did it work for him and where does fit for Wes Anderson movies in terms of favorites in his filmography.

#ThePhoenicianScheme #wesanderson #beniciodeltoro #miathreapleton #michaelcera #scarlettjohansson #benedictcumberbatch #epictasticjoshua

Sypnosis

Wealthy businessman, Zsa-Zsa Korda appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins.

CAST & CREW

Directed by

Wes Anderson

Screenplay by

Wes Anderson

Story by

Wes Anderson

Roman Coppola

Produced by

Wes Anderson

Steven Rales

Jeremy Dawson

John Peet

Starring

Benicio del Toro

Mia Threapleton

Michael Cera

Riz Ahmed

Tom Hanks

Bryan Cranston

Mathieu Amalric

Richard Ayoade

Jeffrey Wright

Scarlett Johansson

Benedict Cumberbatch

Rupert Friend

Hope Davis

Cinematography

Bruno Delbonnel

Edited by

Barney Pilling

Music by

Alexandre Desplat

Production companies

Indian Paintbrush

American Empirical Pictures

Distributed by

Focus Features (United States)

Universal Pictures (international)

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Comedy, drama

Release dates

May 18, 2025 (Cannes)

May 29, 2025 (Germany)

May 30, 2025 (United States)

Running time:

101 minutes

Budget: $30 million

Box office: $40.2 million

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

🎥 About the Channel 📺

Welcome to Epictastic Joshua, where he talk movies, TV shows, music and anime (movies only) on a consistent basis! If you want to continue having an epictastic conversation, be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the channel to be a part of the Epictasticness. Join the Epictasticness, stay epictastic and you guys keep it cool!

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/@EpictasticJoshua

*Make sure to use my discount code "FUTURE15" for 15% off any product or purchase from Movie Palette or https://moviepalette.com*

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:

Business inquiries/questions, sponsorships or collaborations: joshuadrake287@gmail.com

Cash App: https://cash.app/$J9shuaDrake

Chime: $JoshuaDrake-2

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

FIND ME ONLINE!

ALL LINKS: https://linktr.ee/EpictasticJoshuaYT

INSTAGRAM/THREADS: epictasticjoshua

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Joshuathemovielover2049

https://www.facebook.com/EpictasticJoshuaYT

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/epictasticjoshua.bsky.social

LETTERBOXD/SNAPCHAT: EpictasticJosh

Serializd: EpictasticJoshuaYT

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theepictasticjoshua

Epictastic Live: https://open.spotify.com/show/2hYoGnrm2GWhxKBI7DcOjc?si=sswWVyImRRuXHBwUt8hxZw

TWITCH: https://www.twitch.tv/EpictasticJoshuaYT

Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2VKNXSJC7M58R?ref_=list_d_wl_ys_list_1

DISCORD SERVER: https://discord.gg/7EFAWcGfwK

Want to send fan mail? DM or email me for permission to do and address above:

COPYRIGHT FAIR USE NOTICE, Title 17, US Code (Sections 107-118 of the copyright law): All media in this video is used for purpose of review & commentary under terms of fair use. All footage, music & images used belong to their respective companies.

I do not own any of the clips, images or music I use all credit goes to their rightful owners. No copyright infringement is intended in any way, shape, size or form. The material used is meant for purposes of entertainment and commentary.