Joe & Duncan Roast the Caveman movie "IceMan"

Episode Summary

Main Topics

This episode delivers a hilarious and critical roast of the 1984 film "Iceman," starring Timothy Hutton, dissecting its far-fetched premise of a thawed-out caveman entering into a romantic relationship with a scientist while still clad in bear skins. The movie review serves as a launchpad for deep dives into human evolution, specifically exploring early hominins such as Australopithecus, Neanderthals, and the more recently discovered Denisovans, and contemplating their historical coexistence. Additionally, the conversation veers into speculative discussions about advanced civilizations potentially devoid of greed and emotion, and the fantastical concept of resurrecting ancient figures like mummified pharaohs, hypothesizing their eventual role in controlling future artificial intelligence.

Key Discussion Points

• The Absurdity of "Iceman" (1984): Joe Rogan and Duncan ridicule the 1984 film "Iceman," detailing its plot where a caveman, played by John Lone, is discovered frozen in ice with an arrowhead in him, then thawed out and brought back to life by scientists, including Timothy Hutton. The hosts mock the unrealistic premise of the caveman quickly forming a romantic relationship with a female scientist, without language, and the absurdity of him still wearing his original bear skins post-thaw. Rogan humorously labels the scenario as "prehistoric cuck porn," highlighting the film's implausibility.
• Evolutionary History and Proto-Homosapiens: The discussion extends beyond the movie to explore the rich history of human evolution. The hosts ponder what it would have been like to observe Australopithecus in its early days, considering its appearance, behavior, and survival strategies. They specifically mention Neanderthals and the Denisovans, noting that the latter were only discovered in the 2000s, revealing "a whole nother version of the human race" and implying a historical "survival of the fittest" among multiple proto-human species.
• Hypothetical Advanced Civilizations: The episode opens with a philosophical exploration of highly advanced hypothetical creatures. These beings are imagined as having "greed engineered out of their body," possessing "no materialism whatsoever," and communicating purely through thought, allowing for direct, unfiltered understanding. Such beings are envisioned as lacking primate emotions and simply solving problems, occasionally "checking on us" to observe humanity's progress.
• Resurrection Theories and Ancient Preservation: Inspired by the "Iceman" premise and real-life discoveries like the "Ötzi the Iceman" (described as a man with an arrow stuck in his back found in a glacier), the hosts entertain the "favorite theory" of resurrecting ancient figures. They speculate that pharaohs understood the concept of preserving their bodies through mummification, anticipating a future technology that could bring them back to life. This leads to a fantastical scenario where a resurrected pharaoh, charismatic like Xerxes and intelligent like Dr. Manhattan, could potentially become "the governor of AI."
• Cats as a Historical Nemesis: In a brief, humorous tangent, the hosts discuss the challenges faced by early humans. While watching a scene from "Iceman" where the caveman is tapping a log, Joe Rogan sarcastically suggests that such noise would "attract cats," leading to the conclusion that cats were likely humanity's "nemesis" for "most of history." This lighthearted moment injects a unique, comedic perspective into the episode's heavier topics.

Notable Moments

• Interesting Story/Anecdote: Joe Rogan's incredulous reaction to the plot of "Iceman," particularly the romantic storyline, leads him to exclaim, "This is the dumbest movie I've ever even heard of!" He humorously imagines the female scientist telling her boyfriend, "he is so sweet to me and you are such a [expletive]," encapsulating the film's perceived absurdity.
• Surprising Fact/Revelation: The hosts highlight the relatively recent discovery of Denisovans in the 2000s, which revealed "a whole nother version of the human race that they weren't aware of before." This fact underscores the ongoing nature of anthropological discovery and the complexity of human evolutionary history.
• Memorable Exchange: A memorable moment occurs when Joe Rogan, deeply invested in mocking the film, emphatically states, "This is the dumbest [expletive] movie the world's ever known," causing Duncan to interject, "it's rude to me! I mean you're being rude to me you make me watch this." Rogan clarifies he's insulting the movie's creators, not Duncan, highlighting their dynamic and shared comedic critique.

Key Takeaways

Listeners will gain an appreciation for the comedic genius of Joe Rogan and Duncan as they dissect the ludicrous elements of 1980s sci-fi, using the movie "Iceman" as a prime example of cinematic absurdity. The episode offers fascinating insights into early human history, particularly the existence of diverse hominin species like the Denisovans, prompting reflection on our complex evolutionary past. It also delves into intriguing philosophical and speculative concepts, from advanced alien civilizations devoid of human failings to the hypothetical revival of ancient pharaohs to govern future AI, showcasing the hosts' unique blend of humor and intellectual curiosity.