The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
Gene Lyons and The King Bee became friends in 1995. Two years later, "The Long Kiss Goodnight" was released on VHS, capturing the heart of a young King Bee who spent the next three decades trying to convince Gene to watch it. For his 44th birthday, Gene was treated to a pizza and a spot on The King Bee's sofa to experience "The Long Kiss Goodnight" for the first time. And it was eye-opening, to say the least. Thanks to listener Jeremiah, the two friends sat down in person, mixed a few old-fashioned cocktails and finally recorded a conversation about what might be Samuel L. Jackson's finest...
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Ordinary People (1980)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
Honestly, when listener Eric commissioned "Ordinary People," we were worried the episode would be dry, academic and morose. Instead, this 1980 Oscar winner led to uncontrollable laughs. The quality certainly is there: A Robert Redford-directed drama starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and Timothy Hutton. But you know how it goes when the Shat Boys get rolling. In this episode, the Shat Crew explores Japanese breakfast, whether you can save French toast, "the three lives," and what real therapy looks like. Gene complains that he can't relate to the problems of the rich,...
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Blazing Saddles (1974)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
One Shat host is a social justice warrior. The other hates Mel Brooks movies. So "Blazing Saddles" seemed doomed from the start. But there's magic in Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little and the old frontier. Listener Ed took Shat The Movies way back to 1974 for this satirical Western that Gene Lyons argues isn't racist, sexist or even remotely offensive (other than one particular performance). Dick Ebert was impressed with the "real Hollywood Western" feel of the movie, attributing the incredible cast and chemistry to divine intervention, and also the groundbreaking farts. In this episode, the Shat...
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PCU (1994)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
Is "PCU" hard to find because it crossed a line or because it's just not a very good movie? Listener Jeff from Nebraska commissioned the Shat Crew to uncover the truth for his 40th birthday. In a lot of ways, PCU is your typical '90s college movie. The university president is trying to shut down a student house. There's seventh-year senior showing the new guy the ropes. A kegger is the solution to life's problems, and the good guys win. But PCU is still very much its own film. There's no clear protagonist. No group of students is decidedly popular. There might not even be an actual plot. In...
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La Bamba (1987)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
A lot's changed since 1987: Biopics are much more common (and darker). Chicano artists are more mainstream, and Lou Diamond Phillips is a household name. So we acknowledge "La Bamba' was groundbreaking ... and not very good. Listener Mark C. commissioned this episode and the upcoming "American Me" to celebrate his heritage as a first-generation Hispanic-American. He noted the blockbuster soundtrack, janky lip-syncing and performances from Esai Morales, Joe Pantaliano and Elizabeth Pena. But Mark didn't prepare us for laughably large talismans, breakneck pacing and Ritchie Valens'...
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Desperado (1995)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
Robert Rodriguez blew minds when he created "El Mariachi" for $7,000. The sequel added a brooding Antonio Banderas and sizzling Salma Hayek to rack up $58 million worldwide. But was "Desperado" actually good? If you're looking for cool cameos, hot sex scenes, bloody bar fights and a strong female lead, then yes. If you're looking for believable gunplay, a plot that makes sense, badass sidekicks or artistic composition, then you're out of luck. In this episode, commissioned by listener Rachel, the Shat Crew discusses Steve Buscemi always being the same age, Quentin Tarantino always being...
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Krush Groove (1985)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
"Krush Groove" is the sort of '80s oddity that can't quite be categorized. Is it a musical? A comedy? A collection of music videos with dialogue sprinkled in between? This time capsule captured rap's infancy and changed the way Big D speaks. This week's episode, commissioned by listener David B., gave us a newfound respect for Run-DMC, The Fat Boys and, oddly enough, "Purple Rain." Dick Ebert learned why Kurtis Blow is called Kurtis Blow; Ash revealed the depth of her hip-hop knowledge; and Gene explained why he thinks rappers are naturally good actors. Android: Apple: All: CONTACT...
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Who's Harry Crumb? (1989)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
John Candy is the kind of guy you want as your uncle, your travel buddy or your best friend. But does he work as a private investigator cracking a complicated kidnapping? "Who's Harry Crumb?" rolled the dice to find out. Falling somewhere between "Fletch" and "Ace Ventura," this 1989 comedy was largely predictable, mostly uninteresting and painfully miscast, but it had its moments. Absurd disguises, a loveable sidekick, non sequiturs and uncomfortable outfits kept things irreverent and memorable. And for an '80s movie, that's sometimes all you need. Android: Apple: All: CONTACT Email: ...
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The King of Comedy (1983)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
When people think DeNiro and Scorsese, it's generally mob hits or boxing rings. But 1983's "The King of Comedy" is an often-overlooked exploration of television fame that shows just how funny, dark and thought-provoking the actor-director pair can be in any genre. Listener Charlie in L.A., who brought us "Boogie Nights," is back with another stellar commission that led to some interesting topics, including when it's OK to ask for an autograph, who the new acting royalty is in Hollywood, whether Sandra Bernhard helped or hurt the movie and when being agreeable becomes creepy. If you've never...
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Cabin Boy (1994)
Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
Once upon a time, there was a movie about an unlikeable fancy lad joining the unlikeable crew of a ship called The Filthy Whore after David Letterman tried to sell him a monkey, but at least it had Tim Burton as the director. Until it didn't. This week, Shat The Movies brings you "Cabin Boy," the 1994 box-office bomb that nearly sank Chris Elliott's career and left the Shat Crew scratching their heads. On one hand, this movie is terrifically quotable, wonderfully quirky and loaded with comedic talent. On the other hand, viewers might find themselves asking where the budget went, what year it's...
info_outlineWhat do Spin Doctors, Dave Matthews Band, Billy Corgan and Styx have in common? They all get trashed in this episode of Shat The Movies (Cock Sparrer was spared.) It's the 1996 comedy "That Thing You Do!"
Tom Hanks wrote, directed and starred in this squeaky-clean look at the 1960s, so you know it can't be terrible. But was it great? Depends on what you're looking for.
"That Thing You Do!" has a catchy song, a handsome cast, Liv Tyler crying, nostalgia by the truckload, a cute epilogue and family-friendly language. It also has an abundance of foreshadowing, double magical negro and a few plot holes.
In this episode, Ash joins Gene and Dick on the Old Shat Porch, Gene wishes gatekeepers would return to entertainment and Big D demands more sex, drugs and failure.
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