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The Princess Bride (1987)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

Release Date: 06/14/2019

Cabin Boy (1994) show art 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_outline Hardbodies (1984) show art Hardbodies (1984)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

Shat The Movies was made for movies like "Hardbodies," a motion picture originally planned for the Playboy Channel but released in theaters because America needed boobs. This 1985 skin flick has all the tropes you'd expect: women in bikinis, beach parties, waterbeds and cheesy lines. But "Hardbodies" surprised us with a few unexpected moments: a no-means-no stance on sexual harassment, a heartwarming makeover scene, an exploration of aging and a woman banged so hard she bursts through the roof of a limousine.  In this episode, the Shat Crew explores the charm of bad writing, what...

info_outline Let It Ride (1989) show art Let It Ride (1989)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

"Let It Ride" is a 1989 comedy starring Richard Dreyfuss as Jay Trotter, a perpetually unlucky gambler who, after overhearing a tip about a longshot horse, decides to bet all his savings on it. As Jay's luck suddenly turns around, he finds himself on an exhilarating winning streak at the racetrack, encountering various eccentric characters along the way. Despite facing doubts and temptations, Jay chooses to let his winnings ride, leading to a thrilling climax where his faith in luck and optimism are put to the test. The film is a comedic and heartwarming exploration of gambling, optimism, and...

info_outline Do The Right Thing (1989) show art Do The Right Thing (1989)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

Discussing race in America is never easy, and it was even harder in 1989 when Spike Lee released "Do The Right Thing," a film filled with ambiguity, tension and Rosie Perez dancing. This supersized episode, commissioned by listener Grant Leisure, compelled the Shat Crew to take a hard look at police brutality, gentrification, reverse racism and freedom of expression. But, being Shat, your hosts also took the time to debate proper thermostat settings, what's wrong with Ash's computer and whether Gene Lyons is white. Android:  Apple: All: CONTACT Email: Website: Leave a Voicemail: Web: ...

info_outline Matilda (1996) show art Matilda (1996)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

Before "Matilda the Musical," "Madeline" and "Coraline," there was Danny DeVito's 1996 adaptation of Roald Dahl's "Matilda," a film the entire Shat Crew enjoyed — for very different reasons. Ash was the most familiar with "Matilda," having seen it in theaters. Gene had read other Dahl books and knew what to expect. Dick, once again, confused it with another movie. And that devolved into the tangential conversations you'd expect from the Shat Crew: What constitutes child abuse? Did J. K. Rowling rip off Roald Dahl? Which kid in the movie is cutest? Was Bruce Bogtrotter a hero because was fat?...

info_outline Perfect (1985) show art Perfect (1985)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

We've all seen that scene from "Perfect" where John Travolta is humping his way through a Jamie Lee Curtis aerobics class, but there's another two hours to this 1985 box-office bomb. And we had to watch all of it. Longtime Shat The Movies beer buddy Scott in Friendswood, Texas, was kind enough to commission a film about Gene Lyons' three favorite topics: journalism, fitness and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Not to be left out, Dick Ebert had lots to say about sex with elite athletes. And Ash got into a car accident. What genre is "Perfect?" Do newsrooms run on self-loathing? How is 2024 gym etiquette...

info_outline The Legend of Billie Jean (1985) show art The Legend of Billie Jean (1985)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

"The Legend of Billie Jean" had a little something for each Shat The Movies host. Gene got his Honda Elite scooter. Ash got her Christian Slater. And Big D got Helen Slater with no bra. But that's not why listener BreAnn M. commissioned this 1985 coming-of-age film. For her, "The Legend of Billie Jean" was an inspiration, a gateway to feminism and a radical view of what kids could do. In this episode, the Shat Crew debates whether all Gulf Coast states are the same, whether men are as bad as the movie makes them out to be and whether teens are a powerful force or apathetic losers. Gene offers...

info_outline Gattaca (1997) show art Gattaca (1997)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

When listener Rob F. commissioned "Gattaca" in honor of his father, we all remembered it as beautiful, futuristic and distinct. Oddly enough, we couldn't remember much else.  We remembered Ethan Hawke but not his lengthy voiceovers. We remembered Jude Law but not the incinerator scene. We remembered Uma Thurman but not her character's heart condition.  This 1997 sci-fi debut for director Andrew Niccol made some interesting choices, like casting loads of TV talent and pretending Jude Law and Ethan Hawke look anything alike. And it also had some swagger, like pinstripe spacesuits and...

info_outline Pump Up The Volume (1990) show art Pump Up The Volume (1990)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

Shat The Movies didn't invent sexual perversion, edgy attitudes and impeccable taste in music, we just perfected it. More than 25 years earlier, Christian Slater inspired teens to "talk hard" in the 1990 box office bomb "Pump Up The Volume." Ash was delighted when listener Eric commissioned this coming-of-age movie to highlight his belief in the power of listening. Dick Ebert viewed it from a parent's perspective, and Gene was aghast at Happy Harry Hard-on's terrible microphone discipline.  As the Shat Crew debate whether a teen can suffer in the affluent suburbs, they touch on the King...

info_outline Short Circuit (1986) show art Short Circuit (1986)

Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

We noticed all the biggest podcasts seem to have celebrity hosts, murder or hot takes. Shat The Movies lacks star power. And it doesn't have thrilling true-crime tales. So this week we're banking on misguided opinions as we plug into "Short Circuit." Big D doesn't think Johnny 5 is really alive. Ash believes this is Ally Sheedy's worst performance. And Gene is convinced Ben Jabituya isn't Indian. Two of them are wrong, and Gene wrote this episode description.  Despite their divergent opinions, the Shat Crew agreed on a lot of things about this 1986 Steve Guttenberg comedy: The robot...

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More Episodes

How have we gone more than 100 movies without reviewing "The Princess Bride?" It's a travesty of justice, one that Shat The Movies listener Adam R. decided to correct with his generous commission.

Is it a comedy? Is it a romance? Is it an action film, or a fantasy tale? The answer is yes. "The Princess Bride" is all of these things in an infinitely quotable and absolutely unforgettable package. 

In this episode, we discuss whether '80s video games were better than today's, why Rob Reiner would hire an actor whose speech he couldn't understand, and how "The Princess Bride" somehow looked better than "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" on a fraction of the budget.

Gene explains why the film's politeness sets it apart from other '80s greats. Dick tells the tale of how Billy Crystal and Carol Kane were robbed of even better-improvised scenes, and Roger argues that no other movie has as many stellar performances by as many brilliant actors.


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