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How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

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

Release Date: 07/23/2025

Excalibur (1991) show art Excalibur (1991)

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

For our Ninth Anniversary Episode, the Shat Crew draws the sword from the stone and rides into John Boorman’s epic Excalibur (1981). Commissioned by Chris, Mike, and Ollie to celebrate their father Robert’s 60th birthday, this Arthurian fever dream delivers knights, magic, and more shiny armor than a Manowar album cover. From Nicol Williamson’s scene-stealing Merlin to Helen Mirren’s wickedly alluring Morgana, the movie is equal parts mythic grandeur and campy chaos. Gene marvels at the operatic visuals, while Big D is dazzled by the medieval carnage. Together they debate whether...

info_outline Toy Soldiers (1991) show art Toy Soldiers (1991)

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

This week on Shat the Movies, we’re taking hostages with Toy Soldiers (1991), where teen rebels face off against terrorists in a prep school under siege. Sean Astin, Wil Wheaton, and Louis Gossett Jr. bring the heat in this action-packed mix of Die Hard, The Goonies, and teenage rebellion. Gene and Big D break down the implausible plot, glorious explosions, and whether this 90s cult classic still makes the grade. Is it a hidden gem, or just juvenile fantasy with pipe bombs? Tune in and find out! Plot Summary:Colombian terrorist Luis Cali (Andrew Divoff) takes an American prep school hostage...

info_outline Pure Country (1992) show art Pure Country (1992)

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

The Shat Crew trades leather jackets for Stetsons and arena rock for steel guitars with George Strait’s acting debut, Pure Country. Commissioned by listener Frank Fall, this 1992 romantic drama follows country superstar "Dusty" Chandler, who’s grown tired of the smoke, lasers, and screaming crowds. Disappearing from the spotlight, Dusty sets out to rediscover the joy of music—and maybe find love—while keeping his identity a secret. While Big D marvels at the film’s unapologetic sincerity and old-school values, Gene wrestles with whether Dusty’s “just folks” routine is genuine...

info_outline Mystery Date (1991) show art Mystery Date (1991)

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

This week on Shat the Movies, it’s a date night gone completely off the rails with Mystery Date (1991)! Ethan Hawke stars as a shy teen whose dream night with the girl next door spirals into chaos involving mistaken identity, a dead body, and a punk club performance by Gwar. Gene and Big D unpack the movie’s strange tone, chaotic plot, and missed opportunities for greatness. From creepy crushes to club culture, this dark comedy has more surprises than a trunk full of corpses. Does it hold up, or should this movie stay forgotten? Tune in to find out!. Plot Summary:Teenage Tom McHugh (Ethan...

info_outline How to Train Your Dragon (2010) show art How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

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

The Shat Crew soars into DreamWorks territory for a film that melted even Gene’s icy heart: How to Train Your Dragon. This animated fantasy wasn’t just a box office smash—it was a coming-of-age story that redefined what kids’ movies could be, combining sweeping visuals, smart storytelling, and a surprising emotional punch. Commissioned by Cheryl, this pick launches Big D into dad mode, marveling at the Viking village’s parenting techniques and dragon integration programs, while Gene questions how the filmmakers got him gushing over a silent reptile with puppy eyes.  Is How to...

info_outline The Deer Hunter (1978) show art The Deer Hunter (1978)

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

This week on Shat the Movies, we’re delving into the heart of The Deer Hunter (1978), a haunting exploration of friendship, war, and what remains behind. With powerhouse performances from Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep, this Best Picture winner delivers brutal realism, emotional gut punches, and one very tense game of Russian roulette. Is it still a masterpiece—or just a long, grim march? Tune in and find out.. Plot Summary: The Deer Hunter (1978), directed by Michael Cimino, is a powerful war drama that follows a group of working-class friends from a...

info_outline City Slickers (1991) show art City Slickers (1991)

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

This week on Shat The Movies, Gene and Big D rope in a modern Western classic with City Slickers (1991), a film that’s equal parts midlife meltdown, male bonding, and calf-birthing madness. Commissioned as a birthday gift from Ken to Eileen, Shat The Movies Episode 450 explores the heartfelt—and sometimes hilarious—journey of three friends finding purpose on a New Mexico cattle drive. Gene shares personal reflections on Americana cosplay, toxic corporate life, and the ever-elusive “one thing,” while Big D opens up about aging, friendship, and why his idea of bliss is scrubbing solar...

info_outline Cry-Baby (1990) show art Cry-Baby (1990)

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

This week on Shat the Movies, we’re shedding a single tear for Cry-Baby (1990)! Johnny Depp stars in John Waters’ rockabilly musical that’s equal parts parody, punk, and pure teen rebellion. From electric chairs to tear-streaked serenades, it’s a weird, wild ride through '50s nostalgia with a twisted grin. Tune in as we dive into this cult classic and ask: was Cry-Baby cool or just confused? Plot Summary:Cry-Baby (1990), directed by John Waters, is a rockabilly musical comedy set in 1950s Baltimore, starring Johnny Depp as Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker, the leader of a group of rebellious...

info_outline High Spirits (1988) show art High Spirits (1988)

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

Check into Castle Plunkett for a supernatural comedy that mashes together horny ghosts, Irish folklore, and peak ‘80s weirdness: High Spirits! Commissioned by Sydney in Texas—lover of Beetlejuice, Elvira, and men of questionable taste—this forgotten flick from 1988 boasts an absurdly stacked cast: Steve Guttenberg, Daryl Hannah, Beverly D’Angelo, Peter O’Toole, Jennifer Tilly, and a young Liam Neeson playing a ghostly creep. Gene and Big D dive into a movie that’s half Scooby-Doo, half ghost-sex fever dream. They explore the film’s jarring tonal shifts, from slapstick hauntings...

info_outline Earth Girls Are Easy (1988) show art Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)

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

This week on Shat the Movies, we’re beaming up Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)! Geena Davis stars alongside a furry, neon-colored trio of aliens played by Jeff Goldblum, Jim Carrey, and Damon Wayans in this outrageously ‘80s sci-fi musical comedy. It's got big hair, wild dance numbers, and plenty of interplanetary flirting. Tune in for a fun, glitter-filled trip through one of the weirdest rom-coms of the decade! Plot SummaryIn Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), director Julien Temple crafts a neon-soaked, musical sci-fi comedy that’s as weird as it is wonderful. Geena Davis stars as Valerie, a...

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The Shat Crew soars into DreamWorks territory for a film that melted even Gene’s icy heart: How to Train Your Dragon. This animated fantasy wasn’t just a box office smash—it was a coming-of-age story that redefined what kids’ movies could be, combining sweeping visuals, smart storytelling, and a surprising emotional punch.

Commissioned by Cheryl, this pick launches Big D into dad mode, marveling at the Viking village’s parenting techniques and dragon integration programs, while Gene questions how the filmmakers got him gushing over a silent reptile with puppy eyes. 

Is How to Train Your Dragon the best non-Disney animated film of its generation? Could it secretly be about neurodiversity, pacifism, or simply learning to listen? And how did Toothless become one of the most iconic non-verbal characters in modern cinema?

Whether you’re a rider of Night Furies or just here for the dad feels, this episode will have you rethinking your emotional support dragons.

Plot Summary:
In How to Train Your Dragon (2010), a misfit Viking teen named Hiccup befriends a wounded dragon he names Toothless, challenging everything his warrior tribe believes about dragons. As their unlikely friendship grows, Hiccup must choose between the expectations of his community and the compassion he feels for the creatures they fear. With breathtaking animation and a powerful emotional core, this DreamWorks classic redefined animated storytelling for a new generation.

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