Back to the Balcony

An amused second look at movies and culture from the last century.

White Christmas (1954) 12/20/2024

White Christmas (1954) If there's one thing we've learned about guest Bob Kerr it's that he has a taste for the macabre. How else do you explain his love of Ernest Saves Christmas? This year we made him watch 1954's White Christmas - a movie this avowed lover of Christmas had never seen before - just to see if his head would explode. Did he find something to love? Give a listen to find out. Another fun episode. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/34215670

The Matrix/Hail the Conquering Hero 12/06/2024

The Matrix/Hail the Conquering Hero Jimmy and Phil dare to challenge each other to watch a movie they've never seen before. Phil makes Jimmy watch The Matrix. Jim takes Phil back to WWII for Hail the Conquering Hero. Can something modern turn Jimmy's crank? And what about Phil, can he get into something - even a comedy - that came out long before he was born . You'll be surprised! An episode that wasn't really planned but just kind of happened with surprising results. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/34204210

Major League Baseball (1989) 11/22/2024

Major League Baseball (1989) Gerry Hall takes us out to the ballgame for his take on the greatest baseball movie of all time prior to 2000, 1989's Major League. Surprisingly, he has a criteria that coulld possibly support his argument. Contains discussion of Gerry's career and the grand-daddy of all co-incidences. Lot of fun - and not just for baseball fans. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/33761767

Grosse Point Blank (1997) 11/08/2024

Grosse Point Blank (1997) Barry Carter drops by to extolls the virtues of the quirky Grosse Point Blank from 1997. Does it sell out its premise to become just another rom-com or does it never lose its edge? There's holes and Jimmy ineveitably falls into them. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/33761742

Army of Darkness (1992) 10/25/2024

Army of Darkness (1992) Talk about spooky! For our Halloween episode, guest Ryan Sim defends a movie that's credited with killing the Evil Dead series. What's worse, engineer Phil, loves the movie too. Stayed tuned to the very end for Ryan's challenge to Jimmy. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/33297937

The Sandlot (1993) 10/11/2024

The Sandlot (1993) Not without its flawa but Jimmy actually agrees with guest Chris Jarvie that The Sandlot is not without its charm. But is it the best movie about baseball ever made? That was supposed to be Chris' position - but it's Chris Jarvie and you'll hear what that means. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/33298057

Edward Scissorhands (1990) 09/27/2024

Edward Scissorhands (1990) Guest Chris Wuergler revels in this off-beat gothic-romance, while Phil and Jimmy confess they enjoyed it while being constantly confused by exactly when it's taking place. Big revelation of the episode: Chris used Avon Make-up. If you've seen the movie you'll know why that's significant. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/33128222

Streetcar Named Desire (1951) 09/06/2024

Streetcar Named Desire (1951) Not just a classic but considered one of the seminal films of American cinema. It stands up for guest Chris Wuergler and engineer Phil as still powerful after all this time. The big question on Jimmy's mind? Did it really happen. Just one of the intriguing ways it send this talk down a very deep rabbit hole. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/32740837

Money Pit Versus Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House 08/16/2024

Money Pit Versus Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House Most people probably don't know that The Money Pit was actually a remake of an old Cary Grant - Myrna Loy movie called Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House - a movie that's among Jimmy's favourites. Does it hold up or will guests Mario Bernardi and Chris Wuergler see something less in it. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/32388867

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure 08/02/2024

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure For a twist - and to celebrate (late again) our 200th episode - Mario Bernardi and Joel Van Vliet turn the tables on Jimmy and make him the guest who has to talk about one of his favourite films: Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. Jimmy says it's a unique, cultural masterpiece. Will that be the prevailing opinion? Listen to find out if it it - and why this is such a special appearance by Joel. Mario, not so much but Joel! /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/32388947

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) 07/12/2024

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) Jimmy's new favourite episode. Guest Larry Smith and guest engineer Mitch McBeaudry bring a wealth of information and love for this movie. The result is hilarious, intriguing and hugely entertaining. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/32085337

Stephen King's Cat's Eye (1985) 06/22/2024

Stephen King's Cat's Eye (1985) The ever horrifying Bob Kerr is back to talk about Stephen King's Cat's Eye. Is it a horror anthology? Is it a black comedy? Is it another attempt to gross Jimmy out? Okay, it's not very gross but it has some weird ideas. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/31848327

Meet Joe Black (1998) 06/07/2024

Meet Joe Black (1998) Guest Nik Duncan surprises Jimmy with a rigorous defense of the virtues of Meet Joe Black. Includes a brief interlude where they may have been visited by the ghost of Barry White. Actually the 200th episode of Back to the Balcony - just not the 200th anniversary celebration of the show. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/31651482

Rear Window (1954) 05/10/2024

Rear Window (1954) Better late than never (explanation for why we're a weak late will be in the next expisode). Chris Wuergler revisits her Hitchcock obsession with 1954's Rear Window, a fascinating movie that seems so unlikely to work but somehow does. Jimmy tries to poke holes but it's hard because this movie forces you to suspend your disbelief. Funny, as always but with some fascinating sidebars about eavesdropping. Are we alll guilty of it? Listen and decide for yourself. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/31219147

All The President's Men (1976) 04/19/2024

All The President's Men (1976) We spend just about as much time talking about the political and social ramifications of this movie and events as we do about the movie itself. Like always it's funny but Jimmy and guest Mario Bernardi meander in a lot of directions with this one. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/30883358

196 Groundhog Day 04/05/2024

196 Groundhog Day It's hard to review funny movies but Groundhog Day may be the most hilarious and the most well thought out comedy movie of all time. Guest Scott Faulconbridge makes a compelling argument for why it's so good and what we respond to in the movie. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/30684138

Two Generations on the Road to Morocco (1942) 03/22/2024

Two Generations on the Road to Morocco (1942) What happens two distant generations meet a movie hit from the 40's? Will it stand up or was this a huge mistake? Mario Bernardi guests with Chris Jarvie (who is literally, half his age) to talk about the best of the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby road pictures, The Road to Morocco. Is here a renaissance coming, will a new generation embrace it? Will the old generation ev en remember it? Turns out to be a pretty fascinating discussion with an unexpected obstacle to universal acceptance. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/30463113

Back to School (1986) 03/08/2024

Back to School (1986) Bret Measor joins Jimmy along with guest engineer Kristian Reimer (who forgot to turn his microphone on) to talk about the legacy of Rodney Dangerfield and his 1986 movie, Back to School. Bret loves it, Jimmy likes it but wishes it could have revealed more of Rodney and less shenanigans. Is he right or Bret? Give it a listen to find out. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/30032968

Leslie Nielsen - Comedian? 02/23/2024

Leslie Nielsen - Comedian? Ryan Sim and Mitch McBeaudry join Jimmy to figure out if Leslie Neilen is a great comedian or someone who just got lucky a couple times and coasted on that career ever afterwards. Ryan Sinm says he was a natural comedian and 1988's The Naked Gun proves it. Mitch says no, just look at 1995's Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Somewhere's along the way Mel Brooks gets bashed. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/30023508

Most Romantic - The Notebook (2004) Or Casablanca (1942) 02/09/2024

Most Romantic - The Notebook (2004) Or Casablanca (1942) Just in time for Valentine's Day it's Chris Wuergler and Kristian Reimer the most romantic movie. Is it 2004's paean to gooey love The Notebook or that tale of gritty sacrifice, 1942's Casablanca? A fun episode that also speaks to the romance in all of us. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/29878253

Uncle Buck (1989) 01/26/2024

Uncle Buck (1989) Mario Bernardi and guest engineer Ryan Sim join Jimmy to re-visit Uncle Buck and the curious idea that no one understands children like somebody who doesn't have any. That's just one of the plot holes in a movie that still stands up surprisingly well. Listen to find out why. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/29644203

The Fugitive (1993) 01/12/2024

The Fugitive (1993) Guest Chris Wuergler and engineer Phil are totally in love with this movie. No, I mean really. I've never seen so much enthusiasm coupled with amazement that Jimmy doesn't share their infatuation. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/29431253

What About Bob? (1991) 12/29/2023

What About Bob? (1991) Mario Bernardi revisits a movie he hated the first time around. His reaction this time is completely different. So what caused the change because it didn't have that effect on Jimmy. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/29264798

Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) 12/15/2023

Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) Bob Kerr is one of our most thoughtful, insightful, truly original guests and a man who loves the magic of Christmas. And yet, his favourite Christmas movie is Ernest Saves Christmas. Jimmy thinks the only magic is what kept the franchise going to this point. A funny review that takes us all back to our younger days when the standards weren't as high. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/29067278

Rush Hour (1998) 12/01/2023

Rush Hour (1998) Guest Ronald Hae sees Rush Hour as more comedy than drama. Phil leans towards the suspense. Jimmy leans towards end of life therapy if he ever has to watch it again. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/28861463

Back to the Future Versus Hot Tub Time Machine 11/17/2023

Back to the Future Versus Hot Tub Time Machine Somehow this got away from Jimmy when Patrick Coppolino admitted that Manolis Zontanos was right and Back to the Future was the better movie. But he still found enough redeeming value in Hot Tub Time Machine to put up a spirited defence. And then Manolis starts definding it. Very funny episode with a couple of naturally funny people. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/28660813

Time Bandits (1981) 11/03/2023

Time Bandits (1981) Guest Greg Dobrowski wants to talk about a most unusual movie, 1981's Time Bandits. it's kind of like the Wizard of Oz on acid. It's kind of like a lot of things, but is it a good movie? Jimmy has some strong feelings here. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/28496612

Friday the 13th Versus Nightmare on Elm Street 10/20/2023

Friday the 13th Versus Nightmare on Elm Street Guests Ryan Sim and Mitch McBeaudry face off again to determine not just the best movie but the best movie franchise, Friday the 13th versus Nightmare on Elm Street. Jimmy found both movies so scary he hosted the show from under the covers. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/28355219

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962) 10/06/2023

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962) Guest Keh Dee dips way back in the past to the birth of Hag Horror for the classic tale of sisters and fame with 1962's Whatever Happened to Baby Jane starring two of classic Hollywood's screen divas - who happened to share a mutual hatred in real life. Jimmy can't believe she chose a movie he's wanted to talk about for eight years. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/28233767

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) 09/22/2023

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) Bob Kerr returns with a new kind of horror, 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Funny as always but there's also an interesting segment about whether The Terminator movies are the source of everyone's anxiety about AI. Jimmy's not worried but then he's still getting over the shock of moveable type. That's a really smart joke. /episode/index/show/backtothebalcony/id/28115483

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