Episode 124: Saving Mr. Banks

Wind's in the east...mist comin' in. Like something is brewin' and 'bout to begin. Can't put me finger on what lies in store, but I feel what's to happen, all happened before. Oh, excuse us, we were just reciting one of our favorite underrated lines from Mary Poppins, the Disney musical classic that happens to be the subject of this week's new Mousterpiece Cinema. What's that, you say? Oh, sure, Gabe and Josh have already profiled that film on the podcast, but this week, they're talking about the new Disney film Saving Mr. Banks, which is focused squarely on the making of Mary Poppins, from the perspective of the character's creator, P.L. Travers, as played here by Emma Thompson. Were Gabe and Josh as charmed by this film as they were by Mary Poppins? Did Tom Hanks' portrayal of Walt Disney himself win them over? Or are they swearing off the Disney myth entirely, throwing it to the curb like so many pears in a fruit basket? The answer is more complicated than you think, so check out the new show to find out!

Episode 123: Babes in Toyland

"Toyland, Toyland, little girl and boy land..." Hey, why aren't you singing along? Don't you know the lyrics to Victor Herbert's operetta Babes in Toyland? Well, you'd better brush up, because the Walt Disney Pictures adaptation (in Technicolor, no less) of that operetta is in the spotlight on this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Josh and Gabe are guest-free once again as they explore Mother Goose Land and Toyland, which are adjoined by the Forest of No Return. (Don't worry, that forest isn't as terrifying as it sounds.) And after only a few minutes, your intrepid co-hosts answer a very pertinent and timely question: is this actually a Christmas movie? The answer isn't as easy as you might think, and neither is this surprisingly bifurcated film. So, in the words of the dastardly Barnaby (seriously), come. Let's pussyfoot. And check out the new show!

Episode 122: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Friends, as we approach another Christmas, it's time to limp across the finish line, gasping for air. In 2011, by himself, Josh took a look at the 1994 holiday comedy The Santa Clause. In 2012, Josh and Gabe, along with guest Marc Vibbert, did the same with the 2002 sequel, The Santa Clause 2. And now, it's just Josh and Gabe, gaping in awe at the terror and foul horror of the 2006 end of the trilogy, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. On the one hand, sure, this movie has Tim Allen, Martin Short as Jack Frost, Alan Arkin, Ann-Margret, and more. But on the other hand, it has Martin Short singing a poor parody of "New York, New York," and Alan Arkin doing some of the worst acting of his life. Put it this way, there are plenty of tangents in this episode because it just got too painful to talk about this film after a while. But stay to the end, and you'll hear Josh and Gabe get more delight out of saying the name "Smaug" than they did in watching this movie. It's a painful film, but the episode inspired by it is, promise, a lot of fun. So check it out!

Episode 121: Frozen

OK, we know that we kept you waiting for an extra week, but finally, it's time for Mousterpiece Cinema to get cold. In fact, we're so cold, we're...wait for it...Frozen! Yes, this week, Josh and Gabe take a look at Walt Disney Animation Studios' newest film, a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen featuring the voices of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, and more, and music from the composers of The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q. With such high expectations and hopes, were Josh and Gabe thrilled with this frigid fairy tale? And what about their guest, returning favorite Corey Atad? Did this tale of sisterly love work magic on the trio? And what of the attached Mickey Mouse short, Get a Horse!? One of these stories inspired Gabe to say he wanted to vomit--no joke. The only way to find out what inspired such intense hyperbole (we hope it's hyperbole), though, is to listen to the show, so check it out!