Episode 194: The Monkey's Uncle

Hey, bros! Get ready for a full-on Brodown Hoedown on this week's Bro-sterpiece--OK, fine, Mousterpiece Cinema. This week, your top bros Josh and Gabe are getting ready to go back to college to talk about the important things about higher learning: beer, football, frat parties, and--and--AND TWINS! Maybe we're exaggerating a wee bit, but boy oh boy, does this week's movie, the 1965 film The Monkey's Uncle, feel super bro-y and misogynistic. It's so hard to avoid that Josh and Gabe go deep on this one, musing on the conservative streak in old-school Disney films, the way Walt Disney and his executives treated lead actor Tommy Kirk after his homosexuality became a flashpoint of controversy, and whether NCAA football players should be paid. Plus, Gabe brings back his Serial-esque cold-case podcast! And a bit of swearing! And Josh does a Beach Boys impression! No more talk--get to listening!

Episode 193: Monkey Kingdom

In the face of the brand-new Disneynature documentary Monkey Kingdom, here's a painful admission: I hate every ape I see, from Chimpan-A to Chimpan-Z. No, you'll never make a monkey out of me. OK, fine, this may not be that specifically related to Planet of the Apes (the movie, not the planet), or any musicals about said environment, but can you resist a good Simpsons reference. Neither can we! Anyway, on this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe go up against this new, Tina Fey-narrated nature film, along with their guest, Genevieve Koski of The Dissolve. Does Monkey Kingdom play fast and loose with the facts? Is it unethical to have monkeys destroy a child's birthday party? Basically, is it actually about ethics in documentary journalism? You'll have to listen to find out!

Episode 192: Castle in the Sky

On today's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, we're making specific and loud declarations. Such as "I DON'T WANT YOUR LIFE." Yes, that's right, you're going to get to hear Josh's impression of James van der Beek in the true classic Varsity Blues. Why, you may ask? Well, this week's movie is the Hayao Miyazaki film Castle in the Sky! (van der Beek provides a voice in the English dub, of course. But you knew that.) One of your hosts, in fact, loves the movie so much that it might be their favorite Studio Ghibli film overall. And the other host...well, he DON'T WANT YOUR LIFE. (That might spoil which of us loved the movie more.) Take a listen for more Ghibli/Dawson-cry-face talk!

Episode 191: Angels in the Outfield

The smell of the grass, the sound of a ball being hit by a wooden bat, the cries of "Get your popcorn and Cracker Jack!," and, of course, the unavoidable use of steroids. Yes, that's right, friends, it's baseball season once again! And this week, to celebrate the return of their beloved Mets and Pirates, Josh and Gabe step into the batter's box with one of Disney's modern baseball movies, the 1994 remake of Angels in the Outfield. (If only the Mets or Pirates made appearances in this one!) It's been over 20 years since this film came out, and many of its performers have gone on to massive careers, from child lead Joseph Gordon-Levitt to supporting players Matthew McConaughey and Adrian Brody. But does the movie hold up as more than a curio of expert casting? Do Josh and Gabe believe after revisiting this somewhat religiously-themed film? And how the hell did Gabe not hear about the Netflix revival of Full House yet? Find out now!

Episode 190: The Misadventures of Merlin Jones

Thanks to a unique case of electromagnetism (or some such), we've been gifted temporarily with the ability to read your thoughts, friend. And so we promise, this episode is completely April Fools Day prank-free. Pinky swear! Unfortunately, in some ways, Gabe and Josh got pranked this week by their choice of film, the 1964 comedy The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, which is all about a nerdy college kid being able to read people's thoughts! Until...he can't. Yes, this movie is surprising, but in a lot of the wrong ways. Even more so, Gabe's presumption that this movie would be monkey-heavy may have been equally misguided! What mysteries await? What happened in this movie that bothered Gabe so much that he cracked open his Sherlock Holmes costume to solve a cold case? Find out in the new show!