Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Episode 185: McFarland, USA

The best way to listen to this episode of Mousterpiece Cinema is to do so while running, so get thee to a treadmill, listener. This week, Josh and Gabe are racing to the finish line to debate the new based-on-a-true-story Disney sports drama, McFarland, U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S..sorry about that. They're joined in this intrepid endeavor by Alan Scherstuhl of The Village Voice. Who better than three white dudes to talk about the latest White Savior movie? (Starring Kevin Costner, because of course it is!) And there's no skimping on the tangential references this week either, as everything from Batman's origin to porkpie hats to Cape Fear is up for grabs. So head on over to the local taqueria, try NOT to order a burger while you're there, then start jogging home with this episode as your soundtrack!

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Episode 184: DuckTales The Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp

It's time for an episode of Mousterpiece Cinema that's 25 years in the making! That's right: this week, Josh and Gabe are going back to the beginning...of DisneyToon Studios, at least, as they review the 1990 film DuckTales The Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp. They're joined by past guest Andrew Daar to talk all things DuckTales (woo-oo!), but also the film's not-so-shocking similarities to Disney's future adaptation of Aladdin as well as how famed comedian Rip Taylor might, in this film, be closer to half-Joe Camel and a third-Fonzarelli in playing a particularly...loud genie. (Yes, Poochie will be invoked a lot this week. A LOT.) Does DuckTales The Movie hold up after a quarter-century? Is there still quality to be mined from the original Scrooge McDuck stories? And will one of us sing this week? Find out now!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Episode 183: The Princess and the Frog

Ladies and gentlemen, we are almost there! Actually, for longtime listeners, scratch that, we ARE there--we're finally able to talk about the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog on today's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. If you're new to the show, you might not know, but Josh has long hinted at being a big fan of this hand-drawn animated story of a young African-American woman who kisses a frog only to turn into one herself in 1920s-era New Orleans. After all that build-up, he's able to go on and on about how much he loves this film; he loves it so much, he sings once again! (Not a song from this movie. Not a song from any Disney movie, actually.) Is Gabe on board the love train this week? Or does Josh have to invoke the infamous disapproving-dog meme to respond to his co-host? And will Gabe impersonate Tom Waits, for once and for all? Find out now!

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Episode 182: Bedknobs and Broomsticks

This week on Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe are getting ready for a trip all the way to London, circa 1940. It's the Age of Not Believing, but they've got open minds, or they're trying to. Yes, it's time for us to have some fun with Bedknobs and Broomsticks, the 1971 film starring Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson that may owe a debt or two or twelve to Mary Poppins, from its Sherman Brothers songs to its animated sequence to everything in between. Is this movie nothing more than a knockoff, or does it have hidden charms beneath all the tomfoolery? Are we in...a tight spot? (And what does a Coen Brothers reference have to do with this film?) Find out today!