Episode 170: Big Hero 6

This week on Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe are suiting up with their best scientific superpowers to fight head-on about the new film from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Big Hero 6. This collaboration between Disney and Marvel (though the latter's involvement is fairly hidden to the regular viewer) may be garnering general acclaim from audiences and critics, but we are divided on today's show. Josh and Gabe are joined by John Gholson of Movies.com, Gutters and Panels, and the Giant Size podcast, and you might be surprised to find out which way he leans. (And, for that matter, where Josh and Gabe land on the film.) Is this film too derivative of other animated films and TV shows? Does its deliberate mixing of Asian and American cultural landmarks work in its favor? And should we rename this podcast to My Life as a Dog: The Gabe Bucsko Story? Find out in today's new show!

Episode 169: Aladdin and the King of Thieves

Today at Mousterpiece Cinema HQ, there's singing, laughing, and references to movies as disparate as Arbitrage, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Top Gun, which can only mean one thing: it's time for another freewheeling discussion of a Disney direct-to-video sequel. This time, Gabe and Josh are talking about what they consider to be the best of a meager bunch, Aladdin and the King of Thieves. And how could anything go that badly anyway with the return of Robin Williams as the Genie? Or was the true victory simply that Williams returned to voice the character, instead of giving the film a new lease on life? Is this really an improvement on The Return of Jafar? And, seriously, what the hell does Top Gun have to do with any of this? Find out if Gabe has lost that lovin' feeling by checking out the new show!

Episode 168: Ella Enchanted

We're closing out the month of October here at Mousterpiece Cinema with a truly terrifying cinematic experience, a film that could chill your bones and send your teeth shivering with fear. What film could it be? Why, it's the 2004 fairy tale Ella Enchanted, starring Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, Eric Idle, Cary Elwes, Minnie Driver, and more! While it may not sound like a scary movie for you, two of the folks on this episode would disagree. Josh and Gabe are joined by longtime friend of the show Kate Kulzick of Sound on Sight and The AV Club to debate this riff on the story of a girl named Cinderella and her evil stepsisters and stepmother. So, which one of these three didn't hate Ella Enchanted? And which one sings during the show? (Hint: it's the same person who swears a few times, and by the way...earmuffs.) Only one way to find out: check out the new show!

Episode 167: Tarzan

Who's ready for some vine-swinging action, friends? (Not the six-second videos, please note.) Josh and Gabe are ready for some high-flying fun this week as they talk about the 1999 animated film Tarzan, the so-called end of the Disney Renaissance. Some may say that, but at least one person on today's podcast would disagree! Is it Josh or Gabe, or their guest Anthony Strand of ToughPigs.com? One of these three would place Tarzan as among Disney's best animated films, but the others...would take issue with that. Plenty of debate this week, as well as a tangent or four, and a couple different renditions of the infamous Tarzan yell. So prepare yourselves and your precious ears. Seriously. Now get to listening to the new episode!

Episode 166: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

We said hey, hey, hey, hey, hey...what's going on? What IS going on, friends? And what the hell does a 4 Non-Blondes song have to do with today's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema? Turns out more than you might think, as Josh and Gabe prepare to discuss Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, the new Disney live-action family film co-starring Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Megan Mullaly, Donald Glover, and...Dick Van Dyke. Yes. Really. There's a lot for Josh and Gabe to scratch their heads over, and they're joined in befuddlement by longtime friend of the show, Entertainment Weekly senior writer, and author of the new novel Brutal Youth Anthony Breznican. Would this film have been better if it was more mature? Did it need more penis talk? Are penises really that funny? (Please, don't be shy.) Somehow, all of this really will be resolved on this week's show, so check it out!

Episode 165: Arachnophobia

We hope you're carefully bundled up for this new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, because we wouldn't want any creepy-crawlies to make their way across your arm or foot or hand, skittering up your body before it's too late OH NO. Whew, false alarm. Anyway, eight-legged creepy-crawlies are the matter of the day on this week's show, as Gabe and Josh talk about the first film from Hollywood Pictures, 1990's Arachnophobia, starring Jeff Daniels, John Goodman, and a whole lot of spiders. There's plenty to talk about this week, though of course, your two hosts found their way into a discussion of all things Ernest P. Worrell and Ron Howard. (Not at the same time.) Is Arachnophobia a fittingly spooktacular film for the month of October? Is Jeff Daniels' laugh scarifying? The only way to find out is to face your fears and listen to the show!

Episode 164: Unbreakable

Friends, it's that time of year again: time for some scarifying movie talk on Mousterpiece Cinema! Yes, it's Shock-tober, so you better boo-lieve that Josh and Gabe are back at it with some Halloween-appropriate movies. First up, it's M. Night Shyamalan's follow-up to his iconic ghost story The Sixth Sense, the 2000 thriller Unbreakable. (It's Bill Cosby's favorite film! Kind of! Not really! Josh will explain what that means.) And who else could talk about this film than our old friend Alexander Huls? He's back, and so's Gabe, who was willing to talk Shyamalan this time. It's another wide-ranging discussion, as everything from the Dardennes brothers to Werckmeister Harmonies to a delightfully profane Audible recommendation comes up this week. That's right: earmuffs, kids. Now, wrap yourself up tight so your bones don't break, and check out the new show!