Episode 286: Pinocchio

Hey, friends! We're going back in time for this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, because Josh and Scott are revisiting yet another Disney classic for the show. This time around, to tie into its recent Blu-ray re-release, your hosts are talking about the 1940 animated classic Pinocchio, all the way from Jiminy Cricket to Monstro and all the other animals and characters in between. Plus, Josh is rectifying a grievous error he made last month so that all of you listeners know for sure that Revisited episodes are a little bit different from all the rest. (It involves Albert Brooks.) But the more important question: is Pinocchio still as good as people say? Does Scott think this is a leap forward from Snow White? Which of your co-hosts is dubbed a living Wikipedia? And how did it take six episodes for Scott to wonder if Josh must hate him? Find out now!

Episode 285: That Darn Cat

Time for a new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, friends! This week, Josh and Scott are going it alone again as they return to the scene of a very dastardly crime. Last month, the crime was that of a defenseless woman being abducted by two nefarious bank robbers; this month, the crime is that of a defenseless woman being abducted by two nefarious...people whose identities are obscured. That's right, we're talking about the 1997 remake of That Darn Cat on this episode of the show, and both Josh and Scott are amazed at how different so much of the film is aside from the title and very basic premise. Sure, there's a teenager (Christina Ricci) and an FBI agent (Doug E. Doug), but the original film didn't have warring mechanics, two nagging parents, a pair of doofus security guards, a wig-wearing butcher, and references to the films of Budd Boetticher! How much can be attributed to the film's writers, who also wrote Ed Wood and last year's American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson? Is this film an improvement on the original? Is there a way for Josh to shoehorn in political references this week? Find out now!

Episode 284: The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Hey, folks! It's time for a very exciting, fancy, bedazzled new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and we hope you've gotten yourselves dressed up to the nines. See, it's time for a royal wedding! At least, that's the subject of the film up for discussion on this week's show, the 2004 sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, and Chris Pine in his feature film debut. Josh and Scott are prepared with their tuxes and tails to talk about a lighthearted film, especially after another week of such tumult and turmoil in the world, so what better film than a story of a strong, intelligent woman poised to take a seat of power who is threatened with overthrow by a fatheaded lout--um...OK. Well, even with that plot, Josh and Scott are ready to discuss this sequel, whether it improves on its predecessor, if its characterization of the heroine is consistent, and what the hell Stan Lee (yes, really) is doing in this movie. Check it out now!

Episode 283: Hercules

Hey, friends! It's time for another episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and this week, Josh and Scott are going all the way back to the beginning. We're not going back to the beginning of the Disney animated canon, but to just about the beginning of history to discuss Disney's take on the Greek myth of Hercules. The 1997 film is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, so maybe it's time to reconsider it as unfairly underrated, at least compared to the rest of the Disney Renaissance. Here to help review the film with Josh and Scott is Fran Hoepfner of The Onion, and discuss the important things: does this film feature one of James Woods' best performances? Is it truly an underrated gem? Is Hercules too dumb of a character to fall in love with? And how gross is this movie? Find out now!

Episode 282: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Hey, folks! It's time for an all-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and don't worry--you're not seeing things. We really are discussing the very first Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, on today's podcast. This is the first in what will become a monthly mini-series within the overall podcast, wherein Josh revisits some big-name films from past episodes while new co-host Scott Renshaw talks about them for the first time. So what better way to kick off this Revisited mini-series than with the first Disney film? Longtime listeners may remember that Josh respects, but doesn't love, this film; is Scott more of a fan? Does he like it less? Is it insulting to single dimensions to call Snow White single-dimensional? Find out now!

Episode 281: That Darn Cat!

Hey, folks! It's time for a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and for this one, Josh and Scott are heading back to the 1960s for a momentous occasion in Disney live-action history. This week, they're talking about the original That Darn Cat!, starring Hayley Mills in her final Disney role and Dean Jones in his first Disney role, as a smart young woman and straight-arrow FBI agent, respectively, both of whom get entangled in a kidnapping plot thanks to her...well, darn cat. Josh and Scott are joined by return guest Alan Scherstuhl of The Village Voice to talk about all things feline, the presentation of women 50 years ago in Disney films, and why it might have made sense for Disney to ever remake this in the first place. Check out the show now!

Episode 280: The Princess Diaries

Happy New Year, friends! As we step into 2017, it's time for Mousterpiece Cinema (and Josh) to welcome its first new co-host in a long time, Scott Renshaw of Salt Lake City Weekly. This week on the show, Josh and Scott talk about the 2001 comedy from director Garry Marshall, The Princess Diaries. These days, The Princess Diaries, all about a dorky teenager who is shocked to discover that she's the heir of a European throne, is best known as the film that introduced Anne Hathaway to the world. Plus, Julie Andrews in a non-cringeworthy late-era performance! But is this lighthearted comedy funny enough? Is it too long, or not long enough? Josh and Scott are joined by Max Weiss of Baltimore Magazine to debate the film's qualities, as well as that true head-scratcher: why do people hate Anne Hathaway now? Only one way to find out the answer: listen to the show!