Nostalgia Be Damned

Problematic New England accents, an all star cast and big budget special effects combine to create The Perfect Storm. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, this disaster drama recounts the true story of a doomed commercial fishing boat caught in the storm of the century back in 1991. Join Zach & Brandon as they revisit this 2000 box office hit and discuss it in detail, from George Clooney's John Deere hat to shark kicking- it's all covered here, folks! 

Grab your tots and chug that milk! Zach & Brandon revisit the 2004 indie comedy Napoleon Dynamite. With all its quirks and bizarre sense of humor, this was a film that both hosts disliked upon release. But over the years it grew on them more and more. They remove the nostalgia goggles to look at this sleeper hit more objectively. Tune in to learn more about the making of the film as well as the their thoughts on Jon Heder's breakout performance, the memorable title sequence, the epic dance number and much more. Just download it, GOSH!

'YOU'RE KILLING ME SMALLS!' Take a trip back to the 1960's with Zach and Brandon as they revisit a seminal 90's baseball classic. It's the summer of 1962 and an abandoned patch of sand and grass becomes the summer oasis for a ragtag group of friends. 1993's The Sandlot is a movie built on nostalgia in the vein of Stand by Me and A Christmas Story. But does hold up today? Chewing tobacco, junkyard dog puppets, the infamous pool scene, Dennis Leary, and much more is discussed during the episode. Just remember, there's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart kid and you can never go wrong.

Don't graduate, celebrate! Zach & Brandon head back to school to party with the king of Coolidge College in 2002's National Lampoon's Van Wilder. In his first lead performance in a studio film, Ryan Reynolds tears into the role with his trademark sarcasm and sardonic charisma. It's a role built for the actor- a persona he'd revisit throughout the next twenty years of his career. He's a lovable underachiever who's managed to spend seven years on campus without earning a degree. But he has earned the respect and admiration of nearly everyone he meets. But is this movie as good as its star? Check out the episode to hear Zach & Brandon discuss its supporting cast, gross out comedies in general, stripper farts, the villain's comeuppance and of course the infamous bull dog scene. 

Zach & Brandon tackle their first video game movie adaptation! Technically the fourth film based on a video game property to get theatrically released, 1995's Mortal Kombat remains one of the best according to fans. Critically reevaluated in recent years, it's gained a resurgence in popularity. The boys discuss if it's worthy of that praise or if video game adaptations are so terrible that it's cult following is unwarranted. They discuss the lack of gore, impressive set design, shoddy visual effects and that badass theme song. Plus, they get into the inevitable comparisons to the 2021 reboot and somehow Jake & Logan Paul fights. Tune in to see if this action adventure fantasy delivers a flawless victory.

Zach & Brandon debate if a ringing phone needs to be answered in the 2003 thriller Phone Booth. Colin Farrell loses his Irish accent to portray a New York City publicist trapped in a phone booth, pinned down by a sniper voiced by Kiefer Sutherland. A relic of the early 2000s, it's a dated premise that might feature just enough clever direction and plot contrivances to keep it moving at a breakneck speed. Plus it has everything we know and love about NYC- prostitutes in need of phone booths, pizza delivery guys delivering to phone booths, and weapons stashed inside phone booths. The boys discuss the film from start to finish and highlight a few of its quirks, from the amount of times the sniper cocks his rifle, to Forest Whitaker's character's troubled marriage, to the hilarious fact that only 3 million people had cell phones in NYC in 2003. 

Join Zach & Brandon as they revisit the testosterone-fueled football epic, 1999's Any Given Sunday. It's a sprawling drama touching all corners of the industry and everyone involved. Directed by controversial filmmaker Oliver Stone, the boys discuss whether this film attempts to condemn or glamorize the sport. They discuss the all-star cast, the aggressive editing & shot selection, as well as Jamie Foxx's rap song, Al Pacino's droopy peepers and the balls-to-the-wall energy of it all. 

'Ain't no rule that says the dog can't play basketball!' With that sound logic, Zach & Brandon revisit a seminal 90's favorite, Air Bud. Spawning 13 sequels/spinoffs, the boys discuss what audiences saw in the original to make this largely direct-to-video franchise so popular. Was it the alcoholic animal abusing clown played by Michael Jeter? Was it the coach violently pelting one of his players with basketballs in an attempt to make him catch better?  Or could it have been the sheer talent of an escaped circus dog sinking free throws? They answer those questions and raise many more on this week's episode!

Zach & Brandon revisit the movie everyone was hyping up back in middle school as one of the scariest films ever, 2002's The Ring. An English language remake of an Asian horror hit, this box office juggernaut was dubbed my many as one of the best horror films of its decade. But how does it hold up nearly two decades later? The boys discuss their general disdain for the wave of remakes this film ushered in, as well as the disturbing urban legend at its core, the one scene everyone remembers, stretchy face filters, horse suicide, and much more! 

HEADS WILL ROLL! The boys celebrate Halloween with one of Brandon's favorite films to watch to get into the holiday spirit, 1999's Sleepy Hollow. Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci star in this big budget adaptation that became a box office hit and even earned a few Academy Award nominations. Tackling their second Tim Burton feature on the show, it's a first time viewing for Zach. They discuss their introduction to the Headless Horseman legend as well as this film's Oscar winning art direction, solid doses of gore & child murder, its cast of Harry Potter and Star Wars prequel alums, and much more!