Nostalgia Be Damned

Travel back to 2005 with Zach & Brandon to the year that brought us Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah's couch to promote his latest collaboration with Steven Spielberg. War of the Worlds became one of the highest grossing films of that year, further proof that Americans love some good ol' fashioned disaster porn. The boys discuss everything about this alien invasion epic, including Dakota Fanning's MTV Movie Award nominated performance, blood vegetation, humans harvested via alien anus mouth, Morgan Freeman's narration and Tom Crusie playing a terrible father/ badass Brooklyn dock worker. So crank that camera iris open, overexpose them whites, disintegrate into dust or suddenly decide to join the military because it's time to revisit this sci-fi blockbuster!

Zach & Brandon revisit 1997's sci-fi family comedy Flubber. A remake of a Disney classic, Flubber was marketed as a children's chucklefest about Robin Williams befriending a glob of sentient green goo. What we got dealt a lot more with a robot's infatuation with its human master, a scientist with a degenerative brain disorder that causes him to forget to marry his fiancé multiple times, and a pair of Wet Bandit wannabees attempting to steal intellectual property. Does it hold up? Was it ever good? The boys debate.

He's got the Midas touch, but he touched it too much. Zach & Brandon revisit one of their favorite characters from their childhood, and one of the most recognizable pop-culture creations of the 1990s, Austin Powers. Yeah, baby! Rather than dissect the original, or its shagadelic sequel, they tackle the third entry in this popular spy parody franchise. Austin teams up with Foxxy Cleopatra to take down Dr. Evil & Goldmember while also making a whole lot of mole puns, fart jokes, and quintessential early 2000s references. The boys get into everything that works and doesn't work about this sequel, including the legendary Michael Caine as Austin's 'Faja,' the hilarious meta opening, the strange amount of musical interludes, recycled gags, and Mini- Me's kickstand talents. GROOVY!

Anticipation was at a fever pitch back in 1999 for the latest installment in the Star Wars saga. Zach and Brandon revisit the film that introduced them to the movie hype machine courtesy of the constant bombardment of television promos, Pepsi can characters, and Taco Bell toys. They take a deep dive into one of their childhood favorite franchises to determine if The Phantom Menace deserves its reputation as one of the worst films in the series or if it's an impressive feat of imaginative filmmaking. They discuss the badass Darth Maul, the confounding Jar Jar Binks and the likelihood of them finishing the saga if this were their introduction to it. 

2003's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ushered in a new wave of classic horror remakes throughout the remainder of the decade. Zach and Brandon revisit this box office hit to see if it remains as brutal and unflinching as they remember. Is this one of the better horror remakes of its time or is it a whole lot of desaturated style over substance? Topics of discussion include salting stump legs, the producers' desperate attempts to soak Jessica Biel's white tank top, the dolly shot through the back of that lady's head, and R. Lee Ermey's truly gross-o character. 

One look? One look? I don't think so! Zach and Brandon revisit one of their favorite comedies growing up, Zoolander. Released just two weeks after the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, Zoolander was considered a disappointment at first, but slowly built a devoted cult fanbase over the next few years. Endlessly quotable and a clever satire on the fashion industry & celebrity culture, it's a true time capsule of the early 2000s. There's runway walk-off competitions, gasoline fights, celebrity cameos galore, and one of Will Ferrell's greatest moments in front of a camera. It also taught us valuable lessons like there's more to life than being really really really ridiculously good looking. And that Hansel, he's so hot right now.

At a hefty two and half hours long, there's a lot to say. Zach and Brandon revisit a favorite from their teenage years- one that's got excessively long car chases, several factions of ecstasy obsessed villains, and charismatic leads. With 2003's Bad Boys II, Michael Bay unleashed his MOST Michael Bay creation overflowing with booty shots, fast cars, and wait, is that Michael Shannon at a KKK rally? And are those rats having sex? Are those REAL rats simulating sex in missionary position? Was that Dan Marino? Lots to cover, a whole lot to dissect. Whatcha gonna do? 

Zach & Brandon take a look back at a childhood classic with this 90's sports comedy. 1993's Cool Runnings is based on the true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team to compete at the Olympics. It's a tale as old as time filled with East German rivals, a sweet-as-can-be John Candy, and some montage perfection. Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it's bobsled time!

Zach & Brandon struggle to understand how exactly Michael Keaton turns into a snowman. A magical harmonica played on Christmas brings back Jack Frost back from the dead on the one year anniversary of his car accident. Now he's a terrifying CGI/puppet snowman that sort of resembles George Clooney. But hey, 'Snow Dad is better than No Dad.' 

Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger. Can we take your order? Zach & Brandon revisit this 1997 family comedy based off a skit on Nickelodeon's sketch series 'All That.' They take off the nostalgia goggles to discuss Kenan & Kel, rollerblading, shark poison, and the scathing indictment of the fast food industry underlying this 90s cult comedy. Other highlights include the 20 year-old owner of the rival burger business, the seminal 'I'm a Dude' song, and Sinbad's wardrobe.