Ruined Childhoods

Shall we play a game? Perhaps one where Dan and Jon have to figure out a way to resurrect WarGames after being untouched for nearly 40 years? But first, they discuss modern-day movie making and the safety of legacy reboots.

Next Episode: Newsies

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Hayao Miyazaki has redefined animation and helped put Japan on the animation world map in some very significant ways. And you can’t talk about the works of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli without talking about Princess Mononoke. Dan and Jon dip their toes into the animation world for the first time with this classic tale of humans vs nature vs human nature.

Next Episode: WarGames (1983)

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With an all-star cast and one creepy puppet, Richard Attenborough’s 1978 psychological thriller/horror Magic shocked audiences and brought the horror of ventriloquism and severe mental illness into the 1970s spotlight. Dan and Jon look back on what could have been a pillar in the discussion of 1970s horror, but only lives on as a footnote in the careers of legends. But is there a chance to remind audiences about this forgotten gem?

Next episode: Princess Mononoke (1997)

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In the 90s, some of Hollywood’s biggest names got together to make a werewolf movie and Dan and Jon have some ideas for how it could be brought back…and all they need is a full moon.

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Next Episode: Magic (1978)

With a killer 80s cast and an innovative director, One Crazy Summer should have been a hit, but it may have just been too weird for audiences of the time. Still, it struck a chord for Dan & Jon, so 171 episodes in - why not cover it?

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Next episode: Wolf (1994)

Try and compare it with other films where a man has to pretend to be a woman or vice versa, but there is no other movie truly like Mrs. Doubtfire. This family comedy has so much more beneath the surface and Dan & Jon do their best to imagine how that could be explored further in new projects based on this 1993 young adult novel adaptation.

Next episode: One Crazy Summer (1986)

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No film trilogy has ever predicted and influenced sneaker fashion, sci-fi filmmaking, and hovercraft technology more than Back to the Future and it would be a shock if another could match the prowess of this series. Dan and Jon do their best to imagine a world beyond what we already have regarding the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown.

Next episode: Mrs. Doubtfire

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Before he was the neurotic guy in movies like Along Came Polly, Night at the Museum, Meet the Parents, and There’s Something About Mary, Ben Stiller was the neurotic guy in this mid-90s gem. But is there a future for the characters in this story? Dan and Jon decide.

Next episode: Back to the Future (1985)

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Daniel vs. Aaron? Simon vs. Oscar? Peter vs. Frank? These two versions of the same movie offer interesting takes on the same dysfunctional family at the funeral of a loved one, but their slight differences stick out like a naked guy tripping balls on a rooftop. But what happens next?

Next episode: Flirting with Disaster

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Before Al Franken did the right thing after doing the wrong thing in his stint as US Senator, he was a comedian and SNL cast member known best for his character Stuart Smalley. Stuart is a 12-Step Program enthusiast and the main character of one of the less successful SNL films. But Dan and Jon want to celebrate it for what it does well, especially considering its all-star cast. But what do you do with a movie like this in 2022?

Next episode: Death at a Funeral (2007 & 2010)

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