High Expectations

This week, we head through the closet door to revisit Pixar's Monsters, Inc. We break down the film's incredible world-building, behind-the-scenes stories, iconic quotes, and emotional ending, while discussing why Mike, Sulley, and Boo helped create one of Pixar's most beloved and enduring classics. Give us a follow on Instagram and TikTok: @high.expectations.pod on both platforms Reac...

This week on High Expectations, we're heading to the swamp to revisit Shrek, the animated comedy that helped redefine fairy tales for a new generation. We break down the movie's memorable characters, quotable moments, killer soundtrack, and surprising emotional core to see if it still works 25 years later. Grab some waffles, watch out for dragons, and join us as we find out whether Shrek h...

This week, we head to Sherwood Forest to revisit Disney’s animated classic Robin Hood (1973). With animal outlaws, corrupt royalty, catchy folk songs, and one of Disney’s most lovable duos in Robin and Little John, does this laid-back cult favorite still hold up, or is it just nostalgia talking? We break down the movie’s charm, recycled animation, iconic music, and surprisingly sharp themes about...

For our 100th episode, we went back to a true stoner comedy staple: Half Baked . It might be the most quotable movie with the least amount of actual plot, so we revisit it to see if there’s more to it than nostalgia and great lines. We break down what still works, what feels dated, and whether Dave Chappelle is quietly carrying the whole thing, from the chaotic, sketch-like structure to the endles...

This week we head to West Canaan, Texas to revisit Varsity Blues , the late-90s football movie that somehow became a defining piece of high school sports culture. Packed with memorable quotes, big personalities, and peak 90s energy, the film mixes locker-room comedy, sports drama, and a surprisingly sharp look at the pressure placed on teenage athletes. We talk about what still works, what feels v...

In this episode of High Expectations , we continue our In Memoriam series by honoring Rob Reiner with a look at The Princess Bride . A film that blends fairy tale sincerity, sharp comedy, and endlessly quotable moments, it has earned its place as a true cult classic. Through the High Expectations lens, we examine why the movie works so well, from Reiner’s confident direction to its perfect balance...

In this episode of High Expectations , we discuss Something’s Gotta Give as an in memoriam episode honoring Diane Keaton. We focus on her performance as the emotional core of the film, Jack Nicholson’s late career persona, and why this romantic comedy remains a familiar and frequently revisited comfort watch. Light up and settle in for a classic. Give us a follow on Instagram and TikTok: @high.exp...

This episode looks at how Jingle All the Way turned the hunt for a Turbo Man doll into sharp holiday satire. We explore the real shopping frenzies that inspired it, the production choices that shaped its chaotic style, and why it has grown into a seasonal favorite. We also ask whether Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, and full holiday desperation create an even better viewing experience when stoned. Give us...

This week on High Expectations , we take on Happiest Season , a holiday rom-com that set out to be a new seasonal staple. Watching it while stoned, we examine the core relationship, the family dynamics, and whether the film delivers genuine warmth or creates more tension than comfort. Is it a movie you want to revisit every December, or one that works better as a one-time watch? Give us a follow o...

This week we settle in with a holiday classic that still knows how to punch you right in the feelings. Planes, Trains and Automobiles sends Steve Martin and John Candy on the road trip from hell, packed with delays, disasters, and a surprising amount of heart. We watched it the way we watch everything for this show and found that the mix of chaos and sincerity hits in a different way when your bra...

Kos and Dilo pack their gear and head into The Cabin in the Woods , a horror movie that’s not quite what it seems. Things start out familiar, then get very weird very fast. The guys dig into why this one still hits hard, how it flips every horror rule in the book, and why it’s a near-perfect watch when you’re high. Grab your lighter and your courage, because this horror trip goes completely off th...

It’s draft day on High Expectations! In this special One Hitter episode, we’re building our ultimate fantasy teams made up entirely of fictional football players from some of our favorite movies. For the first time ever, two fan favorites, Vince and Tim, are joining us at the same time for a chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly strategic draft. Who goes first overall? Who makes the most ridiculous...

This week on High Expectations , the spotlight’s on Remember the Titans (2000), the unforgettable mix of football, leadership, and attitude that defined a generation of sports movies. With Denzel Washington commanding the field and a soundtrack full of classics, it’s a powerful blend of heart and grit. Kick back and see how Remember the Titans plays when the expectations—and everything else—are a...

In this quick hit, Kos sits down with Vince to dig into what music really means to him. From the songs that shaped his life to the way a good track can completely change a mood, Vince shares his personal take on why music matters and how it sticks with us. We also touch on his own journey playing with the Vince Sasso Trio, and how making music adds another layer to his connection with it. Short, s...

In this one hitter, we go deep on the film scores that stick with us...the kind that make a movie unforgettable long after the credits roll. We talk about why music hits different when you’re stoned and what makes a soundtrack iconic. Vince is back with us for this episode, ready to geek out on the sounds that shaped our favorite movie moments. Give us a follow on Instagram and TikTok: @high.expec...

In this episode we trace an unexpected thread between two very different 90s films. Both movies lean on Bruce Springsteen’s Secret Garden, one as a sincere, emotional centerpiece and the other as a full-on parody. We explore how a single song can carry so much weight in one story and then get flipped into pure absurdity in another. Along the way we dig into the cultural context, the behind-the-sce...

In this One Hitter, we had to get Vince involved for a deep dive into some of our favorite movie soundtracks. This time, we’re talking Varsity Blues , Empire Records , and Spider-Man . From alternative anthems to pop-punk staples, we break down how the music shaped the vibe of each film and why these soundtracks still hold up. Give us a follow on Instagram and TikTok: @high.expectations.pod on bot...

In this one hitter, we dive into the music that makes movies unforgettable. From the all-time greatest film scores and iconic soundtracks to the composers who changed cinema forever, we break down what makes them stand out and why they still hit so hard. Grab your headphones, this one’s all about the soundtrack to the movies we love most. Give us a follow on Instagram and TikTok: @high.expectation...

This week we're back with more high-concept sci-fi, more running, and even more Tom Cruise. Friend of the pod and frequent cohost Tim chose the double feature: Minority Report and Edge of Tomorrow . One’s about predicting the future, the other’s about reliving it. Both feature Cruise on the edge of a breakdown, sprinting through collapsing systems with everything on the line. Two futures. Two...

This week’s sci-fi picks come from friend of the pod and frequent cohost Tim, who sent us straight into Cruise chaos with War of the Worlds and Oblivion . We dive into Spielberg’s intense alien invasion vision, Dakota Fanning’s elite scream acting, and the many ways Tom Cruise sprints through disaster. Then we shift to the sleek, lonely world of Oblivion , where Cruise plays a clone technician wit...

This week, Adam Sandler Month takes on The Waterboy and Big Daddy , two classics that helped lock in Sandler’s ‘90s superstardom. We’ve got rage tackles, courtroom stunts, bedtime accidents, and a surprising amount of heart. From Bobby Boucher’s bottled-up fury to Sonny Koufax’s last-minute dad instincts, we dig into what makes these characters work and why they’re still so watchable. It’s footbal...

This week, we’re diving into the two Adam Sandler comedies that launched his career: Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore . Whether you grew up quoting “O’Doyle rules” or shouting “the price is wrong, bitch,” these movies are forever burned into our brains. We break down what still works, what doesn’t, and whether these chaotic man-child stories hold up in 2025. Plus, we share some wild behind-the-scen...

You ever wish you could Men in Black yourself just to rewatch a movie for the first time? In this One Hitter, we light up and dive into the viral question that's been bouncing around the internet: If you could erase one movie from your memory to experience it again for the very first time, what would it be? We talk about our picks, what makes a movie rewatchable vs. unforgettable, and whether...

In this episode of High Expectations , we dive headfirst into the rubber-faced chaos of peak ’90s Jim Carrey with a double feature: The Mask and Liar Liar . From green-faced mischief to courtroom truth bombs, we ask the important questions: Does Carrey’s manic energy still hit the same? Are these movies secretly brilliant, or just a product of their time? And most importantly, are they better when...

We’re kicking off Jim Carrey Month by going back to our roots, two movies, one episode, one shared haze. This week, we revisit Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls to see how these over-the-top comedies have aged, and how they stack up against each other. There’s a lot to unpack: the performance that launched Carrey into superstardom, the sequel that cranked everything up...