Old Roommates

Mini Stonehenge. Knobs that go to eleven. And love pumps. Yes, 1984's This Is Spinal Tap was a true original. The Rob Reiner mockumentary doubled its budget at the box office and became a massive hit on VHS. But now, over forty years later, does the film still reach the comedic heights we remember so well? Are the songs bangers or busts? And how many dead drummers is too many? The Old Roommates "s...

Film Fact: Geena Davis made history by being the first actress say, "Suck my d*ck" in a major motion picture. Yes, Geena's then-husband Renny Harlin pulled out all the stops in an effort to make a tough-as-nails action hero out of the Oscar winner. Though the film made back more than its budget, it didn't quite blow up the box office or ignite critics' hearts. So, why is this one of co-host Brian'...

“Shakespeare in Love” RevisitedGwyneth Paltrow did drag and struck Oscar gold with her turn in 1998’s Shakespeare in Love. The John Madden film was a sexy rom com about a fictionalized love affair involving some guy named William Shakespeare. Oscar nominations and box office bucks followed. But now, decades later, was it all much ado about not much? Does all the lovey-dovey love scenes and endless...

The cat. The bat. The bird. Yes, 1992’s Batman Returns was stuffed to the gills with iconic characters. Danny DeVito’s Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman took center stage while Michael Keaton’s caped crusader basically drove around and posed a lot. Hardly mattered. Audiences flocked to see this sex-charged sequel. But now, decades later, is this dimly lit superhero hit too dark? Is the Peng...

Martin Scorsese went full Hitchcock for the remake of the thriller, Cape Fear. Extreme closeups, ominous music, and unusual camera angles pulled the director into new waters back in 1991. And, much like DeNiro's Max Cady to a human cheek, audiences ate it up. But now, decades later, was this dark tale worth retelling? Did Nick Nolte's evidence-hiding lawyer deserve this torture? And does the film'...

"Is that hair gel?" Yes, the Farrelly brothers really laid the gags on thick (eww) in the 1998 smash, There's Something About Mary. Ben Stiller's Ted took on a murderous hitchhiker, a drug-fueled dog, and a devious Matt Dillon, all for the chance to win the heart of Cameron Diaz. But now, decades later, does this 2-hour rom-com succeed in explaining why? Would this comedy work without its grosser...

River Phoenix got an Oscar nomination for his role as Danny Pope, the son of two fugitives on the run from the FBI. Though it sounds like an action-packed thriller, Running on Empty was anything but. The film dealt with the hopes, heartaches, and fears of the Pope family, but audiences in 1988 turned a cold shoulder. Now, decades later, is it time for the Sidney Lumet sleeper to come out of the sh...

“You killed my cat!” Nope, 1989’s War of the Roses was not a movie for cat people. Or dog people. Or even newlyweds. No. The Danny DeVito-directed comedy divided audiences with its brutal takedown of marriage and divorce. Critics were more in sync, bestowing raves for the film’s leads: Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. But now, decades later, how does this “War” hold up when every deadly divorc...

Spoiler Alert: No new episode – but tune in anyway for a sneak peek at what’s to come in 2025. Happy New Year to one and all! Old Roommates can be reached via email at oldroommatespod@gmail.com. Follow Old Roommates on social media @OldRoommates for bonus content and please give us a rating or review!

Johnny Depp played the titular role in Tim Burton’s timeless tale of isolation and acceptance. Edward Scissorhands, the character, was a naïve stranger, a robotic creation, and eventually … a cold-blooded killer? Yes, the tone of this quirky cult classic was all over the place and had a real downer of an ending. But now, decades later, are the film’s darkest moments the ones that shine brightest?...

Jessica Tandy won the Best Actress Oscar for her role as an elderly Jewish widow in 1989’s Driving Miss Daisy. Tandy and Morgan Freeman gave us a complicated decades-long friendship; a friendship challenged by bigotry, illiteracy, and Patti LuPone. The film would go on to win Best Picture of the year. But now, decades later, did this sorta-simple story deserve all its accolades? Is the character o...

The iconic animated adventure that started it all, 1995’s Toy Story made nearly $400 million dollars at the box office and introduced Buzz and Woody to the world. Starring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and more, the movie covered a lot of ground for its Smurf-sized 81-minute running time. But now, in the cynical 2020’s, is the first Story the worst story? Can the film’s close calls and oh-so...

Don’t [expletive] with the babysitter! The 1987 flick, Adventures in Babysitting, was an action-packed comedy filled with quotable quotes, car chases, and even a couple of f-bombs. A then 22-year-old Elizabeth Shue danced, ran, and sang the blues, launching the movie into cult-classic status. But now, decades later, does it all feel like a chore? Should Shue’s “Chris” have called it quits two hour...

Al Pacino won his first Academy Award for his role as Lt. Col. Frank Slade, a cranky, demanding, foul-mouthed guy who also happens to be blind. Oh yes, 1992’s Scent of a Woman had old Oscar in its sights (no pun intended). The grandstanding worked. Oodles of Oscar nominations and big bucks at the box office soon followed. But now, decades later, does this movie wear out its Thanksgiving welcome be...

Oh oh oh-oh-oh … uh oh? This week, the Old Roommates revisit two music videos from the late-80’s Boston boy band, New Kids on the Block. Jordan, Donny, Danny, Joey and Jonathan made hit songs and broke young hearts in their heyday. But now, decades later, has nostalgia for bubble-gum pop officially burst? Who is “I’ll Be Loving You Forever” really about? And is “Step By Step” the best showcase of...

Shazbot! Mork from Ork (Robin Williams) crash-landed in Colorado and into living rooms across the country. Yes, Mork & Mindy was an instant otherworldly hit thanks, in part, to its late-great leading man. But now, decades later, does the 70’s sitcom wear out its welcome before we can say “Nanu Nanu”? Does Mork’s method of learning seem more like an endless standup set? And why do the Old Roomm...

Our Election Day episode! Michael Douglas is President Andrew Shephard. A dad, a Democrat, and a widower smitten with a lobbyist. What could possibly go wrong? Back in 1995, little did. The Rob Reiner film was a modest hit, winning with both audiences and film critics. But now, decades later, where does this ficticious President’s agenda fit into our 24/7 news cycle? Is there any place for gun law...

Jack Nicholson's Daryl van Horne was one hell of a guy. A self-described "horny little devil," he was powerful enough to seduce nearly any woman in Eastwick, and made others puke cherry pits. Yes, back in 1987, audiences fell under the spell of Nicholson - and Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfieffer as the titular witches. But now, decades later, is the supernatural tale funny enough, sexy eno...

Gay-ish vampires trying to raise a bloodsucking Kirsten Dunst was certainly not on anyone's 1994 Movie Bingo card, but Neil Jordan's take on Anne Rice's novel burst into theaters anyway. Yes, audiences gleefully sank their teeth into the gothic tale of horror, loneliness, and rat eating. But now, decades later, does this 2-hour tale kinda suck? Is Tom Cruise miscast? Is Brad Pitt? And what are the...

Special Episode! It's cohost Christina's birthday, and as is tradition, she's making her cohost Brian watch a movie he's never seen before. Christina's pick this year is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Is the Dick Van Dyke classic a favorite of Christina's? Nope. Has the 1968 musical held any sentimental value for Christina over the years? Nah. Did the Ian Fleming story give Christina pop-culture PTSD fo...

Robert DeNiro wanted to do a comedy, and back in 1988, Midnight Run was as close as he got. Audiences needn’t worry, the movie still managed to squeak out a body count amidst the laughs. Yes, Midnight Run was a hit. The combination of Charles Grodin and DeNiro charmed moviegoers thanks to its quotable script, movie star chemistry, and inevitable friendship at the center of all the action. But now,...

Drew Barrymore was just 17 – seventeen, one seven – when she seduced a 58-year-old Tom Skerritt for the sake of the 1992 thriller Poison Ivy. Add to that a dead dog, a drunk dad, and a drugged Cheryl Ladd, and Poison Ivy was perhaps too much movie for commonfolk to handle. The film bombed at the box office, but was a bit hit on video, spawning two sequels. But now, decades later, were audiences ri...

Steve Martin and Mary Steenburgen led an all-star cast (including Dianne Wiest, who would go on to get an Oscar nom for her work here) in 1989’s Parenthood. Ron Howard’s ode to the roller coaster of raising kids was a big hit with audiences 35 years ago. But now, decades later, does this raucous movie need a timeout? Are the trials and tribulations – which include porn-fueled puberty and teen preg...

Right Said Fred’s "I'm Too Sexy" and Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch's "Good Vibrations" have a lot in common. They're both from 1991. They both feature muscle-bound singing males. They're both the chart-topping highlights of both musical acts. But now, decades later, has our muscle memory remembered the videos as well as the songs? Do the videos do these club classics justice? And which of these...

"There are no victims in this classroom!" Michelle Pfieffer is a whitefish out of water in the 1995 hit, Dangerous Minds. Pfieffer plays Louanne Johnson, an ex-marine divorcee down on her luck. Her only prospect, it seems, is to attempt to teach a gaggle of "passionate" high school kids, most of whom happen to be (gasp!) teenagers of color. Cue "Gangsta's Paradise"! Yes, back in the 90s, mainstrea...