Does It Hold Up?

This week, the brothers kick into action as they revisit this 1992 cult-classic staple of their boyhood VHS collection, discussing its meta-cinematic fan service, its striking similarity to an '80s classic, and its eclectic cast, headlined by the late, great Jonathan Brandis & of course, the Jimmy Stewart of action heroes: Chuck Norris (as Himself). It's Sidekicks.

For a special holiday episode, the brothers discuss Bob Clark's 1983 classic, breaking down the film's everlasting appeal, brilliant writing, underrated performances, as well as whether or not it is THE quintessential Christmas movie. Aso, Jeff & Matt officially rank their 12 favorite holiday movies. It's A Christmas Story.

The brothers return by diving into the 1984 "fish-out-of-water" rom-com starring Tom Hanks (in his first starring role) & Daryl Hannah, marveling at the incredible crop of talent at the beginning of their careers on display, as much as the reasoning behind its box-office success and (apparently) beloved (for some reason) reputation. It's Splash.

This week, the brothers take a look back at this John Goodman fish-out-of-water comedy, celebrating the enormous appeal of its star, gawking at the outrageousness of its premise, and reveling in its surprisingly effective performance from the great Peter O'Toole. It's King Ralph.

This week, the brothers dial-up & log-in for Nora Ephron's late '90s rom-com starring Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan (in their third on-screen collab), pondering everything from the Internet's impact on dating to how this film stacks up against the trio's previous films, as well as whether or not the film's naive perspective of the world-wide-web holds up. (Spoiler Alert: It doesn't.) It's You've Go...

The brothers go back to high school for this '90s teen rom-com classic, discussing its stellar cast of soon-to-be-stars, the evolution of the teen genre as a whole, and the undeniable charisma & charm of the late great Heath Ledger. It's 10 Things I Hate About You.

This week, the brothers bumble their way through the exploits of Rowan Atkinson's trademark slapstick counterpart in his auspicious American debut, a comedy that proved to be knee-slapping fun for one of them and borderline unbearable torture for the other. "Brace yourself." It's Bean.

This week, the brothers tackle Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning 1986 classic, discussing the visceral authenticity of its first-person approach, its stunning cast of then-unknowns, and whether or not this is THE quintessential Vietnam movie. It's Platoon.

The brothers reunite for an exploration of this 1993 pets-with-celebrity-voices Disney wilderness adventure, applauding the impressive animal acting, surprisingly effective voicework, and questioning whether or not the journey was as "Incredible" as the title suggests. It's Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.

This week, the brothers enter the Suck Zone as they revisit this blockbuster disaster thriller, getting whipped up in its impressive set pieces & visual effects, and spun out by its outrageous leaps in logic & cast of truly INSANE characters. It's Twister.

This week, the brothers celebrate the 30th anniversary of Robert Zemeckis' multiple Oscar-winning blockbuster, a film that instantly entered the cultural zeitgeist and, in the years since its release, has come to be reevaluated as a sort of cinematic rorschach test for how its audience views America & its complicated history; or maybe just as a simple but profound fable about destiny vs. chanc...

Beverly Hills Cop week concludes with the brothers' take on Axel Foley's latest adventure, which left them sighing in relief & scratching their heads in equal measure, but there's no doubt it's a blast to see Eddie Murphy back in action. It's Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

The heat is on this week as the brothers revisit Eddie Murphy's iconic role as Detective Axel Foley, beginning with the 1984 blockbuster first installment, a movie whose smart direction, slick fusion of action & comedy, and undeniable, star-making lead performance made it a superb example of its genre. It's Beverly Hills Cop.

For this very special DIHU episode, the brothers engage in a lively discussion about the fourth (and hopefully final) installment in the Bad Boys franchise, grappling with everything from the baffling trajectory of the series into absolute nonsense and how difficult it was to reconcile their feelings about Will Smith in a post-Slap world. These are not our bad boys. It's Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

The brothers kick off an ongoing series of contemporary tie-in episodes by examining the Martin Lawrence/Will Smith buddy-cop franchise, starting with the Michael Bay-directed first entry, a slick, funny blast that celebrates the undeniable chemistry of its two stars and harkens back to a time when Hollywood's premier "maximalist" filmmaker still had a modicum of restraint. It's Bad Boys.

The brothers brave the harsh deserts of this post-apocalyptic comic-book adaptation, a truly bonkers artifact of the '90s that is as wildly off-the-rails as it is surprisingly prescient. It's Tank Girl.

This week, the brothers get familial as they discuss Ron Howard's 1989 multi-generational dramedy, admiring the insight & truth contained in its brilliantly structured screenplay, the nuanced performances of its stellar ensemble cast, and whether or not you need to be a parent to truly relate to all of it. It's Parenthood.

The brothers settle down on the front porch to discuss F. Gary Gray's cult comedy classic, featuring a spectacular ensemble cast, a nostalgic soundtrack, and a scene-stealing, star-making performance from Chris Tucker; also Jeff questions some of the comedic choices in the film and Matt shares his hot take on Mondays. "Bye, Felisha!" It's Friday.

The brothers get wicked smart as they discuss this 1997 blockbuster that became a sensation, putting its young stars (& writers) on the map with its authentic South Boston setting, its surprisingly wise dialogue, and its stellar performances (including an Oscar-winning turn from the great Robin Williams). It's Good Will Hunting. ‎ ‎DOES IT HOLD UP? Pod Master List, a list of films by MSPENCER8...

The brothers spring into action (& joy) for this 1998 swashbuckler, marveling at its astounding stunt work, the sizzling charisma & chemistry of its stars, and why the hell we don't make movies like this anymore. It's The Mask of Zorro.

This week, the brothers tackle what just might be their most challenging (& painful) movie yet: the 1980 Dino De Laurentiis-produced, Queen-scored, vomit-inducingly designed comic-book adaptation whose complete lack of taste & vision causes our hosts to question their very faith in humanity. [Deep exhale:] It's just a movie. It's Flash Gordon.

This week, the brothers engage in a lively discussion as they dissect Ridley Scott's compromised 1985 fantasy, and attempt to determine whether its beautiful aesthetic design can compensate for its borderline incomprehensible weirdness. It's Legend. (And no, NOT the Tom Hardy movie where he plays twins.)

The brothers take an epic dive into this 1995 action-thriller, a shameless "Die Hard" ripoff that proves more baffling than thrilling, and which forces Jeff & Matt to reevaluate their childhood adoration of its leading man: JCVD, himself. (That's Jean-Claude Van Damme. Obviously.) It's Sudden Death.

This week, the brothers investigate this 1999 horror thriller, a remake that manages to be neither horrifying nor thrilling, and the most frightening thing about it is the terrible CGI. Excited yet??! It's The Haunting.

This week, the brothers tackle Quentin Tarantino's 1994 pop-culture sensation, breaking down its brilliant dialogue, killer soundtrack, and its profound effect on the zeitgeist, making it easily one of the most pivotal & significant films of the '90s. It's Pulp Fiction.