Almost Classic Movies

Send a text Jon and Donald dive into Almost Famous —Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical love letter to 1970s rock journalism. They break down William Miller’s coming-of-age journey, the chaos of touring with a rising band, and the bittersweet lessons behind fame, love, and loyalty. Along the way they debate the difference between groupies and “Band-Aids,” share wild payphone stories, compare Cle...

Send a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald crank the dial all the way up to 11 as they dive into Rob Reiner’s cult classic This Is Spinal Tap . With the long-awaited sequel on the horizon, the duo revisits the original mockumentary to unpack its satire, absurd stage mishaps, and enduring influence on rock culture. From the infamous Stonehenge debacle to the amps that “go...

Send a text In this bonus episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald step away from their usual film deep dives for a candid Q&A mailbag session . From favorite comfort movies to hot takes on overrated films, this episode is packed with laughter, nostalgia, and some surprisingly heartfelt movie memories. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🎥 All-time favorite films — why Casablanca and F...

Send a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald dive into Doctor Sleep (2019) — the ambitious sequel to The Shining . They kick things off with a listener comment on their Encanto hot takes, sparking a side discussion about pop music, lyrical depth, and Sabrina Carpenter’s evolution. From there, they transition into Stephen King territory, comparing Doctor Sleep to classics l...

Send a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald dive deep into Stanley Kubrick’s chilling masterpiece, The Shining . From Danny’s eerie “redrum” visions to Jack Nicholson’s descent into madness, the hosts unpack why this film blurs the line between psychological thriller and horror. They debate whether the Overlook Hotel is haunted or if Jack was doomed from the start, and th...

Send a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald wrap up their run of under-the-radar Disney films with a deep dive into Encanto . From catchy songs (and some not-so-catchy ones) to messy world-building, they unpack what works, what confuses them, and why Bruno might just be the GOAT. They explore the film’s unique “no real villain” approach, its layered take on generational t...

Send a text Is A Goofy Movie secretly Disney’s version of The Odyssey ? Jon and Donald say yes—if Odysseus wore overalls, danced on stage with a pop star, and bonded with his awkward teen son over fishing and Bigfoot. In this episode of Almost Classic Movies , the guys break down one of Disney’s most underrated gems: Why A Goofy Movie still hits as hard for nostalgic 90s kids (and their parents)....

Send a text Get ready to set sail through space with Jon and Donald as they dive into Disney’s Treasure Planet —a bold, visually stunning reimagining of Treasure Island that’s equal parts nostalgia and sci-fi adventure. In this episode, the guys:  🚀 Debate if Treasure Planet deserves its “underrated classic” status 🎭 Geek out over the all-star cast (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emma Thompson, Martin Sh...

Send a text This week on Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald kick off a Disney animation run with a cult favorite: The Emperor’s New Groove . Is it an underrated gem or just nostalgic nonsense? The guys revisit their favorite scenes, iconic one-liners, and chaotic production history—including how Sting nearly quit and why the movie was originally supposed to be a serious Incan epic. They discus...

Send a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald hold their noses and dive into the critically-panned 2015 reboot of Fantastic Four , better known (and memed) as Fan4stic . From questionable casting choices and a gloomy tone to studio meddling and naked rock monsters, the duo unpacks why this Marvel reboot crashed and burned. 🚫 Why did Josh Trank’s darker, body-horror take mi...

Send a text Donald and Jon share their immediate reactions to James Gunn's new Superman movie! Fresh from the theater, they discuss David Corenswet's performance, the film's comic book accuracy, and whether this Superman can launch the new DCU like Iron Man launched the MCU. Key Topics Superman movie review and rating James Gunn's DCU launch strategy David Corenswet vs previous...

Send a text In this hilarious episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jern and Dern return to their roots by diving into the absurd and endlessly quotable world of Hot Rod (2007), a cult favorite produced by Lorne Michaels and starring Andy Samberg, Isla Fisher, Bill Hader, and Danny McBride. 🔥 From mopeds in pools to Footloose rage dances in the forest, Jon and Donald unpack every chaotic scene—from...

Send a text Movie: Justice League (2017) Hosts: Jon & Donald Runtime: 54m Rating: 6/10 (With a Side of Sadness) 🎧 Summary In this episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald unpack Justice League (the 2017 theatrical release, not the Snyder Cut) and try to make sense of what happens when two vastly different directorial visions collide. From shaky CGI to underused characters, they wrest...

Send a text Movie: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) Hosts: Jon & Donald Runtime: 1h 7m Rating: 5/10 (High Five) 🎧 Summary In this episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald suit up for a deep (and occasionally derailed) dive into Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice . From Ben Affleck’s surprisingly solid Bruce Wayne to Jesse Eisenberg’s twitchy Lex Luthor, the guy...

Send a text In this episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald suit up for a deep dive into Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel —aka “Emo Superman Begins.” It’s moody, it’s broody, and it just might be misunderstood. 💥 Expect a hilarious and surprisingly thoughtful breakdown of: Why Superman in this movie feels more like Batman’s sad cousin Whether Jonathan Kent’s death scene actually makes any sen...

Send a text In this steamy, chaotic, and surprisingly heartfelt episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald are joined by returning guest Dan (whose first appearance was lost to the editing abyss) to unpack Magic Mike (2012), the Soderbergh film that’s more than just abs and glitter. What starts as a deep dive into a male stripper movie turns into a layered discussion about ambition, capital...

Send a text This week, Jon & Donald go undercover with Undercover Blues (1993), a spy-comedy starring Dennis Quaid, Kathleen Turner, and a scene-stealing Stanley Tucci as the world’s most persistent mugger. Donald shares why this is one of his lifelong comfort movies—just in time for Jon’s own paternity leave. From CIA missions with a baby in tow to oyster bar brawls, flamethrowers, and zoo st...

Send a text It’s the end of an era—Jon and Donald are saying goodbye to How to Train Your Dragon with the final film in the trilogy: The Hidden World . And just like Toothless, the pod is going out with a glow-up and a few tears. This week, they dive deep into the bittersweet farewell of Hiccup and Toothless, complete with wingsuits, wedding bells, and an existential dragon migration. 🔥 In this f...

Send a text Welcome to another episode of Almost Classic Movies , where Jon and Donald are diving into the next chapter of their How to Train Your Dragon series—with a side of chaotic intros and cat-like dragons. This week, it's How to Train Your Dragon 2 (aka Episode 35 of the pod), and things get emotional. 🔥 In this episode: Why this sequel might actually be better than the original The s...

Send a text Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies with Jon and Donald! In this episode, the guys take to the skies with the 2010 animated hit How to Train Your Dragon —and things get personal fast. From Viking dad issues to dragon-sized feels, they unpack why this film hits harder than your average “kids movie.” 🔥 Highlights from the episode: Jon and Donald reflect on the movie’s rich emotional d...

Send a text Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies — where Jon and Donald dissect not-quite-classics with just enough seriousness to pretend we know what we’re doing. This week, we time-travel straight into the chaotic, shiny roller-disco that is Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). From centered teeth to golden genitalia, from daddy issues to Destiny’s Child, this episode is packed tighter than Min...

Send a text Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies , where Jern and Dern dive into groovy throwbacks, questionable fashion choices, and highly quotable comedy gold. This week: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me . In this episode: Austin loses his “mojo” (yes, it’s a real plot point), teams up with CIA agent Felicity, and battles a familiar cast of over-the-top villains, including the now-iconic...

Send a text In this groovy episode of Almost Classic Movies , Jon and Donald travel back to the shagadelic '60s and swing into the chaotic, mojo-fueled world of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery . It's a cinematic time capsule stuffed with fembots, volcano lairs, and oddly satisfying toilet humor. Join us as we ask life’s important questions like: Is Austin Powers the British C...

Send a text Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies , where we’re almost as classic as a half-hearted love letter written in stretchy pants. In this week’s episode, Jon and Donald tag-team their way through the wild, weird, and weirdly quotable world of Nacho Libre . They break down why this Nickelodeon film was way smarter than anyone expected, the unhinged brilliance of Jack Black, and why street...

Send a text This week, Jon and Donald are back with sunglasses, car crashes, and possibly a small arsenal of musical legends as they take on The Blues Brothers (1980). What starts as a noble quest to save an orphanage quickly spirals into 106 (alleged) crimes, 103 destroyed cars, and one ex-fiancée with the firepower of a Bond villain. But don’t worry—it’s all in the name of soul music. Or maybe c...