Old Roommates

"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...

Season 6 Premiere! Rodney Dangerfield earned As from audiences and critics in 1986's Back to School. Jam packed with one liners, hijinks, and the occasional boob, the Alan Metter directed movie was a big hit. But now, decades later, are we too smart for our own good? Would any child be thrilled at the prospect of their parents attending college with them? Would any woman be thrilled at the thought...

Number 5 is alive! Join us as we revisit the year that was. Filled with surprising stats, fun facts, and our favorite revisits, this episode just may inspire you to check out an episode you may have missed. And it doesn’t stop there. We’ll also present our 4th Annual Roomie Awards, where we celebrate and shame the cinema and stars who will forever hold a place in our memories … for better or worse...

John Cusack held up a boombox and the rest was history. Yes, the Cameron Crowe romcom holds a place in the hearts of many a Gen Xer. Lloyd Dobbler and Diane Court faced peer pressure, a keg party, and (oh, yeah) an IRS investigation into Diane’s father, played by John Mahoney.  Audiences in 1989 were left swooning as the two flew off into an English sunset. But, decades later, was the movie a trip...

Hakuna Matata means “no worries,” and back in the mid-90s, Disney’s The Lion King didn’t have a worry in the world. A massive box office smash, the animated coming-of-age musical would go on to win 2 of its 4 Oscar nominations and surface a hit Elton John sung soundtrack. But now, 30 years later, maybe there was cause to worry. Is a talking-animal Hamlet too heavy for a G-rated audience? Is the br...

"Fair is fair!" Billie Jean Davy: Buzzcut rebel. Voice of a generation. Cute girl. Helen Slater led a young cast through a cross-Texas odyssey in 1985's The Legend of Billie Jean. Yes, the brazenly named flick didn't quite live up to its title upon release, but went on to cut out a name for itself on cable and VHS. But now, decades later, is $608 even worth the road trip in this economy? Is Billie...