This Podcast Takes Tokens

"Honey, I'm home!" This week, we are zapping ourselves into the black-and-white world of the 1998 cult classic Pleasantville . For Ryan, this movie is the "keenest, swellest thing" ever made, a perfect blend of nostalgia and meaningful storytelling. For Deric, it’s a chance to roast Tobey Maguire’s "Eeyore" voice and question why 50s sitcom characters never had to...

Great Scott! We are finally firing up the flux capacitor to correct a timeline error. We missed this gem back in October, so we are kicking off the new year by traveling back to 1989(where its 1985) and then to 2015, and then to 1955, to cover Back to the Future Part II. For Ryan, this trilogy is sacred ground, though he still insists Part III is the best one. For Deric, the 2015 aesthetic looks l...

We did it! 2025 is officially in the books, and we are closing out the year by handing out our very own "Stale Popcorn Awards." This year, we covered 51 subjects, rewatched 43 movies, and realized that our podcast audience has a serious obsession with The Office. Join us as we recap our absolute favorite discussions of the year—from the nostalgia overload of GoldenEye 007 on the N64 to t...

This week, we are wagering one dollar to see if the 1983 comedy classic Trading Places is as valuable as gold or if it’s as worthless as orange juice concentrate in 1984. We’re swapping opinions to discuss the powerhouse duo of Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy, the intricacies of the frozen concentrated orange juice market, and whether Jamie Lee Curtis is the unsung hero of this film. Join us as we br...

Is the friend zone a real place, or just a 2005 plot device designed to let Ryan Reynolds wear a fat suit? This week, we are revisiting the holiday rom-com Just Friends. For our Ryan, this movie is a nostalgic slam dunk that he quotes regularly, but his wife... let’s just say she thinks Chris Brander is a bit too "cocky" to be likable. Join us as we break down Ryan Reynolds' transiti...

Does the best way to spread Christmas cheer involve singing loud for all to hear, or is it by avoiding Will Ferrell movies entirely? This week, we settle the score with a festive face-off: after Deric sat through The Muppet Christmas Carol, Ryan is returning the favor by diving headfirst into the candy-cane forest of Elf (2003). Ryan has always found Buddy the Elf a little… much, while for Deric,...

It’s time to ring in the holiday season, and we are kicking things off with a cozy trip back to 1992 to discuss The Muppet Christmas Carol. For Ryan, this isn’t just a movie; it’s the definitive Christmas film, a nostalgic hug that has aged like fine wine. For Deric... well, let's just say he views Kermit as the "vanilla ice cream" of the puppet world and has a bone to pick with the...

Hello, Focker! This week we are meeting the in-laws. We tackle the hilarious and anxiety-inducing 2000 millennial classic, Meet the Parents , starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro. We dive deep into the uncomfortable comedy, the bizarre behavior of the Byrnes family, and what makes this film an enduring comedy hit. Retro Ramble: The Dad Trope Debate We discuss the worst "Dad Tropes" th...

WEE-ZEL! 🤙 We're munching on some turkey grindage as we dive headfirst into the Pauly Shore Thanksgiving classic, Son In Law! This week, we debate whether Crap.. uh, crotch… er, Crawl(Pauly Shore) is a genius outsider or just "too much," and we analyze how his fish-out-of-water arrival fundamentally changes the quiet South Dakota farming family. We discuss the movie's surprising...

The Birth of Console Deathmatch and Friendship Trials  We are bringing back the split-screen co-op! We dive into the legendary N64 game, Goldeneye 007, the game that changed first-person shooters forever. We discuss the unforgettable rush of Proximity Mines in the Facility, the unique control scheme of the N64 tritan controller, and the chaotic joy of 4-player couch co-op. We break down the game&#...

This week, we are riding with the headless horsemen into this spooky season to discuss the 1999 Tim Burton gothic classic, Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci! Was this film a successful artistic vision or a beautiful, hollow shell? We slice right into the details, the behind-the-scenes secrets, and whether a murder mystery and a monster movie can successfully coexist. Highligh...

We get kooky and spooky with a breakdown of the 1991 hit movie, The Addams Family . Kicking things off with a nostalgic retro ramble about what we would do home alone growing up. We spent some time discussing the film's box office numbers and critic reviews. We just can't get over this film's spot-on casting, especially Raul Julia as Gomez and Anjelica Huston as Morticia. What makes Th...

This week we're talking about the 1996 horror-comedy, The Frighteners . We discuss the film's star, Michael J. Fox, and the bizarre but fun supernatural premise about a con man who uses his ability to see and communicate with ghosts to scam people. Join us as we dive into Peter Jackson's early career, with this frightfully good time that lead to his work on The Lord of the Rings trilog...

Step into the world of the undead with Episode 86 of This Podcast Takes Tokens ! 🧟‍♂️ We break down the 2004 horror classic, Dawn of the Dead. We share their first experiences with scary movies. Deric recalls a terrifying trip to see A Nightmare on Elm Street and Ryan tells the tale of being spooked by The Exorcist as a kid. We dive into a full analysis of the film, from its surprising box office...

Join us on This Podcast Takes Tokens as we dive into their favorite spooky video games for Halloween! We discuss our top six picks, three from each of us, and explore how horror games have evolved over the years. From the groundbreaking classics that set the standard for the genre to the modern thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, we cover a wide range of titles. Whether you're a...

We’re taking you back to the late 90s to revisit a movie about the late 70s, Detroit Rock City ! Join us as we step back to a time when high school felt like a constant battle against adults and unhinged strangers, where the only thing that mattered was your favorite band. We get deep into the teenage angst and the pure fantasy of four friends on a mission to see KISS in concert, only to have thei...

In this episode, we're talking about the 2003 hit movie: School of Rock! We dive into everything from Jack Black's memorable performance as Dewey Finn, the movie's surprisingly high Rotten Tomatoes critic score, and our favorite moments from the film. We also get into the hilarious and sometimes questionable dialogue, like the poorly aged "groupie" line and the infamous &quot...

Join us as we talk about the 1994 cult classic, Airheads . We discuss the movie's surprisingly low box office numbers and mixed reviews, contrasting them with its high rewatchability factor among fans. We also dive into the film's interesting history, including why we think it’s impossible to stream today due to music licensing issues. We discuss our favorite scenes, lines, and characters,...

Join us for a trip back to 1973 in this episode This Podcast Takes Tokens, as we dive into the timeless film; Almost Famous. We discuss our appreciation for Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical movie about a young music journalist on the road with a fictional(maybe?) band called Stillwater. We revisit the film's incredible soundtrack, its unique characters, and some of our favorite, most...

Are you ready to rock?! 🎸 This week we battle it out in a sibling showdown to crown the greatest fake bands of all time! We're counting down our top 10 favorite fictional bands from movies and TV, complete with rebuttals, on-the-spot replacements, and plenty of rock-and-roll nostalgia. We dive into a diverse playlist of sounds, from heavy metal to 60s pop and hardcore punk. We discuss why som...

This week on This Podcast Takes Tokens, we're asking the most profound question of all: is there more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good-looking? We're diving into the ridiculous and absurd world of Zoolander! We get into the film's post-9/11 release, its surprising box office performance, and its journey from perceived flop to cult classic. Did the tragedy of 9/11 af...

MEOW, listen up! We've got a great episode for you! 😉 This week we are hitting the open highway to discuss the 2002 cult classic, Super Troopers! The critics may have given it a brutal 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, but the fans pushed it to a massive 90% Audience Score! We had a fun debate about the movie’s humor and rewatchability today. While Deric still loves the movie, Ryan feels it's not as good a...

Poof! As if by some sort of token magic, we're here! 😉 This week we are clocking in to discuss the 2005 workplace comedy, Waiting…! We explore how this film captures the "slice of life" experience of young adults figuring out their lives while toiling away in entry-level service jobs. We dive into the movie's surprisingly low $3 million budget and its solid box office return, proving that a relat...

Hello from the electric city of Scranton! 😉 This week, we are punching in to discuss The Office Season 1! After wrapping up our Best Buds Summer Rewind, we're diving into the show that took the world by storm – focusing on its humble, and sometimes awkward, beginnings. We reminisce about first discovering the show (for Ryan, the "Healthcare" episode was his gateway!), and explore how Season 1, wh...

Party on, excellent! 🤘 This week we are talking about the iconic 1992 comedy classic, Wayne's World! We explore how this SNL spin-off became a massive box office hit ($183 million worldwide! ), earning its sequel and cementing its place in 90s pop culture history. We dive deep into why Wayne's World holds a special place in our hearts, from its endlessly quotable lines, to its perfect blend of hu...