Mousterpiece Cinema

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Episode 125: Toy Story Jan 02, 2014

Show notes

Happy new year, friends! We're kicking things off in 2014 right by going back to the old bedroom and playing with some of our toys. That sounded a little weird, right? Well, the non-weird thing said in a weird way may be the secret theme of the first new Mousterpiece Cinema of 2014, as Gabe and Josh journey back to the very first fully computer-animated feature film, Toy Story. For this episode, Alex Dowd of The AV Club joined Gabe and Josh as they put on their nostalgia goggles, just a bit, and praised the antics of Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody, and the rest of Andy's lovable toys. BUT. It may turn out that one of these three gentlemen is a bit heartless, a bit cruel, and a bit unwilling to accept Buzz Lightyear as being a great guy. (Hint: it may be the same person who, in 2013, revealed that he doesn't like that dogs that much.) Because it's Toy Story, though, there's a happy ending. ...Again, that sounds weirder than it should. Anyway, take a listen to this episode and travel...wait for it...to infinity and beyond!

Episode 124: Saving Mr. Banks Dec 26, 2013

Show notes

Wind's in the east...mist comin' in. Like something is brewin' and 'bout to begin. Can't put me finger on what lies in store, but I feel what's to happen, all happened before. Oh, excuse us, we were just reciting one of our favorite underrated lines from Mary Poppins, the Disney musical classic that happens to be the subject of this week's new Mousterpiece Cinema. What's that, you say? Oh, sure, Gabe and Josh have already profiled that film on the podcast, but this week, they're talking about the new Disney film Saving Mr. Banks, which is focused squarely on the making of Mary Poppins, from the perspective of the character's creator, P.L. Travers, as played here by Emma Thompson. Were Gabe and Josh as charmed by this film as they were by Mary Poppins? Did Tom Hanks' portrayal of Walt Disney himself win them over? Or are they swearing off the Disney myth entirely, throwing it to the curb like so many pears in a fruit basket? The answer is more complicated than you think, so check out the new show to find out!

Episode 123: Babes in Toyland Dec 18, 2013

Show notes

"Toyland, Toyland, little girl and boy land..." Hey, why aren't you singing along? Don't you know the lyrics to Victor Herbert's operetta Babes in Toyland? Well, you'd better brush up, because the Walt Disney Pictures adaptation (in Technicolor, no less) of that operetta is in the spotlight on this week's episode of Mousterpiece Cinema. Josh and Gabe are guest-free once again as they explore Mother Goose Land and Toyland, which are adjoined by the Forest of No Return. (Don't worry, that forest isn't as terrifying as it sounds.) And after only a few minutes, your intrepid co-hosts answer a very pertinent and timely question: is this actually a Christmas movie? The answer isn't as easy as you might think, and neither is this surprisingly bifurcated film. So, in the words of the dastardly Barnaby (seriously), come. Let's pussyfoot. And check out the new show!

Episode 122: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause Dec 12, 2013

Show notes

Friends, as we approach another Christmas, it's time to limp across the finish line, gasping for air. In 2011, by himself, Josh took a look at the 1994 holiday comedy The Santa Clause. In 2012, Josh and Gabe, along with guest Marc Vibbert, did the same with the 2002 sequel, The Santa Clause 2. And now, it's just Josh and Gabe, gaping in awe at the terror and foul horror of the 2006 end of the trilogy, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. On the one hand, sure, this movie has Tim Allen, Martin Short as Jack Frost, Alan Arkin, Ann-Margret, and more. But on the other hand, it has Martin Short singing a poor parody of "New York, New York," and Alan Arkin doing some of the worst acting of his life. Put it this way, there are plenty of tangents in this episode because it just got too painful to talk about this film after a while. But stay to the end, and you'll hear Josh and Gabe get more delight out of saying the name "Smaug" than they did in watching this movie. It's a painful film, but the episode inspired by it is, promise, a lot of fun. So check it out!

Episode 121: Frozen Dec 06, 2013

Show notes

OK, we know that we kept you waiting for an extra week, but finally, it's time for Mousterpiece Cinema to get cold. In fact, we're so cold, we're...wait for it...Frozen! Yes, this week, Josh and Gabe take a look at Walt Disney Animation Studios' newest film, a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen featuring the voices of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, and more, and music from the composers of The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q. With such high expectations and hopes, were Josh and Gabe thrilled with this frigid fairy tale? And what about their guest, returning favorite Corey Atad? Did this tale of sisterly love work magic on the trio? And what of the attached Mickey Mouse short, Get a Horse!? One of these stories inspired Gabe to say he wanted to vomit--no joke. The only way to find out what inspired such intense hyperbole (we hope it's hyperbole), though, is to listen to the show, so check it out!

Episode 120: Delivery Man Nov 28, 2013

Show notes

We've all gathered here today not to mock him, but to express our concern and worry for Vince Vaughn. Yes, friends, you might well consider the new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema as a kind of career intervention, even if Mr. Vaughn may not be...you know, listening to the show. But he should be, because the topic of discussion is his new film, the Touchstone/DreamWorks comedy Delivery Man, a remake of the French-Canadian comedy Starbuck. The story is about a slacker whose sperm donations in the early 1990s were used to sire over 500 children, many of whom want to know the identity of their biological father, but that only inspired Josh, Gabe, and their guest, Tim Grierson of Deadspin, Paste Magazine, Screen International, and Playboy, to wonder when the Vince Vaughn they loved a decade ago is coming back. Take our word for it: even if you didn't see Delivery Man (and you probably didn't, based on the box office), you want to listen to this episode. It's a must!

Episode 119: The Jungle Book 2 Nov 22, 2013

Show notes

Only a few days after the apparently-real, not-fake International Men's Day, it's time for your podcast co-hosts to have another one of their typical bro-hangs. And is there a better movie to bro out to than the 2003 film The Jungle Book 2? Possibly! But this movie is the subject of the new Mousterpiece Cinema, and you may not be shocked to learn that Josh and Gabe weren't too impressed with yet another entry from DisneyToon Studios. That's in spite of John Goodman and Haley Joel Osment stepping in to voice Baloo and Mowgli, too. But even though the movie's not too great, the discussion inspired by it is a ton of fun, and yes, because it's just Josh and Gabe, a bit tangential. You know what they say, though: the tangents are the best part of any discussion! (OK, we just made that up right now. But still. Check out the new show.)

Episode 118: Thor: The Dark World Nov 15, 2013

Show notes

Friends, it's hammer time. (Listen, someone was going to make that joke, so it might as well be made right here.) Yes, once more, your intrepid hosts of Mousterpiece Cinema jump into the ever-expanding pool known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This week, Josh and Gabe have their sights set on Marvel's newest, Thor: The Dark World. Joining them is return guest Keith Phipps, editorial director of The Dissolve. And it turns out that, at least in one of your hosts' perspectives, this film is the deep end of the MCU. Is this sequel better than the 2011 original? How much did Josh, Gabe, and Keith love Tom Hiddleston as Loki? And what the hell was going on with the post-credits scene? Answers lie within, so grab your nearest cape and hammer and get listening!

Episode 117: The Little Mermaid Nov 09, 2013

Show notes

There's music galore in the new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema, and why shouldn't there be? On this week's podcast, Josh and Gabe put on their diving gear and went under the sea to swim and frolic and generally be merry with the starfish, bass, crabs, and even more sea life. Yes, it's time to talk about one of Disney's biggest, brightest, and most beloved animated classics: The Little Mermaid. Josh and Gabe were joined this week by Salt Lake City Weekly film critic Scott Renshaw to discuss the 1989 classic's influence, its animation, its character work and, of course, its many memorable songs. Do all three of your hosts love The Little Mermaid as much now as they did before? Does the film hold up to repeat viewing? And does Gabe's irrational hatred of dogs rear its ugly head once again? Only one way to find out: check out the new show!

Episode 116: Remember the Titans Nov 01, 2013

Show notes

The autumn has arrived, and with it, the grand sport of football, in which burly dudes suit up to run into each other's bodies with blunt force. Ah, football. And it's the topic of this week's Mousterpiece Cinema, as Gabe and Josh talk about the 2000 Disney sports drama Remember the Titans. They're joined by RogerEbert.com contributor Danny Bowes, who, in an interesting wrinkle, wasn't able to rewatch Remember the Titans in time for the podcast. But fear not! One of your hosts would argue that's not a bad thing, as the movie, Denzel Washington's inherent Denzel-ness aside, may not be up to snuff. There's talk of Flutie Flakes, Caleb Carr, Hayden Panettiere, Stephen King, and...well, also the movie in question. It's a grab bag this week, so take a listen to see if you too remember...well, you know.

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