Why the Flick?

Christmas is only two sleeps away which means we needed a holiday flick that perfectly fit the jolly and joyous season. Of course, we’re talking about The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992). Charles Dickens may not have envisioned puppets when he wrote this literary classic, but it’s definitively the best adaptation and for good reason. Quite frankly there’s no better cast to bring this beloved story to life than Kermit, Gonzo, Miss Piggy, Rizzo, and the legendary Michael Caine in undoubtedly his most famous role. And that’s before we get to the musical of it all, even if only one of your cohosts really vibed with all the songs. This week, we’re leaving it to the Muppets to teach us some culture, decode 19th-century slang, and remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.Resourceshttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/dec/21/how-we-made-the-muppet-christmas-carolhttps://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20221209-the-muppet-christmas-carol-festive-classics-dark-backdrophttps://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/making-of-muppet-christmas-carol/https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2019/12/20/a-grand-yuletide-theory-the-muppet-christmas-carol-is-the-best-adaptation-of-a-christmas-carol/Your Muppet Christmas Carol Character: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRubNitkRee/Brett Goldstein Muppets Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3gzf9ej18I

There’s an icy chill in the air and with it comes seasonal depression—so when we decided our next flick needed to capture those sad winter vibes we knew we had to go with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). Recognized by critics and film nerds as one of the best movies of the 21st century, this breakup story starring acting favorites Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet was revolutionary at the time for its existential meaning and emotional impact. But does it still hold up with a 2025 lens? We’re getting to the bottom of this question and more in our newest episode that unpacks the unique narrative structure, Michel Gondry’s questionable directing style, and how it fits within the sci-fi genre.Resourceshttps://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/03/eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind-anniversary-jim-carrey-michel-gondryhttps://cintiar.medium.com/forget-me-not-eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind-and-the-trouble-with-wanting-to-forget-d5b65bfc3530https://screenrant.com/eternal-sunshine-spotless-mind-ending-explained-joel-clementine/https://www.focusfeatures.com/article/eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind_20th-anniversaryhttps://reactormag.com/eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind-navigating-the-landscape-of-human-emotion/https://theasc.com/articles/forget-me-not-eternal-sunshine-of-the-spotless-mind http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3664683.stm

It seems only right that since we started this season with The Substance it was time to circle back to her campy, slapstick sister Death Becomes Her (1992). Serving up more body comedy than body horror, this cult classic starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis is rife with cultural impact. It’s a flick that walked (or tumbled down a staircase) so others could run, inspiring generations of artists from Broadway to Sabrina Carpenter and most iconically the drag community. On a new episode of Why the Flick?, we’re going bottoms up into the Robert Zemeckis comedy to explore its relevance to anti-aging fads, groundbreaking special effects, and the living dead in Beverly Hills.ResourcesSabrina Carpenter - Taste: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEG7b851Ric⁠⁠https://creepycatalog.com/death-becomes-her-1992-trivia/⁠⁠https://people.com/death-becomes-her-revolutionized-special-effects-8730702⁠⁠https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/756545/retro-review-before-the-substance-there-was-death-becomes-her/⁠⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/MovieDetails/comments/hpdm6c/in_death_becomes_her_1992_a_womans_figure_can/

Spooky season might be over, but we’re keeping the vibes going…and with a certain cinematic conclusion on the horizon, we felt it was the perfect time to revisit another sequel in the same universe (albeit less critically acclaimed) with Return to Oz (1985). Released during Disney’s experimental phase, this beautiful weirdo is a far cry from its OG predecessor—think less technicolor musical, more 80s fantasy meets 19th-century fairy tales. It’s a faithful adaptation to L. Frank Baum’s books complete with fever dream horrors ranging from electroshock therapy to creatures with wheels for hands and feet. Despite its creep factor being misunderstood at the time, it’s since amassed a loyal cult following for its dark tone and surprisingly paved the way for films like The Nightmare Before Christmas and the Star Wars prequels. In celebration of this flick’s 40th anniversary, we’re teaming up with movie milestone expert Release Date Rewind on our newest episode that covers Oz parallels, impressive practical effects, and all the fabulously dressed villains.Listen to Release Date Rewind on Apple and Spotify. Follow @releasedaterewind on Instagram and YouTube.Resourceshttps://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250616-the-darkest-childrens-film-ever-madehttps://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/movies/return-to-oz-six-things-that-made-the-1985-movie-a-cult-classichttps://theasc.com/articles/a-return-to-oz

Halloween is almost here so obviously our Season of the Witchtober had to end on theme. No witchy flick fits the holiday as perfectly as Hocus Pocus (1993) and no trio of diabolical witches is as iconic as the Sanderson sisters. After all, when you’ve got the combined powers of Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker you’re practically unstoppable (critics be double damned). This cult classic is the definition of spooky camp complete with a mid-act musical number and weird virgin plot lines that only the ‘90s could pull off. And after three decades, it’s brewed tons of behind-the-scenes stories and fun facts we couldn’t resist diving into. For the finale episode of our themed month, we’re talking cast crushes, All Hallows’ Eve nostalgia, and why Doug Jones continues to be the absolute best.Resourceshttps://screenrant.com/hocus-pocus-behind-scenes-details-making-trivia/https://ew.com/movies/hocus-pocus-cast-reunion-best-behind-scenes-stories/https://www.hollywoodancestry.com/post/sarah-jessica-parker-descended-from-accused-witchhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hocus-pocus-actor-doug-jones-recalls-how-billy-butcherson-almost-took-costume-inspiration-from-michael-jackson-4083947/https://www.slashfilm.com/1579992/hocus-pocus-billy-moths-real-doug-jones-star-trek/https://variety.com/2025/film/news/bette-midler-hocus-pocus-3-script-disney-1236556265/