Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Regular Guy Movie Show

The Last Starfighter (1984)

What if beating a high score at the arcade meant you were Earth’s only hope? This week on The Regular Guy Movie Show, we’re blasting off with 1984’s The Last Starfighter — the cult sci-fi classic that swapped Star Wars’ model ships for pioneering CGI, and gave us wish fulfillment for every kid who ever dropped quarters into an arcade cabinet.

We dig into:

• The wild leap of faith this movie took with computer-generated battles — groundbreaking in ’84, clunky now, but undeniably influential.
• Why Centauri (Robert Preston) and Grig (Dan O’Herlihy) are the real MVPs of this movie.
• Xur’s over-the-top villainy and the Ko-Dan Armada’s poop emoji aesthetics.
• Space combat done right vs. done wrong — and why Starfighter was ahead of its time in zero-G dogfights.
• The Boddicker Award showdown: Centauri’s fast-talking space con man vs. Grig’s lizard mentor dad-energy.
• Why Centauri’s car looks like a DeLorean that flunked out of space college.
• A sidekick showdown where Grig goes head-to-head with Chewbacca, Goose, and Donkey from Shrek.

And because we can’t stay on target for long, we’ll also talk about:

• Our favorite arcade games from the 80's
• The versatility of Days of Our Lives for hitting on college girls back in the day
• And the embalming secrets of the ancient Egyptians (because apparently that’s where our brains went).

So grab your quarters, load up Death Blossom, and join us as we relive the movie that asked: what if your video game skills were the only thing standing between Earth and annihilation?

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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 From Pancakes to Power Tools: Revisiting Uncle Buck 

In this episode of The Regular Guy Movie Show, Seth, Justin, and Brian dive into John Hughes’ 1989 comedy classic Uncle Buck.
We talk about John Candy at peak charm, the mail-slot interrogation that basically launched Macaulay Culkin into Home Alone, and whether Buck’s “unique” parenting style would fly in 2025 (spoiler: probably not).

Highlights include:

• Giant pancakes, bowling alleys, and a clown who never saw the punch coming
• Why Buck’s greatest hits also double as felonies (assault, kidnapping, borderline attempted murder)
• Tia’s teen angst, Bug’s sleazeball energy, and how John Hughes made Chicago suburbia feel like its own character
• Buck’s toolkit of justice: a trusty cordless drill, a conveniently placed hatchet, and wart gnawing rats
• Comparing Uncle Buck to Mr. Mom: what happens when caretakers are hilariously unqualified
• Uncle Buck: The Villain Cut — because reframed, Buck is definitely the bad guy
• Final beer scores and nostalgia check: does Uncle Buck still hold up?

Grab a drink, flip a giant flapjack, and join us as we revisit the film that made us laugh, cringe, and maybe rethink who we’d trust to watch our kids.

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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Episode Title: Parenthood (1989) – Cowboy Chaos, Flashcards, and Unexpected Vibrators

Show Notes:

This week on The Regular Guy Movie Show, we’re heading back to 1989 to revisit Parenthood—Ron Howard’s heartfelt, chaotic, and surprisingly profound family comedy.

We talk cowboy-themed birthday meltdowns, emotionally fragile dads, Rick Moranis going full helicopter parent, and Keanu Reeves accidentally delivering the most insightful line in the entire movie. From childhood laughs to adult realizations (and a few dark truths about nightstands), we explore how this ensemble-driven film holds up 35 years later.

Along the way, we hand out the Boddicker Award, give it a beer score, and try not to spiral into our own parenting crises.

In this episode:

• Steve Martin: funny or just... a lot?
• Why this movie pretends to be St. Louis (but totally isn’t)
• Our favorite Buckman family meltdowns
• Which moments still work—and which ones haven’t aged so gracefully
• And of course… electric ear cleaners

Does Parenthood still hold up, or should it have been slipped into a Back to the Future VHS case and hidden in the closet? Let’s find out.

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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Grab Bag & Beer Ratings Bonanza!
This week, the guys go off-script with a special Grab Bag episode! No assigned movie, no homework—just three old friends reminiscing, drinking beer, and talking movies (and misadventures) from their youth.

 In this episode:

• Why this episode exists (spoiler: summer chaos and beer)
• Behind-the-scenes stories from their early filmmaking days—yes, including pouring brown gravy into mugs at a bar
• The launch of the official Regular Guy Movie Show Beer Rating System™: how many beers does it take to reach peak enjoyment?
• A full recap of the first nine movies reviewed on the show—with updated beer ratings and lots of friendly disagreement
• Debates about which beloved childhood movies they’re most nervous to revisit
• Important philosophical questions like:
  • Who deserves to be smacked with a 2x4?
  • Which character would be the best drinking buddy?
  • What’s the greatest character we’ve seen so far?

Plus: the birth of the Boddicker Award, honoring the most memorable character from each movie reviewed.

📊 Beer Rating Leaderboard:

1. RoboCop – 1.66 beers
2. Romancing the Stone – 3.33 beers
3. Fire in the Sky – 3.66 beers
4. Fast Times at Ridgemont High – 4.33 beers
5. Flash Gordon – 4.66 beers
6. Rad – 6 beers
7. Mr. Mom – 6 beers
8. UHF – 6.33 beers
9. Dirty Dancing – 10.66 beers (ouch)

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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The Regular Guy Movie Show – Episode: Fire in the Sky (1993)

This episode, we’re diving into Fire in the Sky (1993), the alien abduction movie that scarred an entire generation of 90s kids and taught us one crucial lesson: if you see a glowing UFO in the woods, maybe just stay in the damn truck. Based on the allegedly true story of Travis Walton, this film delivers one of the most nightmare-inducing spaceship scenes ever put on screen—and proves once and for all that curiosity doesn’t just kill cats. It abducts loggers, too. 

In This Episode:

• Our first memories of watching Fire in the Sky and how it traumatized us as kids
• Why the abduction scene remains so deeply unsettling, even decades later
• Robert Patrick’s emotional performance and DB Sweeney’s underrated acting
• The film’s incredible sound design and moody cinematography
• Hollywood vs. reality: how the movie dramatized Walton’s account
• Tangents about potlucks, lie detectors, and random dudes lurking in the forest
• Whether the lack of evidence is actually proof of alien hyper-vigilance (cue debate)
• Final thoughts on whether this movie still holds up (spoiler: it does)

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Green Means Go – A short film we made featuring alien abduction:
https://youtu.be/VbANm472Rx8?feature=shared

Reversal – Another film we made featuring existential horror and non-conventional timelines:
https://youtu.be/sXv_8dbZzBA?feature=shared

Join the Conversation

Have you seen Fire in the Sky? Did the abduction scene haunt you for years? Do you think Travis Walton was telling the truth, or is this just the world’s most effective anti-camping PSA?

Let us know! Leave a comment, send us a message, or connect with us at regularguymovieshow.com.

If You Enjoy the Show

• Subscribe and leave us a review – it really helps us reach new listeners.
• Suggest a movie for us to cover in a future episode! Visit our website and click the “suggest a movie” link.

Thanks for listening, and remember—if you see a strange glowing light in the woods, maybe...just maybe…stay in the car.

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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UHF (1989) – Spatulas, Flying Poodles, and Channel 62 Mayhem

Episode Description:
In this episode of The Regular Guy Movie Show, we dive into UHF, the 1989 fever dream of a film from “Weird Al” Yankovic. It has everything—Rambo spoofs, Wheel of Fish, spatula superstores, and a janitor with mop-based emotional damage.

We revisit the movie’s slapstick chaos, its bizarre sketch comedy structure, and ask the tough questions:
• Does UHF actually have a plot?
• Who is the real villain—RJ Fletcher or the guy who fired Bob for George’s screw-up?
• Can poodles really be taught to fly?
• And what does it actually mean to "find the marble in the oatmeal?"

Justin tries to make sense of it all, Brian has an existential crisis, and Seth defends UHF like it’s a sacred VHS tape that has already been partially eaten by the VCR.

Plus:
 • Weird Al's cultural influence
 • Who gives a mop to an 8-year-old?!
 • The legacy of Gandhi II, Conan the Librarian, and other Channel 62 “hits”
 • Final verdicts on whether the movie holds up or just holds us hostage.

Spoiler alert: Nothing says “I love you” like the gift of a spatula.

Listen now and decide for yourself—does UHF belong in the cult classic hall of fame, or should it be tossed like a Twinkie Wiener Sandwich?

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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Episode Title: Mr. Mom (1983) – Flannel, Failure, and the War on Gender Roles

Episode Summary:
In this episode, we dig into Mr. Mom, the 1983 domestic comedy where Michael Keaton trades factory life for fatherhood—and instantly forgets how to function. We explore how a movie that wants to be progressive ends up reinforcing every tired sitcom trope, from flailing fathers to career moms who succeed only when their boss is leering at them.

In this episode:

• Why Jack Butler’s collapse under the weight of grocery shopping and laundry still hits a nerve (but mostly for the wrong reasons)
• The baffling speed of Caroline’s career rise and the uncomfortable reality behind it
• A deep dive into the film’s product placement madness—Pine-Sol, Hormel Chili, Budweiser, and Hi-C all get starring roles
• The absurdity of a Detroit ad agency working on a tuna account
• Chainsaws indoors, toddlers eating chili, and other moments that push the limits of suspension of disbelief
• How director Stan Dragoti’s advertising background shaped the film’s tone—and maybe compromised its soul
• Christopher Lloyd’s caffeinated cameo as the corporate drone we hope we never become
• The film’s mixed messages on masculinity, work, and domestic life in the early '80s

Listener Warning:
There is discussion of beard-based identity, vacuum-based trauma, and flannel as a visual metaphor for male depression.

Final Verdict:
Maybe funny in 1983. But today? It’s a masterclass in well-meaning misfires—an occasionally charming, often baffling movie that sells gender politics with a side of chili and a wink to Pine-Sol.

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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Dirty Dancing (1987) – A Father's Worst Nightmare

Episode Summary:

In this episode, the Regular Guys hang up their flannels and dust off their dancing shoes as they revisit Dirty Dancing, the 1987 romantic drama that launched a thousand lift attempts and made Patrick Swayze a household name. But this isn’t your sister’s rewatch.

Is Johnny Castle a misunderstood dreamboat or a shirtless con artist with a talent for hip thrusts? Is Baby a brave idealist or a naive rich girl who can’t follow posted signage? And why does everyone ignore the fact that Penny is the most interesting person in this movie?

From fishnet fashion and sweaty rehearsals to over-the-top montages and awkward breakfast scenes, we dig into:

• Whether Baby actually earned her arc
• Why Dr. Houseman is the only sane character at Kellerman’s
• The soundtrack that became the movie’s true star
• And how this film manages to be both overrated and underrated at the same time

Highlights:

• The chaotic production history of the film and its unexpected blockbuster success
• Cultural context: 1963 Catskills, class divides, and the Jewish resort scene
• A spicy debate over Johnny’s red flags and Baby’s “growth”
• The lift, the lines, and the legacy: does Dirty Dancing still hold up?
• How a single watermelon changed the course of the summer
• A deep dive into epidemiology in the Catskills
• Navigating romantic crisis with only slightly problematic advice
• What a book in your back pocket reveals about your soul

Get Involved:

What did you think of Dirty Dancing? Were we too harsh or did we finally say what you’ve always been thinking? Drop your thoughts and hot takes in the comments.

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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BMX Dreams, 80s Cheese & More Montages Than Plot

🎧 Episode Summary:

Hold on to your neon windbreakers and crank up the John Farnham, because we’re going balls out in this nostalgia-fueled episode covering 1986’s Rad. Seth, Justin, and Brian dive handlebars-first into the BMX cult classic that’s equal parts Rocky, Mountain Dew commercial, and glorified stunt reel. With nearly 40% of the film comprised of montage sequences, questionable fashion choices, and a backflip that somehow counts as a winning race strategy, the guys ask: Does this childhood favorite still hold up?

From Lori Loughlin’s “come hither” looks to Ray Walston’s unexpected second appearance on the podcast (Mr. Hand is back, baby), no detail is spared—including a spirited debate over whether Cru Jones is an inspirational underdog or a shameless course-cutting cheater. 

💬 Topics Covered:

• The VHS-fueled rise of Rad after its box office flop
• BMX culture and its role in shaping the movie’s legacy
• Lori Loughlin’s stunt double… and his wig
• Sergeant Smith: unsung hero or terrifying mustachioed authority figure?
• The sheer volume of visible nipples (yes, really)
• Plot holes so big you run a bike race through the middle of them
• The power of nostalgia vs. the reality of rewatching
• Drinking game ideas (Warning: do not try to drink during every montage)

📊 By the Numbers:

• Montage Runtime: 34 minutes and 1 second
• Total Runtime: 88 minutes
• % Montage: 38.85%
• Visible Nipple Count: We lost track. It’s a lot.

🧠 Final Verdicts:

• Justin: Nostalgic perfection. Still holds up—for him.
• Brian: It’s the underdog trope he loves… in a movie he never wants to see again.
• Seth: Rad is ridiculous and unforgettable—but not for the reasons it intended.

🛠 Suggested If You Like:

• The X-Games
• Movies with more music than dialogue
• Watching your childhood favorites get lovingly roasted

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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Before there was Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, there was Joan Wilder sliding down a Colombian mudslide in heels. In this episode of The Regular Guy Movie Show, the guys travel back to 1984 to revisit Robert Zemeckis’s adventure rom-com Romancing the Stone. We talk genre-blending, iconic character arcs, and why Jack T. Colton is cooler than he had any right to be. Brian brings the trivia, Justin dives into character breakdowns, and Seth tries to not quote every single Danny DeVito line.

Topics Covered:

• Genre fusion: rom-com meets action-adventure
• How Joan Wilder’s arc anchors the whole film
• Ralph and the underrated brilliance of Danny DeVito
• Behind-the-scenes drama (and Zemeckis nearly getting fired!)
• Soundtrack, special effects, and why this movie still charms

Final Verdict:
Does it hold up? Tune in for our hot takes, nostalgia trips, and whether this one still deserves a spot on your Saturday afternoon lineup.

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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In this episode of The Regular Guy Movie Show, we take on Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop (1987)—a film loaded with ultraviolence, corporate satire, and surprisingly heartfelt moments.

We dig into:

• Whether the over-the-top violence helps or hurts the film’s impact
• The satirical edge that makes RoboCop smarter than your average action flick
• What still holds up in terms of effects, performances, and storytelling
• And which characters (spoiler: Clarence Boddicker) steal the show

From the opening media break to that final line, we talk about what makes RoboCop such a unique ’80s film—and why it still packs a punch today.

Plus, Seth nerds out on sound design, Brian shares some surprising trivia, and Justin ponders the social dynamics of the club scene in Old Detroit.

So… does RoboCop hold up? Listen now and decide for yourself.

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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It's time to throw on our checkered Vans, crank up the 80s soundtrack, and dive into Fast Times at Ridgemont High. This 1982 classic is one of the most quotable high school movies of all time, launching multiple careers and setting the tone for coming-of-age films for decades. But does it still hold up, or is it just a relic of its time?

Join Seth, Justin, and Brian as they break it all down on this episode of The Regular Guy Movie Show.

In This Episode

First Impressions and Nostalgia

• How old were we when we first watched Fast Times?
• What was our first impression back then versus watching it today?
• How did Fast Times become a cult classic despite its R rating?

The Story and Cultural Impact

• How Fast Times captured high school life in the early 80s.
• The film's origins: Cameron Crowe went undercover in a high school to write the book.
• Amy Heckerling’s directorial debut. 
• Box office performance – was this a hit or a sleeper success?

The Characters – Who Still Holds Up?

• Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) – The ultimate stoner-surfer archetype.
• Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh) – First loves, heartbreaks, and questionable choices.
• Mark Ratner (Brian Backer) – The awkward nice guy who tries too hard.
• Mike Damone (Robert Romanus) – The fast-talking hustler who turns out to be full of it.
• Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates) – Was she actually experienced or just another high school phony?
• Brad Hamilton (Judge Reinhold) – A high school king on a downward spiral.
• Mr. Hand (Ray Walston) – A strict teacher with no patience for Spicoli's nonsense.

Key Scenes and Discussions

• The opening mall montage – A perfect time capsule of 80s culture.
• Brad’s series of workplace disasters – From All-American Burger to Captain Hook Fish & Chips.
• The pool scene – One of the most famous (and debated) moments in teen movie history.
• Stacy and Mike’s awkward hookup – What does it say about teenage expectations versus reality?
• The abortion subplot – Did Fast Times handle it well, or was it too matter-of-fact?
• Spicoli vs. Mr. Hand – The battle between the laid-back stoner and the no-nonsense teacher.
• The final act – Does Brad’s convenience store hero moment redeem his rough year?

Soundtrack Breakdown

• How Fast Times created one of the most iconic 80s movie soundtracks.
• Featuring The Go-Go’s, Jackson Browne, The Cars, Oingo Boingo, Led Zeppelin (sort of), and more.
• Does the soundtrack elevate the movie, or is it better than the film itself?

Final Verdict: Does Fast Times at Ridgemont High Still Hold Up?

• Does it still work as a relatable high school movie, or is it too much of an 80s relic?
• Would we recommend it to a younger audience today?
• Is nostalgia the only thing keeping it alive?

Follow and Subscribe

 Have a movie you want us to cover? Drop us a comment!

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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Laser whips, football fights, sexy alien princesses, and a soundtrack from Queen—Flash Gordon has a little bit of everything. But does this 1980 cult classic still hold up, or is it just a glorified fever dream from our childhoods?

In this first-ever episode of The Regular Guy Movie Show, Seth, Justin, and Brian revisit the campy, over-the-top world of Flash Gordon to see if it still delivers the same thrills, laughs, and sci-fi spectacle we remember.

In This Episode:

• The Acting – Was Sam J. Jones a fitting hero, or was Flash Gordon’s charisma lost in translation (and dubbing)?
• Ming the Merciless – Is Max von Sydow’s performance an iconic villain portrayal, or does it come across as unintentionally hilarious?
• The Queen Soundtrack – Did the legendary band’s music elevate the film beyond its limitations?
• Camp & Special Effects – Did the self-aware cheesiness work, or was this just a failed attempt at a Star Wars competitor?
• Behind-the-Scenes Trivia – From botched sequels to behind-the-scenes drama, we dig into the movie’s troubled production.
• Why Was Quicksand EVERYWHERE in ‘80s Movies? – A deep dive into one of cinema’s most baffling tropes.
• Does It Hold Up? – The final verdict from three very different perspectives: pure nostalgia, first-time viewing, and critical sci-fi analysis.

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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