Episode 161 - ENCINO MAN

Hey bud-dy! We return to a time when hair metal and surfer slang ruled the earth as we unearth all the early '90s artifacts of Encino Man. The film is a finely preserved specimen from a fascinating evolutionary period in the teen comedy genre, epitomized by Pauly Shore's colorful verbiage and Brendan Fraser's lunkhead charm.

We find our missing link in first-time guest and lifelong Valley resident Jose Santos, who teaches us how to properly wheeze the juice of this movie's corny Cali vibes. Oooow!

Encino Man (1992)
Directed by Les Mayfield
Produced by George Zaloom
Written by Shawn Schepps
Starring Sean Astin, Brendan Fraser, Megan Ward, Michael DeLuise, Robin Tunney, Mariette Hartley, Richard Masur, and Pauly Shore

Episode 71 - FLUBBER

The '90s were halcyon days for the movie star, so it was no surprise that Disney had confidence in Robin Williams to breathe new life into one of its more dated midcentury comedies. The name-above-the-title clout was paired with cutting-edge visual effects and enough marketing muscle to indoctrinate young minds with images of mambo-ing green homunculi.

So why is this John Hughes-scripted movie often relegated to the bench of Williams' filmography? Where are all the Professor Brainard cosplayers at Disneyland? Wither Flubber? We answer that last question with a "hopefully not" as we pick apart this sentimental science fair of slapstick.

Flubber (1997)
Directed by Les Mayfield
Produced by John Hughes and Ricardo Mestres
Written by John Hughes
Original screenplay The Absent-Minded Professor by Bill Walsh
Based on "A Situation of Gravity" by Samuel W. Taylor
Starring Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden, Christopher McDonald, Raymond J. Barry, Ted Levine, Clancy Brown, Wil Wheaton, and Jodi Benson