Episode 232 - JACK

Our self-proclaimed Robin Williams Man-Child Quadrilogy concludes with a look at Jack, the story of a 10 year old boy trapped in the rapidly-aging body of a full grown adult. We try to make sense of the film's unusual tonal mosaic, which combines weighty topics like loneliness and mortality with family-friendly hijinks and juvenile humor, and mashes it all together like spaghetti and toothpaste. 

And in the end, we simply must acknowledge that our podcast life is fleeting - so make a wish, think of Robin, and join us as we try to make this episode spectacular.

Jack (1996)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Written by James DeMonaco and Gary Nadeau
Starring Robin Williams, Diane Lane, Brian Kerwin, Jennifer Lopez, Fran Drescher, Adam Zolotin, and Bill Cosby

Episode 203 - TOYS

It's good to know what you're getting into with Toys, a surprisingly adult-oriented movie built around the childlike whimsy of Robin Williams in an especially impish performance. It's an elaborate and impractical contraption that dazzles with stunning visuals and zany comedy, even as it departs from its family-friendly roots early and often.

Kev Young joins us for this Christmas in July special to talk about misdirection, mischief, and the militarization of our youthful fascinations!

Toys (1992)
Directed by Barry Levinson
Written by Barry Levinson and Valerie Curtin
Starring Robin Williams, Michael Gambon, Joan Cusack, Robin Wright, LL Cool J, Arthur Malet, Jamie Foxx, and Donald O’Connor

Episode 160 - JUMANJI

What year is it!? As the calendar turns to a new decade, we remain comfortably ensconced in the past with one of our most beloved stars. Robin Williams guides us through the perils and pitfalls of the darkest jungle in Jumanji, which transforms the whimsy of a classic children's book into action-packed pathos that's mainly for the adults.

Debuting guest Matt Polizzi joins us in this safari of cinematic, literary, and gaming nostalgia, as we invite all those who seek to find a way to leave the present behind. Jumanji!

Jumanji (1995)
Directed by Joe Johnston
Produced by Scott Kroopf and William Teitler
Written by Jonathan Hensleigh and Greg Taylor & Jim Strain
Based on the children's book by Chris Van Allsburg
Starring Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst, Bradley Pierce, Bebe Neuwirth, Jonathan Hyde, Patricia Clarkson, and David Alan Grier

Episode 154 - BILLY MADISON

The schoolyard bell signals the end of our Summer of Sandler, as we head back to class with the comedy that launched the Sandman to stardom: Billy Madison. And while we struggle to remember the year of the Spanish Armada, so much of Adam Sandler's buffoonery remains firmly entrenched in our minds. But beyond debating the merits of shampoo versus conditioner, this episode inspires us to relive our own school years, when we too dreamed of our crushes, annoyed our bus drivers, and peed our pants. (It's the coolest!)

Daren Sprawls brings his teacher voice back to the pod as we finish our seasonal salute to Adam Sandler. Listen closely, and you may discover that somewhere in this rambling, incoherent episode, we approach something that resembles a rational thought. May God have mercy on our souls.

Billy Madison (1995)
Directed by Tamra Davis
Produced by Robert Simonds
Written by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy
Starring Adam Sandler, Bradley Whitford, Bridgette Wilson, Larry Hankin, Darren McGavin, Josh Mostel, Chris Farley, Steve Buscemi, and Jim Downey

Episode 128 - HOOK

Welcome back to Neverland, Pan the Man! Long considered a black sheep in Steven Spielberg's filmography, Hook is a touchstone for countless '90s kids who dreamed of living in an awesome treehouse and hanging out with Robin Williams. It's an all-out smorgasbord for the juvenile ego, full of insult battles, mincing pirates, and food-based weaponry.

It's also the perfect place to launch our latest themed month: the Robin Round Robin! In round one, Mr. Williams awakens the inner child in all of us, while special guest Brian Rudloff helps us recover some of our earliest movie-going memories. Bangarang!

Hook (1991)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, and Gerald R. Molen
Written by Jim V. Hart and Malia Scotch Marmo
Based on Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
Starring Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Bob Hoskins, Julia Roberts, Charlie Korsmo, Amber Scott, Caroline Goodall, Dante Basco, and Maggie Smith