MFPblog

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Sometimes, iconic characters from a movie become pop culture references that outlast and outshine the movie itself. Sometimes, you’d rent a movie at Blockbuster based on the cover alone. And sometimes, ambitious white women in ancient Egypt or “Hauptmann-Koenig” time travel and teleport into beautiful mannequins in a department store in Philly! In 1987 and 1991, that sometimes and those iconic characters were the namesakes of MANNEQUIN and MANNEQUIN TWO: ON THE MOVE.

Whether in the role played by Kim Cattrall in the first outing (playing an Egyptian character – in ancient Egypt) or by Kristy Swanson in the sequel, the female lead of this well-known franchise is a woman hopelessly trapped in a department store window mannequin until a hapless and bumbling (but secretly talented!) handsome guy named Jonathan or Jason arrives to become her instant true love and render the force of life into her immobile body. Cue the instantly-iconic Starship power ballad “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” and the inevitable wedding bells!

In both movies, Meshach Taylor plays the indefatigable and fabulous Hollywood Montrose, an out and proud gay man who does window displays at the Prince and Company department store and who helps these men meet their mannequin matches. How moving are Mannequin’s representations of women and of “Hollywood” in 2022? Is the Mannequin still vibrant and vivacious – or have time or Egyptian gods or a cursed necklace turned her back into cold, expressionless, painted fiberglass? Also, why don’t more movies Have A Dog? Our podcast hosts surveyed every cranny and corridor of Prince and Company by hang glider to answer those questions and revisit these movies.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!

Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung

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As we discussed in our 100th episode, L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz delighted generation after generation of children, and MGM’s 1939 musical adaptation became one of the most popular and cherished motion pictures of all time. So it’s only natural that in the ’80s, Disney decided to pay tribute to these Oz classics in a family film that puts Dorothy in an insane asylum and turns her beloved trio of friends to stone… right?

With a surprisingly dark storyline and truly frightening special effects, it’s no wonder 1985’s RETURN TO OZ scared the hell out of more children than it charmed. (Surprise! It wasn’t a hit.) Disney’s pseudo-sequel to a film that everybody knows and loves is largely forgotten, but that doesn’t stop When We Were Young’s hosts from checking back in with the many-headed Princess Mombi, the sinister but fabulous Nome King, and the kooky, cackling Wheelers. Fortunately, young Fairuza Balk and a handful of lovable new comrades, including Tik-Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and a sassy hen named Billina, are on hand to brighten things up between shudders. 

Is Disney’s dystopian vision of Oz worth the return trip? Or do we wish Dorothy had just followed her own advice and stayed home this time around? Return with us to the scary old land of Oz — if you dare!

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts so more folks check out the show!

Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:44:50 — 119.1MB)

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Surrender, Dorothy! For the 100th episode of When We Were Young, Seth, Becky, Chris and returning guest host Jan have clicked their heels together three times and summoned a twister to whisk them all the way back to 1939, when the ultimate Hollywood classic landed on the big screen in glorious Technicolor. Watching THE WIZARD OF OZ has been a childhood rite of passage for several generations now, its characters and quotable dialogue known to just about every man, woman, and child this side of Munchkinland. But does the film itself still have the brains, heart, and nerve to dazzle discerning modern day viewers?

First, Oz aficionado Chris recounts his history with the original fantasy series by L. Frank Baum, which is much more robust than you might think. Then, strap on some sparkly slippers and skip down the yellow brick road with us once again as we revisit the classic film — going gaga over Toto, debating the best and worst tracks from the iconic soundtrack, and marveling at the film’s unforgettable makeup, production design, and special effects. Plus, discover who has the hots for the Tin Man, who thinks the Scarecrow is the ideal life partner, and which hosts think the Cowardly Lion is due for a poaching. (We don’t dodge the tough questions on this podcast.) Repeat after us: there’s no podcast like When We Were Young!

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts so more folks check out the show!

Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:41:38 — 108.0MB)

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When We Were Young’s Tom Cruise double-feature sets sail on what might be the movie star’s ultimate role, the titular charming and conflicted sports agent of Cameron Crowe’s JERRY MAGUIRE.

This 1996 romantic drama made a star out of Renee Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr. (the latter winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor) and cemented Cruise’s status as Hollywood’s go-to leading man with his record-breaking fifth $100-million-plus-earning feature.

Decades later, does Cruise’s performance still complete us? Does the film have us at “Hello?” Do the script’s seemingly endless quotable moments, er, show us the money? (Sorry.) Join us on the final stop of our Cruise down memory lane, with a pit stop discussing the actor’s other notable 1996 entry, “Mission: Impossible.”

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts so more folks check out the show!

And show us the money to help cover the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California via our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:27:41 — 84.7MB)

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Do you feel the need? The need to speed back to the 80s and bro out with Iceman, Wolfman, Slider, Viper, Goose, and Maverick all over again? If so, you’ll love Part One of our cruise through the career of the galaxy’s biggest superstar (don’t tell Xenu), starting with the 1986 blockbuster that first catapulted him to worldwide fame – TOP GUN.

The name “Tom Cruise” may be synonymous with movie stardom now, but back in 1986, he was still best known for his undie-baring breakout in the teen sex comedy RISKY BUSINESS, so having him headline an action-packed military drama was a bit of a gamble. Of course, Top Gun ended up topping all expectations, becoming the year’s highest-grossing film, launching a killer soundtrack, winning an Academy Award for the soaring romantic ballad “Take My Breath Away,” and cementing its place in history as one of the most iconic 80s movies.

Now, as Top Gun approaches its 35th anniversary with a long-awaited sequel on the horizon, it’s time to find out whether these boys are still worth playing with after all these years – or if we’ve lost that loving feeling for this classic dad flick. So take a deep breath, get inverted, and select your wingman carefully, because we’re heading right into the danger zone of Reagan-era jingoism and mid-80s machismo – and we’re not stopping until we’re going Mach 2 with our hair on fire. (Whatever that means!) Will we take Top Gun to bed, or lose it forever?

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts so more folks check out the show!

Donate to help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California via our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung