Is there a movie you sort of remember loving in the 90's/ early 2000's, but you're not quite sure if it was actually any good? Nostalgia Be Damned has got you covered! Join Zach & Brandon every week as they revisit forgotten gems, underrated box office flops, classics, and dumpster fires alike that they loved as kids. They cover the entire film's plot to remind you just how crazy some of them were, while ultimately trying to determine if the movie holds up today.
Episodes
Wednesday Jul 22, 2020
Can‘t Hardly Wait
Wednesday Jul 22, 2020
Wednesday Jul 22, 2020
Zach & Brandon revisit a seminal late 90's teen favorite, Can't Hardly Wait. Following in the footsteps of similar one-night high school party classics like American Graffiti and Dazed and Confused, this coming of age comedy is a real time capsule of its generation. The boys discuss its impact on them as pre-teens, as well as some of the outdated character stereotypes, clever subversion of genre tropes, and the quintessential 90's mixtape soundtrack. So blast some Guns 'N Roses, get ready to lose your virginity, and scream to the heavens 'Mike Dexter is a GOD!' Yesterday's history. Tomorrow's the future. Tonight's the party.
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
Ice Age
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
Nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar as well as spawning four theatrical sequels, 2002's Ice Age became a pop culture phenomenon at the start of the 21st century. The animated comedy's one minute long teaser featuring a strange looking squirrel trying to bury his nut took the world by storm. Little did we know, we'd spend the better part of two decades with Scrat and his mostly extinct mammal pals. Brandon & Zach revisit the first Ice Age to discuss the history of the project, the ray tracing animation, Rusted Root, 'Joe' Leguizamo, and Dodo bird mass suicide.
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
The Patriot
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
Zach & Brandon tackle their third Roland Emmerich film on the show (following previous episodes on Independence Day & Godzilla). 2000's The Patriot earned three Oscar nominations despite receiving mixed reviews upon release. The boys break down the historical epic's plot and the impact of seeing it at such a young age. Highlights include cannonball decapitations, a roster of Nostalgia Be Damned child actors, Mel Gibson's 'I'm not going to cry' face, and the film's massive production. Twenty years later, is this American Revolutionary War drama closer in quality to Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan or Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor?
Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
Spy Kids
Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
Join Zach & Brandon to revisit a film neither of them particularly enjoyed as kids, but have received several requests to cover on the show. 2001's Spy Kids was director Robert Rodriguez's first foray into children's entertainment, marking a bizarre turn for the 90's indie auteur. A favorite among their generation, the boys check back in on the action/adventure family comedy as adults to see what critics and kids alike loved. Does it hold up nearly two decades later? They get into their hated of the kid-spy genre, Danny Trejo's introduction as Machete, the terrifying Pee Wee Herman meets Telletubbies nightmare villain show, and the insanity of thumb henchmen.
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Balto
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Join Zach & Brandon as they revisit a (mostly) animated tale steeped in controversy. 1995's Balto was a box office failure upon release, but grew in popularity on home video. It's VERY loosely based on the true story about the dog who helped save children infected by the diphtheria epidemic in the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska. But 25 years later, the record's been set straight regarding the historical inaccuracies of Balto's heroism. But how does the movie hold up? The boys discuss its distracting side characters, quality of animation and the subtle sexual innuendos hidden in this G-rated kid's flick. Balto... he's part dog. Part wolf. All lies.
Wednesday Jun 17, 2020
Mrs. Doubtfire
Wednesday Jun 17, 2020
Wednesday Jun 17, 2020
It's Zach & Brandon's third Robin Williams family comedy, as well as their third episode covering a feature directed by Chris Columbus! They revisit their memories of 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire, as well as alternate casting ideas, scrapped sequel premises and the film's cultural significance. Join the boys as they run through the entire crazy plot, beat by beat. They discuss the Oscar winning makeup, their favorite Lawrence brother, and the overall insanity of the protagonist's plan.
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
Heavyweights
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
1995's Heavyweights IMDb synopsis reads: Plump kids are lured into joining a posh fat camp with the promise of quick weight loss and good times, only to find that the facility is a woodland hellhole run by a psycho ex-fitness instructor. Zach & Brandon take their first trip to Camp Hope and are surprised to see a stacked cast of three Mighty Ducks, the director of Bridesmaids, Grandma's Boy himself, Buster Scruggs, and Ben Stiller in an underrated villain turn. Both a sardonic spoof of 90's fitness gurus and a traditional Disney rag tag sports team flick, the boys discuss the pros and cons of this cult hit that's become a favorite of their generation.
Monday Jun 01, 2020
John Q.
Monday Jun 01, 2020
Monday Jun 01, 2020
Hot off his Oscar win as the corrupt cop in 'Training Day,' Denzel Washington turned in an overlooked performance as a father forced to take an ER hostage when the hospital refuses to perform his son's lifesaving heart surgery. Although a modest box office success, critics panned the film. Zach & Brandon revisit 2002's John Q. to determine whether or not it deserves it's shockingly low Rotten Tomatoes score. Although a deeply serious film, they manage to find plenty to jab at, including news reporter Tuck Lampley's questionable methods, the motley crew of hostages, and a heart rate monitor countdown to death. And remember, it's not goodbye. It's see you later.
Tuesday May 26, 2020
The Parent Trap (1998)
Tuesday May 26, 2020
Tuesday May 26, 2020
Twice the fun, double the trouble. Zach & Brandon revisit the film their sisters had in heavy rotation back in the day. They grew up loving the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, which introduced the boys, and the world, to Lindsay Lohan. Tackling a rare genre for the show, they break down the plot of this romantic comedy and all their favorite bits- including summer camp prank wars, elaborate secret handshakes, and the near blinding charisma of American legend Dennis Quaid. So grab your stuffed Cuppy and some Oreos & peanut butter to once again experience the joys of this Disney classic from a different perspective.
Wednesday May 20, 2020
Drumline
Wednesday May 20, 2020
Wednesday May 20, 2020
Half time is game time in this 2002 teen dramedy starring Nickelodeon's favorite rapper, Nick Cannon! Zach & Brandon revisit the pseudo-sports flick they loved as preteens to see if it holds up nearly twenty years later. They cover 'the original Whiplash' to discuss Brandon's appreciation of Orlando Jones, Zach's obsession with drumlines in general, as well as their confusion over the amount of rapper/actor GQ's screen time. From Full Metal Jacket training regimens to Petey Pablo's musical performance- there's a lot to talk about. So grab your sticks, polish your kit, and remove the nostalgia goggles before hitting the field for this week's episode covering Drumline!
Thursday May 14, 2020
The Replacements
Thursday May 14, 2020
Thursday May 14, 2020
'Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever.' Zach revisits one of his favorite football flicks from childhood, while Brandon gets to see his beloved Keanu Reeves in a whole new light. They're discussing 2000's sports comedy The Replacements and all its quirks. From its recruitment montages, to its obsession with 'I Will Survive,' to its barnacle scrubbing quarterback- this is a film built on quirkiness. When professional football players start striking for more pay, the league hires replacement players to finish out the season, and boy howdy do they know how to pick 'em! So hit the locker room with the boys, flip a couple trucks, learn the Electric Slide, and grab your favorite trophy from the bottom of the ocean. Suit up for The Replacements!
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Stuart Little
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Little high little low, little hey little ho! 1999's Stuart Little was a box office success and a family favorite amongst 90s kids. Zach & Brandon revisit this beloved adaptation of E.B. White's classic children's book about a talking mouse and his human family. Of course in M. Night Shyamalan's script, Stuart is adopted by the Littles- which raises many questions for the boys. Why did this upper-class family choose to waste their resources on adopting a rodent instead of the many children at the orphanage in desperate need of care? Why does this family look as though they live in a Wes Anderson movie in late-90's New York? Why does no one react to this talking mouse like a rational human? So the cats can talk to the mouse, the mouse can talk to humans and cats, but the cats don't speak to humans? That, and so much more, on this week's episode!
Tuesday Apr 28, 2020
War of the Worlds (2005)
Tuesday Apr 28, 2020
Tuesday Apr 28, 2020
Travel back to 2005 with Zach & Brandon to the year that brought us Tom Cruise jumping on Oprah's couch to promote his latest collaboration with Steven Spielberg. War of the Worlds became one of the highest grossing films of that year, further proof that Americans love some good ol' fashioned disaster porn. The boys discuss everything about this alien invasion epic, including Dakota Fanning's MTV Movie Award nominated performance, blood vegetation, humans harvested via alien anus mouth, Morgan Freeman's narration and Tom Crusie playing a terrible father/ badass Brooklyn dock worker. So crank that camera iris open, overexpose them whites, disintegrate into dust or suddenly decide to join the military because it's time to revisit this sci-fi blockbuster!
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
Flubber
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
Tuesday Apr 14, 2020
Zach & Brandon revisit 1997's sci-fi family comedy Flubber. A remake of a Disney classic, Flubber was marketed as a children's chucklefest about Robin Williams befriending a glob of sentient green goo. What we got dealt a lot more with a robot's infatuation with its human master, a scientist with a degenerative brain disorder that causes him to forget to marry his fiancé multiple times, and a pair of Wet Bandit wannabees attempting to steal intellectual property. Does it hold up? Was it ever good? The boys debate.
Tuesday Apr 07, 2020
Austin Powers in Goldmember
Tuesday Apr 07, 2020
Tuesday Apr 07, 2020
He's got the Midas touch, but he touched it too much. Zach & Brandon revisit one of their favorite characters from their childhood, and one of the most recognizable pop-culture creations of the 1990s, Austin Powers. Yeah, baby! Rather than dissect the original, or its shagadelic sequel, they tackle the third entry in this popular spy parody franchise. Austin teams up with Foxxy Cleopatra to take down Dr. Evil & Goldmember while also making a whole lot of mole puns, fart jokes, and quintessential early 2000s references. The boys get into everything that works and doesn't work about this sequel, including the legendary Michael Caine as Austin's 'Faja,' the hilarious meta opening, the strange amount of musical interludes, recycled gags, and Mini- Me's kickstand talents. GROOVY!
Tuesday Mar 03, 2020
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Tuesday Mar 03, 2020
Tuesday Mar 03, 2020
2003's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ushered in a new wave of classic horror remakes throughout the remainder of the decade. Zach and Brandon revisit this box office hit to see if it remains as brutal and unflinching as they remember. Is this one of the better horror remakes of its time or is it a whole lot of desaturated style over substance? Topics of discussion include salting stump legs, the producers' desperate attempts to soak Jessica Biel's white tank top, the dolly shot through the back of that lady's head, and R. Lee Ermey's truly gross-o character.
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
Zoolander
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
One look? One look? I don't think so! Zach and Brandon revisit one of their favorite comedies growing up, Zoolander. Released just two weeks after the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, Zoolander was considered a disappointment at first, but slowly built a devoted cult fanbase over the next few years. Endlessly quotable and a clever satire on the fashion industry & celebrity culture, it's a true time capsule of the early 2000s. There's runway walk-off competitions, gasoline fights, celebrity cameos galore, and one of Will Ferrell's greatest moments in front of a camera. It also taught us valuable lessons like there's more to life than being really really really ridiculously good looking. And that Hansel, he's so hot right now.
Saturday Feb 15, 2020
Bad Boys 2
Saturday Feb 15, 2020
Saturday Feb 15, 2020
At a hefty two and half hours long, there's a lot to say. Zach and Brandon revisit a favorite from their teenage years- one that's got excessively long car chases, several factions of ecstasy obsessed villains, and charismatic leads. With 2003's Bad Boys II, Michael Bay unleashed his MOST Michael Bay creation overflowing with booty shots, fast cars, and wait, is that Michael Shannon at a KKK rally? And are those rats having sex? Are those REAL rats simulating sex in missionary position? Was that Dan Marino? Lots to cover, a whole lot to dissect. Whatcha gonna do?
Sunday Jan 19, 2020
Cool Runnings
Sunday Jan 19, 2020
Sunday Jan 19, 2020
Zach & Brandon take a look back at a childhood classic with this 90's sports comedy. 1993's Cool Runnings is based on the true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team to compete at the Olympics. It's a tale as old as time filled with East German rivals, a sweet-as-can-be John Candy, and some montage perfection. Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it's bobsled time!
Wednesday Dec 25, 2019
Jack Frost (1998)
Wednesday Dec 25, 2019
Wednesday Dec 25, 2019
Zach & Brandon struggle to understand how exactly Michael Keaton turns into a snowman. A magical harmonica played on Christmas brings back Jack Frost back from the dead on the one year anniversary of his car accident. Now he's a terrifying CGI/puppet snowman that sort of resembles George Clooney. But hey, 'Snow Dad is better than No Dad.'