’80s Movies: A Guide to What’s Wrong with Your Parents podcast

Posted on July 18, 2019July 18, 2019 by Tara McNamara — Leave a comment

PODCAST: Men’s dreams come true in XANADU

Xanadu is a pure, sweet romantic musical fantasy down to the kissing animated fish. Wait…what? You know, like the man dressed like a spider crawling under women’s legs. Huh? Xanadu is a fever dream: crazy imagery and chaos that seems awesome but when you wake up, you realize none of it made sense. But, just Olivia Newton-John sings, it’s hard to deny that Xanadu is, indeed, “magic.”

XANADU is a fever dream of a film, and while mostly innocent, it still delivered a stifling ’80s era message to girls.

’80s Movies: A Guide to What’s Wrong with Your Parents podcasters Riley Roberts (pictured above) and Tara McNamara give their take on the roller disco musical fantasy that will leave you both humming and scratching your head. They cover the What the Heck elements, what makes it hold up, and how – even in a squeaky clean PG film, it delivered another chip in the Gen X psyche.

Give the podcast a listen and then check out our Xanadu guide page for the full explanation of what went right and went went wrong.

Posted on July 11, 2019July 11, 2019 by Tara McNamara — 1 Comment

PODCAST: CASUAL SEX? Writer Wendy Goldman explains how a female buddy musical comedy turned into an Andrew “Dice” Clay rom-com.

Tara McNamara Riley Roberts take on CASUAL SEX? (1988)

Tara McNamara and Riley Roberts give their take on Casual Sex? (1988) with an interview with the film’s writer Wendy Goldman on the “’80s Movies: A Guide to What’s Wrong with Your Parents” podcast. To listen on iTunes, go HERE.

If you haven’t seen Casual Sex? starring Lea Thompson and Victoria Jackson, you must. At first glance, it’s a cute rom-com about two women who are looking for Mr. Right after the AIDS health crisis scared them off Mr. Right Now hook-ups. It takes place at a Club Med knock-off, the exercise fad, jokes about mineral water, and Lea Thompson’s hair are so, so ’80s. But, on closer look , it’s a tale of ’80s Hollywood history. As the “making of” story is unwound, it’s an education in how male-dominated Hollywood stuck their thumb into and managed to totally alter and mangle what is likely the most female-centric film production of the 1980’s.

Wendy Goldman screenwriter CASUAL SEX? — Wendy Goldman discusses how a 3-song musical sketch became a feature film.

While there are a few head-scratching moments, it remains a charmer, thanks to the talent of the actors, the director Genevieve Robert, and screenwriters Wendy Goldman and the late Judy Toll. Goldman explained how it all went down with our podcast hosts Tara McNamara and Riley Roberts in the latest episode of ’80s Movies: A Guide to What’s Wrong with Your Parents.

Goldman’s insights are also worked into our complete guide to the film. And, check out Tara interviewing Lea Thompson about Casual Sex? when the romp airs on Day 1 of HDNet Movies Iconic ’80s week on July 22 at 9:45pE/6:45p PST.

Posted on May 31, 2019June 4, 2019 by Tara McNamara — Leave a comment

PODCAST: Why DIRTY DANCING is Most Relevant Now

Dirty Dancing Riley Roberts Jack Virga Hall

With Missouri, Alabama, and other states banning abortion, Dirty Dancing has never been more important or more relevant. Made in 1987, Roe Vs. Wade was decided law and women had won the battle to control their own reproductive rights. However, screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein felt a time might come when Americans needed a reminder of why the law was passed.

Dirty Dancing is a fun, coming-of-age, dance movie with a plot that hinges completely on obtaining an illegal abortion. Viewers are reminded of why abortion is the only means of survival for some women who, in desperation, will put themselves at risk to end their pregnancy. In our podcast, mother-daughter movie critics Tara McNamara (Gen X) and Riley Roberts (Gen Z) examine the film through a modern lens, looking at the abortion plotline as well as why the uncomfortable age difference between Baby and Johnny played well with young, female audiences.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST ON ITUNES HERE (also available on Stitcher)

And, for more details on the history of Dirty Dancing and Bergstein’s clever strategizing of how she could relay a story about the importance of giving women agency over their own bodies and decisions, go to our Dirty Dancing page here: https://80smovieguide.com/dirty-dancing/

Posted on April 11, 2019April 11, 2019 by Tara McNamara — Leave a comment

PET SEMATARY Podcast: How Stephen King’s 1989 Film Shows Gen X Parenting & the Birth of Millennials

Stephen King had been on a decade long tear of financially successful horror films and 1989’s Pet Sematary would be one of his biggest moneymakers. But was it good? Hmmm. Yeah. So, on its 30th Anniversary, there’s a new Pet Sematary! Is it any good? We get into that…but what is already evident is that it’s a money maker. One week into its release, the Pet Sematary remake with Jason Clarke and John Lithgow is already in King’s Top 10.

But, 1989’s Pet Sematary reflects something the new one doesn’t: Gen X parenting. The oldest Gen Xers were just starting to have children by the end of the ’80s – and, basically, everything that goes down in the Creed family only happens because of the new hands-on parenting that Gen Xers had adopted. Check out our take on our ’80s Movies: A Guide to What’s Wrong with Your Parents podcast…you’ll see the film in an entirely different light . And remember: little Ellie is a future Millennial.

PET SEMATARY: Why It Matters & Why the 2019 Remake Works

Posted on March 22, 2019March 22, 2019 by Tara McNamara — Leave a comment

THE BREAKFAST CLUB: How the Most Iconic ’80s Movie Affected a Generation

THE BREAKFAST CLUB podcast Riley Roberts Claire Molly Ringwald

The Breakfast Club is the face of the ’80s Movies – the classic gave teens a voice, showed their box office power, and cemented John Hughes as the decade’s most influential director.
This weekend marks the 35th Anniversary of Claire, Allison, John Bender, Andrew, and Brian’s Saturday detention (“March 24, 1984, Shermer High School, Shermer, Illinois….”)

The movie made an impact in the entertainment industry, in Hollywood history, and most certainly, on ’80s teens who absorbed a whole lot of negative messaging. From blaming their parents for all their problems to John Bender’s abusive and sexually harassing behavior of Claire that ends in his getting the girl, ’80s Movie Guide’s Tara McNamara (Gen X) and Riley Roberts (Gen Z) break down how The Breakfast Club may be the ’80s most influential film in all the wrong ways on our ’80s Movies: A Guide to What’s Wrong with Your Parents podcast. Take a listen and give us your take in the comments below.

Posted on February 26, 2019February 26, 2019 by Tara McNamara — Leave a comment

MYSTIC PIZZA Podcast: Slut Shamey Flick Marks Marriage-Can-Wait Movement

mystic pizza riley roberts slice of heaven julia roberts movie critic

Mystic Pizza is an anomaly among ’80s teen movies: it was written by a woman, about three women who had healthy attitudes toward sex – sort of. By 1988, the pendulum had swung from the orgy-filled ’70s to the good-girls-don’t sexual conservatism. That confusing perspective is on full display in Mystic Pizza, where best friends and sisters JoJo (Lili Taylor), Daisy (Julia Roberts), and Kat (Annabeth Gish) engage in sex without hangups but, at the same time, give and take all kinds of slut shame.

We explore that angle in our ’80s Movies: A Guide to What’s Wrong with Your Parents podcast, along with the sociological change that was taking place among young people and the changing attitude of what they are supposed to do with their life after high school. Please give it a listen and, let us know what you think in the comments below. You can currently stream Mystic Pizza on Hulu, Epix and Amazon Prime. And, read up on all the behind-the-scenes info of Mystic Pizza including what made it so rad and so wrong on our Mystic Pizza page: https://80smovieguide.com/mystic-pizza/

MYSTIC PIZZA reflected how young women were beginning to reconsider the idea of getting married right out of school.

Posted on December 2, 2018December 2, 2018 by Tara McNamara — Leave a comment

SPLASH Podcast: A Lovable Family Film if You Overlook the Bestiality, Child Nudity & Voyeurism

Photo Above: Podcaster Riley Roberts gives her take on Splash. Photographer: Victoria Igloi.

Splash is a family film that began our modern-day fascination with mermaids, a film that made Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah bonafide movie stars, and began Hanks journey as American treasure. But, does the film live up to its legacy? In many ways, yes! It’s still a heartwarmer of a tale. But family friendly? Hmmm…maybe not.

On ’80s Movies: A Guide to What’s Wrong with Your Parents podcast, mother-daughter movie critics Tara McNamara (Gen X) and Riley Roberts (Gen Y) re-examine the film with a modern-day perspective and discuss how it turned the Disney princess trope on its fins, and yet, perpetuated the attitudes that successful men are pigs to women and that’s okay.

Please give a listen to Splash: A Lovable Disney Movie that Just Happens to Have Child Nudity, Bestiality, and a Sex Crime.* And, check out our other podcast episodes available on iTunes, Stitcher, and BlogTalkRadio. Also, please read our comprehensive behind the scenes guide to Splash here: https://80smovieguide.com/splash/

(*depending on what state or country you’re in).

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Tara McNamara — Leave a comment

PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES: Is Neal Page’s Experience Now the American Thanksgiving Experience?

Tara McNamara Riley Roberts Planes Trains Automobiles

’80s Movies: A Guide to What’s Wrong with Your Parents PODCAST:

When you think of Thanksgiving movies, your brain might rush by Addams Family Values, Free Birds or Jack and Jill. Frankly, Thanksgiving movies of substance are few and far between. But hopefully, you’ll think of the greatest, most relatable Thanksgiving movie ever: Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

But let’s focus in on one word: relatable. In 1987, Neal Page’s (Steve Martin) teeth-gnashing journey was an anomaly. We’d all had a frustrating experience or two, but Neal’s three-day journey to get home was an exaggeration for most everyone (except John Hughes, whose five-day ordeal to get home one Thanksgiving inspired the script). In 2018, though, more cars are on the roads, more planes in the air, and more B.S. at the car rental counter. Is Planes, Trains and Automobiles now the American Thanksgiving experience? On our ‘80s Movies: A Guide to What’s Wrong with Your Experience podcast, mother-daughter movie critics Tara McNamara and Riley Roberts look at that concept, why a perceived “family film” got an R rating, and if this classic holds up for today’s youth.

If nothing else, let our podcast entertain you on your long, long ride to Grandma’s house.

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Tara McNamara — Leave a comment

Is YOUNG GUNS Responsible for Gen X’s Gun Obsession?

It’s the 30th Anniversary of Young Guns (currently steaming on Hulu and Netflix) and we’re celebrating. Young Guns is considered the most historically accurate version of Billy the Kid on film, but let’s be honest – the real Billy and the Regulators weren’t quite as attractive. By putting hot, cool actors like Emilio Estevez and Kiefer Sutherland in a testosterone-heavy “band of brothers” environment with a “heavy-metal” ’80s score, did Young Guns make gun ownership sexy to men? We explore how Young Guns affected its teen viewers in 1988 and how it still affects Gen X today on the latest episode of ’80s Movies: A Guide to What’s Wrong with Your Parents. Give a listen to our take on Young Guns below and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher.

Also, check out the complete guide to Young Guns: https://80smovieguide.com/young-guns/

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Tara McNamara — Leave a comment

Why THE KARATE KID is The Most Gen X Movie Ever Made: ’80s MOVIES Podcast

Riley Roberts The Karate Kid Crane Kick podcast 80s Movies

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST:

Today is the 34th Anniversary of The Karate Kid, a movie that continues to resonate with the kids of the ’80s…and Millennials and Generation Z. The film about a bullied teen (Ralph Macchio) who is trained in self-defense by a wise, elderly karate master (Pat Morita) spawned sequels, a spinoff, an animated series, and currently, the fantastic YouTube series “Cobra Kai.” Why does it work?

It’s the ultimate fantasy: taking on and conquering a bully.
The magical mentorship/friendship/surrogate parent-child relationship between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi.
The Crane Kick finale

Another reason The Karate Kid resonated with ’80s teens was that it represents how Generation X sees itself: an underdog, a latch-key kid who had to deal with life’s obstacles without a parent around, and who succeeded through hard work. ’80s MOVIES: A GUIDE TO WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOUR PARENTS podcast explores this and how today’s teens view this movie today. Listen to the end: Gen Z co-host Riley Roberts (pictured above) gives substantial and shocking insight of what it’s like to be a teen in today’s drug-filled high schools. Click HERE to check out our comprehensive guide to The Karate Kid.