Almost Classic Movies
Welcome to Almost Classic Movies, the podcast where two movie fans talk about movies. From epic adventures like Lord of the Rings to iconic comedies like Wayne's World and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, we explore a blend of almost classics, cult favorites, seasonal gems, and even actual classics. ("Almost Classic Movies" is frankly just a catchy title that riffs off a particular TV program).
It's just two friends talking movies—one loves production trivia, while the other enjoys simply watching and soaking in the story. We strive for evergreen content, so you can pick an episode anywhere and dive right in. If you like what you hear, share it with a friend, family member, or maybe even Chris Hemsworth or Ryan Reynolds... That'd be pretty cool.
Thanks for listening!
Episodes
38 episodes
Undercover Blues — Clarinet Crimes, Oyster Fights, and CIA Baby Duty
This week, Jon & Donald go undercover with Undercover Blues (1993), a spy-comedy starring Dennis Quaid, Kathleen Turner, and a scene-stealing Stanley Tucci as the world’s most persistent mugger.Donald shares why this is one ...
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1:20:21
How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World - Where's the 3??
It’s the end of an era—Jon and Donald are saying goodbye to How to Train Your Dragon with the final film in the trilogy: The Hidden World. And just like Toothless, the pod is going out with a glow-up and a few tears.Thi...
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1:14:54
How to Train Your Dragon 2: Goobers and Alpha Dragons
Welcome to another episode of Almost Classic Movies, where Jon and Donald are diving into the next chapter of their How to Train Your Dragon series—with a side of chaotic intros and cat-like dragons.This week, it's ...
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58:23
How to Train Your Dragon: Almost Classic or Fully Legendary?
Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies with Jon and Donald! In this episode, the guys take to the skies with the 2010 animated hit How to Train Your Dragon—and things get personal fast. From Viking dad issues to dragon-sized fe...
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1:07:38
Austin Powers in Goldmember: Daddy Issues, Disco & Dutch Villains
Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies — where Jon and Donald dissect not-quite-classics with just enough seriousness to pretend we know what we’re doing.This week, we time-travel straight into the chaotic, shiny roller-disco tha...
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1:04:12
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies, where Jern and Dern dive into groovy throwbacks, questionable fashion choices, and highly quotable comedy gold. This week: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.In this episode:
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1:01:03
Austin Powers: Yeah Baby, Yeah! (Austin Powers)
In this groovy episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald travel back to the shagadelic '60s and swing into the chaotic, mojo-fueled world of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. It's a cinematic time capsule stu...
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55:45
Nacho Libre: Stretchy Pants, Celibacy Vows, and Jack Black's Finest?
Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies, where we’re almost as classic as a half-hearted love letter written in stretchy pants.In this week’s episode, Jon and Donald tag-team their way through the wild, weird, and weirdly quotable...
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56:04
The Blues Brothers: We Are On A Mission
This week, Jon and Donald are back with sunglasses, car crashes, and possibly a small arsenal of musical legends as they take on The Blues Brothers (1980).What starts as a noble quest to save an orphanage quickly spirals into 10...
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1:08:31
Princess Bride: The Rodents, the Romance, the Revenge
In this hilarious and heartfelt episode, Jon and Don dive deep into The Princess Bride, the beloved cult classic that blends fantasy, romance, revenge, and rodents of unusual size. From Peter Falk’s iconic storytelling to Miracle Max’s...
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58:54
Chicago (2002): Jazz Hands, Jail Time & Justice
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Donald tap into the razzle-dazzle world of 1920s Chicago with the Oscar-sweeping musical film Chicago (2002). From vaudeville glam to courtroom theatrics, the guys break down t...
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1:02:45
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: More Than Just a Day Off
Welcome to Episode 26 of Almost Classic Movies!This week, we're diving into the timeless high school comedy that defined a generation – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Join us as we revisit John Hughes’ Chicago love letter and ...
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1:43:22
Snow White and the Huntsman: A Darker Fairy Tale?
This week, Jon and Don take a deep dive into Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), a film that sits in the grey area of "almost classic." They break down the movie’s dark reimagining of the classic fairy tale, its production choices, and...
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59:40
Spirited Away: A Magical Trip with a Side of Trauma
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, we take a deep dive into Spirited Away, Studio Ghibli’s iconic masterpiece that defined anime for generations. We explore the enchanting yet unsettling world of the bathhouse, where 10...
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1:09:09
Your Name - … My Name, and a Whole Lot of Tears
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, we dive into the 2016 anime phenomenon, Your Name (Kimi no Na wa), a film that masterfully blends romance, time travel, and stunning animation. Join us as we unpack the heart-...
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1:15:45
2024 Oscars Predictions - Bonus Episode
Welcome to a special bonus episode of Almost Classic Movies! This time, we’re diving into the 97th Academy Awards ballot and making our predictions—whether we’ve seen the films or not (because let’s be real, that’s half t...
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52:39
Akira - The Anime that Revolutionized Sci-Fi
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don dive deep into the 1988 anime classic Akira. The hosts explore the film's intricate plot set in a dystopian Neo Tokyo, key philosophical themes, and the groundbreaking visuals that have infl...
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1:48:16
A Silent Voice – The Anime That Hits Different
🎥 Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies! We’re kicking off a four-episode anime series, and first up is A Silent Voice—an emotional, thought-provoking masterpiece that dives deep into bullying, redemption, and mental he...
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1:41:08
Captain America: Civil War - The Movie That Changed the MCU
🎙️ Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies! In this milestone 20th episode, we're diving deep into Captain America: Civil War—the final installment in our Captain America rewatch series, leading up to Brave New World.
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1:21:27
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - A Spy Movie with Super Heroes
In this episode, we dive into the spy-thriller world of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Join us as we explore the key themes, memorable moments, and incredible action sequences that set this Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) entry a...
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1:07:04
Captain America: The First Avenger - Almost as Classic as the MCU Itself
Welcome back to Almost Classic Movies! In this episode, we kick off a brand-new series diving into the origins of Captain America in preparation for Captain America: Brave New World. We're rewatching and breaking down The ...
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59:03
The Gentleman – Exploring Guy Ritchie's Unique Style
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, we discuss Guy Ritchie's 2019 film 'The Gentleman.' We explore the film's unique storytelling, driven by Hugh Grant's character Fletcher, and the performances of Matthew McConaughey, Charli...
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1:16:05
The Giant Mechanical Man - Jenna Fischer in something not related to The Office
In this episode of Almost Classic Movies, Jon and Don take on the heartfelt indie rom-com The Giant Mechanical Man. Starring Jenna Fischer and Chris Messina, this hidden gem follows the intertwined lives of two down-on-their-l...
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1:00:47