All good things must come to an end eventually. When we started Chasing Childhood in mid-2020, we couldn't have imagined the joy, laughter, and new friendships it would bring into our lives. We hope that you were able to find the nostalgia (and maybe some cringe) in revisiting these childhood movies, TV shows, and 2 video games. For our finale, we answer questions sent in by our listeners, play a game, and chat with two of our favorite guest hosts: Tyler and Jackie. Thank you all so very much for coming on this 3+ year journey with us! Here's to new adventures!
After multiple requests from a friend to watch this film over the last couple of years, we're reviewing Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020). It may be a modern Netflix tale, but many of the stars from this movie are quite familiar and nostalgic for us! Even though this is just a quick bonus episode, we hope you enjoy one last rewatch with us. And to Cordell, whose persistence inspired this, we're so happy we finally took your suggestion!
After discussing a modern tale last time, we decided to rewind much farther back than our childhoods for this week. To finish off the Christmas season and our very last film review, we're watching It's a Wonderful Life (1946). George Bailey's life has been a series of horrific experiences, accidents, loss, and turmoil for as long as he can remember. Every big dream shattered, every hope dashed as he discovers himself more and more wrapped up in what he feels are mediocre responsibilities to his community of Bedford Falls. After one disaster too many, he contemplates taking his life until his guardian angel Clarence shows him that if he'd never existed, this sleepy town and the people in it would be miserable without him. We have to ask: has this so-called classic earned its wings? Or do we wish it, too, had never been born? Let’s find out together!
What do you get when you combine a gentle woodsman and a con artist mailman? A modern holiday movie is what! For our Christmas episode, we're exploring that very plot with Klaus (2019). Banished by his Postmaster General father to a remote island where he must prove himself as a postman, spoiled Jesper can't imagine how he'll get its violent and hateful residents to begin mailing letters. That is until he meets Klaus: a kind recluse who secretly loves making toys for the island's kids and wants to receive their letters. Children unlock the spirit of the season with their desire to believe in the magic of Klaus, igniting peace and a new culture for everyone on the island. So is this animated feature what we'd call a modern classic? Or was the entire story totally predictable? Let’s find out together!
You better watch out, you better not cry, we're back this week with a movie starring Kurt Russell as Santa Claus. It may not be from our childhoods, but we're excited to dive into The Christmas Chronicles (2018). It's the first Christmas since their father passed, which puts Teddy and Kate on opposite sides of the holiday spirit this year. After their mom leaves them home alone on Christmas Eve, the pair come up with a plan to catch Santa on film. Except the entire night goes awry when they accidentally cause him to crash his sleigh in Chicago, losing his sack, magic hat, and reindeer. Together they must help Santa find his items and save Christmas. So is this Netflix movie a modern classic? Or were we disappointed with the premise? Let’s find out together!
Classics are classic for a reason. Hence why we're using this week to revisit an age old ballet story with The Nutcracker Prince (1990). If you've ever seen The Nutcracker, you may know how this story plays out. Clara receives a nutcracker doll from the eccentric Uncle Drosselmeyer who has a secret agenda in pairing them up together: the nutcracker is actually his nephew! At night, Nutcracker comes to life along with the other dolls and figurines in Clara's house to battle the evil Mouse King and his army. After falling in love with Nutcracker once she's shrunk down to doll size, Clara must make the choice between spending forever in a world of fantasy or growing up in real life. Do we think this movie compares to the other versions of the tale that we've seen? Or was it an unmemorable attempt? Let’s find out together!
We love robbery and fraud... Well, not us, but the characters in this story sure do! This week we're rewatching the holiday DCOM 'Twas the Night (2001). Despite how much his parents loathe it, Danny looks up to his scammer Uncle Nick and wants to take after him some day. When Uncle Nick winds up stealing money from the wrong people, he sneakily decides to hide out with Danny's family on Christmas Eve. Through a series of wacky events, Santa is accidentally knocked out in their living room which prompts Uncle Nick and Danny to take his sleigh for a joy ride, albeit with very different intentions. Soon Danny learns that his uncle is not someone to admire and Uncle Nick learns a valuable lesson about the importance of family. This movie stars the one and only Bryan Cranston, but is it actually good? Or could it not escape from beneath the DCOM corniness? Let’s find out together!
Over the river and through the woods, we're on our way to a new episode! It's another week of our holiday countdown and another movie about long distance travel as we review To Grandmother's House We Go (1992). Starring the Olsen twins in their peak Full House era cuteness, Julie and Sarah decide to take an impromptu trip to their great grandma's house and give their mom a well deserved vacation. The only issues are... she doesn't know they're leaving, they've never gone anywhere alone (because they're 5), and they get themselves kidnapped by a pair of holiday bandits. Lots of plot lines happen at once, but great grandma remains the OG ride or die. Was this movie just as nostalgic and fun as Lex remembered from her childhood? Or are we both staying home this Christmas? Let’s find out together!
What's the farthest you've ever traveled for the holidays? Were you wearing a Santa suit and beard? This week we're kicking off our holiday season by exploring all road trip possibilities with I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998). Jake is an exceptionally selfish college student who dreams only of beaches, swindling fellow students, and his way-too-nice girlfriend Allie. When his dad offers to give him the family Porsche if he comes home for Christmas, Jake is eager to take him up on the offer until he's sabotaged by a group of college bullies. Forced to wear a Santa suit and trek his way from California to New York by foot, car, bus, plane, and dog crate in a variety of wild situations, he slowly begins to understand the true meaning of the holidays. So did this movie make us want to risk life and limb to celebrate Christmas at home? Or were we wholly unimpressed with our hero's efforts? Let’s find out together!
We're all in this together! And by that we mean Steph is back and it's time to review the DCOM that took the world by storm in the early 00s: High School Musical (2006). In what is basically a modern Grease revival, Troy and Gabriella meet on a cruise and sing karaoke together, but their romance is not meant to be when they realize they'll never see each other again. Turns out genius Gabriella has transferred to Troy's school where he's the basketball star and they couldn't be more different. Yet their love of singing remains! So of course they try out for the Spring musical together and completely disrupt the high school's status quo. So did we absolutely love rewatching this Disney Channel classic? Or are we breaking free of the clichés once and for all? Let’s find out together!
No. Not the remake. The original. This week, Lex is joined by pod-friends Cassidy and KD from The Killer Cuties Podcast for a fun, nostalgia-filled review of the forgotten DCOM "Under Wraps (1997)." This film follows three teenagers and one very confused mummy as they face some risky adventures while trying to reunite the mummy with his love before he turns to dust forever. To be honest, we loved this film as kids, but does it still hold up today, 26 years after its premiere? Let's find out together!
**Warning: This is not a kid friendly movie. This week's episode contains strong language and we will discuss topics of violence**
Happy Halloween!! This week, Lex is joined by 2 fabulous "scream queens:" Christina and Lauren from Pickles and Vodka Podcast. We are taking a deep dive into the movie that sparked a beloved spooky season franchise with "Scream (1996)." The film follows high school student Sidney Prescott. On the anniversary of her mothers death, Sidney and her friends become targets of the costumed serial killer known as Ghostface. With the help of news reporter Gale Weathers, Sidney learns that everything is connected and must figure out the identity of the killer before they strike again. Is this beloved horror film overrated? Are the twists predictable? Most importantly, does this film deserve all of its sequels? Let's find out together!
Ok, ok... We KNOW this episode is longer than usual, but Lex just had way too much fun discussing "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" with Cat and Brittany from Fiddle and Pipe Podcast. "New Moon" is the second film of the Twilight franchise and follows Bella Swan as she struggles to cope with her age. After an incident at her birthday party, Bella and her century-old vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen break up, and Bella goes into a deep slump. She soon finds comfort by spending time with her close friend(?) Jacob Black. As things with Jacob heat up, Bella is also being hunted by the vengeful vampire Victoria, who wants to kill Bella because Edward killed her lover. Bella learns that Jacob is actually a werewolf and is faced with the decades old dilemma of #teamedward vs #teamjacob. Is this the world's greatest sequel? Do the graphics and CGI hold up today? Is the Twilight Saga completely overrated? Let's find out together!
Steph is still away *frowny face* but this week, Lex is joined by Shaleena from Everything 90s Podcast and former host of Role Call Podcast (and pod-friend), Simone. We're in the "Girl's Room" and we're ready to chat about the forgotten 1997 movie, "Tower of Terror." In this film, a journalist investigates an old mystery dating back to 1939, when 5 people vanished from the Hollywood Tower Hotel elevator on Halloween night. Does this film still hold up today, or do we wish it would vanish from our memories? Let's find out together!
**Warning: This is not a kid friendly movie. This week's episode will discuss topics of violence**
Steph is away, so it's up to Lex to keep the pod rolling! This week, Lex is joined by Jackie (aka J-Quelyn) for a fun review of the 1999 Tim Burton film, "Sleepy Hollow." The film follows Ichabod Crane as he travels to the small town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of brutal murders. However, Ichabod's worst fears come to life when he finds out the killings are at the hands of a mysterious supernatural villain: the Headless Horseman. This Oscar winning film came out 24 years ago, but does it still hold up today? Let's find out together!
Ready to say "I do" to another week with us? Spooky season means it's peak Tim Burton hours as we review another cult classic: Corpse Bride (2005). After butchering the rehearsal of his arranged marriage to Victoria, young Victor runs away into the forest to practice his vows and winds up accidentally married to a corpse bride named Emily. Through a series of kooky underworld events, he tries (and fails) to return to his living betrothed and explain the mix up to his sensitive undead wife. All the while, in his absence, sweet Victoria is being unwittingly married off to Emily's murderous ex-fiancé! In the end, this trio must learn what it means to sacrifice for another person and the true definition of forever. So was this twisted tale what we were expecting? Or is it just a little too weird for our tastes? Let’s find out together!
This week, we're continuing our spooky season episodes with a film that puts the "boo" in boogy: "Casper Meets Wendy" (1998). While on vacation with his uncles, The Ghostly Trio, Casper meets the good little witch named Wendy and the two quickly become friends. While the two characters share grievances, Casper learns that Wendy and her aunts are on the run from an evil warlock named Desmond Spellman. Upon hearing from his magic mirror that Wendy will become the most powerful witch of all time, Desmond went full Evil Queen and decided to track Wendy down in hopes of destroying her and the chances of her power surpassing his. Now, Casper and Wendy (with the help of their families) must work together to stop Desmond from fulfilling his wicked plan. Is this Halloween crossover a dream? Or is this a total nightmare? Let's find out together!
What's your ideal world look like? This week we're exploring the concept of "other" lives with the stop motion film Coraline (2009). After moving into a rickety old house with her parents who are too busy to pay attention, Coraline makes her own entertainment by following a door in the living room wall. It leads her to an alternate world where her "other mother" is super fun and lets her do everything she's ever dreamed of–– with one catch: this dream world is too good to be true and "other mother" wants her to stay forever. Coraline must use her clever mind, unlikely friendships, and stubborn disposition to escape before she winds up with buttons for eyes. So, is this movie prime for kids? Or is it just a little too spooky for regular viewing? Let’s find out together!
Feeling witchy? It's officially the start of spooky season and we're kicking it off with a 90s classic called Practical Magic (1998). Two witch sisters named Gillian and Sally Owens are raised by their aunts in a town that ostracizes them for their family's spooky history and curse: if a man falls in love with an Owens woman, he dies a very sudden death. As their lives diverge onto different paths, both women take "never falling in love" to different extremes that land them in some seriously hot water. They must learn to overcome their family's legacy, their romantic curse, and get the town on their side to defeat an evil threat that plans to destroy them all. Is this movie filled with 90s nostalgic goodness? Or do we have trouble getting past the idea of Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as sisters? Let’s find out together!
Hop in, we're headed to paradise! We're rounding out August with a DCOM that we've been eager to review since the podcast started: The Even Stevens Movie (2003). After they're whisked away on a surprise trip to an island paradise, the Stevens family quickly discover that their luck has turned sour. Angry island natives, terrible weather, and increasingly frayed nerves begin to tear the family apart until they realize the truth: they're on a reality TV show with hidden cameras! Family love wins out over corporate greed as they learn what it means to truly have each other's backs despite their differences. Was this DCOM well worth the lengthy wait? Or should we have chosen another Disney original instead? Let’s find out together!