pisode Description: Join JR Sparrow and Stacey Sparrow as they dive into two iconic films from the '80s and '90s: Top Gun (1986) and Twister (1996). The hosts share their nostalgic memories, discuss the cultural impact of these movies, and debate where they rank in their all-time favorites. From Tom Cruise's career-defining role to Bill Paxton's tornado-chasing adventure, this episode celebrates the movies that shaped a generation.

[0:00 - 0:40] - Introduction & Podcast Promo

• King Jerm introduces "Pod and Saved Our Marriage" podcast
• JR and Stacey set up the episode theme: movies from 1986-1996

[0:40 - 2:18] - Top Gun: The Crown Jewel of 1986

• Discussion of Tom Cruise and Jerry Bruckheimer's collaboration
• Top Gun's impact on Tom Cruise's career
• Stacey shares her family's love for the film

[2:18 - 4:22] - Top Gun's Cinematic Excellence

• Why Top Gun does "everything you need in a movie"
• Comparison to Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
• The 36-year gap between films

[4:22 - 6:47] - Top Gun's Legacy & Cultural Impact

• Film preservation at the Library of Congress
• How Top Gun paved the way for long-awaited sequels
• Miles Teller's role connecting generations

[6:47 - 8:07] - Personal Memories & Re-releases

• JR's experience seeing Top Gun in 3D
• Why this is a must-watch film for anyone

[8:07 - 9:45] - Box Office & Critical Reception

• Budget: $13-15 million, Box Office: $357.4 million
• Highest-grossing film of 1986 worldwide
• Rotten Tomatoes: 59%, Metacritic: 50/100, CinemaScore: A

[9:45 - 10:25] - Personal Rankings & Wrap-up

• Stacey: Top 5 movie
• JR: Top 10 movie

[10:25 - 11:09] - Twister Introduction

• Featuring Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, and Kathleen Kennedy
• Michael Crichton's involvement

[11:09 - 13:18] - Twister: A Defining Tornado Movie

• JR's first DVD and theater experience
• The cultural significance of tornado films
• The device named "Dorothy"

[13:18 - 14:47] - Twister's Box Office Success

• Budget: $88-92 million, Box Office: $499.2 million
• Discussion of theatrical release windows in the '90s

[14:47 - 15:45] - Critical Reception & Cast

• Rotten Tomatoes: 67%, Metacritic: 68/100, CinemaScore: A-
• Shout-out to Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride)

[15:45 - 16:48] - Final Thoughts & Wrap-up

• Stacey: Twister is in her top 3 movies
• Jamie Gertz's notable appearance
• Closing remarks

Timestamps & Show Notes:

Episode Summary: JR and Stacey dive into the Colleen Hoover adaptation "Regretting You," discussing the film's quiet release, impressive box office performance, and why the critical response might be unfairly harsh. They explore the cast, compare it to other Hoover adaptations, and debate whether this movie deserved better ratings than it received.

Key Discussion Points:

• How JR accidentally picked this thinking it was a rom-com (spoiler: it's not)
• Stacey's initial theory about the plot twist vs. what actually happened
• The film's marketing strategy and quiet theatrical release
• Box office success: $30M budget → $90.5M worldwide gross
• Critical reception disparity: 28% Rotten Tomatoes vs. B CinemaScore
• Cast highlights: McKenna Grace, Mason Thames, and Dave Franco
• Comparisons to "It Ends With Us" and the Colleen Hoover cinematic universe
• Why this generation's Colleen Hoover is like previous generations' Danielle Steel
• The impact of cancel culture on critical reviews

Box Office & Reception:

• Budget: $30 million
• Box Office: $90.5 million worldwide
• Rotten Tomatoes: 28%
• Metacritic: 33/100
• CinemaScore: B

Hosts' Verdict: Both hosts disagree with the harsh critical scores, with Stacey suggesting it deserved at least 75%. JR argues the negative reviews stem from backlash against the first Hoover adaptation rather than the film's actual quality.

Shout Outs:

• Paramount Pictures
• Half Price Books & McKay's used bookstores
• King Jerm's podcast "Podddin Saved Our Marriage"

JR and Stacey dive into the 1996 classic Space Jam, exploring Michael Jordan's iconic collaboration with Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes gang. They discuss the cultural impact of the film, its legendary soundtrack, and how it became a defining moment in 90s pop culture. The Sparrows share personal memories of seeing the movie, debate its critical reception, and compare it to the 2021 sequel with LeBron James.

• Release Context: Space Jam premiered in 1996 during Michael Jordan's return to the NBA following his father's death in 1993 and brief baseball career
• Production Background: The film grew out of two Super Bowl commercials MJ did with Bugs Bunny in 1992-93, directed by Spike Lee
• Cast & Crew: Featured voice actor Billy West as Bugs Bunny, Wayne Knight (Newman from Seinfeld), and Bill Murray in a memorable cameo
• Animation Style: Compared to other live-action/animation hybrids like Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Cool World
• Box Office: Held the record as highest-grossing basketball film until 2022

• Commercial Success: Went 6x Platinum
• Iconic Tracks:
• Cultural Impact: The soundtrack became as legendary as the film itself, with "I Believe I Can Fly" serving as an inspirational anthem across sports and beyond

• JR's Experience: Saw the movie at River Ridge Mall (not the dollar theater), remembers the hype around the PlayStation game
• Cultural Moment: The film represented a unique crossover of sports, animation, and music that defined mid-90s entertainment

• Metacritic: 59/100
• Rotten Tomatoes: 43%
• CinemaScore: A-
• Critics' Consensus: "Silly Looney Tunes-laden slapstick and vivid animation will leave younger viewers satisfied, though accompanying adults may be more annoyed than entertained"
• Hosts' Take: Both hosts felt critics couldn't separate the movie from Michael Jordan's real-life controversies and politics

• Brief Comparison: The LeBron James sequel was poorly received by the hosts
• Notable Difference: The original sold a video game; the sequel gave the game away for free
• Verdict: The original remains superior

"I believe I Can Fly became the biggest song across regular radio, Christian radio, wherever. People still sing it today." - JR

"I feel like they weren't able to separate the sport in the movie." - Stacey (on the 43% Rotten Tomatoes score)

"Michael Jordan sold a video game. They gave the game away for free with the LeBron movie." - JR

JR's Rating: Top 100 movie (not quite top 20 or 50, but holds a special place in his catalog)

Overall Take: A fun, nostalgic film that successfully blended sports, animation, and music into a cultural phenomenon. While critics were mixed, the movie resonated with audiences and created lasting memories for 90s kids.

New episodes drop every Friday on all major podcast platforms. King Jerm and Queen Germ also host episodes showcasing how "pod and saved our marriage."

Note: The hosts acknowledge R. Kelly's legal issues while recognizing "I Believe I Can Fly" as an undeniably impactful song from the era.

Key Topics DiscussedThe MovieThe SoundtrackPersonal MemoriesCritical ReceptionSpace Jam: A New Legacy (2021)Memorable QuotesFinal VerdictConnect with Pod and Saved Our Marriage