The Shermer High Alumni Association

Heathers (1988)

Heathers turns 36 this year, and Kristin, Jeannine, and Carole are diving headfirst into one of the darkest, funniest, and most quoted teen movies ever made. A $3 million budget, a five-week box office run that grossed $1.1 million, and somehow a cult classic — go figure. They break down: * Veronica's diary * The Heathers' color-coded power structure * JD's red flags * Corn Nuts * Why this movie could never be made today * The mineral water "evidence" * ... and the eternal question of whether Ed McMahon ever had anything to do with Publishers Clearing House. * ALSO: Surprise bonus content Did it age well? Not at all. But if it comes on, some of us aren't changing the channel.

Top Gun (1986)

It's the one-year anniversary of The Shermer High Alumni Association, and the girls are celebrating with one of the biggest movies of 1986: Top Gun. Kristin, Jeannine, and Carole revisit Maverick, Goose, Iceman, and Charlie for the film's birthday week, and it turns out Jeannine has never actually seen it, because she thought she wasn't allowed. They cover the glycerin sweat that defies physics, volleyball in jeans, a sex scene folded up like a middle school note, and the homoerotic undertones the internet won't stop talking about. Did it age well? It's not really cringe. Would they watch it again? The soundtrack might be enough. Danger zone, indeed.

Fire with Fire (1986)

It's the 40th birthday of Fire with Fire, the 1986 Paramount film that asked the age-old question: what could possibly go wrong when a juvenile delinquent and a Catholic schoolgirl fall in love in the Oregon woods? Kristin, Jeannine, and Carole rewatch this barely-remembered PG-13 romance starring Virginia Madsen and Craig Sheffer, and find a movie that plays like an after school special until it suddenly doesn't. Complete with a helicopter budget that nearly bankrupted the production, crypt sex, an extremely abrupt ending, and bacon grease that burns down a cabin in the state of Oregon. Also featuring Jean Smart in a career highlight as a very permissive nun, a Taylor Swift connection nobody asked for but everyone deserved, and one Washington Post critic who has thoughts. Did it age well? Fire with Fire 1986, Fire with Fire movie review, Virginia Madsen, Craig Sheffer, Jean Smart, 80s romance movies, 80s teen movies, Shermer High Alumni Association podcast, 80s movie rewatch podcast, Catholic schoolgirl movie, juvenile delinquent love story, Some Kind of Wonderful cast, Ophelia Taylor Swift, PG-13 80s films, Paramount 1986, did it age well, 80s nostalgia podcast, forgotten 80s movies, Captive Hearts 1986, 80s cult films

Midnight Madness (1980)

It's 1980, it's Disney, and somehow it's also completely unhinged. This week the Shermer High Alumni Association dives into Midnight Madness, the cult classic nobody reviewed, nobody released nationally, and apparently everybody loves anyway. A citywide overnight scavenger hunt, five wildly mismatched teams, zero prize money, and one very mysterious man named Leon. What could go wrong? Kristin is back from her trip and catching up on everything she missed (Short Circuit's fake Indian accent, Annie's extremely suspicious Daddy Warbucks), and then it's straight into the chaos. We've got the Dr. Pepper guy, a very young Michael J. Fox credited under the wrong name, Pee-wee Herman running a pinball parlor with a coin-dispensing gun, and a final prize that turns out to be a buffet and a plaque while the neighbors cleaned up betting on them. Classic. The ladies debate whether the Yellow team deserved to win, whether Adam is redeemable (Jeannine says no, he's still a douche), and how this movie somehow kept them more engaged than Caddyshack. Also: Roger Ebert gave it one star in 2004, the audience gives it 70%, and Kristin paid $4.08 on Amazon Prime and now owns it for eternity. Cringe? A little. Fun? Absolutely. Would they watch it again if it popped up on TV? Without question.

Annie (1982)

This week’s movie is: Annie, a movie that asks the important question: what if capitalism, child labor, and jazz hands all came together for one wildly chaotic musical? Annie follows a spirited young orphan living in New York City during the Great Depression. Stuck in a strict and often miserable orphanage run by the bitter Miss Hannigan, Annie refuses to give up hope that her parents will one day return for her. Her life takes an unexpected turn when billionaire Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks invites her to stay at his mansion for a week as part of a publicity campaign. What starts as a temporary arrangement quickly turns into something more, as Annie’s optimism begins to soften Warbucks’ tough exterior. Meanwhile, Miss Hannigan teams up with her scheming brother and his girlfriend to try and pretend to be Annie’s parents in order to collect a large reward. With plenty of music, humor, and heart, the story follows Annie as she navigates this new world, all while holding onto her belief that things will get better—no matter how hard life gets. Join us as we rewind, rewatch, and remember the decade that shaped us.