Movies at Grandma's House

The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) Family Friendly Movie Review | Ep. 105

On this family friendly movie review podcast, Isaac and Seth revisit The Greatest Game Ever Played — the 2005 Disney family friendly blockbuster true story that most people have completely forgotten about — and bring some real film analysis to find out if it still holds up 20 years later. Seth saw it in theaters (during a power outage, no less) and has rewatched it many times since. Isaac came in fresh, having never seen it before — and was blown away. They dig into Bill Paxton's masterful direction and the revolutionary ball cam shot he invented specifically for this film, Shia LaBeouf's quietly powerful performance as Francis Ouimet, and the scene-stealing Eddie the caddy who provides some of the best comic relief in any Disney sports film. Plus they break down Harry Vardon's subtle psychological warfare on the course, Ted Ray's perfectly dry one-liners, and the father-son relationship that provides the emotional backbone of the entire story. Fun facts that will surprise you: the real Francis and Eddie remained lifelong friends — Eddie was a pallbearer at Francis' funeral. And in reality, Francis didn't win by one dramatic stroke — he finished five strokes ahead of Vardon and six ahead of Ray. Hollywood compressed it for drama, and honestly? It works. This one is criminally underrated and deserves way more attention than it gets. Find us on YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and TikTok. Sign up for our newsletter at moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiiv.com/subscribe for a chance to win a FREE movie poster from movieposters.com — use code GRANDMASHOUSE for up to 15% off.

The Great Mouse Detective (1986) Movie Review | Ep. 104

The game is afoot! On this family friendly movie review podcast, Isaac and Seth head to the streets of Victorian London for a nostalgic film analysis of The Great Mouse Detective — the 1986 Disney classic that turns 40 this year and, according to many film historians, literally saved Disney Animation from financial collapse. This children's film holds up as one of the more surprisingly dark entries in the Disney kids movies canon. This one is personal for Isaac, who grew up watching it and credits it with sparking a lifelong love of Sherlock Holmes. Seth? He'd never seen it before this episode — and his first-time reactions do not disappoint. They dig into the surprisingly dark and adult plot, the unmatched voice acting led by Vincent Price as the menacing Ratigan (a role Price called one of his favorites of his entire career), and the legendary clock tower finale — one of Disney's very first uses of CGI animation. Plus, Henry Mancini's score. Yes, the same Henry Mancini who wrote the Pink Panther theme. Fun facts that will blow your mind: John Cleese was originally cast as Basil. Norway banned the film for children under 12. Production was completed in just one year thanks to early CGI. And Toby the Dog's bark is the exact same sound recording used for Trusty in Lady and the Tramp. Plus Seth's trivia question, the Kid Test with Isaac's four kids, and a split rating — Seth hides it in the attic, Isaac takes it home, and both make a completely reasonable case. Find us on YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and TikTok. Sign up for our newsletter at [link] for a chance to win a FREE movie poster from movieposters.com — use code GRANDMASHOUSE for up to 15% off.

The Iron Giant (1999) | Family-Friendly Film Analysis Deep Dive Ep. 103

Revisit 1999's animated gem The Iron Giant with family friendly film analysis and nostalgia on this movie review podcast. When Brad Bird's directorial debut hit theaters, critics loved it (96% RT) but audiences stayed away. Isaac and Seth welcome guest John Barker from All The Right Movies to explore Rockwell's unforgettable tale of friendship and sacrifice — a children's film with surprisingly mature themes hiding underneath. They dig into Brad Bird's incredible backstory (fired from Disney, left The Simpsons, then handed his directorial debut), the film's box office failure despite a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, and why it's now considered one of the best animated films of all time. They break down Vin Diesel's nearly wordless performance as the Giant, the Superman comic book theme that anchors the entire story, and the surprisingly dark, mature themes hiding inside a "kids' movie." Plus — five jaw-dropping fun facts (Sean Connery and James Earl Jones were both considered to voice the Giant), a tough trivia question about the Giant's actual word count, the Kid Test with Isaac's four kids, and the final rating. This episode also features John's insight as a film historian and co-host of All The Right Movies, including his take on the film's connection to E.T., its influence on The Incredibles and Ratatouille, and why "you are who you choose to be" remains one of animation's most powerful themes. Check out John's podcast All The Right Movies, and his upcoming book "All the Right Movies: The Stories and Secrets Behind the Making of 25 Iconic Films," out this September. Find us on YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and TikTok. Sign up for our newsletter at moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiiv.com/subscribe for a chance to win a FREE movie poster from movieposters.com — use code GRANDMASHOUSE for up to 15% off.

Toy Story 5 : Jessie Takes the Lead, Conan O'Brien Steals the Show & Is Woody Really Back? | Movies at Grandma's House Bonus Episode

Isaac just got back from the theater with his four kids — and he's sharing his full experience watching Toy Story 5 opening weekend! In this bonus audio episode of Movies at Grandma's House, he breaks down his honest thoughts on Pixar's newest entry in the beloved franchise, now spanning three decades from 1995 to 2026. Here's what you need to know before you go: 🤠 Jessie is the main character — not Woody. Director Andrew Stanton (a Pixar veteran) frames Toy Story 5 as the beginning of Bonnie's trilogy, with 4, 5, and a potential 6 serving as a companion arc to Andy's original three films. 🚀 Buzz Lightyear is back — and Isaac feels like Toy Story 5 corrects one of the biggest criticisms of Toy Story 4: the dumbing down of Buzz's character. He's more like his old self here. 😂 Conan O'Brien voices the scene-stealer — a new character called SmartyPants, a high-tech potty training toy who gets some of the biggest laughs in the film. 🎬 The returning cast is stacked — Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Keanu Reeves as Duke Kaboom, and Wallace Shawn as Rex are all back. Voice actors who have passed away are handled respectfully with reduced screen time. 📱 Technology and tablets are a central theme — the film feels modern and timely, exploring what it means to be a toy in today's world, with a new villain called Lillipad leading the charge. With $312 million worldwide in its opening weekend alone, this is shaping up to be one of Pixar's biggest hits. Isaac shares why he thinks this film is aimed as much at the adults who grew up with the series as it is at kids — and why he thinks Toy Story isn't going anywhere anytime soon. 📬 Not on our newsletter yet? You could win a free Toy Story 5 movie poster — sign up free at the link below! moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🎥 Remember to be kind and rewind.

Despicable Me 2 Revisited | Does This Animated Classic Age Well? | Ep. 102

Gru trades moon theft for minions, and Lucy joins the party — but does this family-friendly animated sequel still deliver 13 years later? Isaac and Seth revisit Despicable Me 2 to explore what made it a parenting staple: the surprisingly heartfelt character growth, Kristen Wiig's perfect comic timing, and why this feel-good film remains a go-to for multigenerational movie nights. Plus — fun facts that will blow your mind (Al Pacino recorded the entire role of El Macho then walked away due to creative differences), Seth's trivia question ranking Illumination's highest grossing films, the Kid Test with Isaac's four kids, and the big rating. Spoiler: yes — they talk about how Pharrell wrote "Happy" specifically for this movie, and why that soundtrack is criminally underrated. If you loved the first Despicable Me, this episode is for you. Find us on YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and TikTok. Sign up for our newsletter at : moviesatgrandmashouse.beehiv.com/subscribe for a chance to win a FREE movie poster from movieposters.com — use code GRANDMASHOUSE for up to 15% off!