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

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) Family Movie Review | Ep. 107

On this podcast covering the best kids movies and family-friendly films, Isaac and Seth bring real film analysis and honest movie reviews to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) — a true classic among children's films. Does this underwater epic still hold up 70 years later, or has it sunk after all this time? They break down Captain Nemo's hatred of mankind aboard the advanced submarine Nautilus, Kirk Douglas' scene-stealing charm as harpoonist Ned Land, and the legendary giant squid battle — still one of the most ambitious practical effects sequences Disney ever attempted. Plus the two Oscars this film won (Best Art Direction, Best Special Effects), making it the first fully live-action Disney film to take home an Academy Award outside of documentaries and shorts. Fun facts you'll want to share: Gregory Peck actually auditioned for the role of Captain Nemo. The underwater footage was shot in the same Bahamas location used for the 1916 silent version. And Kirk Douglas' $175,000 salary was the highest Disney had paid any actor up to that point. Plus the Kid Test — mixed reactions across Isaac's four kids, with one surprise favorite — and the official rating: does it go home, get watched at Grandma's, or get hidden in the attic? Find us on YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and TikTok. Sign up for our newsletter for a chance to win a FREE movie poster from movieposters.com [http://movieposters.com] — use code GRANDMASHOUSE for up to 50% off.

RocketMan (1997) Family Movie Review | 106

Buckle up, because things are about to get weird. On this podcast covering the best kids movies and family-friendly films, Isaac and Seth bring real film analysis and honest movie reviews to the 1997 Disney live action comedy Rocketman — starring Harlan Williams as Fred Randall, a bumbling computer programmer who somehow ends up on a mission to Mars — to find out if this children's film still has the right stuff nearly 30 years later. Seth has watched this one more times than he can count and calls it the funniest kids movie ever made. Isaac came in fresh — and his four kids went from refusing to watch it to belly laughing at fart jokes and slapstick within the first twenty minutes. They break down Harlan Williams' unhinged performance, the surprisingly clever writing underneath all the silliness, the iconic fart scene that had NASA detecting methane levels, and why Bud the chimp laughing before anyone else is actually the funniest moment in the whole film. Plus the Commander Overbeck dynamic that turns this into a love-it-or-hate-it comedy in the mold of early Jim Carrey and Will Farrell. Fun facts that will blow your mind: Adam Sandler was originally considered to play Fred Randall. The working title was Space Cadet — changed specifically because they wanted to use the Elton John song. The three lead astronauts went to space camp in Alabama to prepare. And the production crew spent weeks at a NASA facility in Texas just to get the feel right — for a fart comedy. Seth takes it home without hesitation. Isaac gives it a Watch It at Grandma's — and fully admits he needs a rewatch to catch everything he missed the first time around. If you loved this movie growing up, this episode will take you right back. If you've never seen it — prepare yourself. Find us on YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and TikTok for more family friendly movie reviewsSign 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 Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) Family Movie Review | 105

On this podcast covering the best kids movies and family-friendly films, Isaac and Seth bring real film analysis and honest movie reviews to The Greatest Game Ever Played — the 2005 Disney true story that most people have completely forgotten about — to find out if this children's film 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 for more family movie reviews. 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.