Should They Watch It?

This week the ladies review a movie for the older kids in the 1986 worldwide phenomenon Crocodile Dundee.

The movie was based on the real-life adventures of Rod Ansell, who may have had a wilder origin story than Crocodile Dundee. He and his dogs survived for two years on cattle blood and bees that he lassoed and tracked to their hives for honey. True story or tall tale? We’ll never know. Ansell would ultimately be killed in a police shootout. Seriously.

The Good
Croc is kind to animals. There are pretty shots of the outback. There is plenty of uh...chemistry between Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski in this one. Just follow their eyes in this scene for proof. They would later get married and stay married for 24 years, which is solid by Hollywood standards.

Potentially Problematic
Lots: Prostitution. Racism. Cocaine. Drunk Driving. Fighting and eyeballing or “Overly punchy, crazy-fisting and weirdly horny” as the ladies put it. Lots of buttcheeks.

Should They Watch It?
Kara: Bigger no than Ace Ventura.

Laura: No. It didn’t age well

Side Conversation
Kara has a sultry Jessica Rabbit voice, due to a recent cold.

Kids need at least 60-90 minutes of physical activity and a recent study found they aren’t getting it in 74% of childcare programs.

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We are thrilled to have special guest Bill Childs, host of Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child on our podcast this week to discuss the 1995 classic, Babe! You may think you know this movie, but Laura, Kara, and Bill are bringing interesting trivia as well as a list of potentially problematic things you should be aware of before watching with your children. This week's podcast is laugh out loud fun (no really, get ready for our hosts to laugh out loud...a lot!). That'll do, podcast. That'll do.
The Positives
Babe teaches viewers not to judge a book by its cover and tackles prejudice in a way that is developmentally appropriate.

You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar, and Babe is a fitting example of the benefits of kindness. This inspiring message leads to a conversation about one of Bill’s favorite shows, Ted Lasso, which is filled with the same humble and positive energy.

Bill loved the deliberate pace and that the movie was smart and honest about what happens on animal farms and didn’t treat Farmer Hoggett as a black and white “bad guy.”

Great voice acting, especially from legend Christine Cavanaugh as Babe and James Cromwell as Farmer Hoggett, who finishes up with the classic line, “That’ll do pig. That’ll do.” Fun Fact: Inspired by his time on the farm, Cromwell became vegan and animal advocate.

Animatronics were the decided approach to bringing real animals to life. At a time were CGI rules the screen, it was nice to revisit a special effect that isn’t used as often.

Fun fact: The 48 Yorkshire pigs that played Babe were adopted out to owners under a contract that did not allow them to slaughter the pigs.

Potentially Problematic
The audio dialogue replacement was distractingly bad for Kara.

The movie begins in a slaughterhouse, and with several mentions of where Babe came from combined with a fear of becoming the farmer’s next meal, your kids might have questions about how most people get their meat.

There is body shaming of the farmer’s wife.

The dog, Rex, perpetrates an act of violence against his female partner. He also shows initial hostility towards Babe. We later learn why he behaves this way, and during opportunities of redemption, he rises to the occasion. It might be worth a conversation with children about abusive behavior.

Should They Watch It?
Kara: Yes

Laura: Yes

Bill: Yes

We had an excellent time with Bill and we know you’ll have a great time listening to this episode. You can listen to his station here and check him out on twitter and facebook where he shares interviews and music live in-studio from some of your favorite indie artists.

This week, the hosts discuss the widely popular 80’s supernatural show Stranger Things aka (our preferred title) Spooky Goonies. The hosts could help but gush over this show as they reminisce over the past episodes and provide un-spoilered details of the most recent season.

Summary
If you haven’t seen Spooky Goonies by now, then you’re missing out on America’s favorite horror/sci-fi adventure show. Netflix’s flagship show just released its fourth season and it’s a doozy.

Psychokinetic telepath (be sure not to read that as telekinetic psychopath because there are those too) Eleven and her three buddies repeatedly save the small town of Hawkins, Indiana from various alien life forms.

The show is an excellent example of weaving riveting storytelling with detailed character development, deeply exploring many of its side characters as well.

Target Audience
TV14. It is one of the most popular shows as of late, so it’s hitting with all demos.

The Positives
The show highlights the long-gone 80s phenomenon of outdoor and unsupervised play mixed with the growing realization of the vulnerability of unaccompanied children. With cases of child abductions making their way onto the news, (see the Jacob Wetterling case ), parents, communities, and even Hollywood, began pointing fingers at what they believed were the cause of such horrific murders. Thus, the birth of the “Satanic Panic"began. This mass hysteria provided a backdrop for the plot of this show, welcoming newcomer Joseph Quinn to the cast as the beloved and wrongly accused Eddie Munson.

Speaking of actors, the casting for this show is flawless. From the regulars, to the newcomers, to the one and done cameos (Toby from This is Us makes a crossover appearance as Benny Hammond.)

Strong friendships make for messages of loyalty through the many challenges of puberty.

Robert Englund (the original Freddie Kruger) shows up in the cast as a super creepy character.

Great 80s music! TikTok has been relentless over its love for Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hilland we have Max to thank for it.

Potentially Problematic
Not problematic, but the girls couldn’t help but notice yet another show where the government builds a laboratory 3⁄4 of a mile from a bustling town without anyone noticing. Reminds us of Superpupz. Check out our review of that episode here.

The show scared the hell out of Kara’s son (specifically the demodogs) and it might scare yours too.

Lots of graphic death and injury.

Drug use.

Grief.

Some teenage sexuality, which varies by the season. The hosts get distracted by discussing a particular scene with Billy.

The costume choices are too much for Laura.

Should They Watch It
Kara: No, and nothing has hurt her worse to say this.

Laura: Yes to teens and tweens.

Side Conversation
One of Kara’s son’s friends came

This week, we're headed back to the late 80's to discuss a movie from our childhoods...Beetlejuice! Starring Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin and more, does this star-studded movie hold up in today's world? We'll dissect it and see!
Trigger Warning: death, grief, and suicide

Who could have dreamed we'd have so much to say about 1991's Drop Dead Fred?! Joined by Nate Newman from the (Not So) Secret Dads Business Podcast, we dive deep and cover topics from mental health to fascinating facts about the original casting. So grab your favorite imaginary friend and join us for one wild ride!