Once, When I Was Cool

This week on Once, When I Was Cool, we're lacing up our dancing shoes and heading back to 1984 for a look at one of the most iconic films of the decade: Footloose.

Part coming-of-age story, part musical celebration, and part rebellion against the establishment, Footloose captured the spirit of a generation with its infectious soundtrack, energetic dance sequences, and a message about freedom, self-expression, and the power of youth. More than forty years later, it's still impossible to hear its title track without wanting to get up and move.

Starring Kevin Bacon as Ren McCormack, a Chicago teenager who finds himself transplanted to a small town where dancing and rock music have been outlawed, the film pits youthful passion against tradition and fear. Along the way, Ren challenges the town's beliefs, clashes with authority, and inspires a community to rediscover joy.

Join us as we revisit the movie that transformed Kevin Bacon into a household name and became a defining piece of 1980s pop culture. We'll explore the film's memorable characters, its surprisingly emotional themes, and the soundtrack that produced a string of hit songs that still fill dance floors today.

We'll also discuss whether Footloose is remembered more for its music than its story, how it reflects the cultural tensions of the era, and why audiences continue to connect with its message decades later.

So dust off the cassette tapes, crank up the volume, and prepare for a night of dancing that would make the town council nervous. It's time to find out whether Footloose still has the rhythm to get modern audiences on their feet.

This week on Once, When I Was Cool, we're heading back to the wonderfully weird world of 1984 to revisit a film that forever changed the meaning of holiday cheer. Cute, cuddly, mischievous, and downright terrifying, Gremlins remains one of the most unique movies of the decade—a genre-bending blend of comedy, horror, creature feature, and Christmas chaos.

Directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg, Gremlins introduced audiences to Gizmo, the adorable Mogwai whose simple care instructions somehow prove impossible for humans to follow. What begins as a heartwarming gift quickly spirals into a night of mayhem as an army of destructive gremlins turns the quiet town of Kingston Falls into a playground of anarchy.

Join us as we revisit the film's unforgettable practical effects, its dark sense of humour, and the surprising moments that pushed the boundaries of what audiences expected from a family movie. We'll explore how Gremlins helped inspire the creation of the PG-13 rating, examine the incredible creature work that still holds up today, and discuss why the film remains a holiday favourite more than forty years later.

We'll also dive into the movie's darker themes, its satirical take on small-town America, and the strange balancing act that somehow makes it both a Christmas classic and a horror movie.

So lock up the kitchen, keep an eye on the microwave, and whatever you do, don't feed them after midnight. It's time to find out whether Gremlins is still a holiday classic or just a nostalgic creature feature from a bygone era.

This week on Once, When I Was Cool, we're taking a trip back to 1988 to revisit the unlikely buddy comedy that asked one very important question: What if the world's most genetically perfect human was somehow the twin brother of a wisecracking hustler from Los Angeles?

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, Twins was one of the decade's biggest surprises. At a time when Schwarzenegger was known almost exclusively for action blockbusters, the film showcased a completely different side of the future action icon, pairing his innocent and sheltered Julius with DeVito's street-smart Vincent in a comedy built on charm, chemistry, and plenty of fish-out-of-water moments.

Join us as we explore how the film came together, why Hollywood thought the casting was crazy, and how it ended up becoming a box-office smash. We'll discuss director Ivan Reitman's gamble on an unconventional comedy, the performances that made audiences fall in love with the mismatched brothers, and the surprising influence Twins had on the buddy-comedy genre that followed.

We'll also look at what holds up nearly four decades later, what feels firmly rooted in the late '80s, and whether the movie's blend of heart, slapstick, and family drama still works for modern audiences.

So grab your leather jacket, hop into a stolen Cadillac, and come along as we revisit one of the most unexpected comedy pairings in movie history. Is Twins still a genetic masterpiece, or should it have stayed in the laboratory? Tune in and find out.

For this episode, Dave and Wee descend into the rain-soaked neon world of Blade Runner - Ridley Scott's sci-fi masterpiece which blurred the line between human and machine forever.

From Harrison Ford's weary Deckard to Rutger Hauer's unforgettable Roy Batty, the boys unpack the film's stunning visuals, philosophical themes, synth-heavy atmosphere, and the endless debate over what it means to be human.

Expect deep dives, retro-future nostalgia, questionable detective work, and more than a few tears in rain.

Thanks for listening...

oncewascoolpodcast@gmail.com 

In this episode, Dave and Wee dive head-first chaos of The Princess Bride - the cult classic that somehow blends fantasy, romance, sword fights, revenge, rodents of unusual size and endlessly quotable dialogue into one perfect adventure.

From Westley and Buttercup to Inigo Montoya's legendary quest for vengeance, the boys revisit why this beloved film still manages to charm audience decades later.

Expect laughs, nostalgia, terrible accents, and at least one disagreement about whether this is secretly the greatest comedy of the 80's.

Thanks for listening...

oncewascoolpodcast@gmail.com 

On this episode of Once, When I was Cool, we stumble head first into the Cold War chaos with Spies Like Us.

Join us as we revisit Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd's bumbling journey from clueless recruits to accidental heroes - packed with absurd comedy, quotable moments, and that perfectly offbeat 80s charm.

Thanks for listening.

oncewascoolpodcast@gmail.com 

On this episode we fire up the DeLorean and hit 88 miles per hour with a nostalgic deep dive into Back to the Future.

Join us as we revisit Marty McFly, Doc Brown and one of the most iconic time-travel adventures ever put to film - packed with laughs, paradoxes and pure 80s charm.

Thanks for listening.

 

oncewascoolpodcast@gmail.com 

Welcome back to the new and subdued episode of the podcast.

This episode we step into a neon-drenched future where game shows turn deadly and survival is the ultimate prize. Dave and Wee revisit The Running Man (1987), unpacking the explosive action, dark satire, and eerie relevance. 

Was it just'80s excess - or a warning we're still catching up to?

Lace up and run with us.

 

Thanks for listening

 

oncewascoolpodcast@gmail.com 

Just a quick teaser info to let you know that we are back! Same old dreamers. Same old shtick...

It's taken us a year to come up with some ideas, so we have tapped into that 80's treasure trove of 80's movies. Why? because we like them and there are is a lot to be fond of.

So thanks for sticking around, and thanks for listening...

 

oncewascoolpodcast@gmail.com 

This one from the lost archives, recorded who knows when???

Looking at the businesses and shops that we loved as kids which are, sadly, no more.

Thanks for listening.

oncewascoolpodcast@gmail.com