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‘Kicking and Screaming (1995)’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Andy Greenwald

October 6, 2020 · Kicking and Screaming (1995) · Comedy · Drama · Romance · 1:38:37 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Apex Mountain

Andy Greenwald▶ 9:20This movie keeps it up on apex mountain for all of us
Andy Greenwald▶ 1:21:25Tweed 'I would like to be a professor but barely got my BA' jackets — 'this is the apex mountain of that'; also called this 'definitely apex mountain of [Eric Stoltz's] clout' (post-Pulp Fiction indie darling) while questioning if it's his best performance, and floated Carlos Jacott (Otis) as a candidate.
Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:36Jason Wiles — 'maybe the all-time Apex Mountain that we've ever covered' (ripping off Kicking and Screaming while on 90210 simultaneously); also going apex for Josh Hamilton, yes for Freedy Johnston (song closing the movie for 25 years), Eric Stoltz (best use of him in any movie), and Prague as an unseen movie destination.
Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:28Pushed back that Josh Hamilton's apex is Alive rather than this barely-seen movie; co-signed 'this is a Freedy Johnston Apex Mountain' (went to Herald Square because of him); on college movies, debated candidates (Animal House, Everybody Wants Some, School Daze) without crowning this one.

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 32:24Multiple scenes: the cocktail party balcony scene with Josh Hamilton and Olivia d'Abo discussing Prague, the book club scene with Eric Stoltz, Max confronting Grover about Miami, Skippy confronting Max, Grover and Chet at the bar, and the final airport scene
Chris Ryan▶ 33:59The graduation party, comparing it to the wedding scene in The Godfather

What's Aged the Worst

Andy Greenwald▶ 1:02:00Something that has aged the worst but is very accurate (specific item unclear from context)
Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:02The blue jeans - faded, heavy looking, big, gaudy jeans that went out of style about 10 years ago
Chris Ryan▶ 1:02:07The scene where they finish the stain remover commercial - indicative of how bored people could be back then

Casting What-Ifs

Andy Greenwald▶ 1:03:55Eric Stoltz — Explained that Eric Stoltz was added 'to put butts in seats' and that 'Kicking and Screaming' title was an attempt to make it sound more exciting than 'Fifth Year'
Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:06Eric Stoltz — Discussed that an unknown actor was originally scheduled for the lead role but dropped out, leading to Eric Stoltz being cast. Mentioned the movie was originally called 'Fifth Year' which they preferred over 'Kicking and Screaming'
Chris Ryan▶ 1:04:14Ethan Hawke — Speculated that Ethan Hawke might have been the actor who dropped out of the lead role (Grover), mentioning there weren't many other options for that type of role

Joey Pants Award

Andy Greenwald▶ 1:06:36Cara Buono
Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:53Cara Buono — Jason Wiles (initially suggested), but ultimately agrees with Cara Buono as the winner
Chris Ryan▶ 1:06:59Cara Buono — Agrees with Cara Buono (allows her eligibility despite being in four scenes)

Best Quote

Andy Greenwald▶ 1:30:24Don't even start with me because I've had a day (from the dining hall scene with the Ren Faire guys)
Bill Simmons▶ 1:28:33How do you make God laugh, make a plan and I like that you drink. I like a bartender who drinks. Otherwise, I feel like I'm being poisoned.
Chris Ryan▶ 1:29:58You know, racism spans the globe. From Howard Beach to Crown Heights, we witness acts of hatred and Max's response: That's like saying from the living room to the dining room, we witness acts of hatred.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Andy Greenwald▶ 1:30:51Prague is beautiful but didn't live up to the hype compared to Paris; discussed potential futures for the characters including Grover working for Grantland and Miami being most successful
Bill Simmons▶ 1:30:32Should Josh Hamilton have been a bigger movie star? (Yes); Is Prague overrated?; Could they have done a Before Sunset-style sequel with Grover writing a book?
Chris Ryan▶ 1:31:16Prague was overhyped as a destination mainly for absinthe; Amsterdam is actually crazier; speculated about characters' futures including whether Max and Grover remain friends

Who Won the Movie

Andy Greenwald▶ 1:36:51Noah Baumbach — Agrees with Eichmann but also wants to vote for Baumbach for making an incredible movie at 25
Bill Simmons▶ 1:37:31Praises the movie's dialogue and efficiency, calling it perfect for 1995 and influential on later films
Chris Ryan▶ 1:36:44Eichmann

Movies Referenced (29)

Alive (1993)

4 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Marriage Story (2019)

4 mentions · Andy Greenwald▶ 3:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

All the Pretty Horses (2000)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 37:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Blue Chips (1994)

3 mentions · ▶ 1:20:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Graduate (1967)

3 mentions · Andy Greenwald, Bill Simmons▶ 41:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Back to the Future (1985)

2 mentions · Andy Greenwald, Bill Simmons▶ 37:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Beautiful Girls (1996)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 19:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Before Sunrise (1995)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 20:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chasing Amy (1997)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 19:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pulp Fiction (1994)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:21:31IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Reality Bites (1994)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 14:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Before Sunset (2004)

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:32:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (9)

Ari Gold

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 58:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Walt Frasier

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 50:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Baron Davis

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for That's My Boy▶ 1:37:24IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cameron Crowe

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky▶ 14:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dead or Alive

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The A-Team▶ 1:16:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jack Daniels

1 mentions · Andy Greenwald▶ 22:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Woo

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for A Better Tomorrow, Hard Boiled▶ 53:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Spike Lee

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, She's Gotta Have It▶ 1:20:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Wes Anderson

1 mentions · Andy Greenwald · Known for Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Royal Tenenbaums, Isle of Dogs▶ 16:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (50)

Josh Hamilton

17 mentions · Bill Simmons, Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan · Known for Eighth Grade, Dark Skies, Alive▶ 13:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Eric Stoltz

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan · Known for Pulp Fiction, The Butterfly Effect▶ 10:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kate Winslet

12 mentions · Bill Simmons, Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan · Known for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Revolutionary Road, Titanic▶ 25:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Parker Posey

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Andy Greenwald · Known for Scream 3, Superman Returns▶ 10:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cara Buono

9 mentions · Andy Greenwald, Bill Simmons▶ 1:05:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jerry Seinfeld

9 mentions · Andy Greenwald, Bill Simmons · Known for Bee Movie▶ 50:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Screaming Trees

8 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Andy Greenwald · Known for True Lies, The River Wild, Singles▶ 19:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fifth Harmony

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Andy Greenwald · Known for Hotel Transylvania 2, How to Be Single▶ 1:03:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ethan Hawke

5 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Andy Greenwald · Known for Training Day, Before Sunrise, Before Midnight▶ 43:13IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Heather Graham

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Andy Greenwald · Known for Boogie Nights, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Bowfinger▶ 1:09:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jason Blum

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan · Known for Get Out▶ 14:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Julie Delpy

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Two Days in Paris, Before Sunrise▶ 48:04IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (4)

Noah Baumbach

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan · Known for The Squid and the Whale, Marriage Story▶ 2:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mark Bomback

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes▶ 28:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Updike

1 mentions · Andy Greenwald · Known for The Witches of Eastwick▶ 17:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Thomas Pynchon

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for One Battle After Another, Inherent Vice▶ 37:18IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (3)

Michael Grantland

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Andy Greenwald · Known for The Taking of Pelham 123, The Other Guys▶ 20:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Barcelona

3 mentions · Andy Greenwald, Bill Simmons · Known for Elysium, Venom, Jurassic World▶ 49:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Christian Eichmann

2 mentions · Andy Greenwald, Chris Ryan · Known for Power Rangers▶ 51:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗