This week on Shat The Movies, Gene and Big D rope in a modern Western classic with City Slickers (1991), a film that’s equal parts midlife meltdown, male bonding, and calf-birthing madness. Commissioned as a birthday gift from Ken to Eileen, Shat The Movies Episode 450 explores the heartfelt—and sometimes hilarious—journey of three friends finding purpose on a New Mexico cattle drive.

Gene shares personal reflections on Americana cosplay, toxic corporate life, and the ever-elusive “one thing,” while Big D opens up about aging, friendship, and why his idea of bliss is scrubbing solar panels at 6 a.m. They dive into masculinity, mental health, Billy Crystal’s Mets cap, and the emotional weight behind Jack Palance’s Oscar-winning performance.

Oh, and yes—there’s an in-depth discussion about cow afterbirth, horse anatomy, and “horse beans.” You're welcome.

Plot Summary:

City Slickers is a 1991 Western comedy directed by Ron Underwood and starring Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, and Bruno Kirby. It follows Mitch Robbins, a disillusioned 39-year-old New Yorker stuck in a midlife crisis, who embarks on a two-week cattle drive through the Southwest with his best friends Phil and Ed.

Expecting a macho escape from their mundane lives, the trio instead face emotional reckoning, cowboy philosophy, and unexpected tenderness—including the birth of a calf Mitch names Norman. Along the way, they’re guided by the grizzled trail boss Curly (Jack Palance in an Oscar-winning role), whose “one thing” lesson helps Mitch discover what really matters. Both funny and surprisingly poignant, City Slickers blends comedy with heartfelt introspection about friendship, adulthood, and the pursuit of meaning in middle age.

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This week on Shat the Movies, we’re shedding a single tear for Cry-Baby (1990)! Johnny Depp stars in John Waters’ rockabilly musical that’s equal parts parody, punk, and pure teen rebellion. From electric chairs to tear-streaked serenades, it’s a weird, wild ride through '50s nostalgia with a twisted grin. Tune in as we dive into this cult classic and ask: was Cry-Baby cool or just confused?

Plot Summary:
Cry-Baby (1990), directed by John Waters, is a rockabilly musical comedy set in 1950s Baltimore, starring Johnny Depp as Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker, the leader of a group of rebellious “Drapes.” When he falls for straight-laced “Square” Allison (Amy Locane), their romance sparks a clash between their two social worlds. Packed with campy humor, catchy tunes, and Waters’ signature subversive style, the film parodies teen musicals while celebrating the outsiders who refuse to conform.

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Check into Castle Plunkett for a supernatural comedy that mashes together horny ghosts, Irish folklore, and peak ‘80s weirdness: High Spirits! Commissioned by Sydney in Texas—lover of Beetlejuice, Elvira, and men of questionable taste—this forgotten flick from 1988 boasts an absurdly stacked cast: Steve Guttenberg, Daryl Hannah, Beverly D’Angelo, Peter O’Toole, Jennifer Tilly, and a young Liam Neeson playing a ghostly creep.

Gene and Big D dive into a movie that’s half Scooby-Doo, half ghost-sex fever dream. They explore the film’s jarring tonal shifts, from slapstick hauntings to surprisingly dark (and wet) ghost lore, complete with a mermaid musical battle and “skelping”—a euphoric ghost-human contact that raises some ethical eyebrows.

Is High Spirits an underrated gem or a tonal trainwreck haunted by studio meddling? Would Jack have stayed loyal to his ghost bride if she kept her crumbling corpse form? And why are the castle’s real ghosts so damn lazy?

Strap into your flying bed, pour a spooky drink, and join us for an episode packed with laughs, lusty spirits, and longing for the Japanese director’s cut.

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