Dirty Dancing (1987) – A Father's Worst Nightmare

Episode Summary:

In this episode, the Regular Guys hang up their flannels and dust off their dancing shoes as they revisit Dirty Dancing, the 1987 romantic drama that launched a thousand lift attempts and made Patrick Swayze a household name. But this isn’t your sister’s rewatch.

Is Johnny Castle a misunderstood dreamboat or a shirtless con artist with a talent for hip thrusts? Is Baby a brave idealist or a naive rich girl who can’t follow posted signage? And why does everyone ignore the fact that Penny is the most interesting person in this movie?

From fishnet fashion and sweaty rehearsals to over-the-top montages and awkward breakfast scenes, we dig into:

• Whether Baby actually earned her arc
• Why Dr. Houseman is the only sane character at Kellerman’s
• The soundtrack that became the movie’s true star
• And how this film manages to be both overrated and underrated at the same time

Highlights:

• The chaotic production history of the film and its unexpected blockbuster success
• Cultural context: 1963 Catskills, class divides, and the Jewish resort scene
• A spicy debate over Johnny’s red flags and Baby’s “growth”
• The lift, the lines, and the legacy: does Dirty Dancing still hold up?
• How a single watermelon changed the course of the summer
• A deep dive into epidemiology in the Catskills
• Navigating romantic crisis with only slightly problematic advice
• What a book in your back pocket reveals about your soul

Get Involved:

What did you think of Dirty Dancing? Were we too harsh or did we finally say what you’ve always been thinking? Drop your thoughts and hot takes in the comments.

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

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BMX Dreams, 80s Cheese & More Montages Than Plot

🎧 Episode Summary:

Hold on to your neon windbreakers and crank up the John Farnham, because we’re going balls out in this nostalgia-fueled episode covering 1986’s Rad. Seth, Justin, and Brian dive handlebars-first into the BMX cult classic that’s equal parts Rocky, Mountain Dew commercial, and glorified stunt reel. With nearly 40% of the film comprised of montage sequences, questionable fashion choices, and a backflip that somehow counts as a winning race strategy, the guys ask: Does this childhood favorite still hold up?

From Lori Loughlin’s “come hither” looks to Ray Walston’s unexpected second appearance on the podcast (Mr. Hand is back, baby), no detail is spared—including a spirited debate over whether Cru Jones is an inspirational underdog or a shameless course-cutting cheater.

💬 Topics Covered:

• The VHS-fueled rise of Rad after its box office flop
• BMX culture and its role in shaping the movie’s legacy
• Lori Loughlin’s stunt double… and his wig
• Sergeant Smith: unsung hero or terrifying mustachioed authority figure?
• The sheer volume of visible nipples (yes, really)
• Plot holes so big you run a bike race through the middle of them
• The power of nostalgia vs. the reality of rewatching
• Drinking game ideas (Warning: do not try to drink during every montage)

📊 By the Numbers:

• Montage Runtime: 34 minutes and 1 second
• Total Runtime: 88 minutes
• % Montage: 38.85%
• Visible Nipple Count: We lost track. It’s a lot.

🧠 Final Verdicts:

• Justin: Nostalgic perfection. Still holds up—for him.
• Brian: It’s the underdog trope he loves… in a movie he never wants to see again.
• Seth: Rad is ridiculous and unforgettable—but not for the reasons it intended.

🛠 Suggested If You Like:

• The X-Games
• Movies with more music than dialogue
• Watching your childhood favorites get lovingly roasted

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

You can also follow us on the socials!

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Before there was Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, there was Joan Wilder sliding down a Colombian mudslide in heels. In this episode of The Regular Guy Movie Show, the guys travel back to 1984 to revisit Robert Zemeckis’s adventure rom-com Romancing the Stone. We talk genre-blending, iconic character arcs, and why Jack T. Colton is cooler than he had any right to be. Brian brings the trivia, Justin dives into character breakdowns, and Seth tries to not quote every single Danny DeVito line.

Topics Covered:

• Genre fusion: rom-com meets action-adventure
• How Joan Wilder’s arc anchors the whole film
• Ralph and the underrated brilliance of Danny DeVito
• Behind-the-scenes drama (and Zemeckis nearly getting fired!)
• Soundtrack, special effects, and why this movie still charms

Final Verdict:
Does it hold up? Tune in for our hot takes, nostalgia trips, and whether this one still deserves a spot on your Saturday afternoon lineup.

Listen to The Regular Guy Movie Show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit regularguymovieshow.com to suggest the next questionable classic we take on. While there, check out our blog or listen to previous show episodes.

You can also follow us on the socials!

• Facebook
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• X
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