Ep. 372 - The (Not So) Haunted Mansion!

·1 hr 9 min·5 clips

Flying saucers invade Earth in a fake radio broadcast, kicking off a discussion about Disney's 2003 Haunted Mansion film.

The episode begins with a parody radio broadcast about an alien invasion, introducing the podcast's comedic tone. Paul welcomes his wife Mary as a guest due to her expertise on Disney attractions. Mary explains her fascination with Disney's immersive ride experiences, particularly the Haunted Mansion, which she ranks as a top must-see. They delve into the attraction's history, noting it opened in 1969 at Disneyland after a decade of development. Key elements discussed include the Pepper's Ghost illusion in the ballroom scene, the Doom Buggies (omnimovers), and characters like the Hatbox Ghost, Master Gracie, Constance Hatchaway, and Madame Leota. The Paris version, Phantom Manor, has a darker storyline involving a father killing his daughter's suitors. The hosts then shift to the 2003 film 'The Haunted Mansion,' directed by Rob Minkoff, who co-directed 'The Lion King.' The film stars Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, and Jennifer Tilly. Mary finds the movie disappointing, citing its overly family-friendly comedy and lack of scariness compared to the ride's darker tone. Paul gives it a middling rating, noting it's watchable but flawed. They critique plot holes, such as inconsistent ghost abilities and Ramsley's motivation for keeping a letter. The film's box office performance is mentioned—it made $182 million on a $90 million budget—while 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'Finding Nemo' dominated that year. The episode concludes with discussion of the 2023 remake, directed by Justin Simien and starring Lakeith Stanfield and Tiffany Haddish, which has received mixed reviews. Guillermo del Toro was originally attached but left because Disney deemed his script too scary. Paul promotes upcoming episodes and podcast platforms.

As heard by us

Paul and Mary revisit The Haunted Mansion through easy banter, cast trivia, and Jennifer Tilly's unexpected poker success.

With Steve away, Paul and his wife Mary settle into an affectionate discussion of Disney's 2003 The Haunted Mansion. Their easy back-and-forth suits a film stocked with familiar performers, especially when they start asking how much the movie actually gives those performers to…

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Why you'd press play

You get a lively discussion of Disney's 2003 ride-based film, with husband-and-wife banter and an unexpected Jennifer Tilly poker detour.

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