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Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar NoéRachel BrosnahanAmy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

Ep613 Spelling Error (GODMOTHERED Movie Review)

Ep613 Spelling Error (GODMOTHERED Movie Review)

Ian and David look at the latest live-action Disney fantasy, Godmothered. Sharon Maguire's comedy is, fortunately, not another remake. However, the cliches fly fast and furious in this bizarre tale of fairy godmothers who are in danger of going out of business due to a lack of young girls needing their help.

Jillian Bell stars as Eleanor, a young fairy-godmother-in-training who makes her way to the human world to help news producer Mackenzie (Isla Fisher) find her true love.

The guys break down the many problems with this expectations-defying family film--from its odd messages to its sloppy story mechanics--and try to figure out just whom the filmmakers (and, indeed, Disney) are trying to impress.

Godmothered is now streaming on Disney+.

Show Links:

  • Watch the Godmothered Trailer.

  • Listen to Ian and David talk about Jillian Bell's previous film, Brittany Runs a Marathon (with guest marathon coach, Denise Sauriol).

  • Follow David's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.

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Ep614: The NEW New McCarthyism (SUPERINTELLIGENCE Video Essay)

Ep614: The NEW New McCarthyism (SUPERINTELLIGENCE Video Essay)

Ep612: Armond White - The Kicking the Seat Interview

Ep612: Armond White - The Kicking the Seat Interview