The Cannon Cruisers

Cannon Cruisers is a weekly film podcast with JD and Randy. What started as a journey through the Cannon Films catalogue has grown into 400+ movies from the 1970s to today, with plenty of 1980s and 1990s cult cinema along the way. We cover cult classics, forgotten sequels, direct-to-video oddities, action, horror, sci-fi, martial arts, comedy, family films, and themed runs. From Cannon favourites like Bloodsport, Death Wish II, and Over the Top to Innerspace, UHF, Tremors, Mortal Kombat, and V/H/S, we follow the strange corners of movie history wherever they lead.

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29 episodes
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English

Episodes 29

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Sunday · 22 min
Bride of Chucky (1998)
Bride of Chucky (1998) - Horror Comedy Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! Randy here! Bride of Chucky (1998), written by Don Mancini and directed by Ronny Yu, drops the Child's Play title and sends the series in a very different direction. Tiffany, Chucky's girlfriend from when he was human, resurrects him after years of searching for his remains. Their reunion quickly leaves both of them stuck in doll bodies and headed for New Jersey alongside two young lovers.JD and I talk about what happens when Chucky becomes the main character and the franchise makes a sharp turn toward black comedy. The post-Scream self-awareness comes up a lot, along with just how aggressively late-1990s the whole thing feels. A new piece of mythology gives Chucky a way forward without Andy Barclay, and we try to figure out where the series can possibly go from here. Recording Note: This episode was recorded remotely over Discord. The audio has been cleaned up, but it may still sound a little different from the usual in-person recordings. An audio issue affected the original upload, causing JD's track to echo. A corrected file has been uploaded to our podcast host, but it may take some time to update across podcast feeds. If you're still hearing the echoed version, please check back and redownload the episode once the updated file becomes available. Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of graphic horror violence and sexual content. Music by Oleg Fedak from Pixabay
October 18 · 23 min
Child's Play 3 (1991)
Child's Play 3 (1991) - Slasher Horror Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! Randy here! Child's Play 3 (1991), directed by Jack Bender and written by Don Mancini, jumps eight years ahead as Andy Barclay is sent to a military academy. When Chucky returns, Andy's attempt at putting the past behind him gets complicated fast. Brad Dourif is back as the voice of Chucky.JD and I continue our trip through the Child's Play series and talk about what happens when the same basic setup reaches a third movie. The unusually short turnaround becomes part of the conversation, especially once we start comparing it with Child's Play 2. From there, we get into how the military-school setting changes the formula and whether this really feels like the end of one version of the series. Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of horror violence and real-world violence involving children. Music by Oleg Fedak from Pixabay
October 11 · 25 min
Child's Play 2 (1990)
Child's Play 2 (1990) - Slasher Horror Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! Randy here! Child's Play 2 (1990), directed by John Lafia and written by Don Mancini, picks up after the first film with Andy Barclay placed in foster care. Unfortunately for Andy, Chucky has been rebuilt and is ready to continue what he started. Alex Vincent returns as Andy, with Brad Dourif once again providing Chucky's voice.JD and I continue our trip through the Child's Play series and see what happens when Chucky gets a second outing. We get into how the sequel follows the original, the increasingly elaborate effects work, and some of the choices that start pushing the series in a new direction. There's also that Good Guy factory waiting for us at the end. Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of horror violence and gore. Music by Oleg Fedak from Pixabay
October 4 · 20 min
Child's Play (1988)
Child's Play (1988) - Supernatural Horror Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! Randy here! This week, JD and I kick off October with Tom Holland's Child's Play (1988), featuring Brad Dourif as the voice of Chucky. After serial killer Charles Lee Ray transfers his soul into a Good Guy doll, young Andy Barclay becomes the only person who knows his new toy is alive while the adults around him try to explain the increasingly strange events that follow. JD and I talk about how long the film keeps Chucky in the background and what that does to the mystery surrounding Andy. We spend some time on the practical effects and on director Tom Holland, no, not that Tom Holland, whose work has crossed paths with Cannon Cruisers before. From there, we get into the unusual rights history that eventually allowed the 2019 remake to exist alongside Don Mancini's continuing Chucky series, before setting up our October run through the first four films in the Child's Play franchise. Recording Note: This episode was recorded remotely over Discord. The audio has been cleaned up, but it may still sound a little different from the usual in-person recordings. Content Warning: This episode contains strong language and discussion of horror violence. Music by Oleg Fedak from Pixabay
September 27 · 26 min
The Dirt Bike Kid (1985)
The Dirt Bike Kid (1985) – Family Fantasy Comedy Hey Cannon Cruisers fans, Randy here! This week, JD and I checked out The Dirt Bike Kid (1985), a family fantasy comedy directed by Hoite C. Caston. Written by David Brandes and Lewis Colick from a story by Julie Corman, the film stars Peter Billingsley (Ralphie from A Christmas Story) as Jack Simmons, a dirt-bike-obsessed kid who spends his mother's grocery money on a dirt bike that has a mind of its own. So, as it turns out, the movie is basically a retelling of the fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk. Instead of magic beans, we get a magical dirt bike that behaves more like a mischievous animal than a normal motor vehicle. Obviously, this sends JD and me down the Corman and Concorde rabbit hole as we notice... some... similarities and interesting connections between this film and Cannon Cruisers "favourites" The Skateboard Kid and The Skateboard Kid 2. But mostly, we spend the episode wondering why the magic bike is such a jerk. Recording Note: This episode was recorded remotely over Discord. The audio has been cleaned up, but it may still sound a little different from the usual in-person recordings. Content Warning: This episode contains mature language and discussion of mature themes.
September 20 · 24 min
Bingo (1991)
Bingo (1991) – Family Comedy Adventure Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we're checking out Bingo (1991), a family comedy adventure directed by Matthew Robbins and written by Jim Strain. Robert J. Steinmiller Jr. plays Chuckie, a boy who befriends a runaway circus dog shortly before his family moves across the country. When Bingo is left behind, he sets off after Chuckie, with Cindy Williams and David Rasche playing Chuckie's parents. The episode spends a lot of time trying to work out how a simple boy-and-his-dog movie keeps drifting into live-action cartoon logic. That brings Mouse Hunt back into the conversation, while North becomes an unexpectedly useful comparison for just how strange a family comedy can get. JD and Randy also circle back to a simpler question: is Bingo actually a cult classic, or does everyone just remember the poster? Recording Note: This episode was recorded remotely over Discord, so you may notice occasional pauses and differences in audio quality. Content Warning: This episode contains mature language and discussion of mature themes.
September 13 · 31 min
The Sheep Detectives (2026)
Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we're checking out The Sheep Detectives (2026), a family mystery comedy directed by Kyle Balda. Craig Mazin adapted the film from Leonie Swann's novel Three Bags Full. Hugh Jackman stars as George Hardy, a shepherd who spends his evenings reading murder mysteries to his flock. When George dies under suspicious circumstances, the sheep decide they've heard enough detective stories to solve the case themselves, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, and Chris O'Dowd among the voices bringing the flock to life. The conversation gets into how a movie about talking sheep manages to play surprisingly straight as a cozy mystery, while still feeling like the kind of family film that might have appeared in the 1990s. Some of the smallest background jokes end up getting a lot of attention, including Randy's growing confusion over why one tiny town has so many neon signs. The episode also wanders into the movie's more thoughtful side and the question of how something this silly managed to hit Randy in the feels.
September 6 · 32 min
Mouse Hunt (1997)
Mouse Hunt (1997) – Slapstick Family Comedy Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we're checking out Mouse Hunt (1997), Gore Verbinski's feature directorial debut and one of DreamWorks' earliest releases. Written by Adam Rifkin and starring Nathan Lane, Lee Evans, Maury Chaykin, and Christopher Walken, the film follows two brothers who inherit a valuable old mansion and discover that one very determined mouse has no intention of letting them sell it. Much of the conversation comes back to just how completely Mouse Hunt commits to being a live-action cartoon. JD and Randy compare its slapstick to Tom and Jerry and older comedy teams, while spending some time on how Verbinski and the effects crew make that approach work in live action. There's also some discussion of why this particular kind of family movie seemed to disappear after the 1990s. Most importantly, Randy stayed awake for the whole thing.
August 30 · 35 min
North (1994)
North (1994) – Family Comedy Adventure Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we're covering North (1994), Rob Reiner's family comedy adventure based on the novel by Alan Zweibel. Elijah Wood stars as a twelve-year-old who divorces his parents and travels the world looking for replacements, with a huge supporting cast that includes Bruce Willis, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Dan Aykroyd, Kathy Bates, Reba McEntire, John Ritter, and Scarlett Johansson. JD and Randy revisit one of the most infamous failures of the 1990s and quickly discover that the strange part isn't how badly made North is. It isn't badly made at all. The acting, direction, music, and cinematography only make the confused story and increasingly uncomfortable stereotypes harder to understand. An 87-minute movie somehow feels closer to three hours, and by the time they reach the ratings, even the thunderstorm outside seems ready for the episode to end. Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of racist stereotypes and other mature themes.
August 23 · 30 min
Class of 1999 II: The Substitute (1994)
Class of 1999 II: The Substitute (1994) – Sci-Fi Action Horror Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we're finishing the series with Class of 1999 II: The Substitute (1994), a direct-to-video sci-fi action horror sequel directed by Spiro Razatos from a story by Mark L. Lester. Sasha Mitchell stars as John Bolen, a mysterious substitute teacher who arrives at another violent high school two years after the events of Class of 1999. Caitlin Dulany and Nick Cassavetes also star as the series shifts from killer robot teachers to a slasher-like spin on the same battle between students and authority. JD and Randy agree that the third movie works better than they expected, especially once the action gets moving and Razatos' stunt background takes over. JD's real enemy is the title, which he spends the episode arguing should have remained Class of 2001, while Randy is amused that the killer-teacher movie he half-jokingly pitched during the previous episode is pretty close to what they actually got. Most importantly, Randy managed to stay awake this time. Content Warning: This episode contains mature language and discussion of mature themes.
August 16 · 24 min
Class of 1999 (1990)
Class of 1999 (1990) – Dystopian Sci-Fi Action Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we're covering Class of 1999 (1990), Mark L. Lester's dystopian sci-fi action film and spiritual sequel to Class of 1984. Starring Bradley Gregg, Traci Lind, Pam Grier, John P. Ryan, Stacy Keach, and Malcolm McDowell, the film imagines a future where violent high schools turn to military androids as teachers. Their solution to juvenile delinquency soon becomes a bigger problem than the students themselves. JD and Randy compare it with Class of 1984 and find a movie that barely resembles its predecessor beyond the basic idea. This time Mark L. Lester seems more interested in RoboCop, The Terminator, and the action chops he picked up making Commando. The teenage acting splits them, with JD finding its school-play quality charming while Randy is considerably less forgiving. What they do agree on is how much fun the veteran cast is having and how well the practical effects still work. Randy may have liked it more than Class of 1984, but apparently not enough to stay awake. Content Warning: This episode contains mature language and discussion of mature themes.
August 9 · 33 min
Class of 1984 (1982)
Class of 1984 (1982) – Exploitation Crime Drama Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we're covering Class of 1984 (1982), an exploitation crime drama directed by Mark Lester and starring Perry King, Timothy Van Patten, Roddy McDowall, Lisa Langlois, and Michael J. Fox. Inspired by The Blackboard Jungle, the film follows a music teacher whose attempt to keep order in a troubled high school puts him up against a violent gang of students. JD and Randy compare Class of 1984 with Over the Edge and debate how much of its depiction of school violence still feels relevant. They spend plenty of time on Timothy Van Patten's performance and the film's soundtrack, but the bigger frustration is how long it takes the movie to deliver the revenge story its marketing promises. Along the way, they question whether all that exploitation actually gets in the way of the film's more interesting ideas about violence, authority, and adults failing troubled kids. Content Warning: This episode contains mature language and discussion of mature themes.
August 4 · 33 min
Angus (1995)
Angus (1995) – Coming-of-Age Comedy Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we're looking at Angus (1995), the Patrick Read Johnson coming-of-age comedy starring Charlie Talbert, George C. Scott, Kathy Bates, Chris Owen, and James Van Der Beek in one of his earliest roles. Angus Bethune is a high school student dealing with bullying, family problems, and the usual misery of being a teenager, while the film piles on the mid-90s soundtrack and attitude. JD and Randy get into Charlie Talbert's performance, the film's loaded alternative-rock soundtrack, and the strange decision to give James Van Der Beek almost nothing to do. They also question how much character development was lost in the editing, and whether Angus might have been a much stronger movie with some of those missing pieces left intact. Content Warning: This episode contains mature language and discussion of mature themes.
July 26 · 33 min
Over the Edge (1979)
Over the Edge (1979) – Coming-of-Age Drama Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering Over the Edge (1979), a coming-of-age drama directed by Jonathan Kaplan and written by Charlie Haas and Tim Hunter, who would later write Tex and River's Edge. Starring Michael Kramer, Pamela Ludwig, Vincent Spano, and introducing Matt Dillon in his film debut, the film follows a group of teenagers in a newly built suburb whose boredom, neglect, and growing frustration erupt into violence. Join JD and Randy as they discuss the film’s lasting influence on youth dramas, its naturalistic performances, and why its slow-burn pacing makes the explosive finale so effective. They also explore the authentic portrayal of suburban alienation, Matt Dillon’s breakout performance, the outstanding rock soundtrack, and the film’s connection to later works like Rumble Fish and the grunge era. Tune in to hear why this overlooked cult classic remains one of the most honest portrayals of disaffected youth ever put on film. Content Warning: This episode contains mature language and discussion of mature themes.
July 19 · 25 min
Brink (1998)
Brink! (1998) – Disney Channel Sports Coming-of-Age Comedy Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering Brink! (1998), the Disney Channel Original Movie directed by Greg Beeman and starring Erik von Detten, Sam Horrigan, Christina Vidal, David Groh, and Patrick Levis. When gifted inline skater Andy “Brink” Brinker joins a corporate-sponsored team to help his struggling family, he risks losing both his friends and his sense of identity in the process. Join JD and Randy as they discuss why this beloved DCOM still holds up, from its energetic direction and authentic late-90s X Games atmosphere to its surprisingly nuanced family drama. They also explore the memorable soundtrack, the film’s themes of friendship and integrity, and why Brink! feels more like a theatrical sports movie than a typical Disney Channel production. Tune in to hear why this inline-skating classic remains one of the crown jewels of the DCOM era.
July 12 · 40 min
Stay Tuned (1992)
Stay Tuned (1992) – Fantasy Comedy Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering Stay Tuned (1992), a fantasy comedy directed by Peter Hyams and starring John Ritter, Pam Dawber, Jeffrey Jones, and Eugene Levy. When a television-obsessed suburban couple signs a contract with a mysterious satellite TV salesman, they're pulled into a demonic broadcasting network where surviving each channel is the only way to escape. Join JD and Randy as they discuss the film’s overlooked cult status, Joe Dante-inspired style, rapid-fire television parodies, and why it may have been released for the wrong generation. They also explore the impressive practical effects, Chuck Jones’ animated sequence, and John Ritter’s standout performance as the perfect everyman. Tune in to hear why this forgotten 90s fantasy comedy deserves a second look. Content Warning: This episode contains mature language and discussion of mature themes.
July 5 · 26 min
Mom and Dad Save the World (1992)
Mom and Dad Save the World (1992) – Sci-Fi Comedy Spoof Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering Mom and Dad Save the World (1992), a sci-fi comedy spoof directed by Greg Beeman and written by the creators of Bill & Ted. Starring Jeffrey Jones, Teri Garr, Jon Lovitz, Wallace Shawn, Eric Idle, and Kathy Ireland, the film follows an ordinary suburban couple who are abducted to a planet of lovable idiots and unexpectedly become humanity’s only hope. Join JD and Randy as they discuss the film’s troubled release, its box office failure, and why it found a second life on HBO. We break down the impressive practical effects, wonderfully silly gags, Wallace Shawn stealing every scene, and why this affectionate Flash Gordon parody deserved better than its 1992 release date. Tune in to hear why this overlooked cult comedy is more fun than its reputation suggests. Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of an actor's criminal history involving child sexual abuse material.
June 28 · 28 min
Rent-A-Kid (1995)
Rent-a-Kid (1995) – Disney Channel Family Comedy Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering Rent-a-Kid (1995), a Disney Channel family comedy directed by Fred Gerber and starring Leslie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, Matt McCoy, and Sherry Miller. A businessman launches an unusual foster program that lets prospective parents "rent" children before adopting them, leading one couple to discover what family really means. Join JD and Randy as they discuss the film’s unusual premise, made-for-TV roots, and why it feels like a forgotten cable movie from the 90s. We compare it to Problem Child, talk about Leslie Nielsen and Christopher Lloyd’s limited roles, and debate whether its low-key charm outweighs its lack of excitement. Please note this episode was recorded remotely and audio quality may vary. Tune in to hear why this pleasant but forgettable comedy lands right in the middle of the pack. Content Warning: This episode contains mature humour and discussion of child trafficking references in the context of the film's premise.
June 21 · 37 min
Problem Child (1990)
Problem Child (1990) – Controversial Family Comedy Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week we’re covering Problem Child (1990), the controversial family comedy directed by Dennis Dugan and starring John Ritter, Michael Oliver, Amy Yasbeck, Jack Warden, Gilbert Gottfried, and Michael Richards. When a chronically returned orphan finally finds a home with a well-meaning father, Junior’s destructive antics turn suburban life into complete chaos. Join JD and Randy as they revisit one of the most critically hated family films of the 1990s and ask whether its reputation is actually deserved. We discuss John Ritter’s surprisingly heartfelt performance, the film’s themes of adoption and belonging, and why Problem Child is far less cruel and mean-spirited than many reviewers claimed. Please note this episode was recorded remotely and audio quality may vary. Tune in to hear why this infamous comedy may be due for a reappraisal. Content Warning: This episode contains explicit language.
June 14 · 36 min
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022) – Satire Parody Musical Comedy Hey Cannon Cruisers fans! This week, JD and Randy check out Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022), the satire parody musical comedy directed by Eric Appel and starring Daniel Radcliffe, Evan Rachel Wood, Rainn Wilson, Julian Nicholson, and Toby Huss. The film presents a heavily fictionalized, over-the-top biography of the legendary parody artist Al Yankovic, tracking his life from an accordion-playing kid to a chart-topping superstar dealing with drug cartels and a wild relationship with Madonna. Join JD and Randy as they break down Daniel Radcliffe’s intensely serious performance and how the movie plays as a perfect takedown of the typical Hollywood biopic genre. The guys chat about the absurdity of the action-packed third act, the massive cameo-filled pool party scene featuring characters like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, and the few actual truths hidden inside the script. They also talk about the credit song, Weird Al’s real-life career trajectory, and why this film works as an excellent double feature with UHF.

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