The Shat Crew soars into DreamWorks territory for a film that melted even Gene’s icy heart: How to Train Your Dragon. This animated fantasy wasn’t just a box office smash—it was a coming-of-age story that redefined what kids’ movies could be, combining sweeping visuals, smart storytelling, and a surprising emotional punch.

Commissioned by Cheryl, this pick launches Big D into dad mode, marveling at the Viking village’s parenting techniques and dragon integration programs, while Gene questions how the filmmakers got him gushing over a silent reptile with puppy eyes.

Is How to Train Your Dragon the best non-Disney animated film of its generation? Could it secretly be about neurodiversity, pacifism, or simply learning to listen? And how did Toothless become one of the most iconic non-verbal characters in modern cinema?

Whether you’re a rider of Night Furies or just here for the dad feels, this episode will have you rethinking your emotional support dragons.

Plot Summary:
In How to Train Your Dragon (2010), a misfit Viking teen named Hiccup befriends a wounded dragon he names Toothless, challenging everything his warrior tribe believes about dragons. As their unlikely friendship grows, Hiccup must choose between the expectations of his community and the compassion he feels for the creatures they fear. With breathtaking animation and a powerful emotional core, this DreamWorks classic redefined animated storytelling for a new generation.

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This week on Shat the Movies, we’re delving into the heart of The Deer Hunter (1978), a haunting exploration of friendship, war, and what remains behind. With powerhouse performances from Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep, this Best Picture winner delivers brutal realism, emotional gut punches, and one very tense game of Russian roulette. Is it still a masterpiece—or just a long, grim march? Tune in and find out..

Plot Summary:
The Deer Hunter (1978), directed by Michael Cimino, is a powerful war drama that follows a group of working-class friends from a Pennsylvania steel town whose lives are forever changed by the Vietnam War. Starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage, the film explores themes of friendship, trauma, and loss through a harrowing narrative that moves from small-town America to the brutal jungles of Vietnam. Known for its intense performances and the infamous Russian roulette scenes, The Deer Hunter remains a haunting examination of war’s psychological toll.

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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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