Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Contracts, Cameras & Cultural Icons | Episode 36: The Even Stevens Movie
37 Plays1 month ago
🏝️ You’ve won an all-expenses-paid trip to The Even Stevens Movie! (Just… don’t forget to read the fine print.)
This week, we’re heading to paradise—sort of. Join us as we dive into this chaotic, coconut-filled reality TV fever dream starring the one and only Shia LaBeouf.
We’re unpacking:
– Why this is Gilligan’s Island meets The Truman Show 🎬
– Whether the jokes still land—or ever did 🤨
– The danger of signing contracts you don’t read ✍️
– And the cultural phenomenon that is Shia in the early 2000s 🤯
Plus: Where the cast is now, trivia you didn’t know you needed, and one absolutely unhinged family.
🍿 The Even Stevens Movie (2003) stars Shia LaBeouf, Christy Carlson Romano, Donna Pescow, Tom Virtue, Nick Spano, Steven Anthony Lawrence, Tim Meadows, AJ Trauth, and Margo Harshman. You can watch it now on Disney+.
✨ Once Upon A DCOM is your go-to nostalgic rewatch podcast where we rave (and sometimes roast) every Disney Channel Original Movie ever made. Some hold up. Others… not so much. We’re here for both.
📱 Follow us for new episodes!
TikTok: @onceuponadcom.podcast
Instagram: @onceuponadcom.podcast
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Nickname Mystery
00:00:00
Speaker
Okay, I don't know like if I'm just not remembering this, but how did Beans get his nickname? I have no idea. i didn't watch the show. Oh, you didn't watch the show? Nope. I knew that.
00:00:12
Speaker
I didn't watch the show either. I've seen some. I haven't seen a single episode, so I have no idea. He's always just been this weird addition to me. i kind of forgot he wasn't their actual little brother. Can you imagine? a Beans does not need to be a part of this family. That would be way too chaotic.
00:00:27
Speaker
But he's in a great addition to this movie, in my opinion. Well, okay.
Podcast and Movie Introduction
00:00:37
Speaker
Welcome fellow Disney Channel babes, whether you're from the nostalgic 90s, or the awkward odds, or you're giving Gen Z, we're glad that you're here. I'm Gabriella. And I'm Natalie, and this is the podcast where we rave, and sometimes roast, classic Disney Channel original movies. You're listening to Once Upon a Decom.
00:00:57
Speaker
Hey everyone and welcome back to Once Upon a DCOM, the podcast where we walk down memory lane with you re-watching some of our favorite Disney Channel original movies. My name is Gabriela and I'm here with one of my best friends in the world, Natalie.
00:01:11
Speaker
How you doing today? I'm doing great. Awesome. Well, Natalie and I absolutely love Disney Channel movies, and we wanted to share that nostalgia with you. So each episode, we're going to take you back. We're going to talk about a great movie.
00:01:23
Speaker
We'll tell you where the stars are now and what the public thought, and then we'll pick a surprise movie for the following episode. This week, we have a special treat. We are talking about the... What?
00:01:37
Speaker
Is it? Is it a treat? Don't tell me you don't love this movie. Well, we'll get into it. Oh my gosh. Okay, well at least let me introduce it. Okay.
00:01:48
Speaker
We're talking about the Even Stevens movie, which came out in 2003 and it's one of my absolute most favoritest, probably in my top five or top three, i don't know, Disney Channel original movies. You're kidding.
00:02:01
Speaker
You're actually kidding. I'm not. You're joking right now. No. it I watch this more than any other DCOM, and I watch it consistently. Your top three? yeah that might have been exaggerated. Okay, yeah, you're lying.
00:02:15
Speaker
Definitely in my top ten. Possibly my top five. Oh my gosh. Gabby. All right. Yeah. So this film marks the series finale for the Even Stevens show.
Filming Insights and Actor Tidbits
00:02:26
Speaker
It was filmed in Hawaii, which we can always appreciate.
00:02:29
Speaker
I mean, beautiful. The tagline, because you guys know taglines are my absolute favorite, is actually funny and relevant, albeit a little evil. Isn't life funny when it's not happening to you?
00:02:42
Speaker
know. And I'm pretty sure that's in the movie. Yeah, I think that's like, who says that? Somebody does that. I think Miles, the host of the show, I think he says it.
00:02:53
Speaker
That is funny. I will appreciate that tagline. Yeah. ah Some fun facts for you. As filming for the series was winding down, Shia LaBeouf, who plays main character Lewis, and Margot Harshman, who plays Tawny, had begun dating in real life.
00:03:08
Speaker
Ain't that cute? Cute. I think they date in the show. At least kind of. so really? Yeah. Or maybe I'm wrong and they just give vibes. Tough to say. They give very strong vibes, yeah.
00:03:21
Speaker
And lastly, the fictional reality TV show Gotcha from this movie also appears in Hannah Montana in the episode Jake, Another Little Piece of My Heart, which means that even Stevens exists in the same universe as Hannah Montana.
00:03:34
Speaker
Super fun. And they both live in the l LA area. Oh, do they? Well, they're both in California. I guess that's a big state. I guess I can't assume that they nearby. It's kind of big state. Regardless, he's probably been to a Hannah Montana concert, or at least has. That's what I'm saying. Yes.
00:03:49
Speaker
Thank you. Yeah, of course. So with that in mind, Natalie, can you tell us what happens in this movie?
Plot and Reality Show Twist
00:03:56
Speaker
Sure. so to start off, we're going to have a little character list in case you don't remember the TV series or you're like Gabby and you just never watched it.
00:04:05
Speaker
So first we have Louis, which is the prank loving younger brother who is always scheming. There's Ren, his perfectionist older sister, and Donnie, the beautiful idiot jock older brother, who I forgot existed. The movie started and I was like, who is that?
00:04:22
Speaker
Oh, a brother? He is very forgettable. Anyway. um And then their parents, Eileen and Steve Stevens. Yes, his name is Steve Stevens. That's so stupid.
00:04:34
Speaker
All right, so the movie starts at Wren's junior high graduation, because lest you forget, she's supposed to be like 14 in this movie. What the heck with this graduation? It's so over the top for middle school. Incredibly over the top to graduate middle school.
00:04:49
Speaker
So the parents lament that they want to spend a summer all together since Donnie is leaving for college in the fall, but none of the kids are interested in this idea at all. Louis just wants to lounge around and be lazy all summer.
00:05:01
Speaker
Ren wants to hang out with her boyfriend, Gil, and Donnie just doesn't want to be involved with his family. um But then Gil breaks up with Ren. So to distract her from her heartbreak, she agrees to babysit Beans, the little kid who's always around for some reason.
00:05:16
Speaker
i think he's supposed to kind of be Louis's friend sidekick? Tough to say. But it turns out that Beans' parents are actually out of the country, so she will be watching him for the next two to three weeks instead of just one afternoon like she thought.
00:05:32
Speaker
Three week stops. Another normal day in the Even Stevens household. But then Miles McDermott shows up saying that the Stevens family has won a free luxury vacation to a remote island called Mandolino.
00:05:44
Speaker
And next thing you know, the Stevens family and Beans are on a plane with Miles to this island that they have never heard of. No one knows why they thought this was a good idea. It's a magical experience, obviously.
00:05:57
Speaker
ah Whatever. Anyway, at first, all of the locals on this incredibly diverse island are super happy to welcome in the family. But then Lewis accidentally destroys the sacred palace completely.
00:06:10
Speaker
Like it it falls apart completely around him. And all the locals shun them. They then have to spend the next week on this island without any help from the islanders. No food, no shelter, nothing.
00:06:21
Speaker
But what they don't know is that they are actually the unknowing stars of a new reality prank show called Family Fake Out, and there are hidden cameras everywhere, and the Islanders are all actors.
00:06:34
Speaker
Miles is the host of this show, and he is hell-bent on making it a success. More and more tension rises in the Stevens family. They split into two factions, Steven, Wren, and Beans versus Eileen, Donnie, and Lewis.
00:06:48
Speaker
The TV producers are putting lots and lots of drama and obstacles and misunderstandings into the narrative on purpose to keep the show interesting. including a romance between Ren and one of the actors slash islanders named Mutai. His real name is Jason, but whatever.
00:07:05
Speaker
ah my love. As well as constant lies that one group is sabotaging the other group. There's just so much drama and everybody in the family just hates each other because everything is going wrong.
00:07:17
Speaker
Back home, not on the island, we see Lewis's friend Twitty feeling guilty because he's the one that basically nominated the Stevens family for the show, but he didn't realize that they were going to be humiliated and basically tortured like this.
00:07:31
Speaker
So he's watching the show actively and feels really guilty. Once he finds out the family is actually not on a remote island, but just off the coast of California, he and Louis' girlfriend, space girl friend, friend who is a girl, Tawny, go to rescue them.
00:07:49
Speaker
Twitty infiltrates the production's base camp and he cuts the live feed, putting the show off air for a few minutes. Tawny finds the Stevens family, all present except for Lewis and Wren, and explains what's going on.
00:08:01
Speaker
They decide they're going to take down the show's production, but after they find Wren and Lewis, who are currently probably trying to kill each other. P.S. Wren's island boyfriend Mutai was about to tell her the truth, that he's an actor, but he got pulled away before he could and Wren blames Lewis.
00:08:19
Speaker
So she is trying to like literally actually kill him. I don't know, from like hunger hysteria or something like that. The cameras come back up just in time for the showdown between Wren and Lewis, but in a twist of their own, the Stevens family turns the tables on Miles by pretending to fall for his one last trap, only to expose the reality show on camera during the show's live broadcast.
00:08:42
Speaker
They knew at the end all
Defending and Ranking the Movie
00:08:44
Speaker
along. Not like all along, but you know, in the last scene, they already knew. They humiliate Miles and the show is shut down, but the real win is that the Stevens family reconciles and Wren and Lewis share a heartfelt moment where they forgive each other for all the crap that they always put each other through.
00:09:01
Speaker
The movie ends with the family returning home to Sacramento. Ah, Sacramento, not LA. um Still chaotic, still loving, still very even Stevens. And that's the movie.
00:09:12
Speaker
Okay. I will admit it's got some faults, but I will also say that all of those faults are just, you know, par for the course with a DCOM. So what's your problem, Natalie? Why don't you like it?
00:09:26
Speaker
um Okay, let me start with what I did like. I thought it was a very, very fun plot. Big fan. um It's definitely giving ah fan service.
00:09:39
Speaker
Like, it's very clearly this movie was made for the people who already love the TV show, right? And I can respect that. I have seen episodes of the TV show, but I'm not like a super fan. So I already acknowledge that I am behind on liking it.
00:09:55
Speaker
However, you also didn't watch the show. So maybe it's not a good point. yeah I just kind of ran with it though. I felt like it made me feel FOMO that I didn't love the show because they did such a good job of representing all the characters and popping back into the quote real world and showing us characters like if you had seen the show that you would know.
00:10:14
Speaker
It just was great how it like wrapped up all these arcs and had all these references. And I was like, man, I wish I got what they were going for. I can tell that's important. you know Yeah. And I acknowledge all of that while also saying I think I didn't like it because I just don't like even Stevens.
00:10:31
Speaker
Okay. like the The style of comedy, which is just... dumbness it's just not for me like it feels like poorly done Gilligan's Island and I love Gilligan's Island like straight up actually think that is funny and I just feel like this movie and the show even Stevens is like it's so absurd to the point of being like I'm just not even having a good time because I can't believe anything that's happening Okay, that's completely fair.
00:11:03
Speaker
Honestly, I couldn't tell you why I love it so much because I really am not a fan of stupid middle school humor. Like Lewis's character overall, I don't like. And the way that they all treat each other and the way that the parents just turn on each other normally would you know really grate on me. But for some reason, this movie has me in a chokehold. like It's like such a great movie to me. And and that's nostalgia. And that's nostalgia, I guess. Because I did watch it more than any other movie other than maybe Lizzie McGuire growing up.
00:11:36
Speaker
So... I also feel like the element of the hidden camera TV show was such a fun twist because you don't know it right out of the gate. Oh, it's fun. I mean, you like maybe could figure it out, but it's not available information until later on in the movie. And I think that just like, I loved that.
00:11:53
Speaker
Yeah, I, okay, from someone who's never seen this before, totally didn't see it coming. I was like, what is going on? Why are they accepting this vacation? Why are all the islanders like different ethnicities if they're all from this island, which was really weird. Like- did you know They give an explanation for that in Miles' presentation. he says it's like some people have come to settle there and some people are like from the island. Isn't that what said?
00:12:17
Speaker
Yeah, he said that there was a bunch of shipwrecked sailors from different parts. Oh, shipwrecks, that's right. Yeah, from different parts of the world that have like landed there and like mated with the islanders. Listen, I respect it while also being like, really?
00:12:30
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. I turned to my husband, Nick, and I was like, that's so stupid. Then I was like, however, I give the decom points for giving an explanation on why it's so diverse.
00:12:40
Speaker
That's fair. Instead of just being like, go with it. But like the first thing they see on the island is like this little white blonde girl giving out lace. And I'm like, okay. True, true, true.
00:12:52
Speaker
Yeah, well, and there's ah there's so much about it that makes no sense. Like, they should have figured it out way sooner. And it's one of those, like, if you would just have a real conversation, like, wait, there was no food when you got there.
00:13:03
Speaker
There was no food when I got there. Like, everything would be fixed. Why are we not talking to one another? This is why your family is messed up. Yeah, and their family is very messed up. But I also just loved the island vibes.
00:13:16
Speaker
Like, I'm in love with Muay Thai. He was my hit man. Oh my gosh. So handsome. His eyes. Anyways. It's the 90s curls are just popping.
00:13:28
Speaker
It's the curls. It's a all of him. It's all of him. Anyways. So I think just every part about that, like the island, the love story, the dynamics of the cameras and the fact that like the friends went and tried to get him out and save him. And then like Jason tries to tell her like, I will tell you.
00:13:46
Speaker
Something I did love, surprisingly, is when their idiot brother like recognizes that actor, somebody he went to high school with. That was hilarious. And then they use it against him.
00:13:58
Speaker
Brilliant. That was so funny. Yeah, it was pretty funny. I also like the dynamic of these two ah reality TV show hosts that like have a vendetta against each other like battling it out.
00:14:11
Speaker
Yeah, and like like I said, like all the flashbacks to the mainland, so you're kind of seeing it play out. When I was doing some research for my fun facts, I did read this... um The whole thing was supposed to be a very different movie.
00:14:24
Speaker
The original script was that they were going on a family road trip and they stop at ah Mount Rushmore and Lewis somehow knocks the nose off of George Washington. Oh no.
00:14:35
Speaker
And like the whole country hates him. That was like the original plot. But then the guy who was supposed to green light it had just watched the Truman show the night before he read the script. And he was like, I hate this. Instead, make it the Truman show for kids. And this is what they came up with.
00:14:53
Speaker
And I really do see it. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, solid. I like it. i I like the concept. The execution is painful for me, but I am not holding it against anyone to like it, except for you putting it in your top five, because that's wild.
00:15:08
Speaker
Okay. Well, I would have to look at the whole list of D-Cons and really evaluate. You definitely would. You're telling me Lizzie McGuire, Smart House, Cheetah Girls 2, Descendants.
00:15:20
Speaker
are not Smart House is not even in my top 10, for the record. Okay, well well, now we have to talk about this. Please hold. Okay, what is your all-time favorite?
00:15:30
Speaker
High School Musical? Yeah, oh, it's got, well, Lizzie McGuire's up there. Okay. Either High School Musical or Lizzie McGuire are, like, the number one, for sure. Okay, so you just listed three movies ahead of this one. High School Musical won.
00:15:47
Speaker
Yeah. High School Musical 1, Lizzie McGuire 2. yeah Descendants, Cheetah Girls 2. Yeah, Descendants, Cheetah Girls 2, yeah.
00:15:57
Speaker
That's four. And then probably this one. Oh my gosh, no. Okay, we're moving on. nostalgia! I don't want to hear it. Oh my gosh, okay. We'll move on.
00:16:09
Speaker
you cant You cannot compare this movie to Cheetah Girls 2. Yeah. I didn't. I just said it's in my personal top five as a favorite movie, not as the greatest movie of all time. Because obviously that's Lizzie McGuire. All right, we're moving on. We're moving on.
00:16:26
Speaker
i I do feel like, okay, tell me if I'm wrong about this. This movie to me feels less DCOM level cringey and more engaging than a lot of other DCOMs. Like I forgot that it's a DCOM that I'm watching. It didn't feel like when I'm watching...
00:16:42
Speaker
That stupid skater movie or brink the surfer movie or i can't remember any of the titles. Okay. Incorrect. Deeply disagree. This is the most DCOM of DCOMs. This was so painful.
00:16:56
Speaker
I feel it's better made. soundtrack, the dramatic music in the background during every moment. Excuse you. This DCOM energy hardcore. My question, was that part of this movie or was that part of the cheesy reality show?
00:17:11
Speaker
Oh. Like all the stuff with Muay Thai? Muay Thai. Muay Thai? Whatever. i think that's like they're adding that in because you're watching it on the TV. Oh. Okay, Gabby.
00:17:24
Speaker
You have opened my mind. you I give you one point, but there's still 90 points against it. You're just... You're hurting me. Okay. Fine. Hey, well, you didn't like Now You See It, so we're even.
00:17:38
Speaker
I didn't not like it. that just felt like it made no sense. I did not like it. I just didn't think it was good. That's two different things. Okay, okay.
00:17:49
Speaker
Question.
Reactions and Criticisms
00:17:50
Speaker
How would you react in these situations if you were the one on the island and then found out that it was a TV show? How do you think you'd handle it? Well, first I thought you were asking how I would react in like the situations they're put in. And my answer is with rational thought and communication.
00:18:08
Speaker
But how would I react to this being a TV series? I would probably roll my eyes and like be like, ha ha, thanks. This was so much fun. And then when the cameras are off, I'll be like, I'm going to need you to pay up or...
00:18:25
Speaker
There's going to be some some lawyer activity involved here. There. This is extreme. They did sign something at the beginning. I wonder if whatever they signed said like they don't get paid.
00:18:38
Speaker
Well, they didn't read it. That's the other thing. Read your contracts. I am in the film and entertainment business. I read my contracts. Okay. There's no circumstance where I'm signing that paperwork. Okay. I agree. I wouldn't either. What is but who is, these parents are so dumb. Why would, nothing is free. This is America.
00:19:00
Speaker
Yeah. what I mean, I give the DCOM credit for trying to explain it and like being like, no, we're just trying to like get people to come to the island because that's kind of something that influencers do, right? They'll get a product so they can promote it you don't get picked out of the blue. i know. I'm just saying I appreciate that the DCOM tried to explain it.
00:19:22
Speaker
It's stupid and they're stupid. In keeping with our DCOM theme of dumb adults, 100%. But i was like, hey, you tried. You didn't just say go with it.
00:19:32
Speaker
There was nothing in this movie that wasn't attempted to be explained. I'll give it that. Yeah. And I kind of like that. There you go. Two points for this movie. 90 against.
00:19:44
Speaker
All right. Well, how about you tell me what the people thought? Because I feel like they're going to be on my side. You're going to be wrong. No! All right, so I went over to Rotten Tomatoes, and I have a tomato meter for you, which is the critic score. So all the critics give their opinions, and that is averaged out to a score.
00:20:05
Speaker
Usually we don't have them for DCOMs. This one has one. so yeah Yay! The tomato meter for this one? 50%. That is a failing grade. Are you kidding me?
00:20:17
Speaker
I'm sure not. Ugh, fine. Here is what some of them said, okay? Nonsense is exactly what even Stevens is good at, and the movie never forgets that. Constantly putting Louis, Wren, the parents, and Beans in situations that demand hysterics.
00:20:32
Speaker
The Even Stevens movie was the culmination of a TV show's unparalleled run on the Disney Channel, and it rose to that occasion. Also, if you squint hard enough, you can almost see the movie as an ahead-of-its-time spoof of reality TV.
00:20:45
Speaker
And I'm not sure you can say that about any other DCOM.
00:20:50
Speaker
Okay, that's fair. You know what? This whole time I've been saying there's very little of like just go with it in this DCOM. The just go with it is literally the characters. Like just go with the fact that they're this dumb, that they're this disorganized.
00:21:04
Speaker
Yes, I like the word they use, nonsense. Yes, even Stevens is nonsense. I mean, that's fair. It is a very nonsensical movie. Yes. And then there are two other critics that I pulled just little bits of. This person said, for hardcore fans of the series only and no one else.
00:21:23
Speaker
um And this other critic said, it's not great television, but fans should be pleased. Well, I don't know where I fit in this whole evaluation because i just came along for the ride. Do you want to hear what the audience thought? So just regular old people? Do you think they like it more than critics?
00:21:41
Speaker
Less than critics? They better. It was 50%. It better be higher than that. Well, it is. 52%. kidding Yeah.
00:21:52
Speaker
I feel justified in my hatred. Okay. So I pulled a few of those audience reviews. This one says, a very wild premise that only the Even Stevens crew can pull off, filled with humorous family tension that is both important for character depth and comedic material.
00:22:08
Speaker
This movie manages to capture the identity of the show and transition it to a very entertaining DCOM. Well, that was positive. Yes, I like that one. Yeah, that was a positive one. Okay. um Second one, it's a self-deprecating but positive.
00:22:22
Speaker
The infectious nature of the show translates excellently to the movie format, mainly due to the good writing and surprisingly decent acting. I think that's true. And then I have two somewhat negative ones for you. This one just said this was the entire review.
00:22:37
Speaker
I saw this monstrosity.
00:22:42
Speaker
What do you want an award? It was me. I wrote that one. Any whom? No, I'm kidding. I didn't. I could have, but I didn't. All right. And the last one says, maybe kids, fans of the show will like it. And it has a funny moment here and there, but overall, it just blows chunks.
00:22:58
Speaker
I would like to move on. Incredible. Gabby, tell me where they are now. ah My gosh. Okay.
Actor Career Highlights
00:23:05
Speaker
So we're going to start out with our leading man, Shia LaBeouf, who played Louis.
00:23:09
Speaker
If you know anything about Shia LaBeouf, strap in. This is going to be crazy. I literally love him. Really? Like modern day you love him?
00:23:19
Speaker
I kind of do I kind of do What has he done recently that you've loved? I like his various um public art performances and his lack of caring about humanity.
00:23:33
Speaker
Interesting. Yeah. Okay. Here we go. That's a great segue into him. Okay. So Shia LaBeouf has had a long acting career and a complex personal life. He's held a variety of roles, faced a lot of controversy and legal issues, and experimented in various artistic outlets and in his faith.
00:23:51
Speaker
So starting out, he got his breakout role playing Louis Stevens in The Even Stevens Show and also playing Stanley in the movie Holes, which came out in 2003. Which nailed it.
00:24:02
Speaker
One of the best movies of all time. Incredible. So good. But he truly rose to stardom playing Sam in the Transformers trilogy starting in 2007. And he had several noteworthy roles after that. he is He's done a lot.
00:24:16
Speaker
You know, he's actually a pretty good actor. I would like to interject and just say he's a pretty good actor. A thousand percent. Yeah. it At no point in this overview am I going to say he's not a great actor. He totally deserves all of the stuff that he's won.
00:24:29
Speaker
It's just everything else. Yeah. It's everything when he's not acting. It's him as a person. That's the problem. So in 2012, he shifted his focus to independent films starring in Lawless, The Company You Keep, and Nymphomaniac.
00:24:45
Speaker
Then in 2014, he launched an experimental art project titled hashtag I am sorry, in which he sat silently in a room wearing a paper bag reading i am not famous anymore.
00:24:59
Speaker
Guests could come in and choose an object related to some piece of his life and then they could interact with him and the object however they wanted. He would not respond or interact back and this ran for five days.
00:25:11
Speaker
I love him so much. Well, it it received mixed and polarizing reactions. Some people praised it. You know, all good art does, Gabby.
00:25:24
Speaker
Uh-huh. Sure. Some people found it bold and emotionally raw, while most others dismissed it as self-indulgent or publicity-seeking.
00:25:35
Speaker
Clearly, we know where Natalie lands in that camp. So he is known, unfortunately, for a troubled childhood and has faced several arrests and legal issues over the years, DUIs, disorderly conduct, several lawsuits over plagiarism. um The man just copies and pastes from Google all the time. Okay, well, I didn't know that.
00:25:57
Speaker
Yes, he's done this a lot. And he's been like, sued for so many plagiaristic things. And he publicly entered inpatient rehab in 2021, stating he was working towards sobriety and healing.
00:26:09
Speaker
Seems to have gotten better since then. However, that wasn't even his first time in rehab because his first time was in 2019 when he was mandated by the court to go. And while being treated, he wrote a screenplay for Honey Boy, a semi-autobiographical film based on his childhood and the strained relationship he had with his father.
00:26:27
Speaker
He later portrayed the character of his father in the movie, and it won critical acclaim and lots of indie awards. It was a pretty big deal. I have not heard of this. I need to go watch that.
00:26:39
Speaker
Yeah, apparently it was very therapeutic for him, and it did really well. In 2023, he made his stage debut in the premiere production of David Mement's play, Henry Johnson. Do you know about this? I see nodding your head. heard he was spectacular.
00:26:54
Speaker
Yeah, he's pretty great, even though he sucks. ah he He is a dad. He has one daughter with his ex-wife, Mia Goth. Yeah, apparently they got married in Vegas and it was like a fake wedding, but like also a real wedding. And then they got divorced, but they have a daughter who they actually had after they had like reconciled.
00:27:15
Speaker
Stanley Young. then they split up again. What are you doing?
00:27:20
Speaker
yep And then 2022, he converted to Catholicism very publicly. He was inspired by his time spent preparing for his role in Padre Pio. And apparently he just was like, this is the most freedom and like closest to life I've ever felt.
00:27:37
Speaker
So he's like a very strong Catholic now, or at least in 2022 he was. is Oh, the end? Yeah, and that's and that's everything I found on him. I mean, it was kind of all over the place.
00:27:49
Speaker
You could find more. ah You can definitely find more. You didn't even mention his viral video. Oh, are you talking about the Shia LaBeouf? Yeah, Shia LaBeouf.
00:28:00
Speaker
I didn't feel I needed to, but go ahead. people about it. the most important thing he's ever done for humanity.
00:28:07
Speaker
I do sing his name every time somebody says it because of that video. That's what i'm saying. Exactly. And then also there's the the viral, like, ah I guess it's a meme where he goes, just do it.
00:28:19
Speaker
Just do it. Yeah, the Nike commercial. mean, cultural icon. We can put a period on this conversation. is a cultural icon. Perfect. All right, moving on.
00:28:30
Speaker
Christy Carlson Romano, who played Wren. So we have already talked about her twice in our episodes on Cadet Kelly and Kim Possible. So just as a review, if you haven't listened to those episodes yet, after Disney Channel, she continued acting in film and TV.
00:28:45
Speaker
She's been on Broadway. She's married with two kids, and she and her husband own the podcast company Podco, which produces rewatch podcasts in which the original cast of our favorite childhood shows come back and talk about their time making the show.
00:28:59
Speaker
And she hosts several of those podcasts. So we love her. And if you want to hear more, you can go back to our Kim Possible or our Cadet Kelly episodes. Also, she was recently shot in the eye.
00:29:10
Speaker
What? yep Did you not know? I didn't even look her up because I was like, oh, we've done this twice now. So she got shot like just under her eye and like had to have major facial reconstructive surgery.
00:29:26
Speaker
Oh my gosh. Is she going to like, is she okay? She's i fine now, I think. Wow. I had no idea. I'm really glad you knew about that. Yeah. Last time you don't look someone up.
00:29:37
Speaker
For real. So I just was like, we've done her twice. Both with like the Kim Possible was only a couple months ago. Like nothing could have happened that big. I was wrong. Thanks for sharing that. Yeah.
00:29:49
Speaker
So ah next, I just wanted to mention Tom Virtue, who plays Steve Stevens. What a name. We actually just covered him a few weeks ago as he made an appearance in Brink.
00:30:01
Speaker
But as a reminder, the man has appeared in everything you've ever watched. Ever. He has. Ever. He has a long list of credits and we will still see him two more times in Miracle on Lane 2 and Read It and Weep.
00:30:16
Speaker
So y'all can look forward to that. Then we have Stephen Anthony Lawrence who played Beans. You may recognize him from other notable roles in his childhood like Kicking and Screaming, Cheaper by the Dozen, and The Cat in the Hat.
00:30:29
Speaker
Oh, I forgot he was in Cheaper by the Dozen. You're right. Yeah, he's the weird neighbor kid. Yeah. He's the one that's like flying from the chandelier. Yes.
00:30:40
Speaker
I completely forgot till you said that. But yeah, he's great in that movie. Yeah. So he's acted a lot, but ah honestly, he hasn't acted much recently. He's kind of flying under the radar. In 2023, he co-hosted the Even More Stevens podcast with Christy Carlson Romano on her Podco ah channel.
00:30:59
Speaker
And actually, for the last several years, he's been teaching acting at USC, Berkeley, Pepperdine, and in several LA high schools. And in a 2021 HuffPost interview, he shared how much joy teaching kids brings him.
00:31:12
Speaker
Oh, I love that. Yeah. ah But you know what? Also, last thing about him, for years, he produced the Rice and Beans show on YouTube. Have you heard of this? No, I have not.
00:31:24
Speaker
It's the show is a bipartisan political talk show starring himself and Max Rice. Oh, rice and beans. Yep. And so it was hosted by actor and producer Matt Stoner. And i think their last video came out like couple years ago.
00:31:41
Speaker
So I don't think it's still happening. That's cool, though. I didn't know about that. Yeah. Fun stuff. All right, then we have, sorry, there's a lot of characters in this movie, and I did something on like almost all of them. And that's okay.
00:31:55
Speaker
All right, next up is Tim Meadows, who played Miles McDermott. So, fun fact, he was one of the longest-running cast members on Saturday Night Live, where he appeared for 10 seasons from 1991 2000.
00:32:08
Speaker
And he deserved it. He's hilarious. He's so funny. He's also known for his role as Principal Duvall in the 2004 film Mean Girls. Instantly, I recognized him for that.
00:32:20
Speaker
Oh, yeah, for sure. And it's a role that he reprised in Mean Girls 2 and in the film's 2024 musical adaptation. Wait, what? he He was in the new one? Yeah, he was.
00:32:32
Speaker
I kind of refuse to watch it out of principle, but that's interesting that he's in it. i haven't seen it either, but he's in it. He's like staying true to that character. Well, I love him. Yeah, and he's continued acting steadily in TV and film, and he continues to perform improv and stand-up comedy shows. So check out his website. He might be coming and doing a show near you.
00:32:53
Speaker
Love it. We should go. ah We should! Okay, I have two quick honorable mentions before my last one. Just quick, quick things here. Margot Harshman, who plays Tawny.
00:33:06
Speaker
She was in four episodes of The Big Bang Theory as Sheldon's assistant, Alex. And I only know that because I'm currently watching Big Bang Theory. And I was like, it's Yes. So I immediately clocked that as well. I was like, that's the assistant, Alex, Sheldon's assistant. and And my husband was watching this with me. And he was like, no, it's not. And I was like, I'm pretty darn sure it is. And he looked it up. And sure enough, you know.
00:33:30
Speaker
10 years later, that's the same girl. That's her. I have to give Nick credit. He's the one that recognized her. And I was like, oh my gosh, you were like on that. ah But ah she's in four episodes of that show, but she makes such an impact that you recognize her in Even Stevens.
00:33:45
Speaker
Yeah. And then of course I have to mention Dave Coulier. Coulier? Anyways, he plays the gotcha host Lance LeBeau in this, but you probably recognize him as Uncle Joey from Full House and Fuller House.
00:33:57
Speaker
Mm-hmm. We will actually see him again in the 13th year, which I'm just dying to watch. I think I bring it up almost every episode. Yeah. And then ah just notably, he now hosts the Full House Rewind podcast, which is also produced by Podco. So just everybody from the show is on Podco.
00:34:17
Speaker
I mean, they're really killing the game. Also, how dare you not mention Tweety? Yeah. Oh, I guess should mention. Star Brink and other DCOMs? You Wish?
00:34:28
Speaker
You Wish? That one? Yeah, he's not the star of Brink. He's the star of You Wish. That's why I didn't mention him. Oh, well, he looks just like the other guy. Floppy hair. Yeah, the guy who plays Tweety is the guy the main guy in You Wish.
00:34:43
Speaker
That's all I have to say about that. You can go listen to our You Wish podcast episode if you want to cry and find out more about him. Well, all right then. All right.
00:34:55
Speaker
Finally, you know that I love him. You know I had to cover him. Josh Keaton, who plays Jason slash Muay Thai. Oh my gosh. Where is Mr. Curly Hair now?
00:35:06
Speaker
Oh, yes. Okay. While you might not recognize his face from Very Much, you will probably recognize his voice. Natalie, I'm so excited about this for you. Okay. He has had a thriving voice acting career since he was a little kid.
00:35:20
Speaker
His most notable role, especially for this podcast, is that he voiced young Hercules in the 1997 Disney's Hercules. You're kidding. i am not.
00:35:32
Speaker
Wait. Okay, hold up. I'm trying to hear both voices in my head. He's teenage Hercules. I know. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Pre-voice change. Sure. Yeah. Okay. Uh-huh.
00:35:45
Speaker
Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yep. So amazing. That's incredible. I love that. I know. I was just so excited when I found that out. And also, it's hard to hear with this voice because he's mostly speaking in his fake accent in this movie. Right. So it's like you don't really know his voice.
00:36:00
Speaker
Oh, but it is silky smooth and amazing. Anyways, so he became widely known for voicing Spider-Man in The Spectacular Spider-Man from 2008 to 2009. Oh. Yeah.
00:36:11
Speaker
yeah He is celebrated among fans as a definitive Spider-Man voice and considered one of the top portrayals alongside Kevin Conroy-level acclaim. People love him as Spider-Man.
00:36:22
Speaker
Incredible. Yeah, he is also Jack Derby in Transformers Prime and Hal Jordan in Green Lantern, the animated series. So these are all animations. And then he's also done a ton of video game work.
00:36:34
Speaker
Oh. um He is currently the voice of Steve Rogers' Captain America in the Disney Plus show What If? Yeah. Amazing. Okay. I see you, Jason Mutai.
00:36:46
Speaker
Right? Jason Mutai sounds like it's his full name. And then just on a personal note, he is married, he has two children, and he enjoys tinkering with cars and electronics, writing and producing music, and time with his family and their dog, Chauncey.
00:37:00
Speaker
Oh. Chauncey. Chauncey. Wow. And that is everything I have for where they are now. Jason Muthai, your legacy lives on. I love him. He's almost as impactful to me as when we found out what's his name was Chan and Ranjan from Avatar.
00:37:17
Speaker
Who was that? The guy from Brink that you thought was Tweety. Oh. The one who's in Princess Diaries. Sure. The other 90s blonde.
00:37:28
Speaker
All right, Gabby, we have come
Podcast Closing and Next Episode Prep
00:37:30
Speaker
to the end of the show. Are you ready to pick what we're watching for the next episode? I'm so excited. So we have a massive list of every DCOM ever made, and we use a random number generator to choose what we will be watching for the next episode.
00:37:44
Speaker
Are we ready to spin the metaphorical wheel? I'm so ready. Okay. still have so many more to go Gabby, we've got a sequel.
00:37:55
Speaker
oh a sequel. Have we done a sequel yet? Yes. We did High School Musical 2 with Mr. Cheeky Pop. Oh, yeah. Okay. Are you ready? We are watching Zombies 2.
00:38:07
Speaker
Finally. i feel like in Harry Potter when Uncle Vernon is like, justice. Yeah. So you spoiled it for yourself and you've already seen this one.
00:38:19
Speaker
Okay. But actually I haven't really because I watched it with a bunch of fourth grade girls who didn't stop talking the entire movie. I remember literally none of it. Incredible. so this will be ah a semi new viewing for you and a new viewing for me.
00:38:35
Speaker
Perfect. I feel like we're going to have a lot of fun making fun of this one next week. Oh, I'm so excited for a musical. Oh, I've missed our musical episodes. I have two. can't wait to talk about this. All right, y'all. You have two weeks to watch Zombies 2 and come back ready to rave.
00:38:53
Speaker
Or roast. It's probably going to be the roasting one. Yeah. Okay, bye. Bye. Thank you all so much for listening to this episode of Once Upon a DCOM. Like what you just heard? Leave us a rating and review. We'd love to hear your thoughts.
00:39:06
Speaker
Also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at onceuponadcom.podcast and share this podcast with your Disney-loving friends. A big thanks to Gabby for editing this whole podcast together. Thanks, Fran. Plus, shout out to Kaori for sweetening the audio on this track. And don't forget to subscribe because there's always a new episode on the way. This is Gabriela. And Natalie. Signing off with a sprinkle of pixie dust. and a whole lot of nostalgia.