profile pic ian.jpg

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.

Ep418: The Kind You Find in a Second-hand Store

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast sorts Pixar's latest into the "donate" pile with an unconventional look at Toy Story 4! Join Ian and David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews, and Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson for a balanced take on the further adventures of Woody, Buzz, Bo Beep, and their newest plastic sidekick, Forky.

Is the movie a home run, a cash grab, or an awkward addendum to a near-perfect trilogy? Listen in for a nuanced analysis that you won't find anywhere else!

Also, Don talks about what it's like to be one of only twoRotten Tomatoes-certified critics to have given Toy Story 4 a "Rotten" rating. From the nuance of his position; to potentially criminal reader backlash; and an attempted intervention on the part of his colleagues, you'll get an inside look at the rough-and-tumble craft of film criticism!

You've got a friend in Episode 418 (for now, at least)!

Show Guide:

Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:14

Intro: 0:14 - 2:56

Toy Story 4 Trailer: 2:56 - 5:12

Toy Story 4 Discussion: 5:12 - 1:35:11

Outro Music: 1:35:11 - 1:35:25

Keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on TwitterFacebookInstagramiTunes, and Stitcher!

Ep419: I Wanna Hold Your Haneke

Ep417: BEING FRANK with Jim Gaffigan and Miranda Bailey!