Adam and Stef are back from vacation, Alex has been holding down the fort, and naturally that means it’s time to talk about one of cinema’s most underrated genres: vacation movies.

But first, Stef has a story about Mercury retrograde, sleepless nights, mysterious voices, shadow figures, and why apparently none of us should be traveling, signing contracts, or trusting the universe right now. From there, the crew asks the important question: What actually makes a movie a vacation movie?

The debate starts with the classic National Lampoon’s Vacation and quickly turns into a showdown when Stef makes her case for Back to the Beach. From the Griswolds and Vegas Vacation to Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Dirty Dancing, The Cabin in the Woods, Evil Dead, Mom and Dad Save the World, and more, Adam, Alex, and Stef try to determine where vacation movies end and road trips, horror movies, summer camp movies, and complete cinematic chaos begin.

Along the way, they talk Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Christina Applegate, Ed Helms, John Candy, Paul Rudd, Danny Trejo, Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Pee-wee Herman, Brad Pitt, and somehow find themselves discussing everything from From Dusk Till Dawn to the Trojan War.

Plus: Is Dirty Dancing really a vacation movie? Is Back to the Beach better than Vacation? Does going to a cabin automatically qualify? And how far can the definition of “vacation” be stretched before it completely falls apart?

Pack the car, ignore Mercury retrograde, and hit the road with the Spit Take Podcast for an episode full of movie nostalgia, questionable classifications, ridiculous tangents, and the kind of debates nobody asked for—but somebody needed to have.

Movies & shows discussed include: National Lampoon’s Vacation, Christmas Vacation, Vegas Vacation, European Vacation, Vacation (2015), Back to the Beach, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Dirty Dancing, The Cabin in the Woods, Evil Dead, From Dusk Till Dawn, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Mom and Dad Save the World, and more.

🎙️ Spit Take Podcast — Adam, Alex & Stef

#SpitTakePodcast #MoviePodcast #VacationMovies #NationalLampoonsVacation #ChristmasVacation #VegasVacation #BackToTheBeach #ForgettingSarahMarshall #DirtyDancing #MovieComedy #MovieDiscussion #FilmPodcast #80sMovies #90sMovies #ComedyPodcast

Episode Description

Football season is almost here, so we're settling one of the biggest debates in sports movie history: What is the greatest football movie of all time?

With Adam and Stef away, Alex is joined by special guests David Logan and RickDogNetwork for an hour of football nostalgia, hot takes, and plenty of laughs. From Remember the Titans and Any Given Sunday to The Program, The Replacements, Varsity Blues, Little Giants, Friday Night Lights, The Waterboy, Necessary Roughness, Brian's Song, The Longest Yard, and more, the guys break down what makes these classics unforgettable.

Along the way they discuss:

• 🏈 The most inspirational football movie ever made
• 🎬 The best football coaches in movie history (including a very controversial Coach Kilmer defense!)
• 🐻 Chicago Bears memories and growing up playing football in Chicago
• 🎮 RickDogNetwork talks streaming, the White Sox, and Chicago sports
• ⭐ Building the ultimate fictional football dream team from every football movie ever made

Whether you're a die-hard football fan or just love great sports movies, this episode is packed with nostalgia, debates, and plenty of laughs.

What's your #1 football movie? Let us know in the comments!

#FootballMovies #RememberTheTitans #AnyGivenSunday #TheReplacements #VarsityBlues #LittleGiants #FridayNightLights #TheWaterboy #BrianSong #TheProgram #ChicagoBears #NFL #SportsMovies #MoviePodcast #SpitTakePodcast

What happened to Alex Stone after Major Payne? Actor, writer, and filmmaker Steven Martini joins the Spit Take Podcast to answer that question—and reveals exclusive details about Major Stone, his planned sequel centered on the beloved character from the 1995 comedy classic.

Steven shares the inspiration behind revisiting Alex Stone decades later, how military service, PTSD, and comedy can coexist in meaningful storytelling, and why he believes Major Payne was ahead of its time. Adam, an Afghanistan veteran, offers his own perspective on how the film unexpectedly reflected real military life and mental health.

The conversation expands into Hollywood's obsession with legacy sequels, why Cobra Kai succeeded where others failed, and what modern audiences want from nostalgic franchises. Steven also dives into his journey from child actor to independent filmmaker, discusses making his cult indie film Smiling Fish and Goat on Fire, and shares his thoughts on AI's growing role in filmmaking and storytelling.

As lifelong movie nerds, the group also debates the future of Star Wars, George Lucas's original sequel trilogy ideas, Spielberg, independent cinema, and why authentic storytelling will always outlast trends.

If you're a fan of Major Payne, Damon Wayans, Cobra Kai, Star Wars, filmmaking, screenwriting, military movies, or behind-the-scenes Hollywood conversations, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Topics Covered:

• Steven Martini's journey from Major Payne to filmmaker
• The story behind the proposed Major Stone sequel
• Military comedy, PTSD, and authentic storytelling
• Why Cobra Kai became the gold standard for legacy sequels
• Independent filmmaking and creating your own opportunities
• AI in Hollywood: opportunity or threat?
• George Lucas's original Star Wars sequel plans
• Spielberg, cult classics, and the future of movies

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