Pod Meets World – "Under Wraps (2021)" – Detailed Episode Summary

Podcast: Pod Meets World
Hosts: Will Friedle & Sabrina Bryan
Episode: Under Wraps (2021)
Date: November 4, 2025

Episode Overview

The hosts, Will Friedle and Sabrina Bryan, revisit the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) remake "Under Wraps" (2021), comparing it to the 1997 original, sharing behind-the-scenes trivia, and unpacking its place in the ever-evolving world of Halloween-themed Disney content. Loaded with vivid recaps, honest reactions, and memorable banter, the episode serves up both nostalgia and critical analysis for Disney fans and newcomers alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Halloween Talk & Personal Anecdotes

• [02:22-07:42] The episode opens with a lively conversation about Halloween costumes and traditions. Sabrina describes her family’s group Little Mermaid costumes (“Ledger's gonna be Flounder...and I'm gonna be Sebastian. I got my claws..." – Sabrina, 02:49). Will jokes about not handing out candy and how, after 25 years in his house, he's still never had a trick-or-treater:

  • "I've been at my house 25 years and I literally have not had a trick or treater." – Will, [04:48]

• Sabrina shares quirky Jacuzzi memories from her childhood, which Will finds hilarious for their Southern California specificity:

  • "We had a table in it...we would eat barbecue during the weekends or have dinner out there...Is that weird? Now that I'm saying it out loud, it sounds really strange." – Sabrina, [06:19]

2. "Under Wraps" Remake: Context and First Impressions

• [07:59-09:45]
  • The 2021 version is discussed as both a remake of the very first DCOM and the first DCOM remake ever. The movie was filmed in Vancouver, BC, under COVID-19 restrictions, reflected in the lower, yet respectable, viewership:
    • "This was viewed by 401,000 people... a far cry from the multi millions we're used to hearing about for most of our popular DCOMs." – Will, [10:09]
  • The film is praised for updating production values and offering enhanced sets compared to the 1997 version:
    • "What the abilities and everything that we saw in that first one compared to this one...it was such a huge upgrade." – Sabrina, [09:14]
• LGBTQ+ Inclusion
  • First DCOM to feature LGBTQ+ representation: Amy is a child of divorced dads.
  • Discussion of changing family structures in Disney films (divorced parents vs. dead):
    • "We've said before...the D you can use is divorced, not dead." – Will, [25:48]

3. Plot Recap & Scene Breakdowns

Opening Scenes

• [20:05-24:15]
  • The movie opens with a similarly spooky start as the original. The classic “Warthead” monster movie serves as a film-within-a-film reference.
• The hosts notice modern twists and nods to the original throughout:
  • "They totally honored the first film...Gilbert finds refuge outside and quickly uses his inhaler. Marshall joins him, bummed he missed the ending." – Will, [21:45]

Character Dynamics & Themes

• Amy, the new girl, is clever and driven to investigate the mystery, which the hosts see as a positive departure from typical DCOM sidekick characters:
  • "She wants to become an investigative reporter and needs a more active city..." – Will, [26:23]
  • "Amy quickly puts two and two together. Not something we're very used to in decoms." – Will, [31:23]

Mummy Awakens/Harold

• [33:31-35:24]
  • The trio accidentally awakens a mummy, later named Harold.
  • Amusing adaptation of the mummy to modern life ensues (e.g., loves hot sauce, eats a sock, is scared by his own reflection).
  • Will finds the naming logic funny:
    • "He decides to name the mummy Harold. Which is weird because the mummy probably has a name. But anyway..." – Will, [35:24]
• The “mummy movie” school project plotline is praised as a creative update:
  • "He gets to actually make a mummy movie with the Mummy. What a great little twist..." – Will, [36:43]

Modernization & Meta-Commentary

• The movie stretches reality with expository coincidences (Egyptian units in school, mummy appears just in time), which the hosts mock lovingly:
  • "It's like they find a werewolf and they're in werewolf school..." – Will, [36:43]
• The new romantic subplot for the mummy is established earlier and more clearly than the original, making the stakes feel higher and more relatable.

Comedy and Set Pieces

• Will and Sabrina point out fun set pieces: the Halloween carnival, ring toss subplot, and mummy dance scene.
• The villain’s eccentricity (Mrs. Ravensworth eating a whole baby octopus) is called out for its cartoonish creepiness:
  • "It was so weird, but it was also just like, come on..." – Will, [40:25]
• The hosts playfully critique gaps in logic (the inexplicable birdseed at the end, security lapses in the museum, leaf transitions).

4. Representation and Casting Appreciation

• Malachi Barton (Marshall) is universally praised:
  • "That Malachi kid is obviously going to be a star. He is a star. He steals the whole thing." – Will, [78:27]
• Supporting cast (Christian J. Simon as Gilbert, Sophia Hammonds as Amy) are commended for chemistry and comedic timing.
• Director Alex Zamm receives a shoutout and is anticipated as a future guest:
  • "He has a long list of credits...I was texting with him last night as I was watching this movie and he will be coming on our show." – Will, [14:11]

5. Comparisons to the Original

• The remake is widely considered superior in structure and pacing, even if both are beloved:
  • "They definitely kept to the spirit of the original one and sometimes right to the story of the original one. I just thought they cleaned it up enough to make it flow a little better." – Will, [57:48]

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Outgrowing Halloween

• "I'm a hollow Easter bunny." – Sabrina, [50:56]
• "Imagine it's Halloween and you open your door and it's a grown man by himself dressed up, wanting candy." – Will, [50:49]

On Remakes

• "Do not like remakes. I think they're lazy. ...This worked for me." – Will, [09:02]

On Nostalgia & Taco Soup Moments

• "We had a Jacuzzi table...Is that weird? Now that I'm saying it out loud, it sounds really strange." – Sabrina, [06:19]
• "I've been at my house 25 years and I literally have not had a trick or treater." – Will, [04:48]

On Diversity and Updating the DCOM Formula

• "Under Wraps 21 is also the first DCOM to feature LGBTQ representation..." – Will, [10:08]
• "We've said before...the D you can use is divorced, not dead." – Will, [25:48]

On the Cast

• "That Malachi kid is obviously going to be a star. He is a star." – Will, [78:27]

On the Plot and Pacing

• "Set up the story, which was done better here than in the original one." – Will, [30:44]

Segment Timestamps

• Fun Halloween Banter: [02:22-07:42]
• Remake Context/First Impressions: [07:59-09:45]
• Plot Walkthrough Begins: [20:05]
• Mummy Awakened, First Shocks: [33:31-35:24]
• Carnival & Climax: [53:17-56:37]
• Resolution and Birdseed Mystery: [63:29-64:10]
• Listener Reviews: [66:30-67:55]
• Halloween Facts Game: [68:39-72:19]
• ‘Sabrina Sees’ (Nods & Easter Eggs): [72:41-77:31]
• Final Ratings: [77:31-80:45]

Listener and Host Ratings

• Listener Five-Star Review: "Perfect for school age kids who like goofy fare, but aren't quite ready for more traditionally scary movies...I can see it becoming a standard Halloween film for Disney." – Sabrina reading, [66:30]
• Listener One-Star Review: "ET Beats The Burbs meets Paranorman meets some hot garbage..." – Will reading, [67:01]
• Host Ratings:
  • Will: 8.5/10 leaf transitions
  • Sabrina: 9/10 leaf transitions
  • "This is up there. This is our favorite that...that we've watched in the Halloween genre for sure." – Sabrina, [79:54]

Easter Eggs & Production Trivia

• First DCOM to feature LGBTQ representation
• Callbacks to original DCOM “Under Wraps” throughout the film (Warthead, ring toss panda, mummy’s name)
• References to other Disney properties (Zombies, Descendants)
• Viral dance scene nods to TikTok culture

Final Thoughts

Both hosts heartily recommend "Under Wraps" (2021) as a standout Halloween family film, not just as a nostalgia trip but as a genuinely well-made update, blending heart, humor, and enough spooky fun for a wide audience. The episode highlights both the evolution of the DCOM brand and the staying power of childhood classics when given thoughtful—and occasionally quirky—modern treatments.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "We had a table in [the Jacuzzi]... Is that weird? Now that I'm saying it out loud, it sounds really strange." – Sabrina, [06:19]
• "Do not like remakes. I think they're lazy...This worked for me." – Will, [09:02]
• "They totally honored the first film...Gilbert finds refuge outside and quickly uses his inhaler." – Will, [21:45]
• "Set up the story, which was done better here than in the original one." – Will, [30:44]
• "That Malachi kid is obviously going to be a star. He is a star." – Will, [78:27]
• "This is our favorite that...that we've watched in the Halloween genre for sure." – Sabrina, [79:54]

Next Up: The pod dives into the 2010 DCOM "Den Brother" for more zany adventures and deep-dive nostalgia.