Sam Saletta Movies
- 2003
Abby (Maura Tierney) has just about reached the end of her rope: Her biploar brother, Eric, has vanished, and her bipolar mother Maggie (Sally Field) has come back into her life. As Carter (Noah Wyle) tries to help Abby cope with her many burdens, a shaken and humbled Kovac (Goran Visnjic) returns to the ER -- albeit only after receiving an ultimatum from Weaver (Laura Innes). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
Impoverished 11-year-old Tim (Christ Marquette) takes up the sport of boxing to get even with the bullies in his life--specifically, his brother Steven (J. Evan Bonifant) and his uncle Frank (Richard Burgi). Anxious to prove to Tim that there are better reasons to become a boxer, angel Rafael (Alexis Cruz) determines that this life lesson can only be provided by someone who has experienced first-hand a child's struggle for survival. The man needed for this assignment is man found: Muhammad Ali, ingratiatingly playing "himself." Though Ali is effective enough, it requires a near-tragedy for Tim to finally come to terms with his inner demons...and for his thoughtless family to see the error of their ways. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Spanky, Alfalfa, Buckwheat, and the other characters made famous in the Our Gang shorts of the 1920s and 1930s are brought back to life in this nostalgic children's comedy. Although the setting is the present day, the characters remain much the same, down to their old-fashioned clothing and their membership in the "He-man Womun Haters Club." When Alfalfa (Bug Hall) starts to question his devotion to the club's principles after falling for the beautiful nine-year old Darla (Brittany Ashton Holmes), the rest of the gang sets out to keep them apart. An attempt to win the grand prize in a go-cart race also comes into play, providing opportunities for physical comedy, while Darla's and Alfalfa's story trades on the humor of innocent puppy love. Most critics found the film less a tribute to the original series of shorts than a blatant attempt to capitalize on the familiar name, though younger audiences may be entertained by the simple gags and child-like attitude. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Starring:
- Travis Tedford, Bug Hall, (more)
