Jillian Marie Movies
A small-town history teacher with a decidedly different approach to public education raises the ire of a stuffy biology teacher who's looking to win the "Teacher of the Year" award in this made-for-television family-oriented comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and David Paymer. Mr. D (Reynolds) doesn't just teach history, he lives it; and his passion for the oft-dreaded subject is infectious. Though the kids and the faculty all love Mr. D, biology teacher Matt Warner (Paymer) views the newly arrived educator as little more than another roadblock in his path to take the "Teacher of the Year" prize. The son of wildly popular educator Stormin' Norman (John Astin) -- a man who had achieved the astonishing feat of winning the top teacher award for 43 years in a row -- Matt Warner is desperate to prove his worth as a teacher by following in his fathers formidable footsteps. When Warner learns a secret about Mr. D that could bring the newly arrived teacher down and place Warner directly in position to take the Teacher of the Year title, the entire town of Fallbrook learns an important lesson that can't be taught in a textbook. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Paymer, Ryan Reynolds, (more)
- 2001
Yet one more derivation of Malcolm in the Middle, the WB Network sitcom Maybe It's Me went into production under the less sensitive but more amusing title Maybe I'm Adopted. The "Me" in question was 15-year-old Molly Stage (Regan Dale Neis), a resident of "the smallest town in the smallest state," who did her best to survive life with her nutty family: soccer-coach dad Jerry (Fred Willard), super-stingy mom Mary (Julia Sweeney), Christian-rocker brother Grant (Patrick Levis), punkish sibling Rick (Andrew Walker), spawn-of-satan twin sisters Mindy and Cindy (played by real-life twins Daniella and Deanna Canterman), and eccentric (to say the least) Grandma Harriet (Ellen Albertini Dow). That grand old trouper Dabbs Greer was seen as goofy old Grandpa Fred. Series creator Suzanne Martin claimed that the Stage clan was based on her own family; if so, the poor woman deserves all our sympathy. Part of a Friday-night WB comedy block, Maybe It's Me debuted on October 5, 2001, its original September 21 premiere date preempted by continuing coverage of the World Trade Center tragedy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Reagan Dale Neis, Julia Sweeney, (more)
- 2001
On Halloween night, the fugitive Manticore mutants are able to move freely through Seattle without attracting attention; after all, who's to know that their grotesqueries aren't merely masks and costumes? In the course of the evening, Max (Jessica Alba) clashes with a recalcitrant Manticore 'nomlie named Sally (Todd Stashwick), whose head and body are separate but equal nemeses. The climax revolves around the impending assassination of a resistance leader -- not to mention Rafer's (Kris Pope) growing awareness that Max is more than she seems to be. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2000
"Inspired by actual events", this made-for-TV drama stars Melissa Gilbert ad Donielle, who since childhood has been blessed--or cursed--with a Sixth Sense. It all began at her best friend's funeral, when 8-year-old Donielle was seized with a vision which indicated that her friend had been murdered by his own father. Disowned by her family and ostracized by the community, Donielle learns the hard way to keep her premonitions to herself. By the time she has reached adulthood, Donielle is a rootless single mother, travelling from town to town with her children to avoid coming in close contact with anything that might retrigger her paranormal gifts. But upon arriving in a small town where the citizens are being terrorized by a serial killer, Donielle again begins experiencing horrible visions--and this time, maybe someone will listen...and believe...A Vision of Murder: The Story of Donielle first aired February 9, 2000, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
