Duane Stephens Movies
- 2004
A forest ranger stumbles into a den of eccentrics when he takes a job in a small town in this Mormon-themed comedy. Tartan Jones (Dan Merkley) is a 29-year-old man trained as a forest ranger who lives in Provo, UT, but is eager to get away, mainly so his friends and relatives will stop trying to fix him up with a "nice" girl, especially his mother (Jan Broberg Felt). Jones takes a job in a small town in the Southwest called Longfellow, though the locals prefer to call it Longwinded. Longfellow is home to 524 people -- 262 Mormons and 262 Baptists, a matter that has inspired no small amount of lively debate and less than friendly rivalry among the townsfolk over the years. Jones' membership in the Church of Latter Day Saints becomes a matter of contention when it's learned he's the "tiebreaker" who finally gives the Mormons a numerical advantage over the Baptists. Jones attempts to broker peace between both sides by staging an "all faith barbecue" for the entire community, but getting everyone involved to eat a burger together turns out to be a lot more difficult than expected. Making matters all the more complicated for Jones is Charity Hall (Heather Beers), an attractive woman who has arrived in town following a bad breakup with her boyfriend; she seems to like Jones but would prefer to stay out of Longfellow's religious debate altogether, perhaps wisely. Baptists at Our Barbecue was based on the comic novel of the same name by Mormon author Robert Farrell Smith. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Merkley, Heather Beers, (more)
Directed by Joe Camp, Benji: Off the Leash! follows the plight of three underdogs: Benji, who is literally a dog; the funny but none-too-bright Sheldon; and Colby, a 14-year-old facing some real problems. The unlikely trio is brought together by the nefarious efforts of an ill-intentioned puppy breeder who wants to use Benji's mother in an irresponsible backyard puppy mill. The film serves as a prequel of sorts to the Benji franchise, and features Chris Kendrick, Nick Whitaker, Duane Stephens, Randall Newsome, and, of course, Benji the Dog. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Benji, Nick Whitaker, (more)
- 1998
Though Monica (Roma Downey) and her fellow angels aren't quite certain why female auto mechanic Tracy Beringer (Ele Keats) so desperately needs the first-prize money from a beauty pageant, they are committed to helping her achieve her goal. As it happens, Tracy's motivations are not the only mystery surrounding her. She never lets anyone see the inside of her apartment; she is constantly changing the story of how her parents were "killed"; and though she seems resigned to a lifetime of automotive work, she is actually a brilliant (if curiously uninspired) pianist. Needless to say, there is a surprise in store for everyone before this story--and Tracy's crisis of faith--can be resolved. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Reminiscent of the "best" of David Lynch, the two-part TV movie Night Sins uses a mysterious abduction as catalyst for a progressively bizarre and disturbing expose of small-town corruption, hypocrisy and perversion. When the 8-year-old son of a doctor is kidnapped from his home in the rural Washington town of Deer Lake, government agent Megan O'Malley (Valerie Bertinelli) arrives to investigate. It soon becomes apparent that this most recent abduction is tied in to a string of kidnappings and murders that have occurred in the region over the past twenty years. As Megan pursues her investigation with the help of friendly local cop Mitch Holt (Harry Hamlin)--to whom she grows extremely close--innumerable local skeletons are dredged out of innumerable local closets. In fact, it seems that everyone concerned with the story is harboring a dark, unsavory secret--including Megan. If nothing else, this offbeat melodrama may well be the only TV movie to feature an evil chess club! Originally telecast on CBS, Night Sins was first seen on February 23 and 25, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
