Amy Yasbeck Movies
If television and movie buffs with a keen eye suspect that they may have seen actress Amy Yasbeck somewhere before, it could be from her early roles on the long-running soap opera mainstay Days of Our Lives or a mid-'90s stint on Wings, but it's possible that Yasbeck's recognition factor reaches back even further into the pop culture public conscience. As a child, the pretty actress was featured on the box of the wildly popular Easy Bake Oven.Born and raised the daughter of a grocery store proprietor father and a homemaker in Cincinnati, OH, Yasbeck got her break in show business after moving to New York City, where she was discovered by an agent while working in a restaurant. Moving to Los Angeles shortly after she began auditioning for roles, the aspiring actress made her television debut on Love, American Style before taking a villainous turn as Olivia in Days of Our Lives. As her small-screen career began gaining momentum with roles in Dallas, Magnum P.I., and The Cosby Show, Yasbeck also appeared early on in such features as House II: The Second Story (1987), Pretty Woman, and Problem Child (both 1990), on the set of which she met future husband John Ritter. Her versatile ability to transform herself into a given character regardless of apparent physical disparities was later evidenced in Yasbeck's role as Maid Marian in Mel Brooks' zany parody Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Though her role description called for a buxom blond actress of British persuasion, the artifices of a wig, a phony accent, and some creative costume-stuffing won the actress the role while simultaneously winning the favor of director Brooks (who later cast Yasbeck opposite Wings co-star Steven Webber in Dracula: Dead and Loving It [1995]). Drifting between television (Alright, Already, I've Got a Secret) and film (Odd Couple II, Denial [both 1998]). Throughout the next decade she made regular guest appearances in various TV series including Just Shoot Me!, That's So Raven, and Hot in Cleveland. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Adam Rifkin wrote and directed this comedy that begins at a Los Angeles dinner party when unmarried, unattached novelist Art Witz (Jason Alexander with hair) argues that couples actually live in a state of denial and cannot maintain monogamous relationships. The plotline diverges to examine the lives of couples at the dinner party, including Isaac and Claudia (Ryan Alosio and Amy Yasbeck), who have an agreement to keep their affairs secret. Medical student Sophie (Leah Lail) sees a professor when she's not with her husband, attorney Joel (Jonathan Silverman), a fan of "Oriental" massages. Despite an upcoming marriage to pregnant Sammie (Christine Taylor), chef Sam (Patrick Dempsey) can't stop looking at pornography. Shown at the 1998 Seattle Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jonathan Silverman, Leah Lail, (more)
- 1998
- PG13
Fed up with her dissatisfying marriage, a woman joins a support group dedicated to the purpose of helping wives kill their husbands. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi
- 1997
- R
A Manhattan architect starts a new life with a new wife. All seems to be going well until the day when his friends and acquaintances start turning up murdered. The killer turns out to be his psycho ex-wife, and the architect realizes his new wife is next on her list. ~ Brian Gusse, Rovi
- Starring:
- Yancy Butler, Nick Mancuso, (more)
- 1996
When a vengeful husband begins killing everyone associated with his wife, a writer of best-selling crime novels must team up with a beautiful martial arts expert to stop him. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Corbin Bernsen, Nia Peeples, (more)
- 1996
Years after the accident that rendered her comatose, Alison Sullivan (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen) awakens with no memory of her past life or of the events leading up to the event that caused her amnesia. As she goes from person to person asking details of her life history, Alison is unaware that some of the interviewees are lying--and not without good reason. It turns out that there is a Very Powerful Person who doesn't want Alison's memory to return. . .and is willing to kill to make certain that it never does. Also in the cast is David Newsom as a kindly psychiatrist who insists upon helping Alison lift the veils from her mind--but why? Sweet Dreams originally aired September 16, 1996 on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mel Brooks does it again with this send-up of vampire films. That Leslie Nielson plays the great blood-sucking count gives viewers a good idea as to what they are in for. This Dracula takes himself very seriously despite the fact that he's a bit of a klutz with a tendency to slip in the bat guano that adorns his castle floor. Staying very close to Bram Stoker's original story, Brooks also pays sly homage to other major vampire film classics, including Nosferatu. Though silly but subtle gags abound in this outing, Brooks has taken great care to recreate the late 19th-century atmosphere in rich detail and harkens back to Hammer horror movies popular during the '50s and '60s. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Leslie Nielsen, Peter MacNicol, (more)
It's been said that while most people love their families, they don't always like them very much, and that emotional dividing line is the heart of this comedy directed by Jodie Foster. Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter) usually approaches family reunions with a certain trepidation, but as she prepares to fly from her home in Chicago to her parent's place in Baltimore for Thanksgiving, she is more apprehensive than usual. Claudia has just lost her job, she's not feeling at all well, and her teenage daughter, Kitt (Claire Danes), who is staying behind, informs Claudia on the way to the airport that she plans to use the weekend to lose her virginity with her boyfriend. The family festivities are already under way when Claudia arrives at the home of her mother, Adele (Anne Bancroft), and father, Henry (Charles Durning). Claudia's brother, Tommy (Robert Downey Jr.), whose homosexuality is tolerated without being discussed on a practical basis, has brought along his new friend Leo Fish (Dylan McDermott). Tommy doesn't get along well with his fussbudget sister, Joanne (Cynthia Stevenson), who wears her self-sacrifice like a badge of honor, and he simply hates her husband, Walter (Steve Guttenberg), who has often been the target of Tommy's barbed sense of humor. While the siblings and in-laws struggle to remain civil, their quite eccentric aunt Gladys (Geraldine Chaplin) arrives; she insists on discussing her digestive problems, and after a few drinks, she confesses her long-ago lust for Henry. Home for the Holidays was Jodie Foster's second film as a director, and the first in which she didn't also star. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Holly Hunter, Robert Downey, Jr., (more)
The outrageous sitcom Wings is back for Season 7 (1995-96), with brothers Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian Hackett (Steven Weber) of Sandpiper Air and their friends and co-workers of Tom Nevers Field. This season, Joe and Helen (Crystal Bernard) enjoy wedded bliss, but not for long, as Brian and Casey (Amy Yasbeck) burn down Helen's house, and the two couples have to live together. Plus, Roy (David Schramm) meets his son's new boyfriend; Fay (Rebecca Schull) announces she's getting hitched; and cabdriver Antonio (Tony Shalhoub) looks for love in all the wrong places when he unknowingly dates a hooker. This four-disc set includes all 26 Season 7 episodes that originally aired on NBC.
- Starring:
- Tim Daly, Steven Weber, (more)
In this season of Wings, Sandpiper Air owner Joe Hackett (Tim Daly) finally wins over lunch counter operator Helen Chappel (Crystal Bernard), as they become engaged and plan their wedding. And not a moment too soon, as Helen's competitive older sister, Casey (Amy Yasbeck), arrives to shake things up, catching the eye of cabdriver Antonio (Tony Shalhoub) and evoking the ire of Joe's newly single brother, Brian (Steven Weber). Plus, batty Fay (Rebecca Schull) quits her job then regrets it, dimwitted Lowell (Thomas Haden Church) turns budding artist (and tries vegetarianism), and surly Roy Biggins (David Schramm) welcomes a mail-order bride! This set contains all 26 episodes from the 1994-95 season.
- Starring:
- Tim Daly, Steven Weber, (more)
- 1994
Still in the doldrums over his breakup with Alex, Brian (Steven Weber) consults a psychiatrist named Dr. Greyson, played by journalist George Plimpton. Later on, Brian's brother Joe (Tim Daly) shows up in Greyson's office when Helen (Crystal Bernard) insists upon moving up their wedding date. The end result of these consultations finds Brian getting his head back on straight -- while Joe and Helen are worse off than before! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Hyperactive mayhem results when a mild-manned banker discovers an ancient mask that transforms him into a zany prankster with superhuman powers in this special-effects-intensive comedy. The wildly improvisational Jim Carrey plays Stanley Ipkiss, a decent-hearted but socially awkward guy who one night finds a strange mask. Carrey's trademark energy reveals itself after Stanley puts on the mask and the banker transforms into The Mask, a green-skinned, zoot-suited fireball. The rubber-faced Mask possesses the courage to do the wild, fun things that Stanley fears, including romancing Tina Carlyle (Cameron Diaz). In addition to Carrey's physical talents, the film makes effective use of digital visual effects that bestow the Mask with superhuman speed, insane flexibility, and popping eyes out of a Tex Avery cartoon. The larger narrative, involving the efforts of Tina's gangster boyfriend to destroy Stanley and use the mask's powers for evil, prove less interesting than the anarchic comic set pieces, including a particularly memorable dance number to "Cuban Pete." The film delivered enough laughs to become a surprise hit and, along with the same year's Dumb and Dumber, establish Carrey's status as a comedy superstar. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, (more)
- 1994
Amy Yasbeck joins the Wings cast in the role of Casey, the snobbish, annoying "perfect" older sister of Helen Chappel (Crystal Bernard). Casey's sudden arrival on Nantucket effectively scuttles the plans conceived by Joe (Tim Daly) to spend a romantic evening with Helen. Irritated beyond measure, Helen squares off against Casey for the first time in her life -- and receives the surprise of her life when Casey reveals why she's on the island. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1993
- PG13
Mel Brooks directed and co-wrote this satiric comedy which lampoons a number of cinematic treatments of the legend of Sherwood Forest, including Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and The Adventures of Robin Hood. Robin Hood (Cary Elwes) comes home after fighting in the Crusades to learn that the noble King Richard (Patrick Stewart) is in exile and that the despotic King John (Richard Lewis) now rules England, with the help of the Sheriff of Rottingham (Roger Rees). Robin Hood assembles a band of fellow patriots to do battle with John and the Sheriff, including Asneeze (Isaac Hayes) and his son Ahchoo (Dave Chappelle), the blind watchman Blinkin (Mark Blankfield), Will Scarlet O'Hara (Matthew Porretta), and Rabbi Tuckman (Brooks). The Sheriff is eager to put Robin Hood out of business with the aid of criminal mastermind Don Giovanni (Dom DeLuise), but Robin soon has an ally in the royal palace when he falls for the lovely Maid Marian (Amy Yasbeck), whose minder Broomhilde (Megan Cavanagh) has uncooperatively outfitted Marian with a chastity belt. The cast also includes Tracy Ullman, Robert Ridgely, and Clive Revill. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, (more)
Traci Lords and Amy Yasbeck star in this anarchic comedy about a pair of identical twins separated at birth. One goes on to be a politician, while the other suffers from a bizarre multiple personality disorder. When the two are reunited and not everyone is sure who is whom, heads start to roll and comedy is the result. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 1991
While dining out in Boston, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) and Seth (William Windom) are witness to a mob "hit." The victim is a member of the powerful Abruzzi crime family, who despite Seth's efforts to save him does not survive. Enter the dead man's vengeful son Michael (Vincent Irizarry), who kidnaps both Seth and Jessica--meaning that it is literally a matter of life and death for Jessica to find out who ordered the elder Abruzzi's assassination and prove to Michael that Seth was not responsible for his dad's demise. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
John Ritter and his future wife Amy Yasbeck show up in this episode as high school coach Ray Evans and his pregnant spouse Alicia. A lifelong control freak on the job and at home, Ray has prepared meticulously for the moment that Alicia gives birth, carefully rehearsing every possible scenario. But when Alicia actually goes into labor, Ray forgets his "winning strategy" and panics--leaving it up to Cliff (Bill Cosby) to salvage the situation with a bit of astute psychology. This episode is unusual in that none of the Huxtable children makes an appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
Dillinger is a messily directed, haphazardly edited TV movie, which takes a revisionist squint at the criminal career of the 1930s' Public Enemy Number One. Mark Harmon captures some of the charisma but little of the ruthlessness of John Dillinger, while Sherilyn Fenn gives an anachronistic interpretation of the gun moll who eventually betrays Johnny D. to the Feds. Vince Edwards is supposed to be FBI founder J. Edgar Hoover, but comports himself more like a grouchy crossing guard. The film is rife with poorly staged gun battles (including the Biograph Theatre finale), shot in a shivery "MTV" fashion which suggests that the camera operator has St. Vitas' Dance. Most of Dillinger was lensed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the 1930s-style exteriors were well chosen, though the interior scenes at FBI headquarters look like they were filmed inside the Milwaukee Public Library--which indeed they were. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mark Harmon, Sherilyn Fenn, (more)
- 1991
- PG13
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the adoption agency, along comes this sequel to the 1990 comedy hit Problem Child. Ben Healy (John Ritter) and his sociopathically unruly son Junior (Michael Oliver) move out of town after Ben and his wife split up. Ben discovers that his new city is overrun with divorced women looking for husbands, and Lawanda Dumore (Laraine Newman) soon sets her predatory sights on Ben. However, Lawanda doesn't care for Junior (not difficult to understand) and intends to ship him off to boarding school as soon as she and Ben tie the knot. Junior gets wind of her plans and does all in his power to scuttle them. Meanwhile, Junior finds a new playmate -- Trixie (Ivyann Schwan), a girl even more obnoxious than himself, who is the daughter of Annie (Amy Yasbeck), the school's nurse, who also has her eye on Ben. Oddly enough, Amy Yasbeck also appeared in the original Problem Child as Flo, the wife that Ben divorced in this picture. Yasbeck and Ritter married in real life in 1999. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Ritter, Michael Oliver, (more)
Self-involved corporate raider Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) has recently split up with his girlfriend. Seeking directions to the Beverly Hills Hotel, he makes the acquaintance of free-spirited hooker Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) and decides to put her on a 3,000-dollar retainer as his "date." He Cinderellarizes her by bankrolling a full wardrobe and cosmetic makeover. Of course, the setup will be strictly platonic. A disarming modern-day fairy tale, Pretty Woman was the picture that made Julia Roberts a superstar. As charming as she is in her "giggling" sequences, Roberts' best scene is her triumphant return to a posh Rodeo Drive shop where she'd been previously snubbed. Keeping Pretty Woman afloat throughout is the buoyant direction of Garry Marshall and the always welcome presence of Marshall's stock company of actors, including Hector Elizondo as a stuffy but golden-hearted concierge. Pretty Woman began its life as a much darker story of prostitutes and homicidal drug dealers, but more box-office-savvy heads ultimately prevailed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, (more)
- 1990
- PG
An adoptive parent discovers that some children are given up by their biological parents for very good reasons in this dark comedy. Ben Healy (John Ritter) is a pleasant but brow-beaten yuppie working for his father Big Ben (Jack Warden), a tyrannical sporting goods dealer. Ben would love to have a son, but his wife Flo (Amy Yasbeck) has been unable to conceive. Ben approaches less-than-scrupulous adoption agent Igor Peabody (Gilbert Gottfried) with his dilemma, and Igor presents Ben and Flo with a cute seven-year-old boy, Junior (Michael Oliver). However, Junior is hardly a model child; mean-spirited and incorrigible, the child leaves a path of serious destruction in his wake, and is even pen pals with Martin Beck (Michael Richards), a notorious serial killer. After the cat ends up in the hospital, the house catches on fire, and Junior displays his effective but unethical method for winning in Little League, Ben is having serious doubts about Junior when Beck escapes from jail and decides to kidnap his faithful correspondent, along with Junior's new mom. Problem Child proved to be a major box office success, spawning two sequels and a TV series. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Ritter, Michael Oliver, (more)
- 1989
Little White Lies is a frenetic TV-movie hark bark to the "screwball comedies" of yore. Ann Jillian plays a just-getting-by Philadelphia policewoman who poses as a wealthy CEO because she's sick of "lady cop" jokes. Tim Matheson portrays a rich doctor who poses as a poverty-stricken orderly because he doesn't want women to pay attention to him because of his money. Mattheson falls for Jillian thinking that she's rich, while she falls for Matheson thinking that he's poor. And they went all the way to Rome to film this one. Little White Lies first aired November 27, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ann Jillian, Tim Matheson, (more)
- 1988
This comedy is based on the comic fantasy hit Splash and was designed as the pilot for a television sitcom. In the story, the Manhattan yuppie and his magical mermaid marry and try to live a normal life in the big city. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1988
In the concluding half of Magnum, P.I.'s final episode, Magnum (Tom Selleck) wrestles with the prospect of returning to active Naval service even as he lays a trap for the man who assaulted his former girlfriend Linda (Patrice Martinez). He also receives word that his daughter Lily, presumed murdered in an earlier episode, is still alive. Elsewhere, the impending marriage of Rick (Larry Manetti) and Cleo (Phyllis Davis) hits a few prenuptual snags, while T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) is unexpectedly reunited with his ex-wife Tina (Fay Hauser). And last but not least, the mystery of Robin Masters' true identity is finally solved...maybe. One of the highest-rated "finales" in network TV history, this episode leaves enough dangling plot strands to suggest that the producers had an elaborate "reunion" movie in mind. We're still waiting. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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