James Belushi Movies
It took versatile actor James Belushi several years to slowly come into his own, which wasn't an easy task following in the fiery footsteps of his flamboyant, self-destructive brother, the late comic John Belushi. Despite that obstacle, the easy-going actor with the crooked smile still managed to forge a respectable career playing co-leads in a variety of film genres, including comedy, action, and drama in roles ranging from a sleazeball thief to a cop to a party animal in a gorilla suit. Prior to his first television appearances, the Chicago-born actor earned a degree in Speech and Theater, and worked on-stage in The Pirates of Penzance and True West. Like John, James joined the notorious Second City improvisational comedy group. He also began making regular guest appearances on Saturday Night Live, where his brother became famous in the mid-'70s. Making his feature film debut playing James Caan's calm partner in 1981's Thief, James Belushi began acting under John Landis (who also directed his brother) in Trading Places (1983). He continued playing supporting roles and occasional leads -- most notably in Oliver Stone's Salvador with James Woods in 1986 -- but his big break came when he played a bad cop in 1988's Red Heat with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was equally popular in K-9 the following year. Although his subsequent films were not as successful, Belushi continued to grow as a dramatic actor. In 2001, Belushi began headlining the successful ABC sitcom According to Jim. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi- 2008
Based on a true story, James Belushi acts and directs the story of a 42-year-old family man who heads back to college to fulfill a pledge to his father and ends up making the football team. The Lionsgate film is scripted by David Murray, whose work in the sports film arena has flourished since signing up to write the NFL's first big-screen venture, Lombardi. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
A wicked warlock has cast a diabolical spell over Mystery, Inc. gang, and now it's up to Shaggy and Scooby-Doo to save the day. Join the lovable Great Dane and his easy frightened friend as they attempt to track down the Amazing Krudsky (voice of Wayne Knight), a second rate carnival magician who's using magic stolen from Princess Fairy Willow (voice of Hayden Panettiere) to transform everyone into grotesque Halloween monsters. If the dynamic duo can just hop on the Grim Reaper Railroad and make their way to Halloween land before Krudsky, perhaps they can retrieve the Goblin scepter from the Goblin King (voice of Tim Curry) and save the day. It's not an easy assignment, but fortunately Scooby and Shaggy have a little help from a friendly Jack O'Lantern and a flying broomstick that takes them on the ride of their lives. Additional voice talents include Jay Leno, Lauren Bacall, Wally Shawn, and Russi Taylor. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Frank Welker, Casey Kasem, (more)
Animal Planet aesthetics get infused with blush-inducing blue-humor sensibilities as director Bob Saget teams with an all-star cast of comics including Lewis Black, Tracy Morgan, Jason Alexander, Dane Cook, and Whoopi Goldberg to prove that sometimes penguins aren't as sweet as they appear to be on the silver screen. Film star Samuel L. Jackson narrates as actual footage of penguins going about their business in nature is backed by the kind of twisted voice-over work that could only come from the biggest names in comedy. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Samuel L. Jackson, Bob Saget, (more)
Bestowed with superpowers when a lab experiment goes unexpectedly awry, an average beagle becomes the savior of Capitol City as everyone's favorite canine do-gooder embarks on his first-ever live-action adventure. The maniacal Dr. Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage) was on the verge of a revolutionary discovery when a sudden mishap gave birth to Underdog (voice of Jason Lee). Not only can this remarkable mutt now leap tall buildings in a single bound, be he can let his "best friend" know precisely what's on his mind in no uncertain terms as well. When Dr. Barsinister and his overgrown crony Cad (Patrick Warburton) threaten to destroy Capitol City, Underdog must leap into action in order to protect the frightened citizens and ensure that no harm comes to pretty Polly Purebred (voice of Amy Adams). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Belushi, Peter Dinklage, (more)
A burnt out college professor finds his quest for vitality leading him into the arms of disaster in this seriocomic tale of love and desperation starring Julian Sands, John Savage, Katherine Towne, and Jim Belushi. Packard Schmidt (Sands) is having a mid-life crisis. Unfulfilled by his job as an English professor at an inconsequential college, and longing for a sense of unpredictability in his monotonous daily routine, Schmidt sets his sights on the bright lights of Las Vegas. When a series of impulsive romantic encounters lead him into the arms of his best friend Frank (Savage)'s daughter Sallu (Towne), his obsession with the younger girl send both his personal and professional lives careening towards disaster. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Julian Sands, Katharine Towne, (more)
Following their television series Home Improvement and the features The Santa Clause (1994) and Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), the actor/director team of Tim Allen and John Pasquin collaborate once again on this high-concept comedy. Allen stars as Joe Scheffer, a nice guy video specialist for a Minneapolis pharmaceutical company who's plodding through both his thankless job and an unhappy divorce from his ex-wife Callie (Kelly Lynch). When Joe brings his daughter Natalie (Hayden Panettiere) to the office with him on Take Our Kids to Work Day, he's humiliated in a spat with company bully Mark McKinney (Patrick Warburton) over a parking space. It's the last straw for the mild-mannered Joe, who challenges McKinney to a rematch, hires a has-been action movie star (Jim Belushi) to instruct him in martial arts, and pays a stylist to make over his wardrobe and hair. As Joe's image improves and the big day approaches, he finds his new self-respecting stance has positive effects in both the workplace, as he lands a long-overdue promotion, and in his romantic life, as both Callie and a cute "wellness coordinator" (Julie Bowen) start warming up to him. The levelheaded Natalie, however, seems to prefer the previously non-confrontational dad she already loved. Joe Somebody (2001) is the feature debut of screenwriter John Scott Shepherd, who actually worked as a corporate filmmaker in Minneapolis. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tim Allen, Julie Bowen, (more)
Between 1979 and 1981, 29 African-American children were murdered in Atlanta, GA, leading to a statewide manhunt to find the killer and a considerable outcry from a frightened public. Authorities eventually pinned the child killings on one Wayne Williams, who had been charged with two related murders of adult males. However, several years after Williams had been convicted of the killings of the two men and the case on the child murders had been closed, a pair of investigative reporters began looking into the matter, and discovered clear evidence that the investigation of the Atlanta child killings had been grossly mismanaged, and that in all likelihood Williams had nothing to do with the crimes. Who Killed Atlanta's Children? is a made-for-cable dramatization of the investigation by Pat Laughlin (James Belushi) and Ron Larson (Gregory Hines) as they attempt to find out how Williams (Cle Bennett) came to be railroaded for the child slayings and who the real killer might be. Produced for the Showtime premium cable network, Who Killed Atlanta's Children? also stars Bill Duke, Lynda Gravatt, and Sean McCann. Rudy Langlais, who as editor of Spin magazine helped to publish Laughlin and Larson's findings, served as producer on this project. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Belushi, Gregory Hines, (more)
In this romantic comedy, a man loses the love of his life, only to find her heart beating in the body of someone new. Architect Bob Rueland (David Duchovny) is happily married until his wife Elizabeth (Joely Richardson), a zoologist, dies in an auto accident. A year later, Bob is still dealing with his loss when he meets Grace Briggs (Minnie Driver), a shy woman who waits tables in an Irish/Italian restaurant run by her grandfather Marty (Carroll O'Connor). Bob falls for Grace at first sight, and she's attracted to him as well, but what he doesn't know is that a year ago Grace was the recipient of a heart transplant -- and that Elizabeth was the donor. Return to Me was directed and co-written by actress Bonnie Hunt, who also appears in a supporting role as Grace's best friend Megan; the cast also includes Robert Loggia, James Belushi, and David Alan Grier. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, (more)
The regulars at a shot-and-a-beer bar in a decaying working-class town are the focus of Nick Stagliano's drama The Florentine. Michael Madsen plays Whitey, who owns a bar called The Florentine where most of the guys he knows hang out. His sister Molly (Virginia Madsen, Michael's real life sister) is soon to be married, and Whitey has been saving up for a nice reception. But when her old boyfriend Teddy (Tom Sizemore) comes back into town, bets for the wedding would seem to be off, which may be just as well -- Whitey's buddy Frankie (Luke Perry) got hold of the wedding cash and lost it to Billy Munucci (James Belushi), a con artist with a far quicker turn of mind. Whitey has other money problems; the bar has been mortgaged to a low-level gangster named Joe (Burt Young), who has been leaning on Whitey's friend Bobbie (Chris Penn) to pay off his mounting gambling debts. Bobbie is trying to stay one step ahead of Joe, which doesn't leave him much time to patch up his ailing marriage to Vicki (Mary Stuart Masterson). The screenplay by Damien Gray and Tom Benson was adapted from the Off-Broadway drama penned by Gray. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, (more)
- 1999
- R
A man under federal protection finds himself on the run from a gang of angry mobsters and a cop gone bad after his successful execution of a multimillion dollar heist. This studio film is not to be confused with the 1997 indie melodrama, starring Cara Buono of The Sopranos and directed by Don Close. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- James Belushi, Michael Beach, (more)
In this computer-animated update of the classic Christmas tale The Nutcracker, a girl in her early teens gets the bad news that she won't be able to see her parents for the holidays. Depressed by the news, she goes to sleep with her favorite toy, a nutcracker that resembles a toy soldier. When she wakes up, she discovers that the toy has come alive and she has shrunk to its size. She and the nutcracker are spirited off to Christmas Land, where our heroes are joined by fruits, vegetables, and even a pack of nuts, which all come to life as they do battle against Reginald the Rat King, who wants to stop Christmas from coming. The Nuttiest Nutcracker features James Belushi, Cheech Marin, and Phyllis Diller; R&B star Peabo Bryson performed two original songs on the soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 1999
Already a holiday favorite in Britain, Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire features the voice of comedian Ardal O'Hanlon as a plucky reindeer eager to become one of Santa's chosen sleigh-pullers. To achieve his goals, however, he has to overcome the slings and arrows of Blitzen, who feels threatened by Robbie's fancy hoofwork. In the spirit of animator Nick Park's Wallace and Gromit series, Robbie the Reindeer was designed by the BBC's Bristol Animation Unit and also features the all-star voices of Jane Horrocks, Rhys Ifans, and pop star Robbie Williams, the latter crooning an updated version of "Come Fly with Me." ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robbie Williams, James Woods, (more)
- 1999
- PG13
In this sequel to the action comedy K-9, police detective Dooly (James Belushi) has been teamed up with Jerry Lee (Mac), a German Shepherd police dog, for nearly ten years, but Jerry Lee isn't as young as he once was, and Dooly's superiors suggests that maybe it's time that the dog was retired from the force. Dooly isn't pleased with this idea, since Jerry Lee has become one of his best friends over the years, but when the dog can't keep up with chasing a gunman during a shootout, Dooly is overruled and he now has two additional partners -- Zeus (Lucan), a young, strong Doberman Pincher, and his new trainer. K-911 also stars Christine Tucci, James Handy, and Wade Williams. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Belushi, Christine Tucci, (more)
- 1999
- NR
Love blooms for a would-be hired killer in Angel's Dance, which blends elements of a crime thriller with black comedy. Tony (Kyle Chandler) is offered a job with a powerful Mafia family after he saves the life of the capo's nephew, even though Tony isn't sure he's really interested in a life of crime. To give him a crash course in his new line of work, Tony is sent to L.A. to study with Rosellini (James Belushi), a hired killer of no small reputation. After assigning him Nietzsche as required reading and staging a few practice sessions with water pistols, Rosellini gives Tony his final homework project -- pick a name at random from the phone book, find the person, and kill him or her. The name Tony comes up with is Angelica Chase (Sheryl Lee), "Angel" to her friends. Tony finds Angel just in time to interrupt her latest suicide attempt; Angel is beautiful and charming, but an emotional wreck with eccentric tastes, a caffeinated personality, and a job at a mortuary (she even lives next door). Tony is immediately infatuated and can't bring himself to kill her, so Rosellini decides he has to take over the job, but to the surprise of everyone, Angel knows how to handle herself in a time of crisis. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Belushi, Sheryl Lee, (more)
Gina Gallagher (Tracey Needham) is a federal prosecutor who sends a major drug dealer to prison only to find herself the target of his partners in crime. Their reprisals become too close for comfort when Gina's partner is killed, but she begins to suspect that the drug lords have gained some powerful allies when a major U.S. attorney begins running interference against her. However, Frank (James Belushi), an undercover FBI agent, and Moe (Charles Durning), a retired cop, become Gina's unlikely allies as she tries to get to the bottom of the dealers' tangled web and save her own neck in the process. JoBeth Williams also stars. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charles Durning, Tracey Needham, (more)
- 1997
An illegal immigrant who imagined America to be the land of opportunity finds that good fortune does not come as easily as he thought in this drama. Liam (Karl Geary) is a man from Ireland who has grown tired of the poverty and limited opportunities of his homeland, so he smuggles himself into the United States, hoping to find work in New York. While Liam's initial contacts in the Bronx turn sour on him, his unstable cousin Des (Ian Hart) allows him to stay in the flat that he shares with two other illegal aliens from Ireland, Owen (Jared Harris), a construction worker, and Paddy (Aidan Gillen), a gardener. Living across the hall from Des and his mates are Mary (Louise Lombard), who's currently dating Owen, and Brenda (Andrea Irvine), who has her eyes on Liam. Paddy, meanwhile, has fallen in love with the daughter of his boss, but given that he's an Irish immigrant struggling to get by and she comes form a wealthy family from Connecticut, he's not sure how he'll overcome their social differences. Eventually, Liam finds work in a bar run by Mario (James Belushi) as he tries to make a place for himself in America while staying out of harm's way. Gold in the Streets marked the feature directorial debut for screenwriter and actress Elizabeth Gill. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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