John Davis Movies
Producer John Davis is the chairman of Davis Entertainment and, under the company's auspices, was responsible for numerous films and television movies of the 1990s. As a film producer, his credits include everything from epics (Kevin Costner's Waterworld [1995]) and romantic comedies (Grumpy Old Men [1993] and its sequel) to legal thrillers (The Firm [1993]) and small independent films (Cadillac Ranch [1996]). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 2012
Norbit writing duo Jay Scherick and David Ronn re-team to pen this family-friendly Eddie Murphy comedy adapted from the popular late-'70s/early-'80s television series and featuring the former SNL funnyman in numerous roles -- including that of the white-suited host originally played by Ricardo Montalban. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy
- 2010
Jack Black stars in the 20th Century Fox adaptation of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels with this fantasy-filled comedic production. This take on the timeless tale revolves around a shipwrecked journalist (Black) who discovers an island in the heart of the Bermuda Triangle where he is the biggest occupant in comparison to its tiny inhabitants. Shark Tale's Rob Letterman directs from a script by Forgetting Sarah Marshall's Nick Stoller and Joe Stillman (Shrek). ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Black
- 2010
Canine comic strip star Marmaduke leaps to the big screen with this family-friendly comedy starring Owen Wilson as the voice of the Great Dane. Also lending their voices to the 20th Century Fox production are Steve Coogan, pop star Fergie, George Lopez, and the brotherly duo of Damon and Marlon Wayans, with William H. Macy and Judy Greer heading up the human cast. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Owen Wilson
- 2010
Director John Moore updates the concept of a faked space mission with this version of the Peter Hyams-helmed 1978 thriller that puts a modern spin on the scenario by changing the conspiracy-laden lunar landing locale to the red, dusty landscape of Mars. Che and Guerilla screenwriter Peter Buchman provides the screenplay for the New Regency production. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- 2010
The Motown-meets-kung-fu cult hybrid The Last Dragon gets a retread with this Columbia Pictures production starring Samuel L. Jackson as the over-the-top villain, Sho' Nuff, who squares off against a young martial arts student infatuated with Bruce Lee. Timed to coincide with Motown's 50th anniversary, the remake is headed up by Kerry Gordy, son of the label's founder. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Samuel L. Jackson
In a parallel universe the heroic exploits of Garfield, Odie, Nermal, and Arlene are the stuff of legend, but even they may be no match for the diabolical comic book demoness named Vetrix. Vetrix has hatched a plan to make everyone in cartoon world her slaves, and with an army of zombies to do her bidding, she just might succeed. One minute, Garfield and friends are enjoying a sun soaked cookout, and the next they're doing battle with a malevolent alien and her mindless zombie minions. In order to defeat Vetrix, all the comic strip characters will have to become superheroes. Sure Garfield would rather be cooking out, but when he finally realizes just what's at stake, odds are good he'll rise to the challenge. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Welker
Honeymooning newlyweds Cliff (Steve Zahn) and Cydney (Milla Jovovich) are hiking an 11-mile trail in Hawaii when they cross paths will ex-military man Nick (Timothy Olyphant), who earns their trust by helping them navigate a particularly treacherous mountain cliff. A few yards later, the trio runs into a group of girls whose parents are begging them to return home following reports that a honeymooning couple has been murdered on one of the other islands. The suspects in the killings are a young white couple, and when Cliff and Cydney meet Nick's frees-spirited girlfriend, Gina (Kiele Sanchez), tensions start to rise. The further the foursome walks together, the more delicate the balance of trust and suspicion becomes. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Timothy Olyphant, Steve Zahn, (more)
- 2008
- PG
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Aspiring veterinarian Maya Dolittle (Kyla Pratt) gets caught up in the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood scene after using her special skills as a "dog whisperer" to help a celebrity starlet's depressed Chihuahua. All Maya ever wanted to do was help animals. Mata's veterinarian ambitions get unexpectedly sidelined, however, when she's summoned to Hollywood by heiress Tiffany Monaco (Tegan Moss) and offered her own reality television series. But just as Maya prepares to put her higher education on hold, her loyal four-legged friend Lucky helps her to realize that Tiffany's idea of "helping" animals isn't doing the critters on her show any good. Before long, Maya realizes that fame is fleeting, and the only thing that will make her truly happy is to leave Hollywood behind, and dedicate her life to helping all of her furry little friends. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kyla Pratt, Tegan Moss, (more)
- 2008
A space-station floating high above the Earth's atmosphere serves as the setting for this starry-eyed comedy penned by Mike Lisbe and Nate Reger, and starring Will Arnett as an astronaut caught in the volatile center of an interstellar love triangle. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Arnett
Everyone's favorite lasagna-loving layabout finds his winning streak at the annual talent competition for the funniest comic strip in the world suddenly challenged by a dark horse contender in this animated comedy for the entire family. The Cartoon World competition is fast approaching, and Garfield is sure he's a shoe-in for the top prize. But this year the tubby tabby will see his winning streak challenged for the first time in years, because a tall and handsome comic artist named Ramone has decided to enter the competition as well. As both artists strive to wow the judges by delivering their funniest work to date, the laughs just keep on coming. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Welker
Finding Forrester star Rob Brown steps into the cleats of Heisman Trophy-winning gridiron giant Ernie Davis in director Gary Fleder's inspirational sports docudrama. As a young boy reared not far from the northern Pennsylvania state line, Davis dreamed of blasting through the end zone and scoring a triumphant touchdown while fans rose to their feet and cheered. When Davis later became a star running back for the Syracuse Orangemen, his dreams were finally on the way to becoming a reality. Under the wing of coach Ben Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid), it seemed as if there is nothing that could stop Davis from entering into the annals of sports history; even during an era in which the civil rights movement was just gaining momentum, this fledgling gridiron giant never once doubted his ability to rise to the top. When Davis was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after being drafted into the NFL, however, his will to survive soon eclipsed his dreams of success. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, (more)
Visual effects specialists Greg and Colin Strause both make their feature directorial debut with this no-holds-barred monster mash that attempts to set itself apart from the 2004 Paul W.S. Anderson original by serving as a straight-up sci-fi horror scarefest. The aliens (and a predator) have landed on planet Earth, and small-town America is about to become the scene of an epic interstellar showdown. As these two breeds of cosmic killers clash in the small-town streets Gunnison, CO, the locals are sent running for their lives. From the murky sewers to the rain-soaked streets, Gunnison has become a total bloodbath. Nowhere is safe, especially from the unstoppable new hybrid known as the "predalien." Now, as the once-quiet community of Gunnison is overrun by Aliens, the only hope for humankind is a fierce hunter from the deepest reaches of space. But this predator is far from a benevolent savior of the human race, because he'll kill any man, woman, or child who gets in the way of his mission to destroy every last alien under these stormy Colorado skies. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Pasquale, Reiko Aylesworth, (more)
When 40-year-old San Francisco bachelor Eddie Cantrow (Ben Stiller) attends the wedding of his ex-fiancée -- and is seated at a "singles table" full of children -- he realizes maybe he's been too picky in his love life, and it's time to settle down. Fortunately, he doesn't have to compromise his standards when he meets Lila (Malin Akerman), a funny, attractive blond who does environmental research for a living. Lila's company wants to relocate her to Europe, but only because she's single -- they don't force married couples to uproot themselves. So Eddie hastily proposes to her, even though they've only been dating for six weeks. But the moment they exchange vows, Eddie starts to notice Lila's rough edges and annoying habits, which had remained hidden underneath her perfect exterior. Their Cabo San Lucas honeymoon gets off to a rough start full of tuneless pop singalongs and surprising revelations about Lila's job and her past. Things only get worse for a confused Eddie when he meets Miranda (Michelle Monaghan), a Midwesterner in Cabo for a family reunion -- and starts to wish he'd held out just a little bit longer. The Heartbreak Kid is Peter and Bobby Farrelly's remake of the 1972 Elaine May comedy of the same name, starring Charles Grodin. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, (more)
Garfield, the mischievous cat with the deadpan delivery, is less than satisfied with the 2-D constraints of the cartoon world. As fortune would have it, Odie the dog happens to drop a bone into a hole in the screen separating the cartoon world from the real one, and Garfield sees the perfect opportunity. Jumping through the hole, the orange cat finds himself in the real word - and it's not exactly what he'd hoped. It's cold, lonely, and uncomfortable, and what's more, none of the other cats believe he's the real Garfield from the comic strips. Now our hero needs to find a way back into the comfort zone of his cartoon home, before the newspaper discontinues his comic strip for good. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Welker
A meek and lovable milquetoast married to an overbearing, overweight tyrant finds his life turned upside down when he meets the woman of his dreams in this romantic comedy starring Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Eddie Griffin. His entire life, Norbit (Murphy) has been picked on and put down, and after being bullied into marrying the most obnoxious woman in town (also Murphy) it appears as if that's the way things will remain until the day he dies. Upon meeting the one woman who seems to accept him for who he is, Norbit is instilled with a newfound sense of hope for the future. In order to find true happiness, however, Norbit will first have to gather the courage to stand up to his monstrous spouse once and for all. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy
Directed by one-time child star Fred Savage, Daddy Day Camp, the sequel to Eddie Murphy's Daddy Day Care, stars Cuba Gooding Jr. and Paul Rae as Charlie Hinton and Phil Ryerson, a pair of fathers who attempt to keep their summer camp afloat even though they are under dire economic strain. In order to help improve the financial situation, and to whip together a group of children who have a problem with following orders, Hinton brings in his military-trained father (Richard Gant), even though he and his father have been on the outs. Soon the campers, and the fathers, are involved in a series of adventures that will make the camp solvent, and help mend broken relationships. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cuba Gooding, Jr., Lochlyn Munro, (more)
Industrial Light and Magic special-effects wizard Stefen Fangmeier makes the leap into the director's chair with this coming-of-age fantasy concerning a young boy whose discovery of a mysterious dragon egg leads him on a predestined journey to become a Dragon Rider and defend his peaceful world against an evil king. Based on the best-selling novel by Christopher Paolini, Eragon tells the tale of the titular character (Ed Speleers), a humble farm boy living in the land of Alagaësia, whose life is forever changed when he discovers that he has been chosen to fight the most powerful enemy his world has ever known. Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, and Djimon Hounsou co-star in a film produced by Davis Entertainment and adapted from the novel by screenwriters Peter Buchman, Larry Konner, and Mark Rosenthal. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael A. Mehlmann, Ed Speleers, (more)
- 2006
- PG
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The laziest cat in America swaps places with the richest feline in England in director Tim Hill's lasagna-laden sequel to the 2004 theatrical hit Garfield. Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer) is on his way to London to propose to his veterinarian girlfriend, Liz Wilson (Jennifer Love Hewitt), and his unflappable cat, Garfield, is determined to be there when Jon pops the big question. Of course, Garfield wouldn't go anywhere without his old pal Odie, and soon after arriving in the land of Big Ben, the clueless tomcat inadvertently changes places with royal look-a-like Prince. It seems that Prince's owner, Lady Eleanor, has recently passed away, leaving the care of her sprawling estate Castle Carlyle in the capable paws of her devoted kitty companion. The trouble is, Prince has decided it's due time for a vacation, and with Garfield in charge there's no telling what kind of trouble will befall Castle Carlyle. Despite having a devoted butler named Smithee (Ian Abercrombie) to cater to his every whim and a whole host of fun-loving critters with whom to pass the lazy days spent lounging in the sun, this crowned head begins to feel the sting of deceit as the envious Lord Dargis (Billy Connolly) hatches a dastardly plan to do away with the whiskered heir and claim Castle Carlyle all to himself. Meanwhile, as Garfield attempts to hold his ground against his greedy would-be nemesis, the fun-loving Prince is living it up with Jon and Odie by taking a trip to some of London's most popular pubs. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, (more)
A teenage girl becomes a demented serial killer's prey in this big-budget remake of the 1979 thriller that became a TV late-show favorite. When a Stranger Calls takes its title and basic premise from the original, which -- for its first 15 minutes or so -- featured Carol Kane as a frazzled babysitter plagued by creepy, invasive phone calls. This time around, the doe-eyed Camilla Belle plays Jill Johnson, a high-schooler dealing with the usual set of crises: an unfaithful boyfriend, a bitchy best friend, and an over-the-limit cell phone bill. In order to pay for the latter, her father (Clark Gregg) has committed her to a babysitting gig with a wealthy family. At the isolated, palatial house, Jill settles in for a night of no-stress kid-watching. But it isn't long before someone starts anonymously calling the house with creepy, increasingly specific messages. Jill doesn't rule out anyone, but it becomes clear that whomever it is, he or she is watching her, and may be closer than she even suspects. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Camilla Belle, Tommy Flanagan, (more)
The first feature-length romantic comedy produced exclusively for the Oxygen cable network, Nadine in Date Land stars Janeane Garofalo as the title character, who though her own love life is in a shambles somehow believes that she can run a successful dating service. Having borrowed heavily from her mother (Swoosie Kurtz) to get the business started, Nadine must now prove to Mom that she herself can have a lasting romance, lest every penny be withdrawn. Thus, when her old flame Adam (Brad Rowe), comes back to town, Nadine vows to literally force him to fall in love with her. Unfortunately, our heroine faces two formidable obstacles: Adam's erstwhile fashion-expert girlfriend Magda (Julie Claire), and Nadine's own incredible gift for stumbling over herself and inserting foot in mouth at all the wrong times. Essentially a contemporary screwball comedy with a generous supply of Bringing Up Baby-style slapstick, Nadine in Date Land was written and directed by Amie Steir, whose short comic films had been an Oxygen channel mainstay for years. The movie was given several video-on-demand previews before its official debut date of June 25, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A very special student deals with exams, first love, and national security issues in this teen-oriented romantic comedy-drama. Samantha MacKenzie (Katie Holmes) is a seemingly ordinary college freshman with one important exception -- her father happens to be the President of the United States (Michael Keaton). Samantha, however, would prefer to be as inconspicuous as possible as she begins her studies at Redmond University, so she asks a favor of her father -- remove the two Secret Service agents who follow her everywhere, and allow her to fend for herself at school. The president agrees, but out of concern for her safety, he sends in a young undercover agent, James (Marc Blucas), who will pose as the Resident Advisor at her dorm to keep an eye on her. Samantha and James strike up a fast friendship that grows into a romance, but when Samantha discovers the truth about James, she wonders if his love for her is real or just part of his cover. First Daughter was directed by actor-turned-director Forest Whitaker. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Katie Holmes, Marc Blucas, (more)
Director Alex Proyas (Dark City, The Crow) helmed this sci-fi thriller inspired by the stories in Isaac Asimov's nine-story anthology of the same name. In the future presented in the film, humans have become exceedingly dependent on robots in their everyday lives. Robots have become more and more advanced, but each one is preprogrammed to always obey humans and to, under no circumstances, ever harm a human. So, when a scientist turns up dead and a humanoid robot is the main suspect, the world is left to wonder if they are as safe around their electronic servants as previously thought. Will Smith stars as Del Spooner, the robot-hating Chicago cop assigned to the murder investigation. Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Greenwood, James Cromwell, and Chi McBride also star. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, (more)
Bill Cosby's gang of childhood pals evolve from standup comedy to an animated cartoon series to real life in this family-friendly comedy. Doris (Kyla Pratt) is a teenager who doesn't fit in with most of her classmates at school, has been depressed since the death of her grandfather, and is disturbed by her foster sister's willingness to remake herself in order to be popular. One of Doris' few solaces comes from watching reruns of the animated television series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, and one day while watching the show she starts to cry, with a tear dropping into her remote. The tear draws big-hearted (and just plain big) Fat Albert (Kenan Thompson) from the animated universe into Doris' real world in hopes of cheering her up and helping her deal with her problems. As Fat Albert and his pals -- Rudy (Shedrack Anderson III), Bucky (Alphonso McAuley), Mushmouth (Jermaine Williams), Weird Harold (Aaron A. Frazier), Dumb Donald (Marques B. Houston), and Bill (Keith D. Robinson) -- adapt to the three-dimensional world and try to teach Doris to believe in herself, they learn that traveling back to the animated world is harder than they thought, which becomes alarming when they start to fade away. The real world also poses some new dilemmas for Fat Albert when he falls in love with Doris' foster sister, Lauri (Dania Ramirez). Bill Cosby co-authored the screenplay for Fat Albert, using his full name, William H. Cosby Jr., and collaborating with Charles Kipps; the project was begun with Forest Whitaker as director, who left midway through shooting, with Joel Zwick taking over in his place. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenan Thompson, Kyla Pratt, (more)
Jim Davis' famous cartoon cat finally makes his way to the big screen in this adaptation of the popular comic strip Garfield, which combines live action with CGI animation. Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer) is a sweet, if somewhat clueless, man who shares his home with his pet cat, Garfield (voice of Bill Murray). Garfield is not your ordinary tabby -- he's fat, he's smart-mouthed, he's arrogant, he won't do anything he doesn't have to, and would rather stuff himself with lasagna than do something Jon asks of him. Despite this, Jon loves his cat, but when he decides to expand his animal family, Garfield is less than enthusiastic about the presence of Odie, a lovably enthusiastic dog whose only flaw is his extreme stupidity. While Jon is crazy for Odie, and especially likes having two pets that necessitate periodic visits to Dr. Liz Wilson (Jennifer Love Hewitt), a veterinarian he has a crush on, Garfield decides to remove Odie from the picture. Garfield arranges for Odie to become the property of Happy Chapman (Stephen Tobolowsky), a television host who acts like an animal lover on the round-cornered screen but doesn't much like pets on his own time. While Garfield at first enjoys ruling the roost again, he soon realizes the error of his ways, and in a rare example of selfless and ambitious behavior, hatches a plan to rescue Odie from Chapman. Garfield also features the voice talents of Debra Messing, Brad Garrett, Jimmy Kimmel, and Alan Cumming. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Murray, Breckin Meyer, (more)
