Marisol Nichols
A loving husband and father finds his promising future transformed into a waking nightmare when he's convicted of involuntary manslaughter after accidentally killing the burglar who broke into his home in this gritty prison drama starring Stephen Dorff and Val Kilmer. Wade Porter (Dorff) would have done anything to protect his family, and when they were threatened he did what any caring family man would have done. But somehow everything went wrong, and now Wade has been sentenced to spend three years in a maximum-security prison. It's a place where the rules of society have been all but forgotten, and in addition to sharing a cell with a notorious mass murderer (Kilmer), Wade somehow incurs the wrath of the sadistic head prison guard (Harold Perrineau). Now, in order to survive the series of vicious beatings orchestrated for the amusement of the guards, Wade realizes that in order to survive the block and get back to his family he will have to become the toughest felon of them all. But even if Wade does manage to live through this harrowing ordeal, what will be left of that loving family man once he's finally released back into civilized society? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Dorff, Val Kilmer, (more)
When a hard-luck blue-collar worker and his two best friends are mistaken for Army Reservists by a tough-talking Army sergeant, the plane set to fly them to the front lines of Iraq mistakenly drops them in the middle of Mexico to disastrous results in a freewheeling military comedy starring Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, and D.J. Qualls. Larry (the Cable Guy) has lost his job and his woman in the short span of 24 hours. Convinced that some suds and target shooting are just the right remedies for a broken, jobless heart, Larry sets out with his next-door neighbor Bill (Engvall) and their trigger-happy pal Everett (Qualls) in order to blast off some rounds and down some brews. Their relaxing weekend soon takes an unexpected turn, however, when hard-case Army sergeant Kilgrove (Keith David) mistakes the trio as slacking Army reservists and loads them in a plane bound for Fallujah. Subsequently air-dropped over Mexico due to pilot error, the clueless, wannabe war heroes become convinced that they're actually in the Middle East and set out to save a rural village from what they assume to be an insurgent uprising. Though the thankful locals champion the noble but dimwitted trio for their heroism, the celebration is short-lived as ruthless warlord Carlos Santana (Danny Trejo) pays a personal visit to the town with a plan to confront the fearless warriors who dared to challenge his iron-fist rule. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, (more)
An FBI agent finds himself crossing the gender line again in the name of national security in this sequel to the comedy hit Big Momma's House. Tom Fuller (Mark Moses) is a computer whiz who is under investigation by the FBI, who suspect he may be the man behind a dangerous piece of underground software that would allow terrorists and criminals to access secured intelligence files online. The Bureau is looking for a way to get inside Fuller's home to find out what he's doing when a golden opportunity presents itself -- Fuller and his wife, Leah (Emily Procter), are in the market for a nanny to help look after their three children. The FBI sends in Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence), who will once again impersonate feisty septuagenarian Hattie Mae Pierce, better known as "Big Momma." "Big Momma" gets the job, but while trying to dig up the truth about Fuller's possible criminal connections, Malcolm also finds himself developing a close relationship with the suspect's wife and kids. Malcolm also finds himself offering unlikely romantic advice to his new partner, Kevin (Zachary Levi), and developing a new appreciation of the day-to-day travails of his wife, Sherrie (Nia Long). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Lawrence, Nia Long, (more)
- 2006
Debuting January 1, 2006 on ABC, the hour-long crime drama In Justice was clearly inspired by recent instances wherein a number of innocent people sentence to death or life imprisonment had been freed with the help of concerned legal advocacy groups and new DNA evidence. Starring in this series was Kyle MacLachlan as David Swayne, a $650-dollar-per-hour corporate attorney who turned his back on his lucrative practice to create the National Justice Project, funded with $5 million of his own money. Swayne's mission in life was to re-examine old jury verdicts and reopen closed cases in order to give those whom he felt to be wrongly imprisoned a chance for freedom. Swayne and his team of investigators uncovered fresh evidence, persuaded the authorities to re-examine their original conclusions, and in some case actually tracked down the actual perpetrators of the crime at hand. Heading Swayne's team was former cop Charles Conti (Jason O'Mara), who was willing to tolerate the lawyer's many idiosyncracies in the case of justice. Conti's associate investigators included Sonya Quintano (Marisol Nichols), whose own brother had been sprung from prison as a result of the National Justice Project; Jon Lemonick (Daniel Cosgrove, the firm's resident know-it-all; and Brianna (Constance Zimmer), the youngest member of the group. In Justice was created by Michelle King and Robert King. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kyle MacLachlan, Jason O'Mara, (more)
The NBC made-for-TV movie Homeland Security endeavors to put a human face on the events leading up to 9/11, and the post-tragedy formation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. On the verge of retirement, FBI agent Joe Johnson (Scott Glenn) is brought back to help organize the department, in concert with Admiral McKee (Tom Skerritt). Also on the ground floor of the department is feisty female CIA operative "Jungle Jane" Fulbar (Marisol Nichols) who has enjoyed (if that is the word) a long-standing friendly rivalry with the FBI. The "conscience" character hereabouts is security expert Sol Binder (Leland Orser), who blames the failure to "connect the dots" in the months prior to 9/11 on the lack of cooperation between the two major governmental peacekeeping agencies. Adding a dash of suspense to the otherwise predictable proceedings is the presence of McKee's daughter Melissa (Stephi Lineburg), who, along with her Arab boyfriend, is booked on the ill-fated Flight 29. Likewise enlivening things a bit is the lively-if-traditional villainy of all-purpose terrorist Saif Khan (Nicholas Guilak). The uneven, sometimes incoherent story structure can be attributed to the fact that Homeland Security was the heavily re-edited combination of two pilot episodes for a never-sold TV series. The "finished" product originally aired on April 11, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Glenn, Tom Skerritt, (more)
- 2003
Marisol Nichols guest stars as Bianca, a visitor from the future who materializes in the present-day P3 club -- then promptly robs Whitelighter Chris (Drew Fuller) of his powers. Leo (Brian Krause) soon discovers that Bianca is a part of a family of assassin witches, and that dire consequences lie ahead for everyone concerned unless she restores Chris' skills posthaste. Meanwhile, Paige (Rose McGowan) seriously considers moving out of the mansion and moving in with Richard Montana (Balthazar Getty); Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) wants to join Jason (Eric Dane) in Hong Kong in hopes of restoring their relationship; and Piper (Holly Marie Combs) worries that her romance with a firefighter will cause a rift between herself and her son, Wyatt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Krause, Dorian Gregory, (more)
- 2003
Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) has a disturbing dream about two men and a woman. Wait, let's clear that up: one of the men is Joey (Matt LeBlanc); the other is Dr. Drake Ramoray, the character Joey plays on Days of Our Lives. And as for the woman -- well, remember that Dr. Drake Ramoray came out of a coma when he received a transplanted female brain. Meanwhile, back in the real world, Chandler's (Matthew Perry) all-expenses-paid weekend getaway becomes a bottomless money pit when Ross (David Schwimmer) serves as "surrogate" for Monica (Courteney Cox); and as for the real Monica, she is trying to figure out a nice way to remove the guitar-strummin' Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) from the front door of her restaurant. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marisol Nichols, Blake Reed, (more)
- 2002
Defying the wishes of her father, Jack (Victor Garber), Sydney (Jennifer Garner) insists upon pumping her KGB-agent mother, Irina (Lena Olin), for information necessary to topple SD-6 -- and, incidentally, to allow Syd to quit the spy game for good. On other fronts, a rattled Sloane (Ron Rifkin), convinced that he has seen his wife (whom he was ordered to kill) alive and well, sends Dixon (Carl Lumbly) to investigate; the Rambaldi music box containing the vital numerical equation is now secreted at Sark's (David Anders) Falkland Islands retreat; a clue to the location of "The Bible" containing information on Irina's former cartel has been traced to a Moscow military library, which Sydney must infiltrate; and Will's ongoing exposé of SD-6 is aided by drug-addled conspiracy theorist Rebecca Martinez (Marisol Nichols). And topping things off, Vaughn (Michael Vartan) comes face to face with his father's murderer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A pretty Hispanic high school student from a well-to-do family (Marisol Nichols) falls in love with a boy from the wrong side of the tracks (Nicholas Gonzalez) in this family-friendly drama inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale The Little Mermaid. The Princess and the Barrio Boy also stars Maria Conchita Alonso, Edward James Olmos, Tim Thomerson, and Pauly Shore. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marisol Nichols, Tony Plana, (more)
- 1999
They've only been married two weeks, but the honeymoon is over so far as Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) are concerned. Not only have they been crowded out of the apartment that Topanga previously shared with Rachel (Maitland Ward) and Angela (Trina McGee-Davis)--and by Cory's best friend Shawn (Rider Strong) to boot!--but Cory's parents refuse to let the couple live in the Matthews home even on a temporary basis. Finally, the couple is reduced to living in a squalid campus apartment, replete with bedbugs and rotting walls. It's a rough situation, but it turns out to be valuable "real world" lesson for our hero and heroine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A group of wanna-be filmmakers and actors concocts a scheme to make a movie with a major star without having to pay him in this comedy. Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin) has struggled for years to make it in Hollywood with no real success; he's convinced that he has to make his big break soon or it will be too late. Bobby has a script, and he has a cast, including an ingenue straight off the bus from Ohio (Heather Graham), a one-time regional stage star who fondly recalls her brief moment of glory (Christine Baranski), and a hunky aspiring matinee idol (Kohl Sudduth). He also has a young associate named Dave (Jamie Kennedy), who has a low-level job at a movie studio as a gofer -- which means that he has keys to every part of the lot and can "borrow" whatever they need. All they need is a star, but without any money, how do they get one? Kit Ramsey (Eddie Murphy) is a leading action star, and he is obviously beyond Bowfinger's budget. But Bobby has an idea: what if he tricked Kit into appearing in the film without his knowing it? Steve Martin also wrote the film's screenplay, and former Muppets performer Frank Oz directs. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, (more)
- 1999
Fed up with their crummy campus apartment, Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) set their sights on a lovely two-bedroom house; all they need is $80,000 to fulfill their dreams! Ever the pragmatist, Shawn persuades the couple to forget about the house and to begin fixing up the place they've got--and the results surprise them both. Elsewhere, Angela (Trina McGee-Davis) and Rachel (Maitland Ward) have roommate issues, and Jack (Matthew Lawrence) and Eric (Will Friedle) wonder if they'll be able to take orders from their sexy new boss Bridget (played by Baywatch's Nicole Eggert). This episode originally aired on a Sunday, rather than the series' customary Friday-night slot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This is the fourth in a series of movies that began with National Lampoon's Vacation in 1983 and feature the family headed by Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) going on wacky vacations. This time, the Griswolds visit Las Vegas. Clark immediately goes to the blackjack table and starts blowing all his money, continually encouraged to spend more and more by a taunting dealer, Marty (Wallace Shawn). Ellen Griswold (Beverly D'Angelo) becomes smitten with the lounge singer Wayne Newton (playing himself), who invites her to sing onstage with him. Their son Rusty (Ethan Embry) is incredibly lucky playing dice, and he is virtually adopted by a family of gangsters who see him as their meal ticket. Daughter Audrey (Marisol Nichols) gets hooked up with her wild cousin Vickie (Shae D'Lyn), who takes her to sleazy dance clubs. White-trash cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), who lives on a former A-bomb test site in the nearby desert, also gets involved with the capers. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, (more)
- 1997
Still on suspension from the ER, Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies) stops off at a local convenience store, and ends up smack dab in the middle of a robbery. Shots rings out, the store's owner and one of the robbers are wounded, and the incident turns into a dangerous hostage situation. Hoping to save the lives of the other people in the store, Carol simultaneously tries to defuse the situation and tend to the wounded. Neatly sidestepping the usual TV cliché, the hostage crisis is resolved some 20 minutes before the end of the episode -- but Carol's troubles are far from over. "The Long Way Around" earned an Emmy award for Best Editing. Ewan McGregor guest starred as one of the robbers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Some critics pigeonholed the made-for-TV melodrama Friends 'Til the End as a junior version of such theatrical features as All About Eve and Single White Female. A plain-looking, delusional college girl who calls herself Zanne Armstrong (Jennifer Blanc) goes to great lengths to befriend beautiful, popular coed Heather Romley (Shannen Doherty). Heather graciously allows the girl to enter her circle of friends, little suspecting that Zanne obsessed with "becoming" Heather, literally taking over her life and personality. The scheme is set in motion when Zanne joins Heather's campus band Dead Pink, and reaches a peak of sorts when the deranged girl manages to bed Heather's boyfriend--but the worst is still to come. Friends 'Til the End premiered January 20, 1997 on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A year after the monstrous success of 1996's neo-slasher flick Scream, director Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson reunited for this follow-up. Since viewers last saw the characters, nosy newswoman Gale Weathers has written a sleazy best-selling book based on the events of the first film, a book that has been adapted into a Hollywood film called Stab, starring Tori Spelling as Sydney Prescott. The real Sydney (Neve Campbell) has since gone away to college in Cincinnati in hopes of leaving the horrific events of her past behind her. Unfortunately, at a showing of Stab, two college students are murdered in a fashion that is reminiscent of the slayings that took place back in Woodsboro. Suddenly, Sydney, her pal Randy (Jamie Kennedy), and dopy deputy Dewey (David Arquette) find themselves once again pursued by a ruthless masked killer. Among the other potential killers and victims are Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laurie Metcalf, and Liev Schreiber. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Arquette, Neve Campbell, (more)
- 1995
Fraser (Paul Gross) dons female drag to go undercover as a teacher at an all-girl's school. Somehow this is tied in with the mysterious appearances of several Capone-era artifacts all over Chicago, and the disappearance of a young schoolgirl named Celine (Heather McComb). Along the way, Ray (David Marciano) is reunited with his junior-high sweetheart (Michele Scarabelli)--now a nun--and Celine's shy roommate Melissa (Marisol Nichols) comes out of her shell. And don't miss "Ms. Fraser"'s disco dance with a fellow teacher. First broadcast on American television, this episode made its US debut on March 29, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
