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Reuben Grundy
The rousing, true-life story of a single dad who went from living on the streets to owning his own brokerage firm is brought to the big screen by superstar Will Smith, appearing for the first time opposite his real-life son Jaden Smith. Set in early-'80s San Francisco, the film charts the hard times and eventual comeback of Chris Gardner, a suddenly single salesman who has custody of his son, but finds that providing for the two of them is a challenge in the increasingly unstable economic climate. He struggles to work his way from unpaid intern at Dean Witter to something more substantial, even as life continues to offer him setbacks. Making his Hollywood debut, Italian director Gabriele Muccino was championed by Will Smith for the project. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Smith, Jaden Smith, (more)
Mark Decena makes his directorial debut with the romantic comedy Dopamine. In San Francisco during the economic heyday of computer technology, Rand (John Livingston) works as a software designer. He and his co-workers, Winston (Bruno Campos) and Johnson (Reuben Grundy), have created a toy called Koy Koy, an A.I. cyber-pet that can respond to its owner's voice. Rand's love life hasn't been very productive, especially because his father (William Windom) has been repeatedly telling him that love is just a series of chemical reactions ever since his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. One day, Rand goes out to the bar after work and meets preschool teacher Sarah (Sabrina Lloyd), whom he feels strongly attracted to. When his company test markets his cyber-pet to little kids, Rand meets Sarah again and they are instantly connected. Despite their differing opinions on the chemical nature of love, Rand and Sarah begin a romance that puts their theories to the test. The film also stars Kathleen Antonia and Nicole Wilder. Shot on digital video, Dopamine premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sabrina Lloyd, John Livingston, (more)
Following memorable roles in the military action-adventures Pearl Harbor (2001) and Black Hawk Down (2001), young actor Josh Hartnett is propelled to romantic leading man status with this semi-autobiographical comedy from screenwriter Rob Perez. Hartnett stars as Matt Sullivan, a young man smarting over the bitter breakup of his most recent relationship. With Lent approaching, Matt decides to observe the 40-day tradition by abstaining from all sexual contact, including self-gratification. Once his odyssey of discipline has begun, he meets the girl of his dreams, while his ex begins campaigning to get him back. Co-starring Shannyn Sossamon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Vinessa Shaw, 40 Days and 40 Nights inspired another round of controversy between distributor Miramax and the Catholic League, which accused the film of being a "vulgar parody" of Lent. The League previously protested the company's releases of Priest (1994) and Dogma (1999). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon, (more)
This teen comedy from Disney is based on a popular novel by Meg Cabot and directed by Garry Marshall. Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is a teenage klutz who's openly mocked by the popular Lana Thomas (pop singer Mandy Moore). In fact, Mia's only friend at her exclusive prep school is the socially outcast Lilly (Heather Matarazzo). Mia's life takes a dramatic turn, however, when her mom announces that her late biological father was in actuality the crown prince of a small European nation, Genovia. Now Mia is the sole heir to the throne, and her grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews) wants to tutor the awkward teen in royal behavior. It's a daunting task given Mia's lax table manners, poise, and hair care, but the girl perseveres with some makeover help from her grandmother's security chief Hector Elizondo) and a style expert (Larry Miller). In the meantime, Mia's romantic affections are torn between the handsome, popular Josh (Erik Von Detten) and the more appropriate Michael (Robert Schwartzman), who also happens to be Lilly's brother. The Princess Diaries is the second film from Whitney Houston's production shingle after the television version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, (more)
- 1990
Whitley (Jasmine Guy) deems it an honor when Dean Hughes (Rosalind Cash) asks her to cohost the annual Freshman Tea. But the honor is somewhat tarnished for Whitley when she finds out that the Dean has asked Freddie (Cree Summer) as well--and this isn't the only unpleasant surprise of the evening. Elsewhere, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) is furious when Ron (Darryl M. Bell) doesn't ask him if it's okay for a friend to stay over at the apartment...especially when the friend shows no signs of leaving. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Whitley (Jasmine Guy) faces the challenge of a lifetime when Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) bets her that she can't go an entire day without flirting. Elsewhere, a nervous Ron (Darryl M. Bell) organizes a roast for Colonel Taylor (Glynn Turman), inviting the Colonel's former Vietnam comrade Frank Benning (Obba Babatunde) as the surprise guest speaker. But Taylor is less than thrilled at this turn of events: Benning had lost a leg in the war, and the guilt-ridden Colonel has always held himself responsible for this tragedy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Visiting a jewelry store to buy a present for Whitley's father, Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Freddie (Cree Summer) are subjected to the casual racism of a snooty saleswoman, who automatically assumes that the girls won't be able to afford any of the "better" merchandise (this humiliating incident was based on an actual experience of episode director Debbie Allen). Elsewhere, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Ron (Darryl M. Bell) attend an ROTC retreat, supervised by Col. Taylor (Glynn Turman). Not surprisingly, the event turns out to be one of the biggest military fiascoes since Napoleon's invasion of Russia. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Certain that everyone has forgotten her 21st birthday, a melancholy Whitley (Jasmine Guy) decides to throw a party just for herself. Unbeknownst to Whitley, Kim (Charnele Brown) is arranging a secret birthday celebration, which is supposed to be "for girls only"--at least until Ron (Darryl M. Bell) and Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) find out. The ensuing chaos results in a nasty fall for Ron, which surprisingly turns out to be beneficial for Walter (Sinbad) when he meets an attractive hospital medic (Charlayne Woodard). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In the conclusion of a two-part story, vacationers Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Ron (Darryl M. Bell) don female drag in a desperate effort to escape a pair of homicidal drug dealers. Elsewhere, and despite all signs to the contrary, Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Julian (Dominic Hoffman) find themselves drawing ever closer--so much so that one of them may be willing to go "all the way." And Ernest (Reuben Grundy) remains in a drunken stupor, oblivious to the chaos all around him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In flashback, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Walter (Sinbad) recall their disastrous journey to North Carolina, where they'd hoped to recruit a star basketball player for the Hillman team. The trouble begins when Dwayne is stopped for speeding, and doesn't let up even after the guys inadvertently insult the wife of N.C. coach Cap Connors (Tony Burton). And back at Hillman, Col. Taylor (Glynn Turman) is all bombast and no skill as he tries to repair a broken heater. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In the first episode of a two-part story, the gang decides to spend Spring Break at a rented cottage on Devil's Island, South Carolina. Unfortunately for Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Ron (Darryl M. Bell), they stumble upon evidence that the cottage is being used as a rendezvous by a pair of dangerous drug dealers. Elsewhere, Ernest (Reuben Grandy) messes up his "big chance" with Freddie (Cree Summer) by downing one too many drinks. Cast as the niece of the owner of the cottage is frequent Different World scriptwriter Susan Fales. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Whitley (Jasmine Guy) is convinced that she is the inspiration for Dwayne's poem "My First Love." Actually, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) wrote the poem as a paean to mathematics--and its true inspiration turns out to be the spirit of William Shakespeare (John H. Francis), in one of his rare TV appearances. Meanwhile, Freddie (Cree Summer) suffers intense guilt pangs when she begins dating both Ron (Darryl M. Bell) and a dreamy pro-environmentalist named Livingston (Alex Gilbert). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Campus discipline is the issue when Walter (Sinbad) temporarily lightens up on the rules governing the male residents of Gilbert Hall, whereupon Jaleesa (Dawnn Lewis) accuses him of exercising a double standard. Before long, all of the dorm residents have taken sides in the argument, divided strictly along gender lines. Meanwhile, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Freddie (Cree Summer) team up for a research paper, only to find that two heads are not always better than one as the deadline rapidly approaches. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Season Three of A Different World begins as Whitley (Jasmine Guy) flies back to Hillman after summer vacation. Her travelling companinon is her friend and fellow student Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison), who seems to have changed a great deal in the past few months. Upon arrival, Whitley and Dwayne finds out that Gilbert Hall has gone coed--with Walter (Sinbad) and Jaleesa (Dawnn Lewis) sharing resident-director responsibilities. With this episode, Lou Myers goes from recurring to regular status in the role of Vernon Gaines, owner of that popular campus hangout "The Pit"; also, Reuben Grundy makes his first appearance as incoming student Ernest Bennett. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Whitley (Jasmine Guy) had wanted an opera company to perform at an upcoming charity concert, but Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) has booked the rap group Heavy D & The Boys. Outraged, Whitley organizes a protest--only to humiliate herself when she expresses her anger to the wrong person. Meanwhile, Ron (Darryl M. Bell) falls for his new study partner Elizabeth (Theresa Randle), who has quite a surprise in store for him. Heavy D & the Boys sing "Somebody for Me". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
In desperate need of a math credit to graduate from Hillman, Whitley (Jasmine Guy)j nervously enrolls in the dreaded calculus class run by Col. Taylor (Glynn Turman), aka "Dr. War." Despite his fearsome reputation, Taylor seems genuinely committed to helping Whitley survive the ordeal. And in another development, the friendship between Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Ron (Darryl M. Bell) hits another speed bump when Dwayne accuses Ron of being a spendthrift, and Ron labels Dwayne a tightwad. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Volunteering to teach dance classes at a community center, Whitley befriends a self-proclaimed poor child named Dion (Brandon Adams in his first regular series appearance)--an accomplished liar who specializes in playing on people's sympathies. Elsewhere, Col. Taylor fills in when Walter is unable to show up for his bowling team, whereupon the other bowlers begin planning a "mutiny" on the maladroit martinet. Appearing as team member "Norm" is former NBA star Norm Nixon, the husband of episode director Debbie Allen, while future Fresh Prince of Bel-Air costar James Avery is cast as the aptly named "Pin Punisher." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Just before midterms, Kim (Charnele Brown) receives word that her policeman father (Richard Roundtree) has been seriously wounded on the job. As Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Freddie (Cree Summer) accompany Kim to the hospital, Freddie does her best to bolster Kim's faith in God. But her well-meaning efforts may prove futile when Kim is told the extent of her father's injuries. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
