Bill Zuckert
- 1994
- PG13
- AddThe Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insultto QueueAddThe Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insultto top of Queue
The further misadventures of bumbling Los Angeles police Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) are chronicled in this third installment in the popular Naked Gun comedy series. This by-the-numbers entry begins with Drebin as a happily retired house-husband called back into action when an evil terrorist organization threatens Los Angeles. As in the other Naked Gun films, this plot is merely an excuse for an unhinged, rapid-fire succession of gags, ranging from satirical lampoons of cop movies to broad slapstick, all played with a perfectly straight face. Nielsen provides his familiar combination of complete witlessness and oblivious dignity as Drebin, and the film attempts to match the earlier Naked Gun films -- and the Police Squad! television series that inspired them -- in the number of jokes. However, the film proved less successful than its predecessors, as some viewers found that the freewheeling comic style of the earlier films had solidified into its own formula, now mildly entertaining but disappointingly predictable. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, (more)
When your dog, bird, or water-dwelling mammal disappears, who do you call? Ace Ventura (Jim Carrey) is a low-rent private eye who specializes in recovering lost animals, so when Snowflake, the Miami Dolphins' aquatic mascot, is kidnapped, team representative Melissa Robinson (Courtney Cox) puts Ace on the case. However, Snowflake isn't the only Miami Dolphin who has gone missing; several key members of the team also disappear, including quarterback Dan Marino (who plays himself), who is spirited away while filming a TV commercial. With the Super Bowl only two weeks away, will Ace be able to find Snowflake and the missing athletes in time to salvage the big game? Ace Ventura: Pet Detective was a surprise box office smash and catapulted manic comedian Jim Carrey to stardom. The supporting cast includes Sean Young as ill-tempered Lois Einhorn, Udo Kier as the sinister Ronald Camp, and rapper Tone Loc as Ace's detective pal Emilio (Loc also wrote and performed a song for the closing credits). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Carrey, Courteney Cox Arquette, (more)
- 1993
In this awful black comedy, an aging bank robber tries to pull off one final caper. Things go awry and he ends up staying in a raunchy hotel. The crime is well-publicized, but fortunately the equally seedy residents there keep mum. Unfortunately, they are determined to literally nickel and dime him to death by making him pay dearly for even the smallest favors. Things look bleak until a kindly hooker falls in love with him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Dempsey, Lisa Bonet, (more)
The third in the tongue-in-cheek horror series liberally cribbed from Gremlins (1984) features an early performance from future heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio and was filmed simultaneously with its follow-up. This time out, it's an urban family who picks up one of the fast-multiplying beasties while on vacation, although they are warned by Charlie (Don Opper), a veteran of the creatures' earlier attacks. Once widower Clifford (John Calvin) and his kids Annie (Annie Brooks) and Johnny (Christian and Joseph Cousins) return home to their apartment building, the critter begins to reproduce, and the tenement becomes overrun with diminutive, hungry killers. The first to go is cruel superintendent Frank (Geoffrey Blake), but others soon follow, including the unscrupulous landlord, whose son Josh (DiCaprio) finds romance with Annie. With the appearance of the resourceful Charlie and the heroics of Clifford, the critters' days are soon numbered. Critters 3 was directed by Kristine Peterson, a veteran of the Roger Corman school of no-budget genre filmmaking. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aimee Brooks, John Calvin, (more)
- 1985
- R
In a weakly-limned story that starts off on one foot and then quickly jumps to another, Margot Kidder plays Margo, a stripper out looking for her long-lost father (Burt Lancaster) in a remote area of Mexico. After she arrives, Eugene (Ted Danson), an American settled in Mexico for the duration, offers her some help in her mission. Although Margo and her father eventually find each other, their reunion fades into the distance as Eugene and Margo chase after some stolen money. Along the way, Margo is propositioned by wealthy Norman Kane (Joseph Hacker) to perform for one of his pool parties -- further stripping the plot of credibility. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margot Kidder, Ted Danson, (more)
- 1981
Huckleberry Finn joins Tom Sawyer and Jim, a runaway slave, as they escape down the Mississippi River on a raft. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1981
A curious pure-entertainment offering from the same team responsible for the "Classics Illustrated" TV movies of the 1970s and 1980s, Nashville Grab stars Jeff Conaway as country-western singer Buddy Walker. While rehearsing for a prison concert, Buddy is kidnapped by female convicts Maxine (Betty Thomas) and Rita (Mari Gorman), who force him to accompany them on a cross-country escape in an old van. Adhering to the formula established by the theatrical feature Sugarland Express, the fugitives are hotly pursued by a variety of colorful characters, including Buddy's mercenary agent Ross (Slim Pickens) (who hopes to "merchandise" the kidnapping), the singer's ex-partners Frank (Gary Sandy) and Laurel (Cristina Raines, a goofy detective, a SWAT team, and a TV news crew. Played for laughs--and occasionally getting a few--Nashville Grab debuted October 18, 1981 on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
An adventuresome author in 1849 travels to California's Sutter's Fort to work in a saw mill. After gold is discovered, the community is plagued by the antics of greedy treasure seekers. This made-for-television drama is based on the true stories by Bret Hart. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
For the first (and thus far the only) time in his career, Chevy Chase plays a genuinely sympathetic character in Neil Simon's Seems Like Old Times. This time around, Chase is a divorced novelist who is abducted by crooks and set up as the fall guy in a bank robbery. Arrested, Chase manages to escape and to make his way to the home of ex-wife Goldie Hawn, now a highly respected liberal defense attorney. Chase's unexpected arrival coincides with an important dinner party on behalf of Goldie's current husband, district attorney Charles Grodin. At first making every effort to give Chase the boot, Hawn, ever the champion of the underdog finally decides to help him out of his dilemma--much to the discomfort of her politically ambitious husband. Wisely, Grodin does not play his character as an unpleasant stuffed shirt; he is as likeable as Chase and Hawn, giving the farcical plot convolutions a tinge of reality. We care about the people involved, thus the laughs spring as much from characterization as they do from the situation. If only Seems Like Old Times didn't have that lame-brained final close up..... ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, (more)
- 1980
Condominium is a two-part, four-hour TV adaptation of the novel by John D. McDonald. The setting is a hastily constructed Florida high-rise, assembled at the least possible cost by its greedy owners. An oncoming hurricane threatens to topple the structure and its residents into the ocean. Various degrees of greed, lust, terror and concern are displayed by stars Steve Forrest, Dan Haggerty, Ralph Bellamy, Barbara Eden, Stuart Whitman, Jack Jones and Pamela Hensley. Produced for the syndicated "Operation Prime Time" series, Condominium was first made available to local stations on November 20, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Veteran police officer Tommy Bates (Neville Brand) catches Billy Harris (Richard Stanley), a young car thief whose wild behavior indicates that he is high on "angel dust." During the arrest, Harris dies, and his accomplice Steve (Michael Horton) accuses Bates of choking the boy to death. Lt. Monahan (Garry Walberg), an old friend of Bates, pressures Quincy (Jack Klugman) to speed up the autopsy on Harris to learn the truth--while a cop-hating civil rights attorney named Charlie Trusdale (William Daniels) is likewise breathing down Quincy' neck. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Several of vice-principal Emily's students have gotten low scores in reading, and their parents are angry about it. Demonstrating the leadership qualities for which he is famous, Principal Bannister (Edward Andrews) goes on vacation, leaving Emily to deal with the problem all by her lonesome. The supporting cast includes Robert Costanzo as Sal Petrone, Patricia Stevens as Wanda Moss, Jan Fisher as Ms. Hunsinger, Bill Zuckert as Mr. Kreever, Delores Albin as Miss Nightingale, and Brian Miller as Billy. Written by Earl Pomerantz, this was one of several sixth-season episodes in which series star Bob Newhart did not appear. "Crisis in Edukation" first aired on March 11, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Suzanne Pleshette, Bill Daily, (more)
Though not actually a film addressing the evil lure of cream-filled chocolate cakes, this amusingly cheesy made-for-TV opus from director Curtis Harrington pits a relatively normal suburban family against a slavering, demonically-possessed German shepherd whose hunger for human souls far exceeds that of the normal household pet. Although not above resorting to the usual throat-maulings, the satanic psycho-pup's preferred method of attack is to supernaturally cause the deaths of various friends and neighbors, in a style reminiscent of The Omen. Though the gory potential of this scenario is obviously dulled by the TV-movie format, there are enough implied shocks and chills to keep up the pace -- particularly a grueling scene in which Dad finds himself unable to resist the urge to plunge his hand into a spinning lawnmower blade, while the possessed pooch looks on with tongue-wagging glee. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Captain Stanley (Michael Norell) confuses the emergency staff when he begins showing signs of uncharacteristic nervousness and paranoia. The reason? Stanley's former commanding officer Captain McConnike (William Boyett) is scheduled to make inspection of the Rampart team. Back on the job, Marco (Marco Lopez) is seriously injured during a gas station fire; a car crashes into a truck full of toxic pesticides; two professional clowns aren't terribly funny when they start a fight at a skating rink; and a man is "shot" by a nail gun. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The cast of the sitcom F-Troop stars in this comic western about the people of St. Joseph, Missouri and their exasperation with the community's most famous resident--Mark Twain (Christopher Connelly). ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
Kurt Russell returns as Dexter Riley, the dedicated student of Medfield College who just can't stay out of trouble, in this follow-up to The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and Now You See Him, Now You Don't. In this story, Dexter is trying to devise a formula for a chemistry project that will increase human strength . By accident, he discovers that, when he mixes his concoction with another student's recipe for vitamin-fortified cereal, it gives people super-human strength, but only for a few minutes. Ignoring these drawbacks, Dean Higgins (Joe Flynn) makes a deal to sell the miracle cereal to a leading breakfast-food concern, unaware that it's Dexter's secret ingredient that makes the cereal work. Meanwhile, when word gets out about the new strength-boosting cereal, several competing companies decide that they need to wipe the new product off the market. Cesar Romero returns from the first film as A.J. Arno, with Phil Silvers, Eve Arden, and Richard Bakalyan highlighting the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn, (more)
- 1975
The central "character" of the Disney made-for-TV movie The Sky's the Limit is a battered old biplane. The aircraft comes in handy when a spry old farmer (Pat O'Brien) makes an effort to "reach" his truculent grandson (Ike Eisenmann). It so happens that the farmer was a World War I ace, and as such promises to take the boy up in the air for a crop-dusting session. Next step: get the biplane into flying shape. Also starring Lloyd Nolan and Jeanette Nolan (no relation), The Sky's the Limit premiered as a two-part Wonderful World of Disney episode on January 19 and 26, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Once again, Jim Rockford (James Garner) finds himself neck-deep in trouble when he develops car trouble in a small town. The town in question is Pastoria, where thanks to a series of "misunderstandings" Jim is accused of several crimes, including grand theft auto, narcotics smuggling, statutory rape, and worst of all, posing as an insurance agent! Protesting his innocence on all but the last charge, Jim refuses to cop a plea and demands his day in court. Unfortunately, the entire economy of Pastoria is based upon collecting huge fees from strangers charged with phony crimes--and the powers-that-be aren't about to let Jim mess up a good thing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Just before they end their shift, the Rampart emergency team is summoned to an apartment house which has been struck by a jet liner. Elsewhere, nurse Dixie (Julie London) administers some T.L.C. on the worried husband (J. Pat O'Malley) of an elderly patient (Florence Lake); another man suffers multiple cardiac arrests within a disturbingly short space of time; and Roy (Kevin Tighe) and John (Randolph Mantooth) try to separate the brawlers in a bar fight. And in a chucklesome subplot, Chet (Tim Donnelly) refuses to rest until he has rid the station house of a pesky rodent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Ironside (Raymond Burr) is skeptical when Isabel Fredericks (Katherine Cannon), the daughter of Judge John Fredericks (Joseph Campanella), insists that her father's life is in danger. What the Chief doesn't know (at least at first) is that the Judge's new wife Eleanor (Ina Balin) once had ties with the Underworld. Hoping to start life anew as Mrs. John Fredericks, Eleanor finds that she cannot purge her criminal past, which threatens to destroy both herself and her husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
While Ed (Don Galloway) is escorting an extradited murder suspect to San Francisco, his plane is grounded in Reno. Knowing full well that the suspect's criminal cohorts are planning to kill him, Ed and his prisoner are forced to hide out in an abandoned bar until help arrives. Unfortunately, it turns out that the mob assassins are the least of Ed's problems. Prominent in the supporting cast is Andy Robinson, playing an interesting variation of his psychotic character in 1971's Dirty Harry. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
The Ingalls' first wheat crop is wiped out by a hailstorm, which also devastates the neighboring farms. This catastrophe forces Charles (Michael Landon) and his fellow farmers to leave town and seek out other work. While the menfolk of Walnut Grove are all laboring at a faraway quarry, it is up to the women left behind to harvest what is left of their crops -- an experience that serves to bring the Ingalls girls even closer together. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
- 1974
San Francisco is held in thrall by a professional arsonist who burns down businesses for insurance purposes. Detectives Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) enter the story when one of the arsonist's assignments results in the deaths of two firefighters. A number of Streets of San Francisco "repeat offenders" make guest appearances in this episode, including Barry Sullivan and Kaz Garas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
Hired to perform during a Los Angeles-to-Acapulco luxury cruise on the "T.S.S. Fairsea", the Partridge Family makes the acquaintance of a prosperous-looking young man who identifies himself as Howard Wainwright III (Bruce Kimmel). Laurie (Susan Dey) falls for Howard, while Danny (Danny Bonaduce) and Keith (David Cassidy) become convinced that the suave and sophisticated teenager is actually a clever jewel thief. As it turns out, Howard isn't being totally honest with anyone--but that doesn't make him a criminal by a long shot! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
