Jeff Harlan Movies
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)
- 1997
During a flight from Las Vegas to Nantucket, the pilots come down with a bad case of food poisoning. Normally, passenger Joe (Tim Daly) would be the first to volunteer to take over the controls; trouble is, he's just as sick as the pilots. Thus it is that Joe's brother Brian (Steven Weber) becomes the "angel" of the day -- and, not surprisingly, Brian's head swells proportionately with the amount of praise he receives for his heroics. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Marilu Henner stars as a Los Angeles police detective in The Ladykillers. Thomas Calabro co-stars as Henner's new partner, who also happens to be her lover. Together, Henner and Calabro attempt to solve the murder of a stripper. No, the title does not refer to the murderer: "The Ladykillers" is a male stripper club, and the victim is certifiably masculine. Also starring Lesley-Anne Down and Susan Blakely, this leering little escapade was first broadcast November 9, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marilu Henner, Susan Blakely, (more)
- 1984
St. Louis-based private eye Luther H. Gillis (Eugene Roche) pays a return visit to Hawaii to pick up an award from the National Academy of Private Investigators. Unfortunately, Luther's loyal secretary Blanche (Sheree North) is kidnapped along with Higgins (John Hillerman), forcing a flustered Magnum (Tom Selleck) to once again join forces with the redoubtable Mr. Gillis. Meanwhile, a typically dour Higgins and an incongruously cheerful Blanche try to formulate an escape plan while roped together in an abandoned building. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
The pressures of his job have caused Harry (Harry Anderson) to come down with a bad case of ulcers. But when exploratory surgery is suggested, Harry balks, insisting that he'd rather endure the pain than go under the knife--or at least, that's what he's insisting at the BEGINNING of the episode. John Astin, who would later show up intermittently on Night Court as Harry's self-proclaimed "long lost father" Buddy Ryan, is here seen as Kenny. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
- R
This seldom-seen, well-crafted monster movie involves the reopening of a Utah silver mine which had been closed for nearly 70 years after a catastrophic cave-in, the circumstances of which remain one of the nearby town's most legendary mysteries. When attempts are made to explore the mine shaft, the investigating party never returns. It seems the mine's collapse had served to seal in a nest of weird, multi-tentacled, bloodsucking creatures -- which are now free to seek new prey on the outskirts of town. This simple but intense horror film benefits from good performances and genuine suspense -- providing only quick, spooky glimpses of the title beasts -- building to a thrilling showdown in the treacherous mine shafts. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rebecca Balding, Fred McCarren, (more)
