Michael Brooks Movies
The glorious Hollywood institution of the romantic comedy gets raked over the coals in this broad parody of any number of boy-meets-girl flicks. Julia Jones (Alyson Hannigan) is a young woman who wants nothing more than to find the man of her dreams and settle down. However, Julia has a rather serious weight problem that prevents her from making a positive impression on people. Determined to find love at all costs, Julia somehow drops the weight and meets Grant Fonckyerdoder (Adam Campbell), a handsome and charming Englishman who falls head over heels for her. Julia and Grant waste no time in setting the date, but until they make their way to the altar they have to deal with meddling parents, flaky wedding planners, fights over the right wedding dress, vertically challenged romantic advisors, and Andy (Sophie Monk), a longtime friend of Grant, who isn't so happy to hear he's getting hitched. Also featuring Fred Willard, Jennifer Coolidge, Eddie Griffin, and Tony Cox, Date Movie was written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, proudly billed as "two of the six writers of Scary Movie." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alyson Hannigan, Adam Campbell, (more)
A pair of terminal agoraphobics who have remained in their home for fifteen years discover just how terrifying the outside world can truly be in a tense psychological thrillerstarring Christopher Dimassis and Christie Lynn Smith. Ida and Irwin are homebodies to the absolute extreme. When Ida makes a desperate bid to leave the house and break free of their luxurious prison, a series of vivid hallucinations cause events to quickly spiral out of control. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christo DiMassis, Christie Lynn Smith, (more)
- 1996
A careless medical courier has left a package containing a human heart in the termional on Halloween. Once they'd ascertained the package's contents, most of the terminal gang embark upon a frantic search for the missing courier. Most, but not all: Sensing a quick financial turnover, Roy (David Schramm) hatches a scheme to sell the heart to the highest bidder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Blaze is a comic-strip re-telling of the curious late-1950s relationship between famed striptease artist Blaze Starr (Lolita Davidovitch) and Lousiana governor Earl Long (played in gorgeously flamboyant fashion by Paul Newman). Their romance is counterbalanced with the story of Long's efforts to win voting rights for Louisiana's black citizens. The governor's political enemies ruin his chances at re-election, then try to put him out of the way permanently with a trumped-up insanity charge. But with faithful Blaze at his side (and in close proximity to other portions of his anatomy), Long confounds his foes by winning a congressional seat. On the eve of this triumph, Earl Long dies, bringing this boisterous story to a sobering conclusion. Since the film is based on Blaze Starr's own reminiscences, one might prepare oneself with several grains of salt. The real Blaze Starr shows up early in the film as a stripper named Lily. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Lolita Davidovich, (more)
This lively film was made to cash in on the roller skating craze that swept Southern California in the late '70s. The story centers upon a poor-little-rich-girl runaway who heads for the Venice boardwalk to join the other hipsters on wheels. She and her new friends then team up to keep an avaricious developer from razing the local roller rink and putting a shopping mall in its stead. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Blair, Jim Bray, (more)
