Amos Crawley Movies
This sequel to 1989's Babar: The Movie tells more animated tales in the life of the famous elephant from the popular children's books of Jean deBrunhoff and Laurent deBrunhoff. Babar is a young elephant living happily in the jungle until his mother is murdered by hunters. Distraught, Babar wanders aimlessly until he finds himself in the city, where his unfamiliarity with human lifestyles causes no small number of problems. But an older woman who's grown fond of Babar offers to show him the ropes, helping him learn to live among people until his friends arrive to take him back home. This production from Canada's Nelvana cartoon studio is highlighted by excellent animation and a fine musical score. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Lett, Janet-Laine Green, (more)
In this fifth TV movie based on the character of incorruptible Chicago detective Jack Reed, Brian Dennehy once again wears two hats as both star and director. A multiple murder has occurred in a suburban cemetery in broad daylight. Most of the victims are Russian immigrants, whose friends and relatives refuse to cooperate in the investigation conducted by Jack Reed (Dennehy). As he pursues the case, Reed learns that the central figure in the mystery is a militant Russian who is organizing several of his fellow émigrés into his own army. Meanwhile, Reed must also contend with influential mayoral candidate Gordon Thomas (Joe Morton), whose minions are strong-arming the department to drop vehicular homicide charges against his son. Despite his tawdry surroundings, Reed retains his patented wicked sense of humor, especially when reciting the required Miranda rights while cuffing perpetrators ("You've got the right to cable TV, and the right to free counseling by Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins.") Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance made its NBC debut on November 17, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Charles S. Dutton, (more)
A peaceful Nebraska town on a sweltering summer day becomes the setting for an unprecedented disaster when it is struck by a deadly series of strong tornados. The story is told from the viewpoint of a 12-year-old boy who is forced to overcome his own terror to save the lives of friends and family in the horrifying aftermath. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Devon Sawa
- 1995
In this light-hearted comedy, an ingenious salesman devises a clever scheme for finding homes for orphans. A pair of yuppies, trying to decide whether or not to become parents, use the plan to test out three rambunctious children in their home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Master of infantilism Adam Sandler stars as the title character, an overgrown rich kid who wiles away his days poolside, swilling kegs of beer and appreciating fine nudie magazines such as "Drunk Chicks" -- that is, until his father (Darren McGavin) decides to test his mettle as future head of the family business by posing a challenge: retake and pass grades K-12 in 24 weeks or watch control of the business pass to the requisite conniving underling (Bradley Whitford). Forced into action, Billy vows to change his drunken ways. He enrolls in kindergarten, makes new friends, pelts pint-sized kids with playground balls and develops a love interest in a pretty teacher (Bridgitte Wilson). The action culminates in an academic showdown between Billy and the purportedly Harvard-educated underling for the future of the family enterprise -- no small feat for a man fresh out of the first grade. There's gross, moronic, off-color low humor galore in Billy Madison, particularly in one subplot involving a romantically forward elementary school principal (Josh Mostel, son of theater great Zero Mostel) and his secret former life as a professional wrestler; another scene includes the hypertense school bus driver (Chris Farley, in a typical over-the-top cameo) lying in the meadow with a hallucinatory penguin. As one might suspect, Billy Madison is not for every taste; Sandler fans will laugh from start to finish; others beware. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Sandler, Darren McGavin, (more)
This Christmas-oriented TV-movie centers upon two teenaged orphans, Will (Kirk Cameron) and Violet Jenny Robertson. Both would like a family of their own, so Will abducts neglected or abused children in the dark of night. When they awaken, Will tells them they've died and gone to heaven. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1990
1990's Little Kidnappers was a remake of the 1954 British film of the same name. Two Canadian orphans (Leo Wheatley and Charles Miller) are starved for affection. Their cantankerous, self-absorbed grandfather (Charlton Heston) pays very little attention to them. The boys "borrow" a baby so they can raise it as their very own, while the real parents--and the police--scour the countryside in search of the missing infant. This location-filmed version of The Little Kidnappers premiered over the Disney cable channel on August 17, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Children's book authors Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff's most beloved elephant comes to the big screen in this animated family tale. Elephant monarch King Babar tells the tale, that unfolds via flashback, of how a much-younger Barbar and his girlfriend Celeste save her village from the pugnacious rhinoceroses that have come to raid it. Though primarily aimed at younger audiences, parents should note that some scenes of abandoned babies maybe upsetting for little viewers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gordon Pinsent, Gavin Magrath, (more)
