Mindy Cohn Movies
Of all the "break out" performers from the series The Facts of Life, Mindy Cohn was the most improbable. The others were all child actors with experience in performing, but Cohn never trained as an actress and knew little or nothing about the series when she first came to the attention of the producers. Born in Los Angeles, she was an ordinary high school student attending the Harvard-Westlake School when the makers of The Facts of Life, planning their first season, arrived there to observe and photograph an actual girls' school in operation. It was reportedly series star Charlotte Rae who first spotted Cohn, a student at the school, entertaining some friends, and brought her to the attention of the producers. All involved agreed that she was a "natural," one of those uncanny, untrained individuals who simply looked good and memorable and funny in front of the camera, in a manner comparable to the child performers they had already cast, and with that ability added something extra special in terms of verisimilitude -- and a good deal of wry humor -- to the cast they already had. And so Cohn was cast as Natalie Green and was one of the three original young first-season cast members to get spotlighted when the program moved to its second season, achieving stardom in the course of a seven-season run for the series. One very ironic moment came later in the run of the show when Cohn, who had always been on the heavy side and whose character had been conceived with that as an attribute, began to slim down. According to Cohn, in an interview for the DVD release of the first two seasons, the producers actually asked her to put the weight back on, if possible; when she refused, they came up with a compromise by having her character dress in clothes that made her look like she was still overweight. Since the series ended production, she has somewhat limited her acting work while earning a degree in cultural anthropology. Cohn has specifically taken parts that were devised to capitalize on her work from the series and has still found enough roles to keep her occupied. She has also been extremely busy as a voice artist, including portraying the role of Velma on Scooby-Doo. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
A wicked warlock has cast a diabolical spell over Mystery, Inc. gang, and now it's up to Shaggy and Scooby-Doo to save the day. Join the lovable Great Dane and his easy frightened friend as they attempt to track down the Amazing Krudsky (voice of Wayne Knight), a second rate carnival magician who's using magic stolen from Princess Fairy Willow (voice of Hayden Panettiere) to transform everyone into grotesque Halloween monsters. If the dynamic duo can just hop on the Grim Reaper Railroad and make their way to Halloween land before Krudsky, perhaps they can retrieve the Goblin scepter from the Goblin King (voice of Tim Curry) and save the day. It's not an easy assignment, but fortunately Scooby and Shaggy have a little help from a friendly Jack O'Lantern and a flying broomstick that takes them on the ride of their lives. Additional voice talents include Jay Leno, Lauren Bacall, Wally Shawn, and Russi Taylor. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Welker, Casey Kasem, (more)
When Scooby, Shaggy and the rest of the gang head out to Himalayas in order to solve a frosty mystery, the surprise that awaits them at their snowbound destination may prove their biggest challenge to date. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Welker, Casey Kasem, (more)
Upon receiving an e-mail containing the names of every woman he has ever slept with and every women he will ever sleep with, a man set to be married in just one week eschews his wedding plans in favor of seeking out the truth behind the perplexing message in a black comedy written and directed by Heathers screenwriter Daniel Waters. Roderick Blank (Simon Baker) was prepared for a future of predictable, domesticated bliss -- but fate has a funny way of shaking things up when we least expect it. When a mysterious message appears in his inbox and he sets out to discover the origins of the strange communication, he soon finds himself falling for a dangerous black widow named Death Nell (Winona Ryder), who isn't on the list. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simon Baker, Winona Ryder, (more)
- 2006
In the tenth incarnation of Hanna-Barbera's animated Scooby-Doo franchise (which dated back to the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?), the spotlight was on cringing, crime-solving Great Dane Scooby and his funky human pal, Shaggy (Scott Menville), with the other familiar characters -- Velma, Daphne, and Freddy -- consigned to occasional guest appearances. This time around, the premise had Shaggy's scientist uncle, Dr. Albert Shaggleford, disappearing from the face of the earth -- but not before bequeathing millions of dollars to his nephew, and also passing along a passel of high-tech crime-fighting inventions. Tooling about in an upgraded "Mystery Machine" -- which could now morph into other vehicles, from submarine to helicopter -- Shaggy and Scooby continued their mission to solve crimes and bring heavily disguised miscreants to justice. Scooby was helped along in this pursuit with his familiar "Scooby Snacks," which were now seasoned with nanotechnology enabling our doggie hero to fly, turn invisible, and so forth. The principal villain was mad scientist Dr. Phinius Phibes, based partly on the Vincent Price character of the same name -- and partly on real-life animation director Bruce Timm, longtime collaborator of series developer Eric Radomski. To sum up: less mystery and more action, but the same old "meddling kids and that stupid dog." Shaggy & Scooby-Doo joined the CW's "Kid's WB" Saturday-morning cartoon lineup on September 23, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Welker, Scott Menville, (more)
- 2005
- Add Scooby-Doo in Where's My Mummy? to QueueAdd Scooby-Doo in Where's My Mummy? to top of Queue
When sleuthing archaeologist Velma travels to Egypt to attend a ceremony celebrating the unveiling of the newly restored Sphinx, the discovery of a hidden tomb threatens to unleash an ancient curse in this frightful feature-length mystery featuring everyone's favorite dog detective - Scooby-Doo. Upon discovering the ancient tomb of Eqyptian queen Cleopatra, Scooby and the gang find an ominous warning stating that all who enter will be turned to stone. As the mystery of the ancient tomb deepens, an army of the dead emerges to take revenge on those who would violate the eternal slumber of their revered ruler. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Welker, Casey Kasem, (more)
When a successful businessman's life takes a sharp turn for the worse, he targets his co-workers for death in actor-turned-director Jesse Bean's dark directorial debut. The trouble starts when Dan (Bean) loses an important promotion to co-worker Bill (Christopher Atkins). As tension begins to take a toll on Dan, his troubles are compounded when in the course of one tragic week he loses his baby, his wife, and his job. Now armed with a handgun and overwhelmed with delusion and despair, Dan hatches a deadly plan to get back at all of those he believes have done him wrong. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jesse Bean, Christopher Atkins, (more)
A talented young musician attempts to balance his musical ambition with his deep-rooted desire to please both his demanding father (Tom Skerritt) and his career-oriented fiancé (Dahlia Waingort) in this affective drama about important life choices from filmmaker Martin Guigui. There's nothing that Anthony (Innis Casey) wants more than to become a full-time musician, but despite encouragement from his supportive Great Uncle Bill (Jonathan Winters) it seems as if everyone else in Anthony's life is against the idea. Inspired to follow his heart by a beautiful and mysterious older woman (Jacqueline Bisset) who shows him how to find happiness through swing dancing, Anthony soon realizes that true fulfillment can come from the most unlikely of places. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Innis Casey, Tom Skerritt, (more)
- 2002
As if the title didn't give the game away, the Saturday-morning cartoon series What's New Scooby Doo? was the latest incarnation of the animated franchise launched by Hanna-Barbera way back in 1969. Most of the familiar characters were still in attendance: garrulous great dane Scooby Doo, the funky Shaggy, handsome Freddy, gorgeous Daphne, and brainy Velma, who comprised the crime-solving "Mystery 5" (thankfully, the irritating Scrappy Doo was absent). Bringing the concept kicking and screaming into the 21st century, the youthful mystery-hunters were equipped with the latest computer and cell phone technology. Even so, it was business as usual, with the heroes and heroines proving that the ghost of the week was actually a very live human villain who would have gotten away with it "if it hadn't been for you meddling kids." Clearly created to capitalize on the blockbuster live-action Scooby Doo theatrical feature of 2002 (the theme song of both the film and TV series was performed by the Canadian group A Simple Plan, What's New Scooby Doo? premiered on September 14, 2002, on the WB network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Casey Kasem, Frank Welker, (more)
Lovely Sandy Kennington (Barbara Niven) would seem to have it all -- a burgeoning career, a loving young son, and a husband who makes more than she does. But hubby Edward (William R. Moses) has emotionally withdrawn from Sandy in the months following a tragic automobile accident in which their daughter was killed. His reticence troubles Sandy, who seems helpless to do anything about it. Then one day Edward comes home a changed man -- romantic, affectionate, and eager to talk about Sandy's possible transfer to New York City. There's only one problem: Edward is chained to a chair in a suburban basement, held hostage by gun-toting tough gal Beth Jenkins (Nia Peeples). So who is that man who looks like Edward making love with Sandy? ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William R. Moses, Barbara Niven, (more)
- 1987
The made-for-TV Facts of Life Down Under was at once a spin-off of the TV sitcom The Facts of Life and a sequel to the 1982 TV movie The Facts of Life Goes to Paris. In Facts of Life Down Under, Cloris Leachman, who'd earlier replaced Facts of Life's Charlotte Rae as "den mother" to a quartet of girl's-school residents, escorts her charges on a vacation to Australia. As ever, the girls are Blair (Lisa Whelchel), Jo (Nancy McKeon), Tootie (Kim Fields) and Natalie (Mindy Cohn), all of whom were getting a bit long in tooth by this time. For non-fans of the series, a subplot involving a jewel thief is tossed into the billabong. In addition, the girls befriend an aborigine (who seems more erudite than they do), while Leachman renews a romance with an old flame. Lensed on location, Facts of Life Down Under debuted February 15, 1987, at a time when the original Facts of Life series was plodding through its eighth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Jay Underwood plays an autistic boy who provides a source of fascination to a new family in town. Never uttering a sound, Underwood spends hours in his backyard, attempting to fly like the birds. Lucy Deakins, the daughter of the new family, befriends Underwood; she is encouraged by teacher Colleen Dewhurst to try to draw the boy out of his shell, and to keep a journal on the subject. Rendered unconscious in a fall, Deakins dreams that Underwood can fly. The boy is suddenly whisked away to an institution, and Deakins despairs that she'll never see him again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Deakins, Jay Underwood, (more)
- 1982
All the regular cast members of the once-popular sitcom The Facts of Life are on hand for this made-for-TV movie spin-off. Charlotte Rae stars as Edna Garrett, housemother for the girls of the preppy Eastland School for Young Women. Her four principal charges are Blair (Lisa Whelchel), Jo (Nancy McKeon), Tootie (Kim Fields) and Natalie (Mindy Cohn). This time around, Mrs. Garrett and the girls spend their summer vacation in Paris, learning the intricacies of Gallic culture, gourmet cooking and romance. It's strictly for fans of the series: others beware. Originally telecast September 25, 1982, The Facts of Life Goes to Paris was followed five years later by another made-for-TVer, The Facts of Life Down Under. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
