Patrick McKenna Movies

A hit Broadway musical in 1957 and an equally successful Hollywood film in 1962, Meredith Willson's The Music Man was again brought before the cameras in this lavish made-for-TV adaptation. Standing in for the original's Robert Preston is Matthew Broderick as "Professor" Harold Hill, a glib traveling salesman who descends upon the town of River City, IA, in the weeks just prior to the Fourth of July celebration of 1912. Persuading the populace that the youth of River City is in great danger of being corrupted by the presence of a new pool table, Hill convinces them that their only hope for salvation is the organization of a boy's band, with himself as a leader. Naturally, this will require the parents to shell out good money for band instruments and uniforms, and in exchange, Hill promises to teach the kids how to make music by utilizing his revolutionary "Think System." There's only one problem: Harold Hill is an out-and-out con artist, who doesn't know one note from another. Even so, he manages to win over everybody in town except local librarian/music teacher Marian Paroo (Kristin Chenoweth) and thick-eared Mayor Shinn (Victor Garber). Ultimately, however, Marian joins Hill's camp -- mainly because he has brought her sullen brother, Winthrop (Cameron Monaghan), out of his shell -- but as July Fourth approaches, Hill faces exposure and arrest thanks to a vengeful anvil salesman named Charlie Cowell (Patrick McKenna). A meticulously faithful rendition of the Broadway original, The Music Man happily includes all of the show's wonderful songs, among them "Ya Got Trouble," "Seventy-Six Trombones," "The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl," "Lida Rose," "Marian the Librarian," "Pickalittle," "Til There Was You," and "My White Knight" (which was not used in the 1962 movie adaptation). Though some critics found Matthew Broderick a bit too lightweight and Jeff Bleckner's direction a tad gimmicky, no one could fault the full-bodied vocal renditions, nor the consistently inventive choreography of Kathleen Marshall. Produced by the same team responsible for the 2003 movie smash Chicago, The Music Man debuted February 16, 2003, as an "expanded" episode of ABC's Wonderful World of Disney anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Outdoorsman, master of household repair, part-time philosopher, and proprietor of the Possum Lodge, Red Green (Steve Smith), celebrates the many uses of every real man's secret weapon, duct tape, in this collection of classic comic bits from The Red Green Show. Red Green: Duct Tape Virtuoso Deluxe also includes never before seen outtakes from the show in which Red shows off his mastery of the sticky gray stuff. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This series of clips offers sage but humorous parenting advice straight from the mouth of Red Green (Steve Smith) and his buddies at the Possum Lodge. During the show's ten year run, Red Green (Smith) and his nephew Harold (Patrick McKenna) have tackled subjects ranging from tattoos, to violence, to the proper way to wear a pair of pants. Also included is a unique way to "teen-proof" a car using a church pew, and proper directions on how to transform a set of used tires into the perfect bedroom furniture. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

This video highlights Red Green (Steve Smith), self-proclaimed handyman and arguably the proudest member of Canada's Possum Lodge, and his long standing relationship with the automobile. Along with Harold (Patrick McKenna), his achingly geeky nephew, Red pays tribute to all modes of automotive transportation, including the zamboni, the Chrysler K-car, and more. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

One of Canada's most popular television shows, The Red Green Show has gained a loyal fan following in the U.S. thanks to its exposure on Public Television, and this video features two hilarious episodes in their entirety. "The Network Deal" has a network bigwig offering to give Red (Steve Smith) and the Possum Lodge gang their own major television series. However, there are a few strings attached -- they want to get rid of Harold (Patrick McKenna) and add a woman (gasp!) to the cast. Meanwhile, Bill (Rick Green) explains the finer points of boxing, and Red offers helpful hints on packing luggage. Red gives Harold a hand with a school project in "The Science Fair," and nearly ruins everything in the process. Later that same episode, Red shows how he uses a table saw (don't try it at home, kids!), and Bill explains the Olympic Rings. Former regular Gordon Pinsent makes a guest appearance. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Juvenile-hall parolee Lenny (Fab Filippo) lands a job as a pizza delivery man--only to have his car stolen right in front of Benton Fraser's building. With Diefenbaker the wolf leading the way, Fraser (Paul Gross) and Ray (David Marciano) trace the stolen vehicle to a disreputable used-car dealership. Ultimately, Ray ends up trapped in the hood of a car bound for the bottom of Lake Michigan--while robbery victim Lenny, acting on his own, makes the situation worse (if such a thing is possible). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jeffrey (Ryan Reynolds) grew up with heady ideals of social activism as part of his everyday life. His parents spent the better part of their lives fighting for social justice in India. Now they are dead, and he is only fifteen year old. He has been sent to a small town in Ontario to live with his aunt Charlotte (Glynne Headly). It takes considerable effort, but he manages to make friends and fit into this new, much smaller world of his. However, when his aunt receives an unfair eviction notice from her sleazy landlord (Paul Anka), every bit of his background and training comes to play, and he works with her to put on a well-publicized hunger strike which wins them the admiration of the local citizens and more. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" are the words Red Green (Steve Smith) lives by in the popular Canadian comedy series featuring Red and his cohorts from the Possum Lodge trying to be handy (but not always succeeding). In "Fire Brigade," Possum Lodge decides to form its own volunteer fire department, with disastrous results, after Bill builds an unusually large campfire. Plus: dating tips from Harold, Hap (Gordon Pinsent) discusses the truth about courage, and Red builds a gardening machine from a double bed. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

John Candy's popularity from his appearances on the Canadian television series Second City TV did not translate into film success until he made the John Hughes comedy Uncle Buck. Who's Harry Crumb? was released just before the more well-known film, and some SCTV regulars make cameo appearances. In this farcical comedy, Candy plays bumbling Harry Crumb, scion of a family of great detectives, who works as a trainee in the agency his legendary grandparents founded. His slimey boss Eliot Draisen (Jeffrey Jones) assigns the inept young detective to find the kidnapped daughter of a multi-millionaire. The plot twist is that Draisen doesn't want the kidnappers found, for reasons of his own. While Crumb blithely bumbles along through various mishaps, Draisen tries to put the moves on the millionaire's wife (Annie Potts). Fans of Candy will probably enjoy this film, which he dominates with his comedic talents and (literally) large presence. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide