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Jay Simpson
- 2002
Abruptly calling their relationship quits when she discovers that Mike (Brad Gorton) has slept with another girl, Ali (Allison McKenzie) decides to hit Club Le Monde with her best friend to celebrate her newfound freedom. Despite eyeing Mike entering the club just ahead of them, Ali vows to have a good time and humiliate Mike by hooking-up with any guy she can. As the view bounces wildly from clubber to clubber, we meet such eccentric characters as bathroom conversationalists Yas (Emma Pike) and Kelly (Tania Emery), a pair of country bumpkins looking for a fun night in the city (Tom Connolly and Tom Halstead), the mysterious Mr. Sunglasses (Danny Nussbaum) and club owner Danny (Frank Haper), who is currently in a tight spot due to an ill-advised dalliance with his best friend's wife. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dawn Steele, Allison McKenzie, (more)
An unusually principled young Viking becomes increasing uncomfortable with all the killing and plundering that goes with the job, and sets out on a magical journey in order to bring about world peace. Former Monty Python member Terry Jones attempts to have his story of Erik's seemingly hopeless quest operate as both witty, lunatic satire and sincere children's fantasy. However, despite a good cast and some interesting design elements, the film fails to completely succeed at either of its goals. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Robbins, Gary Cady, (more)
- 2006
A drug-addled elephant is on the run from people who either want to help him or kill him in this dark computer-animated comedy for adults. Jimmy is a performing elephant who travels with a third-rate Russian circus run by ringmaster Stromowski (voice of Jim Broadbent). Jimmy's minder is a sleazy American expatriate, Roy Arnie (voice of Woody Harrelson), who keeps the nervous beast pacified with regular doses of heroin. Roy has also hidden a large stash of the drug under Jimmy's skin, but Roy's decided he wants out of circus life and plans to sell the dope and go his own way. However, in order to do that he has to put Jimmy out of his misery, and he recruits three stoner buddies -- Odd (voice of Simon Pegg), Gaz (voice of Phil Daniels) and Flea (voice of Jim Simpson) -- to help whack the elephant. However, it seems Roy is also in debt to some gangsters (voices of Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton) who happen to know that he's hidden the drugs in the elephant, and they're aiming to grab Jimmy before Roy and his pals can. As it happens, they're both beaten to the punch by a group of dim-witted animal rights activists led by Marius (voice of Kyle MacLachlan), who liberate Jimmy and the other circus animals, not realizing they've just sent a junkie pachyderm into the wilds as it's going cold turkey, with only a friendly moose for help. Free Jimmy also features the voice talents of Samantha Morton, Emilla Fox and Lisa Maxwell. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Woody Harrelson, Simon Pegg, (more)
- 1988
The Firm, acclaimed British television director Alan Clarke's last feature film, deals with the football hooliganism that was such a serious problem in England during the 1980s. Gary Oldman stars as Bex, a real estate agent whose true passion is being the "top boy" of the Inter-City Crew, or ICC, from West Ham (based on the real-life Inter-City Firm). As the film opens, Bex is engaged in a football match while his car is being vandalized by rivals from Birmingham, led by Yeti (Mike Leigh regular Philip Davis, who also co-starred in Clarke's Scum). His mates urge Bex to seek violent revenge immediately, but he has other plans. Bex calls a meeting with the two other major "firms" in England and proposes that they band together for a trip to Germany to face off against Dutch hooligans at the European Cup. But his rivals balk because Bex insists on leading the new national firm. It's decided that whichever firm comes out on top in a round robin series of battles will lead them all to Germany. But Yeti continues to target Bex and his crew, and as the violence escalates, there's growing dissension in the ranks. Further complicating matters, Bex's wife, Sue (Lesley Manville, Oldman's one-time wife and another Leigh regular), takes a dim view of his violent "hobby," and their relationship takes another hit when their toddler son gets hold of Bex's beloved Stanley knife. The Firm's airing on the BBC created some controversy. Clarke went on to direct the influential experimental film Elephant before he died of cancer in 1990. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Oldman
Nancy Meyers' romantic comedy Holiday stars Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet as two women who exchange houses in order to get a new lease on life. After each suffers her fair share of romantic disappointments, Englishwoman Iris (Winslet) and L.A. woman Amanda (Diaz) meet on-line at a website devoted to helping people exchange houses for vacations. Each agrees to spend the Christmas holiday at the other's home. While each suffers from a minor case of culture shock, both women also end up becoming involved with a man. Iris makes the acquaintance of an upbeat everyman played by Jack Black, while Amanda spends time with a handsome Brit played by Jude Law. Both women must decide what to do with these new relationships as their pre-arranged house switch is scheduled to last less than two weeks. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, (more)
- 1995
The Gasforth police station is set on its ear by the presence of an abandoned baby. As Sgt. Patricia Dawkins tends to the troublesome infant, her colleague WPC Maggie Habib faces down a sexual harasser -- only to be flummoxed by the gallant efforts of Constable Kevin Goody to "protect" her. As for Inspector Raymond Fowler and Detective Inspector Grim, they have troubles organizing a "therapeutic" camping trip for a gang of young punks. "Kids Today" was originally telecast December 18, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rowan Atkinson, Serena Evans, (more)
