Patrick Cronin Movies

This "very special" episode goes back in time to recount the hectic three months leading up to the wedding of Paul (Paul Reiser) and Jamie (Helen Hunt). Among other matters of importance, the couple must decide upon the appropriate nuptial music: "Color My World," "Alley Cat," or "The Hokey Pokey"? Originally telecast in a single hour-long time slot, this episode has since been divided into two half-hour installments for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When Jerry, Kramer, and Newman run into their mutual accountant at Monks, they take note of the fact that he has a habit of sniffling an awful lot and become convinced that he is spending their money on a drug habit. Meanwhile, George interviews for a job as a brassiere salesman and Elaine can't stand her new boyfriend's overuse of exclamation points. Guest starring John Kapelos, Christa Miller, and Patrick Cronin, "The Sniffing Accountant" originally aired October 7, 1993,and was the fourth episode of the show's fifth season. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Jumping fairly late on the slasher-movie bandwagon, this stylish but hollow effort from director Manny Coto stars L.A. Law's Larry Drake as the psychopathic Evan Rendell, who fancies himself a misunderstood medical genius. In an inventive opening scene, Rendell performs a bit of impromptu surgery on his keepers at the asylum (who had given him the title nickname due to his fits of nervous laughter) and escapes to his hometown to set up his "practice." This medical mania seems to run in the family, as we are shown in flashback: Evan's daddy once butchered several local women in his search for a replacement heart for his wife, and although he was unable to save her, Pops managed to spirit away young Evan and keep him safe (in a very, very nasty hiding place) before being lynched by the locals. Hiding out in the abandoned family home, "Dr. Giggles" begins a random killing spree in town with his bag of medieval-looking surgical instruments... but he finds new purpose when he sees the medical records of young Jennifer (Holly Marie Combs), who is in line for a heart transplant, and vows to "cure" her himself. This film eschews the possibilities of its demented premise, choosing instead to serve up a flavorless hash of '80s slasher clichés (wisecracking killer, stupid teenage victims, virginal heroine, 20-years-later motif, etc.). The only truly inspired moment occurs in flashback, when we discover the actual hiding place the elder Dr. Rendell chose for his son. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Touted upon its release as the finale of the Rocky saga, this fifth entry in the long-running series of sports dramas reunites star Sylvester Stallone with John G. Avildsen, director of the Oscar-winning original. Stallone is Rocky Balboa, suffering from career-ending brain damage as a result of his punishing bout with Ivan Drago at the finale of the previous film. Upon their return to Philadelphia, Rocky and his wife, Adrian (Talia Shire), discover they are broke, their fortune squandered by an incompetent accountant. Forced to move back to their working-class neighborhood, Rocky finds that his only asset is the run-down gym willed to him by Mickey (Burgess Meredith, who appears in new flashback sequences). Resisting big money offered to him by Don King-like boxing promoter George Washington Duke (Richard Gant), Rocky becomes a trainer and finds a talented comer in Tommy Gunn (real-life boxer Tommy Morrison, nephew of John Wayne). Rocky's son (played by Stallone's real-life son Sage Stallone) feels neglected by his father, who lavishes attention on his protégé, but Tommy ultimately turns his back on his mentor to sign a more lucrative deal with Duke, leading to a street-fight showdown. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

The title of this episode refers to two people, one incorrectly declared dead, the other having just returned to life. When a computer error lists Christine (Markie Post) as "deceased", she has quite a time proving that reports of her death are highly exaggerated, especially to her troublesome replacement (Rob Neukirch). Meanwhile, Judge Harry (Harry Anderson) presides over a case in which the plaintiff (Patrick Cronin) has just awakened from a 20-year coma--and intends to prosecute his nephew (Steven Barr) for enjoying the fruits of his demise. And just to keep things moving, a crazy inventor (Ron Boussom) who has formed an unnatural bond with his talking computer escapes from Harry's custody! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rampage delves into the subject of legal insanity, so often the default defense in modern-time gruesome crime trials. Alex McArthur plays an outwardly normal guy who goes on incredible killing and mutilating sprees until (and even after, when he escapes for a short time) he's captured. When he comes to trial, the liberal DA (Michael Biehn) is torn between his own leftist leanings and the reality of the heinous crimes for which the accused is being tried. He must argue for the death penalty. ~ All Movie Guide

"I'm in love with a mermaid!" read the opening line of Leonard Maltin's original review for Splash. And with the delightful Darryl Hannah in the lead, who could fault Maltin for his public declaration of ardor? The story begins in 1959, when a young boy is rescued from a watery grave by an adolescent mermaid. Twenty-five years later, the boy has grown up--and lo and behold, it's Tom Hanks. Meanwhile, the mermaid, likewise grown up, has surfaced in search of Hanks, her long-lost love. On dry land, the mermaid is able to walk about on legs; any contact with salt water, and she reverts to her half-fish form. Adopting the name of Madison from a New York street sign, the girl manages to win Hanks' heart. Alas, a secret government lab, populated by such smarmy types as Richard B. Shull and Eugene Levy, captures Madison for research purposes--and possible vivisection. Egged on by his brother John Candy, Hanks rescues his beloved, joining her in the ocean depths as a mer-man (mer-fellow? mer-guy?) A captivating confection from the peerless creative team of director Ron Howard and screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, Splash was a winner all the way--especially at the box office, where the $11 million film racked up a huge profit. Historical sidebar: Splash was the first release from Disney's Touchstone Pictures division. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Carmine Ciardi appears as Al Sharples, the brother of diner owner Mel and an old flame of waitress Flo (Polly Holliday). Despite the fact that both of them are "three time losers" in the field of matrimony, Al and Flo decide to get married. Not only does this throw the diner into an uproar, but it doesn't do much good for the ego of Flo's current "steady" Bubba (Lou Frizzell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Mel (Vic Tayback) has come to regreat his decision to sell his diner to the imperious Randolph Briggs (Hans Conried), but unfortuantely Briggs refuses to sell it back. Also in a regretful mood is Alice (Linda Lavin), whose apartment has become the location for Mel's new restaurant. In order to get Mel out of her hair and back behind his own company, Alice must resort to a disguise--and soon shows up at the old diner as a very contrary senior citizen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It probably seemed like a good idea at the time when Mel (Vic Tayback), Marie (Victoria Carroll), Alice (Linda Lavin), Flo (Polly Holliday) and Vera (Beth Howland) decided to go off together on a weekend fishing trip. Unfortunately, circumstances dictate that the five would-be anglers must spend all their time packed like sardines in the same tiny cabin. Ultimately, even the cabin isn't big enough for everyone, resulting in a mass migration to the bathtub! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The focus in this first episode of Alice's third season is on Tommy (Patrick McKeon), the 14-year-old son of single mom/waitress/aspiring singer Alice Hyatt (Linda Lavin). By Alice's account, Tommy is currently passing "from puberty to impossible", and she's at her wit's end. When her bombastic boss Mel (Vic Tayback) claims that he'd do a better job raising Tommy than she, Alice gets even by taking him up on his "offer"--and the result is literally painful for at least one of the principal characters. This episode, in which Alice spends a goodly portion of time posing as "Sam Butler", was one of several Alice installments directed by Bewitched veteran William Asher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Alice (Linda Lavin) and Flo (Polly Holliday) need "wheels", so Mel (Vic Tayback) offers to sell them his battered old Volkswagen. Unfortunately, the car has a few minor technical deficiencies--for example, it won't start. The plot thickens when Mel gets a better offer for the car and tries to buy it back, only to meet with some unexpected resistance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide