Phyllis Diller
The direct to video animated movie Casper's Scare School features the beloved friendly ghost attending a school in the hopes of learning how to frighten people. Although he goes through the classes, he reverts to his benevolent ways when he uncovers an evil plan. The voice cast includes Simpsons regular Dan Castellaneta, Jim Belushi, and Phyllis Diller. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Belushi, Bob Saget, (more)
Filmmaker Chris Payne explores the many factors that played into the ultimate failure of the electric car to catch on with consumers, even as gas prices began to skyrocket, in a thoughtful meditation on the increasingly important role that renewable energy plays in modern society. Introduced as a means of providing an alternative to increasing oil consumption and reducing pollution in 1996, the electric car was all but a forgotten memory only a decade later -- but why? Though interviews with consumer advocacy experts, automotive industry experts, and oil industry heavyweights, Payne paints a though-provoking picture of a culture whose aversion to change and reliance on dwindling resources may be rooted in the financial concerns of a wealthy few, and may also be leading consumers down a troubling path. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Greg "Gadget" Abbott, Dave Barthmuss, (more)
Burt Reynolds, Robert Loggia, and Charles Durning star in this crime comedy following three retired war veterans who stumble upon $4million in stolen mob money and quickly find themselves targeted by both the Mafia and the Feds. Sam (Reynolds), Carl (Loggia), and Eddie (Durning) have all managed to survive their turbulent tours of duty, and now all they want is to settle down and enjoy their retirement in the desert paradise of Sunrise Park - located just outside of Phoenix, AZ. Up until now, the biggest concern for these three friends was who would wind up winning the affections of their sultry neighbor, a former Las Vegas showgirl named Christine (Raquel Welch). The stakes get more than a little higher, however, when the Witness Protection Program drops mob-informant Angelo Nitti in their midst. Having recently turned evidence on some of the most dangerous underworld heavies around, Angelo has been given a new name and a new home in Sunrise Park. But despite the fact that he's come clean about his criminal life, Angelo still harbors a whopper of a secret: He's quietly stashed $4million in stolen mob money, and he's planning on spending the rest of his days in style. His plan hits a hitch, however, when his three neighbors discover the loot and head out on a wild spending spree. Now, as Angelo's secret spreads among both the underworld and the authorities, unsuspecting trio Sam, Carl, and Eddie soon find themselves pursued by trigger-happy treasure hunters on both sides of the law. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Raquel Welch, (more)
- 2006
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Wild-haired comedienne Phyllis Diller is featured in a hilarious collection of clips highlighting her best-loved routines and featuring an all-star collection of special guests in this release that's a must have for any loyal fan of the self-depreciating comic diva. In the 1960s Diller became a beloved staple of television variety and talk shows. Now fans can see all of the most memorable moments from Diller's glory days as the outrageous funny lady offers tips on housekeeping and marriage maintenance and recounts her marriage to husband Fang in her own unique, inimitable style. Special guest stars include Don Rickles, Dean Martin, Frankie Avalon, and Annette Funicello. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
"A family walks into a talent agent's office..." So begins "The Aristocrats," a joke kept mostly secret by stand-up comedians for decades. An intentionally "bad" joke, the laughs in The Aristocrats aren't in the punch-line (one of the only elements that's the same every time), but in the set-up, made unique by each comedian who tells it in an attempt to fashion the world's dirtiest joke. The cat was finally let out of the bag by Penn Jillette and Paul Provenza, the seasoned funnymen who gathered together a hundred people to tell a hundred different renditions of the bit. Among those presenting their personal take on The Aristocrats in this film of the same name are Jason Alexander, Robin Williams, Gilbert Gottfried, Jon Stewart, Emo Philips, and Chris Rock. The Aristocrats premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 2004
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The comedienne who shot to stardom as "the world's worst housewife" offers an intimate look at her life and career on the eve of her farewell stand-up performance. Phyllis Diller has been keeping her fans in stitches for nearly half-a-century. A gleefully self-depreciating comic whose outlandish sense of style always set her apart from the pack, Diller not only recollects her rise to stardom, but also allows viewers into her home to show just what life is like behind the scenes. A press conference leading up to her final performance showcases the quick-witted Diller at her unscripted best, with additional rehearsal and dressing room footage showing just what an incredible impact she has had on the world of show-business. Additional appearances by Rip Taylor, Don Rickles, Roseanne Barr, Red Buttons, and Lily Tomlin offer a chance for some of Diller's best known fans to reflect on their fondest memories of the star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phyllis Diller
Independent filmmaker James Slocum directs the romantic drama The Last Place on Earth, filmed in the Sierra Nevada mountain region of Northern California. Dana Ashbrook plays Rob Baskin, a businessman who travels to Lake Tahoe in order to spread the ashes of his late mother (Phyllis Diller). Along the way, he meets Ann Field (Tisha Campbell-Martin), a woman who's dying of a terminal illness. Featuring appearances by Billy Dee Williams and Mink Stole, The Last Place on Earth won several cinematography awards at the Marco Island Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tisha Campbell-Martin, Dana Ashbrook, (more)
- 2003
On the cusp of stardom, standup comic Maija DiGiorgio suffered an emotional breakdown while performing before a room packed with a number of the comedy industry's head honchos -- whom were on the receiving end of DiGiorgio's obscenity-laced outburst -- at the Aspen Comedy Festival. Subsequently faced with a nearly industry-wide blacklisting as a result, the comic (and film school graduate) came upon the idea of creating a film journal to document her struggles within the industry, as well as within her own psyche. The result is Bitter Jester, DiGiorgio's 2003 film that started as a document of self-examination and evolved into an examination of success and achievement within the standup circuit. Greatly assisted by the contacts and prestige of executive producer Richard Belzer -- a friend and former employer of DiGiorgio's boyfriend and co-conspirator Kenny Simmons -- DiGiorgio proceeds to gain access to a surprising berth of comedy legends, including Chevy Chase, Richard Pryor, Phyllis Diller, Whoopi Goldberg, and George Carlin, all of whom dispense insightful and sometimes surprising opinions about their individual achievements. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Taped approximately six weeks before the 100th birthday of comedy legend Bob Hope, this elaborate (and highly-rated) TV "love letter" to "Old Ski Nose" is hosted by former Today Show anchor Jane Pauley. The special covers the familiar biographical ground, tracing British-born Leslie Townes Hope from his first paying gig as a Charlie Chaplin imitator at age 12, then on to nearly two decades of singing, dancing, and adlibbing in vaudeville before achieving stardom on the Broadway stage in the 1933 musical Roberta. Achieving even greater success in films and on radio, Hope still remained just another entertainer until he began his celebrated, indefatigable tours of far-flung military camps in WWII, thereby kicking off a humanitarian "second career" that would extend well past the Vietnam era. Finally, the program covers in detail Hope's years on television, specifically the 285 specials which he headlined on NBC from 1950 to 1996. Many of the film clips will be familiar to even the most casual Hope fans, with one noteworthy exception: A clip from a mid-'80s Mike Douglas Show, in which Hope engages in a putting match with a two-and-a-half-year-old Tiger Woods. Dozens of Hope's contemporaries and fans from all walks of life show up to offer their own special tributes, though sadly many of his co-star's from his classic films -- notably Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour -- are no longer around to put in their two cents' worth. Nor does Bob Hope himself make a "live" appearance on 100 Years of Hope & Humor, though it is the understatement of the century to say he is certainly there in spirit. And need we add that the theme of the show (in more ways than one) is "Thanks for the Memory"? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hope, Jane Pauley, (more)
- 2002
It's Mother's Day in Cleveland, and all of the gang's moms have arrived to celebrate--including Kate's new stepmom, who looks just like her. The ladies' arrival coincides with the launching of an anti-pornography website which publishes a list of Ohio's biggest porn users--and among those listed are Drew (Drew Carey), Kate (Christa Miller), Oswald (Diedrich Bader), Lewis (Ryan Stiles) and Mr. Wick (Craig Ferguson). Mortified, the moms move back in with children to exert a "good influence", but succeeding only in driving everyone crazy. The whole thing ends up in court, with Drew and his friends suing the anti-porn site, and their moms defending it! The episode's best gags are self-referential comments about the glittering array of "guest moms", including June Lockhart, Marion Ross, Adrienne Barbeau, Phyllis Diller)...and Richard Chamberlain. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Matthew Miele directs this tale about a mysterious homeless guy. Jake (Ernie Hudson) lives relatively contently in his homeless routine -- he wakes in the morning, plays the bongos for change, and collects dog feces. Everything seems hunky-dory, as it were, until he encounters Cameron, who is attempting suicide. Jake takes the guy under his wing and shows him the ropes of life on streets. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Debbie Allen, Doug E. Doug, (more)
In this computer-animated update of the classic Christmas tale The Nutcracker, a girl in her early teens gets the bad news that she won't be able to see her parents for the holidays. Depressed by the news, she goes to sleep with her favorite toy, a nutcracker that resembles a toy soldier. When she wakes up, she discovers that the toy has come alive and she has shrunk to its size. She and the nutcracker are spirited off to Christmas Land, where our heroes are joined by fruits, vegetables, and even a pack of nuts, which all come to life as they do battle against Reginald the Rat King, who wants to stop Christmas from coming. The Nuttiest Nutcracker features James Belushi, Cheech Marin, and Phyllis Diller; R&B star Peabo Bryson performed two original songs on the soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
John Lasseter, director of Pixar's movie phenomenon Toy Story, has set new standards in computer animation with this effort, another Disney-released children's epic entitled A Bug's Life. Blending classic Disney storytelling characters and the mysterious underground world of bugs, Lasseter has created a film that can be enjoyed by all audiences, and another franchise in the process. A Bug's Life is a computerized retelling of the Aesop fable The Ant and the Grasshopper, made as a cartoon-short by the one-and-only, Walt Disney, in the mid-'30s. However, A Bug's Life has modernized the story with many new twists and celebrity voices. The story focuses on a colony of ants who seasonally gather food for themselves and a wild gang of rowdy grasshoppers. When bumbling worker ant Flik (David Foley) destroys the food supply, the angry grasshoppers, lead by the maniacally warped Hopper (Kevin Spacey), threaten to kill the ants if they don't produce a new supply of food by the time they return -- an impossible feat. Flik leaves the anthill in search of help in the form of bigger bugs, and to wage war against the grasshoppers. What he doesn't know is he has actually discovered a group of down-on-their-luck traveling circus insects in need of a job. When the ants realize that their heroes are really circus performers (and the circus bugs realize these grasshoppers are really big and mean), the situation goes from bad to worse. Ultimately, the ants use their large numbers to overcome the grasshoppers. ~ Chris Gore, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, (more)
- 1994
Phyllis Diller guest stars as a seedy fortune teller with the highly significant monicker of "Mme. Oupsenskaya" (and if you don't get the significance, ask any horror-movie fanatic). At the same time that a wolf has escaped from the local zoo, Mme. Ouspenskaya has convinced Cory (Ben Savage) that he is turning into a werewolf! Worse still, Cory is persuaded that he will soon kill the "one he cares for most"--whom he realizes, for the first time in this episode, is none other than Topanga (Danielle Fishel). Of course, all ends happily and no one gets killed...but there's a pivotal moment near the episode's climax that offers a tantalyzing hint of things to come. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
- R
In the tradition of Mel Brooks, this Italian comedy offers an episodic parody of classic thrillers and horror movies. Film includes cameos from several stars including Mel Brooks, John Astin, Larry Storch, Phyllis Diller, John Carpenter, and John Landis. The story begins as director Ezio Greggio is being stabbed ala Psycho in his shower. Before he dies he recaps the events leading to his deaths. The scene was L.A. and FBI rookie Jo Dee Fostar has been assigned to interview psycho inmate Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza. Meanwhile Fostar's girlfriend swipes $400,000 bucks from her boss and ends up hiding in the Cemetery Hotel, run by Antonio Motel. Inspector Balsam investigates cases of dead hotel victims. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dom DeLuise, Ezio Greggio, (more)
- 1993
Who, after all, is The Perfect Man? Is it Melissa's (Michelle Little) impeturbable but rather dull roommate and boyfriend Michael (Garwin Sanford), who hails from the United States and can be counted on to pay his keep? Or is it Peter (Brian Jensen), whose raffish ways and art gallery lend him a bohemian air of danger? Melissa would like to become an artist, and she occasionally discusses her business with her girlfriend, who is busy "playing the field," and isn't looking too hard for her "perfect man." Calgary wouldn't seem to be the ideal place to explore bohemian lifestyles, but you never can tell... ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phyllis Diller, Michelle Little, (more)
This concert and interview documentary features the racy wit of Canada and the U.S.'s most popular female comedians, including Jenny Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, Phyllis Diller, Ellen DeGeneres, and Paula Poundstone. In addition to screening their stand-up gigs and providing interviews with these funny ladies, the documentary provides some historical perspective about the origins of present-day feminine humor using clips of performances by Eve Arden, Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phyllis Diller, Whoopi Goldberg, (more)
Based on E.T.A. Hoffman's classic book The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, this animated holiday tale utilizes the vocal talents of such stars as Kiefer Sutherland, Peter O'Toole and Phyllis Diller. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kiefer Sutherland, Megan Follows, (more)
In this unauthorized sequel to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the animation is so bad that it makes Scooby Doo look like Fantasia. Disney's litigation against the film caused its theatrical release to be delayed for several years. But there was no need to worry -- there is no way that Happily Ever After could ever be confused with the Disney classic. The story takes up where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs leaves off. After the demise of the evil queen, a group of grotesque creatures are celebrating in the castle, led by Scowl the Owl (voice of Ed Asner) and his bat sidekick Batso (voice of Frank Welker). But soon the scowling brother of the evil queen, Lord Malice (voice of Malcolm McDowell), arrives and busts up the festivities, declaring vengeance upon the cartoon characters responsible for his sister's death. Utilizing the Looking Glass (voice of Dom DeLuise), he locates the whereabouts of Snow White, changes into the form of a dragon, and goes out hunting. While all this is going on, Snow White (voice of Irene Cara) and Prince Charming (voice of Michael Horton) are heading off into the forest to invite the Seven Dwarfs to their wedding. On the way, Lord Malice appears and kidnaps Prince Charming, carrying him off to the Realm of Doom. Snow White breaks free and escapes to the home of the Seven Dwarfs. Since the Seven Dwarfs apparently have exclusive contracts with Disney, Snow White meets instead the female Dwarfelles, who explain that their male cousins are away on business. Like a kiddie-cartoon version of Sigourney Weaver's Ripley character from the Alien movies, Snow White empowers herself and the Dwarfelles, and they head off to rescue Prince Charming from the clutches of Lord Malice. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Irene Cara, Ed Asner, (more)
- 1990
- R
This overlooked but entertaining direct-to-video oddity plunges into the nightmarish experiences of a portly, depressed psychic medium (Deborah Rose), whose involvement in a grisly child-murder case leads her and her detective partner (Ed Nelson) to an imposing, fortress-like mortuary. Chen (Robert Yun Ju Ahn), the owner of the funeral home and prime suspect in the case, claims the three mummified corpses in question are not children but ancient demons known as "kyoshi." It seems the little monsters have been around for centuries as a result of an age-old curse and can only be placated with offerings of human flesh -- with which the mortician has been supplying them his entire life. When Chen is jailed on murder charges, the under-fed ghouls awaken in search of dinner, trapping the staff inside the mortuary walls and munching down on them. The survivors, including Rose and Nelson, use every means at their disposal to combat the demons -- which have managed to possess the bodies of morgue attendant Mrs. Poopenplatz (Phyllis Diller) and her poodle, mutating them into hideous hell-beasts (not much of a stretch, really). Despite the presence of Diller and some rather outrageous set-pieces, director James Cummins plays the material remarkably straight. Standouts include a good performance by Rose and some truly creepy demon-attacks, marred only slightly by a clunky script and uneven pacing. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Phyllis Diller reads Ludlow Laughs by Jon Agee in this episode of the highly acclaimed Reading Rainbow series. In the story, Ludlow seldom shows any signs of happiness, but something happens to him that changes his attitude and that of the people around him. Laughter and silliness are the topics of the program, as LeVar Burton gets lessons in being funny. Another segment takes viewers backstage at a comedy club, where a stand-up comic talks about the challenges of making an audience laugh. The books reviewed by the young critics include Pig William, Make Me Laugh, and Shake My Sillies Out. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- LeVar Burton
- 1989
- R
A socially isolated and extremely shy Los Angeles painter finds his dream girl in the form of a struggling actress and finds himself at last finding the confidence to exhibit his work in this off-beat romantic comedy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
