Danny Leiner Movies

An overenthusiastic high-school maintenance man attempts to lead an unlikely group of misfits to the Nebraska state tennis championship in Dude, Where's My Car? director Danny Leiner's underdog sports comedy. American Pie star Seann William Scott stars as the ambitious janitor who believes he has what it takes to coach the winning team. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Tonya Neely (Viola Davis) is a neighborhood activist on the south side of Chicago, trying to get her community to rally to tear down Eden Court, the dangerous housing project where she lives. After a family tragedy, she sent her youngest daughter, Cammie (Serena Reeder), off to live with friends in a middle-class neighborhood, where she could go to a better school. Leo Waters (Anthony LaPaglia), the architect who designed Eden Court many years ago, lives a seemingly idyllic life with his wife, Julia (Isabella Rossellini), his teenage daughter, Christina (Hayden Panettiere), and his son, Martin (Sebastian Stan), who has just returned home after dropping out of college. Leo's family is on the verge of a crisis. Julia's unhappiness with their marriage leads her to clean the house obsessively. Christina is only 15, but she is eager to explore her budding sexuality. Martin is understandably cynical about his home life, and confused about his own desires. When Tonya contacts Leo, hoping to convince him to sign the petition to tear down Eden Court, it sets a chain of events in motion that will force both families to confront the issues that they've tried so hard to avoid. The Architect, which also features performances by Paul James, Walton Goggins, Tijuana Ricks, Lauren Hodges, and Malcolm Goodwin, was directed by Matt Tauber, adapted from a play by Scottish playwright David Greig. The film had its world premiere at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Directed by Danny Leiner, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle follows the life-changing (and mind-altering) journey of Korean-American investment banker Harold (John Cho) and Indian-American medical-school candidate Kumar (Kal Penn). Both underdogs, Harold and Kumar decide to spend what would have been an otherwise uneventful Friday night satisfying an oddly intense urge for White Castle hamburgers. However, finding a White Castle proves a highly difficult task, and the two friends wind up on an epic road trip of deep thoughts, deeper inhaling, and enough half-baked, politically incorrect philosophizing to outweigh a White Castle value meal. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

Just when Lorelai (Lauren Graham) is convinced that she has gotten over her former fiancé Max, she receives a belated wedding present with no card attached. In hopes of achieving closure, Lorelai goes out on her first date since the breakup. Her escort is Paul (Bryce Johnson), a fellow business-school student -- and a man considerably younger than Lorelai. Meanwhile, Rory (Alexis Bledel) and her classmates are assigned to stage the death scene from Romeo and Juliet. Casting herself as Juliet, Rory is confronted with an old nemesis (more or less) when Tristan DuGray (Chad Michael Murray) is recruited to play Romeo. ~ All Movie Guide

Draft day proves to be catastrophic for many relationships amongst the Sports Night crew. Casey (Peter Krause) and Dan (Josh Charles) quite nearly come to blows after Dan purposefully embarrasses Casey on air, after learning of Casey's significant role in Dan's career during a previous heated exchange the two had in their office prior to show time. Jeremy (Joshua Malina) learns that Jenny (Paula Marshall) will be making a visit to the studio, much to his horror. He convinces her to go along with his idea of convincing everyone she's a choreo-animator, but once she arrives on set Jenny immediately strikes up lively conversations with Natalie (Sabrina Lloyd) and Dana (Felicity Huffman). Soon, she changes her mind about Jeremy's deception, as well as her feelings for Jeremy. Dana, in the meantime, has been afflicted with a skin rash she steadfastly attributes to falling on her face -- but she eventually confesses to Casey that the condition is really due to anxiety. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide

Still reeling from a singularly creepy/embarrassing bonding moment, Lindsay (Linda Cardinelli) decides it's time to break up with the chronically stoned, oddly obsessive Nick (Jason Segel). When the other Freaks get wind of her plan, they beg her not to break his heart -- but Lindsay's investigation of Nick's previous breakup only encourages her to cut the cord. But Kim (Busy Phillips), Daniel (James Franco), and Ken (Seth Rogan) have problems of their own: a rival school's drive-by water-ballooning has them hell bent on retribution, and uncharacteristically supportive of their own McKinley High basketball team. Meanwhile, in yet another effort to win the favors of perky cheerleader Cindy Sanders (Natasha Melnick), Sam (John Daley) decides to audition for the recently vacated position of McKinley High team mascot, The Fighting Norseman. The bizarre Norseman head proves too big for him to fill, however, and as game day approaches, Sam begins to take out his nervousness on his buddies as well as Cindy. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Jerri attempts to balance her desire to be on the debate team with her growing eating disorder in this installment of the irreverent Comedy Central series. Confessing her desire to join the debate team to Mr. Noblot (Stephen Colbert), the hungry teacher reveals that Jerri must lose some weight before she signs on to the team, as appearance is a major factor in winning debates. At first taking Mr. Noblot's advise to heart, his words are soon forgotten as Jerri and Toby (Devin Palmer) race to see who can be the first to the cafeteria for empanadas. Subsequently self-conscious about her weight, Jerri decides to embark on a strict diet despite the fact that the Blanks have invited over family meat man Stew (David Pasquesi) for dinner that night. Noticing that Jerri has become deathly thin the following day at school, Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) warns Jerri of the dangers of purging despite the fact that he frequently does so regularly. Having never even considered this option, Jerri decides that this would be a great way to lose weight, and Mr. Jellineck's warning actually encourages her to take up the practice. Jerri's debating skills are noticeably sharpened by her new appearance, but Mr. Jellineck nevertheless decides to take his concerns to Jerri's stepmother, Sara (Deborah Rush). Shocked that Jerri has been stealing her appetite suppressants, diuretics, and suppositories, Sara decides to send Jerri to bed without dinner as punishment. Passing out from malnutrition-induced exhaustion during a debate with Lizzie (Ellen Pompeo) the following day, Mr. Jellineck organizes an intervention with Jerri's family and Stew to take place later that evening. Though Jerri has clearly relished being the center of attention through the crisis, Mr. Jellineck appears with a special dinner to celebrate her newfound appetite. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Jerri Blank's (Amy Sedaris) first semester back at Flatpoint High finds the 46-year-old ex-con, ex-prostitute, and ex-drug addict high school freshman attempting to pull her life together. From her initial bid for popularity to her total relapse into drug addition, the first season of Strangers With Candy offered some of the most absurd and irreverent humor on television. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

In this crime comedy, a wastrel is helping his girlfriend move into a new apartment and accidentally stumbles into a drug theft gone awry that leaves his girlfriend dead and him literally holding the bag. Within that bag is a fortune in illegal narcotics and Jerry realizes that he has no choice but to take the dope and split. In desperation he goes to his pal Christy who sends him to stay with his con-artist aunt Rose who quickly cheats Jerry at cards. Later Rose's son Angie shows up and tries to convince his ma to toss Jerry out. She refuses. In time, Jerry and Angie become friends. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide