Greg Grunberg Movies
Something many fans of Greg Grunberg may have noticed is that the actor has appeared in a noticeably large number of projects by producer J.J. Abrams. This is because Grunberg and Abrams, in fact, grew up together and remained friends. His first big break came when his friend set to work on a one-hour dramedy called Felicity. Grunberg was cast in the role of Sean Blumberg -- a role he would continue to play for all of the show's four-year run. His next notable part came when he assumed the recurring role of Agent EricWeiss on the spy show Alias. He then popped up in the Abrams pilot for the series Lost, as the pilot of the crashed airplane, before joining the cast of the wildly popular sci-fi series Heroes as police officer Matt Parkman, whose superhuman power is that he is able to hear other people's thoughts. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
In Season 2 of the superhero saga, the nascent heroes learn more about their similarly superpowered families and ancestors. Indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennet (Hayden Panettiere) and her family are forced to go into hiding in California in order to escape the clutches of the Company, an organization that tracks and captures superheroes. While her father, Noah (Jack Coleman), a former employee of the Company, insists she not do anything to attract attention, Claire finds herself attracted to a fellow student (Nicholas D'Agosto) with a superpowered secret of his own. After barely managing to avert a nuclear explosion in Season 1's finale, Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) is presumed dead by his grieving family, only to awaken in Ireland with no idea who he is or how he got there. Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka) accidentally time travels to 17th-century feudal Japan, where he encounters his childhood hero, the legendary swordsman Takezo Kensei. But Hiro's joy is short-lived: He discovers that not only is Kensei a white foreigner (David Anders) living in Japan, but he's also a drunken coward who needs Hiro's help in order to achieve his destiny. Hiro eventually returns to the present and learns his father (George Takei) has been killed, the first in a series of murders of superheroes who had been active a generation ago. As the murders continue, it becomes clear that this killing spree is an act of revenge connected to a deadly virus that could spell disaster for humanity. In addition to this threat, the heroes must also deal with the return of superpowered serial killer Sylar (Zachary Quinto) and the arrival of a new villain (Kristen Bell), a mentally unstable agent of the Company with the ability to control lightning and electricity. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Masi Oka, Milo Ventimiglia, (more)
- 2006
Seizure victim Henry Errington (Howard Hesseman) is in dire need of an immediate heart transplant. Unfortunately, the only potential donor has died from a strange illness, rendering the heart useless. In desperation, House (Hugh Laurie) decides to use the damaged heart anyway, and proceeds to "cure" the dead donor--while her grieving husband looks on! And in a separate development, Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) comes knocking at House's door after the breakup of his latest marriage, resulting in the Odd Couple to end all Odd Couples. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2006
Season Five of Monk begins as San Francisco's most efficient--and most obsessive-compulsive--private detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) finds himself the central character of an upcoming movie. Much to Monk's relief, he won't be forced to play himself: Instead, the role of Monk has gone to Hollywood superstar David Ruskin (Stanley Tucci). Unfortunately, Ruskin is one of those method actors who insists upon meticulous pre-film research, and soon he is relentlessly dogging Monk's trail during a murder investigation. At first, Monk doesn't seem to mind, and actually enjoys showing off for Ruskin's benefit--but things take a sinister turn when Ruskin so loses himself in the role of "Adrian Monk" that he tries to exact his own personal vengeance against a suspect in the long-ago murder of Monk's wife Trudy! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The third entry in Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible film series involves super Impossible Mission Forces (IMF) agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) being forced back into the field just when he was planning on marrying his girlfriend, Julia (Michelle Monaghan). The agency asks Hunt to save an operative (Keri Russell) he trained after weapons dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman) kidnaps her. With the help of his field team -- played by Ving Rhames, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, and Maggie Q -- Hunt achieves his goal, but becomes involved in a web of double-crosses that leave him wondering if he can trust his superiors (Billy Crudup and Laurence Fishburne). Eventually Davian threatens Julia's life in order to get away with his evil plan. Simon Pegg appears as an IMF tech expert. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, (more)
The NBC series' first season begins with the origin stories of several lonely, disconnected people who learn they're destined to become superheroes. At the center of the unfolding tale is Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia), a nurse haunted by cryptic dreams who believes he's meant to do great things with his life. Peter tries to convince his politico brother Nathan (Adrian Pasdar), who is running for the U.S. Senate, that something strange is happening to both of them, but Nathan is adamant about maintaining a low profile and keeping his personal life out of the press. Meanwhile, a Texas cheerleader (Hayden Panettiere) discovers she's completely indestructible, but she's in for an even bigger shock when she realizes her family is hiding a dark secret. Over in Los Angeles, a beat cop (Greg Grunberg) develops the ability to read minds, and an Internet stripper (Ali Larter) begins to manifest a murderous alternate personality. And in Tokyo, bored cubicle drone Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka) is desperate for the kind of adventures found in comic books and Star Trek. (In a sly in-joke, Hiro's father shows up later in the season and is portrayed by Star Trek alum George Takei.) Hiro's wish is miraculously granted when he develops the ability to travel through time and space, teleporting himself instantly from a Tokyo subway to Times Square. But Hiro's elation quickly turns to fear when he witnesses a nuclear explosion lay waste to New York City. Upon teleporting home, he realizes he's just seen a glimpse of a catastrophe that will happen in a few weeks unless he can stop it. Heroes from across the globe gradually meet up and form alliances as they try to prevent the nuclear attack and fight back against a shadowy, superpowered serial killer known as Sylar (Zachary Quinto), who is able to murder the would-be superheroes and steal their abilities in the process. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Masi Oka, Milo Ventimiglia, (more)
The horror film The Darkroom concerns an amnesia victim who has been in an asylum for years. One day he begins to remember flashes from his life, decides to escape from the hospital, and soon befriends a teenager. As he pieces together his former life, he begins to suspect he may be in terrible danger. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reed Diamond, Greg Grunberg, (more)
Despite its late start in January of 2005 after a hiatus of eight months, the fourth season of Alias more than made up for lost time with a plethora of trials, tribulations, jaw-dropping revelations, big-time betrayals, and near-death experiences for the series' secret-agent heroine, Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner). Reeling from the disillusionment and embarrassment of her demotion, Sydney quits the CIA flat; however, it turns out that this is part of a master plan hatched by new CIA director Hayden Chase (Angela Bassett) to arrange Sydney's membership in Authorized Personnel Only (APO), a top-top secret black-ops organization. Sydney's co-workers at APO include several longtime associates: her father, Jack (Victor Garber); her partner and sometime lover, Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan); her steadfast previous partner Dixon (Carl Lumbly) -- and, much to our heroine's surprise, her duplicitous ex-chief, Sloane (Ron Rifkin), who has proven time and again that he can't be trusted. For her first APO assignment, Sydney is sent to Rio, where she has a fateful encounter with her latest adversary, Tamasaki (Rick Yune), a self-styled 21st century samurai. Previously a recurring character, Sydney's half-sister, Nadia Santos (Mía Maestro), becomes a full regular this season, the better to throw a monkey wrench into Sydney's volatile relationship with her father, Jack -- and to share with Jack a startling secret about Sydney's supposedly dead, supposedly traitorous mother. At the same time, Vaughn has a great deal of difficulty overcoming the treachery of his former wife, Lauren, and an equal amount of difficulty assimilating new and disturbing information about his own father. Major developments this season include a huge revival of interest in the Rambaldi code, which when broken may spell the doom of humankind; the surprising temporary recruitment of another of Sydney's longtime enemies, Julian Sark (David Anders), for a special APO mission; a grim prognostication that Sydney and Nadia are destined to duke it out to the death; and the resurrection of a long-presumed-dead central character, who will reveal anew to Sydney that she can never completely rely upon anyone or believe in anything, not even the evidence of her own eyes. Though the season ends with the good news that Sydney and Vaughn are engaged, any hopes for lasting happiness are dashed by still another shocking revelation -- and a spectacular car crash. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Garner, Victor Garber, (more)
One of the best-loved films from the idiosyncratic British film studio Ealing Pictures gets an update from the equally idiosyncratic filmmaking team of Joel and Ethan Coen in this offbeat comedy. Marva Munson (Irma P. Hall) is a spry, elderly woman who attends church regularly, doesn't care for loud noises or harsh language, and is looking for a tenant for the spare room in her house. Enter Goldthwait Higginson Dorr (Tom Hanks), a silver-tongued college professor who moves in and gains Munson's permission to use the basement for rehearsals with his "medieval music ensemble." What Munson doesn't know is that Dorr's latest project is not academic, but criminal. Dorr is masterminding the robbery of a riverboat casino, and the fellow musicians in his ensemble are actually the crew he's assembled to pull off the job: foul-mouthed "inside man" Gawain (Marlon Wayans), clumsy demolitions expert Pancake (J.K. Simmons), quiet strong-arm man Lump (Ryan Hurst), and logistical expert The General (Tzi Ma). Despite the best efforts of Dorr and his cohorts (which aren't very impressive), Munson finds out about their scheme, and when she refuses to accept a share of the take in exchange for her silence, Dorr decides the best solution is to silence her permanently. The gospel tunes which grace the soundtrack to The Ladykillers were coordinated by T-Bone Burnett, who also helped assemble the acclaimed song score for the Coen brothers' O Brother, Where Art Thou?. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Marlon Wayans, (more)
- 2004
The 48 survivors of a mid-air plane disaster dazedly gather their wits about them in the opening episode of the ABC hit series Lost. Marooned on an island somewhere in the Pacific, the survivors must now rely upon their inner strength -- and each other -- to stay alive, having been stripped of virtually all vestiges of civilization. Making matters worse is the island's harsh, almost impenetrable terrain and bizarre variety of animal life. Emerging as the most prominent of the castaways in the opener are Jack (Matthew Fox), a somber doctor who frantically helps survivors who are clinging to life, and Kate (Evangeline Lilly), a beautiful and mysterious survivor who seems to be a concerned do-gooder. The two meet when she reluctantly agrees to suture a wound on his back despite having no medical experience. On the first night after the crash, the survivors are terrified by the loud animal-like roar of something large rustling around in the jungle -- even the trees shake with its presence. The next day, along with washed-up rock star Charlie (Dominic Monaghan), Kate and Jack venture out to find the front end of the plane -- and hopefully the plane's transceiver (radio transmitter) -- in the jungle. This two-hour pilot episode was originally telecast in two separate installments. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- L. Scott Caldwell, Fredric Lehne, (more)
- 2003
Evidence found on a victim in an elevator accident leads to the elusive Sloane (Ron Rifkin), who is poised to steal yet another precious Rambaldi manuscript. Irina (Lena Olin) suggests that a sting operation be set up to capture Sloane, thereby enabling her daughter, Sydney (Jennifer Garner), to finally quit the spy business. Meanwhile, circumstantial evidence leads Syd to suspect that Vaughn (Michael Vartan) has stolen Xenon, a forbidden description program, and is prepared to sell it to the highest bidder; after much soul-searching, Dixon (Carl Lumbly) elects to join the CIA; and Francie's evil lookalike (Merrin Dungey) attempts to extract valuable information from Will (Bradley Cooper). Comedian Richard Lewis guest stars in a dramatic role as the CIA counterintelligence analyst, Mitchell Yager, who is investigating Vaughn for possible disloyalty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
After threatening to destroy an entire city block with a super-explosive, the fugitive Sloane (Ron Rifkin) slips through the fingers of the CIA, sparking a heated argument between Sydney (Jennifer Garner) and Kendall (Terry O'Quinn). Meanwhile, Marshall (Kevin Weisman) uses his photographic memory to track down a CIA security leak, little imagining that the trail will lead to the assassin who is posing as Sydney's murdered roommate, Francie (Merrin Dungey). In the climax, Sloane prepares to use the completed Rambaldi device for a terrifying demonstration of wholesale destruction and murder -- while Dixon (Carl Lumbly), feeling betrayed by Sydney and the CIA, refuses to take necessary measures to rescue Syd from the clutches of Sloane's sadistic confederates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
After CIA agent Emma Wallace (Olivia D'Abo) is killed in full view of a nationwide TV audience, Sydney (Jennifer Garner) and Vaughn (Michael Vartan) are assigned to take over Emma's mission. They must determine if a new gene-splicing technology called Helix is actually some sort of weapon -- and they must also locate Emma's CIA partner, Jim Lennox (Ethan Hawke). What they do not know (but the viewer does) is that the man calling himself Lennox is a double agent. Meanwhile, the evil lookalike of the murdered Francie (Merrin Dungey) -- one of the earliest "customers" of the Helix -- makes her first move. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Upon discovering that kidnapped scientist Neil Caplan (Christian Slater) and his wife, Elsa (Tracy Middendorf), have had espionage-related life experiences similar to her own, Sydney (Jennifer Garner) defies her father Jack's (Victor Garber) orders and attempts to rescue Neil all by herself. Elsewhere, Sloane (Ron Rifkin) exacts a horrible vengeance upon Dixon (Carl Lumbly), the CIA agent who accidentally killed Sloane's wife, Emily. And the evil lookalike of Sydney's murdered roommate, Francie (Merrin Dungey), continues to flatter vital information out of the unwitting Will (Bradley Cooper). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Originally telecast right after Super Bowl XXXVII, "Phase One" was the most controversial and talked-about episode of Alias' second season -- and not only because of the notorious segment in which star Jennifer Garner appears clad only in a skimpy bra and panties. With Sloane (Ron Rifkin) having disappeared, SD-6 has a new head man in the form of Anthony Geiger (Rutger Hauer). The CIA orders Sydney (Garner) and Jack (Victor Garber) to get into Geiger's good graces so that they can find out his plans. But Geiger, whose feelings toward the Bristows are nowhere near as affectionate as Sloane's, would just as soon fire them both -- and even worse, since he has taken a peek at Sloane's confidential files on the mysterious Server 47, he is now armed with information that could result in the deaths of both Syd and Jack. The episode is climaxed by the abrupt and wholly unanticipated death of one of the series' most likeable characters -- thereby hurtling the carefully established Alias second-season story line into an entirely different direction. The CIA takedown of SD-6 in this episode also changes Alias' plot structure forever, eliminating the double-agent aspect of Sydney's actions and allowing her and Vaughn (Michael Vartan) to finally be together. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Convinced that Alliance counterintelligence head Ariana Kane (Faye Dunaway) plans to frame him on a murder-extortion rap, Jack (Victor Garber) is forced to rely upon Irina (Lena Olin) to turn the tables on Kane and clear his name. Meanwhile, while on assignment in France to retrieve the prototype for the Triad's missile-guidance system, Sydney (Jennifer Garner) and Vaughn (Michael Vartan) decide to take time out for a romantic rendezvous. Their passion is rudely interrupted by two of Ariana Kane's henchmen, who know that Vaughn is a CIA operative -- and intend to kill him on the spot. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A rich kid who likes to pretend he's from the wrong side of the tracks gets a taste of the real thing in this comedy. Brad Gluckman (Jamie Kennedy) is the son of a wealthy and socially prominent couple (Ryan O'Neal and Bo Derek) and grew up in the lap of luxury in Malibu, CA. However, Brad likes to imagine he's a street-smart gangsta from the mean streets of L.A., and he's been trying to launch a career as a hardcore rapper under the name "B-Rad." Mr. Gluckman is running for Governor of California, and both he and his campaign manager (Blair Underwood) are convinced Brad's antics could have a negative impact on the election, so they come up with a scheme to change his mind about the supposed glamour of street life. Mr. Gluckman hires a pair of African-American actors (Taye Diggs and Anthony Anderson) to impersonate a pair of gang-bangers from Compton who carjack Brad's SUV and take him to the 'hood, where he'll learn just how scary the thug life can be. However, it soon becomes obvious the actors don't know much more about life in Compton than Brad does, and as Brad gets used to his new surroundings, he falls for a girl from the neighborhood (Regina Hall) who has her own plans for moving up in the world. Malibu's Most Wanted was inspired by a character Jamie Kennedy created for his sketch comedy series The Jamie Kennedy Experiment. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jamie Kennedy, Taye Diggs, (more)
- 2003
In the first episode of a two-part story, Francie's evil double (Merrin Dungey) implants Will (Bradley Cooper) with phony retinal DNA, thereby framing him as a traitor. Worried about the fugitive Will's fate, Sydney (Jennifer Garner) blows her cover in the presence of the phony Francie -- meaning that now she, too, will have to be eliminated. And a "new" Sloane (Ron Rifkin) tries to strike a deal with Jack (Victor Garber). This is the one in which star Jennifer Garner dons a skimpy dominatrix outfit -- all in the line of duty, of course. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Sydney (Jennifer Garner) manages to clear Will (Bradley Cooper) of espionage charges, but she must still deal with the fact that her mother, Irina (Lena Olin), has betrayed her. The situation changes radically when Irina shows up, claiming that she was only pretending to conspire with Sloane (Ron Rifkin) to make sure that all portions of the deadly Rambaldi device would be turned over to the CIA. But can this "explanation" merely be Irina's way of luring Sydney into another trap? Whatever the case, this final episode of Alias' second season provides a whopper of a cliffhanger finale, with Sydney, emerging from unconsciousness after a fight with Francie's evil double (Merrin Dungey), discovering to her astonishment that she has been "out" for two whole years -- and that's only for starters! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Resolving the cliffhanger established at the end of season one, season two of Alias begins with college student-cum-secret agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) coming face to face with her presumed-dead mother, KGB agent Irina Derevko (Lena Olin, making her first appearance as a series regular). But the reunion is far from a happy one: Exposed as the master criminal whom Sydney has been tracking for months, the surly Irina displays decidedly non-maternal instincts by shooting her daughter in the arm and dashing off to parts unknown. Meanwhile, Syd's friend Will has published his exposé of the covert espionage agency SD-6, making him a marked man -- but not if Syd's father, Jack (Victor Garber), can protect Will from any and all assailants. And can it be that Syd's CIA contact, Vaughn (Michael Vartan), is really dead? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The fourth and final season of Felicity also represents the heroine's fourth and final year at the University of New York in Greenwich Village. Having had a falling out with her dad over "wasting" her education, Felicity vows to finance her senior year all by herself. She also hopes to get into an honors program -- and, failing to do so, she finds comfort in the arms (and bed) of her off-and-on beau Noel Crane (Scott Foley). Elsewhere, Felicity's other boyfriend Ben (Scott Speedman) has returned from EMT training in Kansas City determined to become a doctor; to no one's surprise, the marriage of Elena Tyler (Tangi Miller) and her fiancé Tracy (Donald Faison) doesn't come off, whereupon Elena launches a relationship with Ben's fellow pre-med student Trevor (Christopher Gorham); and to everyone's surprise, Ben's idealistic ex-roommate Sean (Greg Grunberg) weds Felicity's extremely eccentric ex-roomie Meghan (Amanda Foreman) -- with Felicity, an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church, performing the ceremony! In other developments, Noel uses a huge inheritance from his ex-wife to arrange for Felicity to get an assistant teaching position and to start his own web-design business with Sean. That business is swallowed up by Webb Graphics, and shortly afterward, Noel begins a relationship with Zoe (Sarah Jane Morris), his new boss's daughter. Also, Ben has a fling with Lauren (Lisa Edelstein), his dad's former mistress -- and subsequently agonizes over the fact that Lauren is pregnant. And finally, despite resorting to cheating to get a term paper done, Felicity finally graduates, as Ben moves to Arizona to be with his new "family." Interrupted by a four-month hiatus, season four resumes as Sean and Noel go back into private business again, spooky Meghan gets a job as a psychiatrist, and Ben -- minus Lauren and the baby -- comes back into the life of Felicity, now in pre-med at Stanford University. When Elena is killed in a car accident, Felicity spirals into a deep depression, breaking up with Ben in the process. Resurfacing at the wedding of Noel and Zoe, Felicity is given an opportunity, via a spell cast by the "bewitching" Meghan, to see what her life would have been like had she never broken up with Noel -- thereby setting the stage for the outrageous "double surprise" that brings Felicity to its riotous conclusion. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keri Russell, Scott Speedman, (more)
- 2001
The dead body of stripper Kristen Moore (Jenna Gering) is found in the apartment of Danny Sorenson (Ricky Schroder) -- and Danny has vanished without a trace. With precious few clues to go on, Andy (Dennis Franz) and Connie (Charlotte Ross) try to link Kristen's murder and Danny's disappearance to the strip club managed by Joey Schulman (Greg Grunberg). The present crisis not only puts the entire precinct on its ear, but seriously strains the relationship between partners Baldwin (Henry Simmons) and Greg (Gordon Clapp). With this cliffhanger finale, the eighth season of NYPD Blue comes to a close. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Still investigating the murder of a stripper, Danny (Rick Schroder) boozily spends the night with the dead woman's co-worker Kristin (Jenna Gering), who is being harassed by an obsessed fan. Andy (Dennis Franz) chews out Danny when he shows up with liquor on his breath the next morning. Nonetheless, Danny has the presence of mind to let Lt. Rodriguez (Esai Morales) know that he plans to worm his way into the confidence of Kristin's boss, Joey Shulman (Greg Grunberg), in hopes of solving the murder. And on another front, Greg (Gordon Clapp) and Baldwin (Henry Simmons) go after a gunman who murdered two people by mistake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
At the end of her rope after a series of emotional setbacks, Diane (Kim Delaney) decides to take a leave of absence, which doesn't please Danny (Rick Schroder). While investigating the murder of a stripper who sidelined in stolen jewelry, Danny becomes very close to the dead woman's co-worker Kristen (Jenna Gering) -- thereby setting the stage for a story arc that will lead inexorably to the series-finale cliffhanger. Meanwhile, Cynthia (Juliana Donald) expresses her hope that Andy (Dennis Franz) is doing the right thing by remarrying Katie (Debra Monk). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A man faces death and finds love at the same time and place in this emotional comedy-drama. Taylor Darcy (Jonathan Silverman) is a bright but cynical television writer who is emotionally thrown for a loop when his doctor diagnoses him with colon cancer. While Taylor prefers to ignore the bad news at first, in time, he takes the advice of his oncologist and checks himself into the hospital for treatment. Taylor suddenly becomes the recipient of an outpouring of sympathy and good wishes from his friends, which goes against the grain of his dark-humored nature, and he doesn't deal well with the physically and emotionally taxing routine of surgery and radiation therapy. While in the hospital, Taylor meets Lynn Piegi (Natasha Gregson Wagner), a woman who is living with leukemia; Lynn's sarcastic sense of humor in the face of grim news meshes well with Taylor's personality, and he finds himself falling in love with her. But as Taylor advances toward recovery, he has to deal with the fact that Lynn's condition is far more serious than his own, and that she is not likely to survive. The Medicine Show was written and directed by Wendell Morris, who was inspired to make the film after his own bout with cancer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Silverman, Natasha Gregson Wagner, (more)
Appropriately enough, season three of Felicity gets under way as heroine Felicity Porter (Keri Russell) begins her junior year at the University of New York in Greenwich Village. Forever leaving dorm life behind her, Felicity moves into an apartment with her boyfriend Ben Covington (Scott Speedman), while her former beau (and ex-dorm advisor) Noel Crane (Scott Foley) returns to school with his new wife Natalie (Ali Landry) in tow. Having decided to drop out of school so he can devote all his time to his high-living spouse, Noel is talked out of this rash decision by his friends and also realizes (as the viewer has known for weeks) that marrying Natalie was a big mistake. Just as Noel is annulling his marriage, Felicity's best friend and Ben's ex-flame Julie (Amy Jo Johnson) leaves the U.of N.Y. -- and, simultaneously, bids farewell to the series except for the occasional guest appearance in later seasons. In other developments, Felicity's classmate Elena (Tangi Miller), impatient over the fact that her boyfriend Tracy (Donald Faison) refuses to have sex until marriage, cheats on the poor boy. Eventually he forgives her -- and "gives in" to her in the bargain. Also, two new recurring characters have been added: Molly (Sarah Jane Potts), an English exchange student, and Ben's alcoholic father Andrew (played by an uncredited John Ritter). Season three is divided into two distinct sections, separated by a four-month hiatus. When the season's second half begins, we find out that Elena has been seriously wounded by Molly's unstable drug-dealing boyfriend -- and in consequence, Elena frightens one all by obsessing on self-defense (as for Molly, she returns to England to get her head together). Additionally, Noel, newly hired as a web-site designer, offers to get Felicity a job with his company -- and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that their romance will soon be rekindled, much to Ben's dismay. The season concludes as Ben's one-time roommate Sean (Greg Grunberg), having launched an affair with Felicity's mysterious ex-roomie Meghan (Amanda Foreman), is heading overseas; Ben himself traveling to Kansas City for his EMT training; and Tracy giving Elena the shock of her life by popping the question. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keri Russell, Scott Speedman, (more)
