Jan Hoag Movies
An elderly community handyman and notorious curmudgeon effectively isolates himself from his friends and neighbors by suing his lifelong best friend over a minor transgression in director Neal Miller's character-driven comedy drama. Flagg Purdy (Alan Arkin) is a cantankerous old coot who prides himself on principle. Despite Flagg's gruff exterior, his longtime wife, Ada (Barbara Dana), still cherishes her husband, and knows that his heart has always been in the right place. The pair's six grown children know too that their father has always meant well, even in times when his questionable parenting skills may have fallen a little on the heavy-handed side. One day, while playing his weekly game of checkers with friend and neighbor Gus Falk (Austin Pendleton), Flagg angrily accuses his nonplussed opponent of cheating. Though Gus is initially able to laugh off the accusation, the conflict soon escalates when Flagg storms into Gus' general store complaining that his friend's sheep have been relieving themselves a little too close to the well that supplies the Purdys' drinking water. When Gus retorts by pointing out that it is his well, and that the sheep are also his, the enraged Flagg responds by suing his neighbor. Though a surprise witness nets Flagg an unexpected win in the courtroom, the resulting effect that his litigious actions have on the family's already tenuous community relations soon leave his family in the lurch. Subsequently retiring to his "deathbed" and requesting the presence of his children before he bids the cruel and uncaring world a final farewell, Flagg is forced to consider that he may be more like his stubborn father than he would care to admit as, one by one, his offspring fail to bring their father back from the "brink." ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Arkin, Austin Pendleton, (more)
- 2006
When Logan (Matt Czuchry) is seriously injured in a stunt for "The Life and Death Brigade," Rory (Alexis Bledel) is unable to get any information on his condition, forcing her to swallow her pride and contact Logan's father Mitchum (Gregg Henry). Meanwhile, Luke (Scott Patterson) tries to throw a birthday party for April (Vanessa Marano) at the Dragonfly Inn, but it turns out so badly that he must beg Lorelai (Vanessa Marano) to help out -- and never mind the possible consequences when the two big loves in his life finally get together. And what's the story on April's mother -- and Luke's ex -- Anna (Sherilyn Fenn)? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Based on John Grisham's novel Skipping Christmas, Christmas With the Kranks revolves around Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Luther Krank's (Tim Allen) decision to put their normally fanatical enthusiasm for the holidays aside for a tropical cruise. With their daughter in Peru with the Peace Corps, the Kranks believe it just isn't worth it; thus, no presents, Christmas trees, or decorations of any kind will adorn their house to the great consternation of their neighbor Vic (Dan Aykroyd). Just as it looks like Christmas will be successfully skipped, Blair (Julie Gonzalo) throws a major kink into her plans when she suddenly has a change of heart and announces she'll be coming home for Christmas after all. The film ran into troubles early on in production when Ben Affleck's similar sounding bomb Surviving Christmas won the race to the theaters, forcing the filmmakers to depart from the book title in favor of the catchy Kranks one. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, (more)
- 2002
The big day has finally arrived: Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Anya (Emma Caulfield) are getting married. The obstacles on their path to wedded bliss include atrocious bridesmaid's dresses, a stubborn cumberbund, and bitter sniping from the alcoholic Harris clan about the "circus freaks" (aka demons) who make up Anya's half of the wedding party. During the preparations, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) has a wistful encounter with Spike (James Marsters), whose cheap floozie of a wedding date causes pangs of jealousy even as the Slayer resolves to keep their relationship in the past tense. As for Anya, her dreams of wedded bliss soon also recede into memory when Xander disappears from the chapel. It seems the prospective groom has received a visit from his time-traveling, elderly self, who shows Xander a vision of the future in which his marriage ends in bitterness and murder. Later, when old-man Xander turns out to be a disguised enemy of Anya seeking revenge against the former vengeance demon, Xander still can't overcome his conviction that he isn't ready to get married. The guests riot, the absentee groom checks into a hotel, and the jilted bride turns to D'Hoffryn (Andy Umberger), her former demon master, for comfort. Originally broadcast March 5, 2002, on UPN, "Hell's Bells" marked episode 116 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Returning to his home town after the death of the grandfather who raised him, slick and cynical Wall Street trader Will Martin (Neil Patrick Harris) feels decidedly out of place, and not at all in tune with the Christmas preparations being made by the local citizenry. But Will isn't really taking a sentimental journey at all: He's merely in town to modernize and streamline his family's real-estate company. While going through his grandfather's effects, Will and his grandmother (Debbie Reynolds) come across the old man's diary--which reveals a lengthy relationship with a woman named Lillian. Determined to locate this mystery mistress (if indeed that's who Lillian is), Will learns a few vital lessons about love, forgiveness, and recapturing the Yuletide spirit that has so long eluded him. Adapted from a novel by Richard Siddoway, the made-for-TV The Christmas Wish premiered December 6, 1998, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
In a spoof of a famous David Brinkley moment, Murphy (Candice Bergen) makes a disparaging remark about President Clinton while she thinks she's off the air--but she's not. Fired by network president Lansing (Garry Marshall) when she refuses to apologize, Murphy hardly knows what to expect when she is summoned to a special meeting at the White House. Astonishingly, the Clinton administration wants to offer Murphy a job--leaving her to ponder her future as Murphy Brown closes out its ninth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this spoofy horror outing from veteran genre director Brian Yuzna, L.A. Law vet Corbin Bernsen plays Dr. Feinstone, an anal-retentive Beverly Hills dentist with an amusement park of an office replete with Planet Hollywood-worthy, themed exam rooms, piped-in opera music, and a crisp, efficient staff. When Feinstone finds out that his lovely wife, Brooke (Linda Hoffman), is fellating the pool boy, he becomes unhinged -- haunted by visions of filthy mouths and faithless spouses. Inviting Brooke back to the office on their anniversary and begging her to indulge him in his hobby of cleaning her teeth, Feinstone performs a little unorthodox oral surgery and soon uses his now-disfigured sweetie to lure her boyfriend into a backyard trap. Revenge doesn't cure Feinstone's homicidal urges, however, and soon his violence and sexual obsessions spill over into his practice -- especially after creepy IRS investigator Marvin Goldblum (Earl Boen) shows up for a little "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine." Soon, patients and staff members alike are interacting with drills and laughing gas in ways they never expected. Filmed for, and originally shown on, HBO, The Dentist did not receive a U.S. theatrical release. Yuzna, Bernsen, and Hoffman reunited two years later for The Dentist II: Brace Yourself. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Corbin Bernsen, Linda Hoffman, (more)
- 1994
Heading to the mall to exchange some batteries, Al (Ed O'Neill) is trapped in an appliance store thanks to a computer failure. If he doesn't get out soon, he'll miss the VERY SPECIAL birthday party planned for the Bundy's dog Buck by Kelly (Christina Applegate) and Bud (David Faustino). Jean Speegle Howard, the mother of filmmaker Ron Howard), appears briefly in this episode, filmed in 3-D as part of a one-hour "Fox-o-Rama" special which also included a stereoscopic installment of The George Carlin Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
A young boy is forced to learn some adult lessons about violence in this made-for-television movie based on a true story. Kate Jackson and Gerald McRainey star as parents of an 11 year-old boy who shoots and kills some intruders who break into his home. The film shows how the boy and his family struggle to overcome the lingering anguish caused by the incident. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gerald McRaney, Kate Jackson, (more)
- 1992
In this drama, a convicted rapist is released from prison and immediately returns into the lives of his victim and the son he sired during the rape. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Free-spirited artist Lindsay Wagner learns that she's dying from cancer. She can handle that, but she worries about the future of her 6-year-old daughter Molly Orr. Enter high-powered executive Shelley Long, Lindsay's oldest friend. Despite the fact that they obviously move in different circles, Shelley commits herself to the task of properly raising young Molly. This lachrymose TV movie suffers from surprisingly noncommital performances by its stars. Message From Holly premiered December 13, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
- PG
Scott Glenn is H.D., a champion rodeo rider whose career is ruined after being gored by a bull. He returns home to discover things have drastically changed -- the family farm has been abandoned, his old girlfriend Julie (Kate Capshaw) is a now a widowed mother, and his sister Cheryl (Tess Harper) has put his father (Ben Johnson) in a nursing home. H.D. rescues his father from the home and returns him to the ranch. But when H.D. leaves the farm to visit Julie, his father seeks out Cheryl. Cheryl retaliates by threatening to return her father to the nursing home and sell the ranch. At this point, H.D. takes notice of rodeo contest which would give him $100,000 if he can ride four bulls for a total of 32 seconds. H.D. bonds with his father as he gruelingly prepares for a return to the rodeo to win the contest and buy the ranch. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Glenn, Kate Capshaw, (more)
- 1990
This is one of several seventh-season Murder She Wrote episodes introduced by Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) but starring Dennis Stanton (Keith Michell), a jewel thief turned insurance investigator. Dennis is sucked into the story when a disreputable former associate shows up in San Francisco, possessing what he claims to be a rare original manuscript by Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain. In rapid succession, the manuscript is proven to be forgery by a book expert, the manuscript is torched, and the expert is murdered. As Stanton tries to prove that his old "pal" is innocent, his trail is dogged by the ineluctable Rhoda Markowitz (Hallie Todd) and the irascible police lieutenant Perry Catalano (Ken Swofford). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
