James Eckhouse Movies

A pair of violent young lovers armed with a video camera and plenty of attitude take flight as directors Jon Schroder and Randall K. Rueben instill Natural Born Killers sentiment with a heaping helping of Blair Witch Project style. Judy (Rachael Bella) is a high school outcast who just can't seem to shake her bullies. Jimmy (Edward Furlong) is a recently de-institutionalized suburbanite with a serious video camera obsession. Though Judy is at first unimpressed by Jimmy's reckless rebel attitude, her option soon shifts when the unstable newcomer captures himself on camera delivering a little vigilante justice to her unrelenting tormentors. Tragedy soon strikes, however, when the increasingly unpredictable Jimmy accidentally kills a cop, and the frightened pair are send fleeing into a remote commune presided over with Manson-like fervor by the malevolent Uncle Rodney (William Sadler). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Cute but geeky high-school student Samantha Martin (Hilary Duff) is knocked off her feet by her father's untimely death, which leaves his diner and Samantha's well-being in the care of Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge), Sam's thoroughly wicked stepmother. Not one to take on such menial tasks as dishwashing and mopping floors, Fiona exploits Sam's dependence as a method of hoisting any dirty work off her own shoulders. School is hardly a break for Samantha, particularly when Shelby (Julie Gonzalo) is around; spoiled, wealthy, and popular, Shelby treats Samantha nearly as badly as Fiona does. Samantha's life is irrevocably changed, however, by two events: a makeover of epic proportions and a sudden electronic correspondence with a mysterious young man. Due to a misplaced cell phone and a series of fateful coincidences, Samantha and her Prince Charming develop a romance through text messages and e-mails, and ultimately promise to meet face-to-face at the biggest school dance of the year. Of course, getting there doesn't go smoothly, and Samantha may miss her chance to meet her dream date -- none other than Austin (Chad Michael Murray), the most popular boy in school. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

A couple drifts into crime for a few laughs and some fast money, but before long they discover they've gotten in too deep. Georgia (Money Mazur) is a beautiful but unstable woman who claims to be under eighteen and still living at home, though it's hard to say if she's telling the truth. One night, while drinking with friends, she meets Paul (Carmine Giovinazzo), a janitor who intervenes when a drunk propositioning Georgia doesn't seem willing to take no for an answer. Paul and Georgia are both looking for kicks, but not in the usual manner; for fun and profit, Georgia teases men until they make their move, then turns her emotions 180 degrees and screams for help. Paul then comes into the picture, pretending to be the Knight In Shining Armor, and roughs the men up; he takes their wallets in the process, and Paul and Georgia split the money. This small-time con works well enough but gets old before long, and the pair plans a more elaborate scam involving an auto accident. Their target turns out to be a music business executive, Marshal (Vincent Ventresca), who sees through them almost immediately. He can tell, however, that they have a way with a con, and he hires them to work for his record label. Before long, drugs and booze are taking their toll on Paul, while Georgia balks at a blackmail scheme involving city officials who have blocked a building project Marshal is backing. The Learning Curve was the first feature from Eric Schwab, who worked as a second unit director on several films for Brian DePalma. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Karen is still dating Lloyd, the sensible man she met at Eli's basketball game. Unfortunately, she feels no attraction to him and finds herself inexplicably drawn to a much younger man at the office named Leo. She fights her attraction to Leo, reminding herself that Lloyd is a much more sensible choice. Meanwhile, Eli is reevaluating his relationship with long-term girlfriend Jennifer when he finds himself attracted to Cassidy, a member of the girls' volleyball team and the exact opposite type of girl than Jennifer. ~ Laura Mahnken, Rovi

The animated Christmas story Jingle Bells concerns a poor family headed by a father who sacrifices something the rest of the family wanted to keep in order to buy everyone a present. Luckily, Santa saves the day. This film features the voices of Don Knotts, Shelley Long, and Jason Alexander. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

It is almost like old times when the entire Sammler family spends the weekend traveling together to Eli's basketball game. Tensions rise as Eli injures his ankle and Karen and Rick find themselves in close quarters together. The family trip gives Jesse hope that her parents might get back together and be a family again. Meanwhile, Karen decides it is time to get out there and start dating men whether she likes it or not. Her first suitor, Lloyd, is a little too nice. ~ Laura Mahnken, Rovi

In this independent melodrama, Mack's upcoming marriage to Katie is jeopardized when he goes too far with his estranged friend's girlfriend after his bachelor party concludes. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Teenage spring-break hijinx highlight this made-for-TV comedy. Joyce DeWitt stars as Linda Hayden, a teacher assigned to take an all-male class on a trip to L.A. After a series of typical road trip shenanigans, the gang winds up at a hotel owned by her former boyfriend George (James Eckhouse). ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi

Ultimate manly man Arnold Schwarzenegger learns what it's like to be an expectant mother in director Ivan Reitman's high-concept comedy. Schwarzenegger plays Dr. Hess, a medical researcher working on a revolutionary drug to help mothers carry endangered infants to term. When government regulations prevent Dr. Hess from testing the drug through normal channels, his partner Dr. Arbogast (Danny DeVito) develops an unorthodox solution: they will steal a female egg and implant it in Hess, who will carry the child himself. Predictably, much of the subsequent humor centers on the incongruous sight of the muscular Schwarzenegger undergoing the trials and tribulations of pregnancy, from morning sickness to labor pains. Emma Thompson returns to her comic roots and provides romantic interest as an incorrigibly clumsy but intelligent scientist who catches on to Hess' deception. Reitman, Schwarzenegger, and DeVito had previously had a hit with Twins (1988), which revolved around a similarly ludicrous medical premise, but they failed to repeat that film's success here, as audiences largely ignored the film and reviewers criticized the humor as disappointingly obvious. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

This made-for-television drama is based on the true story of a mother's attempts to get her daughter out of the deadly world of prostitution. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi