Bill Erwin
- 2003
Glenne Headly makes her first appearance as Karen Stottlemeyer, the woman whom Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) disdainfully dismisses as "my hippie wife." While filming a documentary about Miles Holling (Patrick Cranshaw), the world's oldest man, Karen is thrown for a loss when Holling dies in bed. Though her husband is certain that Holling succumbed to natural causes (he was, after all, just one day shy of his 115th birthday!), Karen is convinced that the man was murdered--and she wants Monk (Tony Shalhoub) to prove it. In the course of his investigation, Monk uncovers a surprising link between Holling's death and a hit-and-run fatality that occurred five years earlier--the only unsolved case in Captain Stottlemeyer's career. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Boys will be boys, and that's not always a good thing, as this dark drama with comic overtones reveals. Matt (Keith Carradine) and Harley (David Keith) were best friends in high school, but since then their lives have followed a very different course. Matt drifts from job to job, swilling beer and making trouble wherever he lands, while Harley is a building designer with a nice home and an attractive wife, Fox (Janet Gunn), who wants to have a baby, though Harley isn't so certain he wants to be a parent. One day, Matt walks off his job at an Alaskan oilfield and heads to California, appearing on Harley's doorstep; Harley has neither the heart nor the desire to turn Matt away, and soon Matt is giving Harley a new taste of the bachelor lifestyle as they head out drinking, carousing, and chasing women from dusk till dawn. But Fox soon becomes wary of the way Matt is bringing out the less wholesome side of Harley's personality, while Harley notices Matt's behavior is advancing past good-natured rowdiness into something more sinister. Matt's fondness for fast sex with prostitutes and his sudden friendship with a gangster (Jan Triska) leads Matt down a dangerous road that proves to have disastrous consequences for the two friends. Cahoots was the first feature film for writer and director Dirk Benedict, who is best known for his career as a television actor, having starred in the TV series Battlestar Galactica and The A-Team. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keith Carradine, David Keith, (more)
Set in the institutionally segregated New Orleans of 1965, the made-for-cable Passing Glory is the story of black priest Father Joseph Verrett (Andre Braugher) and his efforts to arrange the first integrated high-school basketball game in the city's history. Against the wishes of trepid white parish leader Father Robert Grant (Rip Torn), Fr. Verrett encourages the team members of the all-black -- and undefeated -- St. Augustine High School basketball team to prepare to play the equally successful all-white team of Jesuit Prep. Throughout it all, Fr. Verrett must learn to curb his own impatience over the racial status quo, and to keep his own faith afloat. Although some of the scenes are drawn in broad, unsubtle strokes -- especially those involving the bigoted father of Jesuit Prep's best player -- the film is thoroughly credible, right down to the last-second winning basket. Earning extra points for having its heart in the right place, Passing Glory made its TNT cable network bow on February 21, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andre Braugher, Rip Torn, (more)
Stand-up comic Carrot Top is usually seen with his wacky inventions, such as a bald-head blowdryer and an anatomically correct fanny pack. Similar goofy gimmicks are combined with physical humor and stunt work in this comedy about the plight of Venice Beach inventor-surfer Edison (Carrot Top) and his roommates Ty (Mystro Clark) and Zak (Jack Plotnick) as they all near eviction. For rent money, Edison tries (unsuccessfully) to sell his dopey devices, including his Glo Gunk and his bug-killer helmet. A la Melvin and Howard, Edison offers a roadside assist to wealthy tycoon Armand McMillan (Jack Warden), who dies and wills controlling shares of his business to Edison, putting Edison at odds with McMillan's mean-spirited nephew (Larry Miller) and McMillan's closest corporate competitor Grace Kosik (Raquel Welch). In the Big tradition, Edison gets positive reactions to such inventions as TV dinners with real TVs and his Bull Shirt lie-detector -- while schemes and intrigue lurk around every corner of the corporate corridors. The comedian received a satirical jab from Mike Myers in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) when the words "Carrot Top movie" are seen on a document of villainous "evil schemes." ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carrot Top, Courtney Thorne-Smith, (more)
- 1997
Drew (Drew Carey), Mimi (Kathy Kinney), and Larry (Ian Gomez) all want to replace the retiring employee representative on the store's board of directors. Larry seems to be eliminated from the race at the beginning thanks to his cloddish behavior, while Drew and Mimi are preoccupied with undercutting each other. Finally, Drew appears to have a "lock" on the position thanks to his new magic act -- but store owner Mrs. Louder (Nan Martin) has a surprise for everyone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
- R
- AddThings to Do in Denver When You're Deadto QueueAddThings to Do in Denver When You're Deadto top of Queue
In the mode of Quentin Tarantino, this film, directed by Gary Fleder from a script by Scott Rosenberg, concerns itself with hip, smart gangsters. The film is set in Denver, and the title comes from a Warren Zevon song. A retired, good-hearted gangster named Jimmy the Saint (Andy Garcia) runs a company that videotapes dying people giving romantic advice to their children and grandchildren, to be delivered when they come of age. Jimmy's former crime boss, The Man with the Plan (Christopher Walken), summons him. The Man is wheelchair-bound and doesn't have long to live; he explains that Jimmy owes him a favor and must perform one final job. It involves frightening the boyfriend of the ex-girlfriend of Bernard (Michael Nicolosi), the son of The Man, who has been so shaken by the girl's rejection of him that he has been fondling schoolyard children. Jimmy rounds up his old gang -- including Pieces (Christopher Lloyd), a porno theater projectionist; Franchise (William Forsythe), an ex-biker with a trailer-trash family to support; Critical Bill (Treat Williams), a psychotic, trigger-happy ex-con; and Easy Wind (Bill Nunn), an exterminator. Pieces and Bill pose as cops as part of the needlessly elaborate plan, which misfires badly. The Man, enraged, gives Jimmy 48 hours to leave town, and he orders his comrades wiped out, hiring the notorious hitman Mr. Shhh (Steve Buscemi) to track them down. But Jimmy can't seem to get the others to leave town, and despite The Man's decree, Jimmy is also reluctant to leave, because he's become romantically entangled with Dagney (Gabrielle Anwar). ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andy Garcia, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
- 1994
- PG13
- AddThe Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insultto QueueAddThe Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insultto top of Queue
The further misadventures of bumbling Los Angeles police Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) are chronicled in this third installment in the popular Naked Gun comedy series. This by-the-numbers entry begins with Drebin as a happily retired house-husband called back into action when an evil terrorist organization threatens Los Angeles. As in the other Naked Gun films, this plot is merely an excuse for an unhinged, rapid-fire succession of gags, ranging from satirical lampoons of cop movies to broad slapstick, all played with a perfectly straight face. Nielsen provides his familiar combination of complete witlessness and oblivious dignity as Drebin, and the film attempts to match the earlier Naked Gun films -- and the Police Squad! television series that inspired them -- in the number of jokes. However, the film proved less successful than its predecessors, as some viewers found that the freewheeling comic style of the earlier films had solidified into its own formula, now mildly entertaining but disappointingly predictable. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, (more)
John Hughes continues the trend he began with the Home Alone series in Dennis the Menace, the Hughes-scripted film version of Hank Ketcham's long-running comic strip, cartoon show, and television comedy. The film opens as Dennis (Mason Gamble) is seen careening down a sidewalk in a beautiful and idealistic suburban town on his training-wheeled bike -- cans on string clattering behind him, baseball cards flapping in the spokes of the wheel, his red wagon filled to the brim and his dog following him. "Hey! Mister Wilson!" he screams and slams his bike to a halt in front of his much put-upon neighbor, Mr. Wilson (Walter Matthau). Half of the film concerns vignettes of small-town Hank Ketcham life as Dennis' mom Alice (Lea Thompson) starts a new job, Dennis stays over at his friend Margaret's (Amy Sakasitz) house, and Mr. Wilson and his gentle, well-meaning wife, Martha (Joan Plowright), mind Dennis during the night of a big garden party. Through all this, Dennis continually gets into Mr. Wilson's hair. But then the Home Alone plot kicks in -- with an unsubtle dose of O. Henry -- when Switchblade Sam (Christopher Lloyd) makes an appearance. Switchblade Sam is a homeless drifter who combs the neighborhood stealing purses and small home items. But when Switchblade Sam steals Mr. Wilson's collection of gold coins, Dennis comes to the rescue and inflicts Dennis the Menace-type tortures upon the thief in order to reclaim the coins for Mr. Wilson. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Mason Gamble, (more)
- 1993
This film noir style, made-for-TV movie contains three parts, each based on stories by three different authors (Jim Thompson, Cornell Woolrich, and James Elroy). It looks as if a con-artist (Peter Gallagher) has finally met someone who can pull the wool over his eyes in "The Frightening Frammis." In "Murder, Obliquely," a shifty man (Alan L. Rickman) manages to win the affections of a woman (Laura Dern). Little does she know that his former girlfriend might have been murdered by his own hands. The mobster Mickey Cohen (James Woods) and Howard Hughes (Tim Matheson) both have their eyes on the same woman and Buzz Meeks (Gary Busey) has been contracted to seek her out in "Since I Don't Have You." ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
Julia Cole (Diane Salinger) is more than a little upset about turning 40. She's depressed about growing older, distressed at the lack of attention from her workaholic husband Charles (John Calvin), and bored with being a stay-at-home wife and mother. On her birthday, she finds a bottle of enchanted soap bubbles. Blowing them transports her to moments of happiness from earlier times in her life. Soon, she not only regains her youthful vigor, she cannot even remember how old she is. She changes her appearance, her personality is transformed from reclusive to outgoing, and her values change from strict to permissive. Eventually, she realizes that happiness is not age-dependent. George Clooney and Wallace Shawn are the biggest names in this low-budget, independently produced romantic comedy, also known as The Magic Bubble, directed by Deborah Taper Ringel and Alfredo Ringel. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Diane Salinger, John Calvin, (more)
- 1991
While volunteering at nursing home, DJ befriends 75-year-old Eddie Johnson, and invites him to pay a visit at the Tanner home. But there's a couple of minor problems: DJ has no authority to "sign out" Eddie; and the likable senior citizen turns out to be suffering from Alzheimers. Elsewhere, Jesse (John Stamos) dons a cumbersome "sympathy pad" to prove that he understands what his pregnant wife Becky (Lisa Loughlin) is going through; and Steph (Jodie Sweetin) and Michelle (played by theOlsen twins) stage a dog show--doing their best (?) to rig the outcome in favor of their own dog Comet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
When Eddie (K.C. Martel) elopes to Las Vegas with hat-check girl Tina (Melissa Young), Mike (Kirk Cameron) and Kate (Chelsea Noble) go along for the ride--not so much to witness the ceremony as to talk Eddie out of his foolishness. Upon finding out what's happened, Mike's parents Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns) leap to the conclusion that it is Mike and Kate who intend to tie the knot. This is the last episode of Growing Pains' sixth season, and the last with the original production crew. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In this wild spoof of The Twilight Zone in general and that series' 1960 episode "A World of Difference" in particular, Ben (Jeremy Miller) expresses the wish that Real Life were more like TV. In true "be careful what you wish for" fashion, Ben dreams that he and his family are actually characters in a TV sitcom called "Meet the Seavers"--and that he is really an actor named Jeremy Miller! The concept is played for all it is worth, with the rest of the Growing Pains cast members identified by their real names, not to mention cameo appearances by the series' production staff and by Joanna Kerns' daughter Ashley Kerns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A talented kick-boxer attempts to retire and finds himself framed for murder in this stylish action thriller. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorenzo Lamas, Anthony Geary, (more)
- 1991
Where else but on network television would you be able to see a movie starring Bob Newhart, Linda Gray, and Michael Jackson's pet chimpanzee "Bubbles"? The Entertainers was advertised as "the touching story of a chimp, a chump and the woman they love." Newhart is cast as Todd Wilson, a second-echelon nightclub comic who has a chance to make it big in Las Vegas. The hitch: Wilson won't get hired unless he reteams with his old partner Bubbles. It really is better than it sounds, thanks to supporting appearances by several veteran cabaret entertainers, short on name value but big on talent. The Entertainers was first telecast November 21, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this horror film, a number of scary and creepy stories are related as three young boys swap gruesome stories during a backyard camp out. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
Home Alone is the highly successful and beloved family comedy about a young boy named Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) who is accidentally left behind when his family takes off for a vacation in France over the holiday season. Once he realizes they've left him "home alone," he learns to fend for himself and, eventually has to protect his house against two bumbling burglars (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) who are planning to rob every house in Kevin's suburban Chicago neighborhood. Though the film's slapstick ending may be somewhat violent, Culkin's charming presence helped the film become one of the most successful ever at the time of its release. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, (more)
- 1990
While their termite-infested house is being fumigated, the Seavers seek out another place to spend the weekend. Unfortunately, Jason (Alan Thicke) misplaces his wallet and is unable to rent a motel room--and even more unfortunately, his mom Irma (Jane Powell) is unable to put the family up due to a meeting of the Jerry Vale Fan Club (guess who shows up as "himself"). Ultimately, the family takes up temporary residence in the tiny apartment of their son Mike (Kirk Cameron)...an experience that will remain etched in their psyches for all time! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Appropriately telecast just before Halloween (on October 27, 1990, to be exact), this eerie Next Generation episode was equally appropriately titled. One by one, the crew members of the Enterprise are disappearing without a trace, and no one except Dr. Crusher has any memory of their existence! This phenomenon is the handiwork of Crusher's own son Wesley, who has been foolishly experimenting with warp fields. Only by overcoming his guilt over what has happened will Wesley be able to set things right before it's too late. "Remember Me" was written by Lee Sheldon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
A travel snafu bollixes up Maggie's plan to take the family on a trip to Martha's Vineyard. The result: Maggie (Joanna Kerns), Jason (Alan Thicke), Carol (Tracey Gold), Ben (Jeremy Miller) and baby Chrissy are stranded on the mainland, while Mike (Kirk Cameron) and the baby's nanny Julie (Julie McCullough) end up alone on the island--and in the same overnight shelter! This episode is highlighted by the performance of frequent Growing Pains supporting actor Bill Erwin in a dual role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
In this pivotal episode, both Mike (Kirk Cameron) and Julie (Julie McCullough) suffer pre-marital jitters--to say nothing of a mutual case of cold feet--on the eve of their wedding. In hopes of resolving his doubts, Mike seeks advice from literally everyone, including (via telephone) his former high school teacher Coach Lubbock (played by Bill Kirchenbauer, then currently portraying Lubbock on the Growing Pains spinoff Just the Ten of Us). The ending of this episode is both startling and bewildering: suffice to say that this marks the final regular appearance of Julie McCullough. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
A dying burglar hires Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) and David (Bruce Willis) to investigate a heist committed 25 years ago. No, the old man doesn't want to clear his name; instead, he wants to prove to the cops that he has committed the "perfect crime." Maddie wants no part of this, but David is intrigued. And besides, it will get their minds off the much-talked-about "Anselmo Case" (remember?) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
An aspiring writer faces up to the responsibilities of marriage and family in this romantic comedy from writer, director, and producer John Hughes. Despite the misgivings he pours out to best friend Davis McDonald (Alec Baldwin), Jake Briggs (Kevin Bacon) marries high-school sweetheart Kristy (Elizabeth McGovern). After an abortive attempt at graduate school in New Mexico, the couple settle in suburban Chicago. Jake fakes his way into a job as an advertising copywriter, while Kristy settles into her own corporate job. The couple face the typical ups and downs of any new marriage, especially after Davis visits with a bimbo on his arm, regaling his pal Jake with tales of the good life. A few years later, Kristy decides to stop taking her birth-control pills -- and tells Jake about it three months later. Plagued by doubts, unfulfilled ambitions, and images of a fantasy girl (Isabel Lorca) he once spotted in a club, Jake resists the idea of fatherhood. Then he finds out he has low sperm count and, his manhood thus challenged, lines up for fertility clinic-assisted stud duty. The birth doesn't go as smoothly as Jake expected, however, setting the stage for climactic realizations. Edie McClurg, who played the nosy school secretary in Hughes' Ferris Bueller's Day Off, makes a cameo appearance as an officious neighbor. In addition, a who's who of other Hughes alums and Hollywood stars lend their faces and voices to a series of closing-credits shots in which each suggests a name for the titular baby. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth McGovern, (more)
Animation producer Don Bluth's fondness for overly cutesy characters and muddy color compositions work to the benefit of his feature-length cartoon The Land Before Time. Littlefoot, a brontosaurus child, must fend for himself when his mother is killed (shades of Bambi). With several other orphaned dinosaurs, Littlefoot seeks out the fabled Great Valley, where food and shelter is plentiful. Along the way, the kiddie dinos learn several vital (and politically correct) life lessons, all the while keeping themselves scarce whenever the fierce tyrannosauri gallumph into view. The cuteness of the characters (emphasized by the voice work) takes some of the harsh edges off the story, which makes the film eminently suitable for younger children; and the smeary color design is ideal for the time-frame of the film, which is set in the turbulent, nature-run-rampant period just before the dinosaurs died out. Apparently they didn't all die, inasmuch as a Land Before Time sequel was released on video in 1994. The earlier film inspired a 1988 Saturday morning cartoon series produced by Ruby-Spears, Dink: The Little Dinosaur. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabriel Damon, Candy Hutson, (more)
- 1988
- R
When his partner on the police force is murdered by the former CIA agent Kendrick (Gustav Vintas), Sam (Sam J. Jones) sets out to avenge his friend's death. He teams up with Jun Kim (Jun Chong) and kendo expert Bernard (Phillip Rhee) to rescue a scientist kidnapped by Kendrick. The villain hopes to use his victim's knowledge for the purposes of chemical warfare. Linda Blair plays Sam's sweetheart Sara, with former Playboy model Rebecca Ferrati as a seductive villainess in this well-crafted action feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Jones, Linda Blair, (more)
