Richard R. Ruccolo Movies
Genial actor Richard Ruccolo caught the drama bug from high school plays and realized that acting would soon become his life's passion. He scored his first major career coup as neurotic fireman Pete Dunville on the popular ABC sitcom Two Guys, A Girl and A Pizza Place in 1998 (later renamed Two Guys and a Girl), but decided -- as that program drew to a close in 2001 -- to dramatically extend himself beyond the confines of sitcoms, initially with a lead portrayal of openly gay Special Ed instructor Tom in director Julie Davis' offbeat romantic comedy feature All Over the Guy (2001). After signing for a role on the gently comedic telemovie The One (2003), Ruccolo returned to the sitcom arena as the husband of an overworked domestic turned rock star (Nicole Sullivan) in the Lifetime network's situation comedy Rita Rocks (2008). ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Actor and playwright Dan Bucatinsky wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of his play I Know You Are, But What Am I?, though for the big-screen version, his slightly fractured love story was given a same-sex twist. Eli (Dan Bucatinsky) is a journalist working with a major L.A. newspaper who is single and not loving it. Eli is also gay, and makes no secret of the fact that he's looking for a nice guy that he can settle down with. Eli's best friend Brett (Adam Goldberg) knows a woman named Jackie (Sasha Alexander), who says she has a friend who would be perfect for Eli. Thus Eli is introduced to Tom (Richard Ruccolo), a special education instructor and devoted nightlife enthusiast. Eli and Tom's first date turns out to be just short of a disaster; Tom indulges in his overweening enthusiasm for alcohol and tobacco, and Eli is disgusted to learn Tom has never seen Gone With the Wind. Things appear to be over for Eli and Tom before they even started, until they meet by chance while shopping a few days later; this time, a conversation rather than an argument develops, and the two end up spending the night together. Eli begins to think love may have finally found him, until Tom dashes off the next morning, leaving Eli to wonder if Tom has any interest at all in a long-term commitment. All Over the Guy also features small cameo roles by Lisa Kudrow, as an actress not skilled in voice-over work, and Christina Ricci as Eli's cynical sister. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Bucatinsky, Richard R. Ruccolo, (more)
Enticement leads to terror when a sexy office temp forms a dangerous fixation on a successful and happily married asset manager. Derek Charles (Idris Elba) is good at his job; so good that he's recently earned a big promotion. He's worked hard to get to the top, and when his workday is finished Derek has the luxury of returning home to his beautiful wife, Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles), and their healthy newborn child. But Derek's perfect life begins to crumble when sexy new temp worker Lisa (Ali Larter) goes to work at the office and begins stalking Derek's every move. When Lisa's obsession turns dangerous, Derek and Sharon resort to desperate measures in protecting themselves and their child from her deadly wrath. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Idris Elba, Beyoncé Knowles, (more)
- 2008
This half-hour comedy series stars Nicole Sullivan as Rita, a working wife and mother who finds herself so depressed by a recent bout of mid-life-boredom that she decides to reignite the musical fire of her youth by putting together a garage band like the one she played in years ago. Rita might already have her hands full with a less than romantic husband, an unruly teenage daughter, a rambunctious 9 year old and a boss who's passed her over for promotion - but there's always room for rock and roll. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicole Sullivan, Richard R. Ruccolo, (more)
- 2003
This made-for-cable romantic comedy would seem to be a sex- and job-change variation on the 2001 theatrical feature The Wedding Planner. Richard Ruccolo stars as Michael Blake, a young master chef who runs his own successful catering service. Falling in love with Gail Hollander (Meredith Monroe) from afar, Michael is crushed to learn that Gail is already engaged to star hockey player Gordie Parks (Gabriel Hogan). Even worse, our hero has been contracted to cater Gail's wedding, right in the middle of a hockey rink. Despite admonitions from his friends that "You're pasta and she wants potatoes," Michael is determined to win Gail's heart before she ties the knot with Gordie. The One debuted February 9, 2003 on the ABC Family Channel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard R. Ruccolo, Meredith Monroe, (more)
- 1998
Three former college chums are the center of this sitcom, set at a Boston pizza parlor where grad-school roommates Berg (Ryan Reynolds) and Pete (Richard R. Ruccolo) work. Above their apartment lives their friend and neighbor, Sharon (Traylor Howard), sales rep for a chemical company. Berg is an eccentric philosophy major who's also a guinea pig each week for a different new product (nasal spray, talking shoes). Pete's a potential architect with a bubbly girlfriend, Melissa (Jennifer Westfeldt). Bill (Julius Carry) is the boss at the pizzeria, where one of the "wacky" customers is the delusional Mr. Bauer (David Ogden Stiers). Most of Bauer's "adventures" seem to have been filched from the plotlines of JAWS and other movies. The first six episodes of this series were purchased by the Fox network and then sold to ABC, where the show premiered March 11, 1998 on ABC. The New York Times reviewed it as a "charmless comedy." ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Traylor Howard, Ryan Reynolds, (more)
