Jane Startz Movies
When a young boy who is about to enter middle school makes a wish that summer will never end, he receives the unique opportunity to live the last day of summer until he finally determines exactly the kind of person he wants to become. It's the last day of summer, and Luke, A.J., and Riley are all about to experience their first day of middle school. As the young trio prepares for the debut of their band Steel Monkey at the local town fair, Luke's older sister makes a comment that leaves her sibling more nervous than ever before at the prospect of entering the next phase of his education. As a result, Luke wishes for a "do-over" day, and is surprised when his wish actually comes true. With all the time in the world to impress his secret crush, stand up to the biggest bully in the neighborhood, and work up the courage to take on the local half-pipe, Luke will finally unlock his true potential and enter middle school with a newfound sense of confidence and self-assurance. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jansen Panettiere, Eli Vargas, (more)
Adapted from author Gail Carson Levine's award-winning children's book of the same name, the Miramax-financed modern fantasy Ella Enchanted is directed by Tommy O'Haver and stars The Princess Diaries alumna Anne Hathaway. Ella (Hathaway) lives in a magical world in which each child, at the moment of their birth, is given a virtuous "gift" from a fairy godmother. Ella's so-called gift, however, is obedience. This birthright proves itself to be quite the curse once Ella finds herself in the hands of several unscrupulous characters whom she quite literally cannot disobey. Determined to gain control of her life and decisions, Ella sets off on a journey she hopes will end with the lifting of the curse in question. The path, however, isn't easy -- Ella must outwit a slew of unpleasant magical creatures ranging from ogres to talking books with evil plots. Though perilous, Ella's adventures turn out to be necessary obstacles in the path toward finding herself, and maybe even true love along the way. Ella Enchanted also features Cary Elwes, who has starred in a fantasy feature himself (the widely acclaimed The Princess Bride), Hugh Dancy, and Patrick Bergin, among others. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anne Hathaway, Hugh Dancy, (more)
Natalie Babbitt's award winning book for children comes to the screen in a lavish adaptation from Walt Disney Pictures. Winnie Foster (Alexis Bledel) is a girl in her early teens growing up in the small rural town of Winesap in 1914. Winnie's parents (Victor Garber and Amy Irving) are loving but overprotective, and Winnie longs for a life of greater freedom and adventure. One day, while exploring the nearby woods, Winnie gets lost, but she has the good fortune to happen upon the Tuck Family, who live nearby - mother Mae (Sissy Spacek), father Angus (William Hurt), and sons Jesse (Jonathan Jackson) and Miles (Scott Bairstow). The Tucks are warm and caring people, and Winnie feels right at home with them; she also finds herself developing a serious crush on Jesse, and isn't so sure she wants to return; meanwhile, her parents become increasingly distraught as they search for their missing daughter. But in time Winnie discovers there's a secret behind the seemingly idyllic lives of the Tuck Family; they have discovered a magical spring on their property, and anyone who drinks from it will never grow old and never die. While to Winnie this sounds like a wonderful prospect, the Tucks have come to understand this is as much of a curse as a blessing, especially when she realizes Jesse is considerably older than she is. The Tucks also have to contend with the presence of the sinister Man In The Yellow Suit (Ben Kingsley), who wishes to buy their property and make a fortune from their "fountain of youth." Tuck Everlasting was directed by Jay Russell, who previously directed the acclaimed family film My Dog Skip. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alexis Bledel, William Hurt, (more)
In the tradition of My Left Foot (1989), Peter Chelsom directed this emotional drama of outcasts, adapted from the Rodman Philbrick's popular young-adult novel Freak the Mighty. Although burly, slow-paced eight-grader Maxwell Kane (Elden Hensen), who narrates, is learning disabled, he nevertheless has a poetic soul, as evidenced when he meets the bright and brainy Kevin Dillon (Kieran Culkin), crippled by a birth defect. The physically deformed Kevin, who wears leg braces and uses crutches, suffers from Morquio's Syndrome, which causes physical growth to stop after the age of six. Illiterate Max gets Kevin as a reading tutor, and the two misfits soon become friends, sharing a vision of life as a contemporary Camelot. Gena Rowlands and Harry Dean Stanton appear as Max's grandparents and guardians. Max is portrayed by 19-year-old Emerson College filmmaking student Henson, while Sharon Stone has the role of Gwen Dillon, Kevin's mother. Boston-born author Philbrick, who winters in Key West, otherwise resides in Seacoast, New Hampshire (the setting of the book). The movie was filmed at a soundstage in Toronto, the University of Toronto, Cincinnati, and Covington, Kentucky. Exhibited out of competition at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sharon Stone, Elden Henson, (more)
Based on the characters from the series of best-selling books by Ann M. Martin, The Baby Sitters Club concerns a group of seven girls, each edging into their teenage years, who are close friends and have formed a co-operative baby-sitting service. Their business has become so successful that the girls decide to expand their horizons and start a summer day camp for kids; however, they soon discover that not all the adults in the neighborhood think this is a good idea, and they learn a lesson about cooperation and responsibility. Meanwhile, Kristy (Schuyler Fisk), the leader of the group, lives with her mother (Brooke Adams) and stepfather (Bruce Davison); when her father (Peter Horton), an undependable wanderer, shows up, he asks Kristy not to tell her mother that he's in town, and Kristy is torn about what to say. Stacy (Bre Blair) has another sort of dilemma to deal with; she's tall and pretty and has met a boy who likes her. However, he thinks she's older than she actually is, leading her into a dating dilemma that she may not be ready for. The Baby Sitters Club was the first theatrical feature for actress-turned-director Melanie Mayron; Schuyler Fisk is the daughter of actress Sissy Spacek and director/designer Jack Fisk. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Schuyler Fisk, Rachael Leigh Cook, (more)
Based on the popular children's book by Lynne Reid Banks, this fantasy concerns a young boy who discovers that his toys are developing lives of their own -- which presents him with unexpected responsibilities. Omri (Hal Scardino), a young boy growing up in Brooklyn, receives an odd variety of presents for his birthday: a wooden cabinet from his older brother, a set of antique keys from his mother Jane (Linsday Crouse), and a tiny plastic model of an Indian from his best friend Patrick (Rishi Bhat). Putting them all together, Omri locks the Indian inside the cabinet, only to be awoken by a strange sound in the middle of the night. Omri opens the cabinet to discover that the tiny Indian has come to life; it seems that he's called Little Bear (Litefoot), and he claims to have learned English from settlers in 1761. Omri hides this remarkable discovery from his mother but shares it with Patrick; as an experiment, Patrick locks a toy cowboy into the cupboard, and soon Little Bear has a companion, Boone (David Keith), though predictably, the cowboy and the Indian don't get along well at first. Omri comes to the realizations that his living and breathing playthings are also people with lives of their own, and he begins to wonder how much control he should really have over their lives. The Indian in the Cupboard was directed by Frank Oz, best known as one of the original puppeteers for The Muppets and the voice of Miss Piggy. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hal Scardino, Litefoot, (more)
- 1986
The Great Ape Activity Tape prepares parents or other childcare providers for the next unexpected snow storm or rainy day when the kids complain in endless chorus that they are bored. In this tape, the lovable Great Green Ape and other activity experts demonstrate 15 activities aimed to inspire, entertain, and teach children ages four to 12. Projects involve science, music, tricks, games, and arts and crafts, all using common household items. Ideas include paper bag puppets, newspaper jungles, and toothpick towers. This is one gorilla moms will love.
~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide
~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide
- 1986
This 1986 HBO movie tackles the subject of homosexuality in a high-school setting. Brad Stevens (Scott Baio), the West Point-bound son of an Army major (Michael J. Reynolds), spends his time at football practice and hanging out with his best friend, Alex Prager (Peter Spence), who's an accomplished pianist as well as an athlete. When Alex spurns a truck driver (Barry Greene) who comes onto him in a service-station rest room, a scuffle ensues, and the guy claims that it was Alex who hit on him. The story gets out around school, but Alex doesn't deny it; he confesses to Brad that he actually is gay. Although Brad's initial reaction is shock and outrage, he slowly realizes that Brad is the same wonderful friend he's always been. Such loyalty doesn't sit well with Kay (Jessica Steen), Brad's status-conscious girlfriend, or with his stern father. Things come to a head the night of the football team's championship game, when the rift between Brad and the rest of the student body threatens the school's chance at going undefeated for the third year running. Adapted from Anne Snyder and Louis Pelletier's 1981 novel Counter Play, The Truth About Alex won a cable-TV Ace Award. In addition to Baio, who was a teen heartthrob at the time of its release, The Truth About Alex starred future sci-fi and TV fixture Steen. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
