Phil LaMarr Movies
- 2009
This insightful biography looks back at the beginning of President Barack Obama's political career, featuring footage from some of his very earliest interviews, and offering insights from the men and women who worked with him during his rise to the top. ~ Carly Wray, All Movie Guide
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby co-stars Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly re-team with that film's director, Adam McKay, to tell the tale of two pampered best friends whose single parents fall in love and decide to marry. McKay and Ferrell share screenwriting credits, and Judd Apatow and Jimmy Miller produce. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, (more)
Matt Groening's cult hit series Futurama takes its killer wit to DVD with this full length movie consisting of a brand new story with all new animation and the complete, original voice cast. As the crew of Planet Express prepares for Xmas 3007, a race of evil, nudist, internet scammers launches an attack on Earth, discovering the secret of time travel tattooed on Fry's butt. Using their sinister hacking skills to control Bender, the aliens seize control of the robot and send him back in time to loot ancient Earth of its treasures. The crew encounter true love, a hostile takeover, and Al Gore before their race against time to save the world as they know it is over. Futurama: Bender's Big Score also features guest voice-appearances by actors and comedians like Sarah Silverman, Mark Hamill, and Coolio. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy West, Katey Sagal, (more)
- 2005
Bet you thought that Lois has been ignoring all of her baby son Stewie's attempts to kill these past four seasons, didn't you? In truth, Lois is fully aware of Stewie's homicidal streak--and she holds her husband Peter to blame for not spending enough quality time with his infant offspring. Thus it is that Peter and Stewie make a mutually uncomfortable effort to bond. . .and it's a frightening thing to see. On the other hand, some viewers might get a case of the creeps while watching the episode's subplot, in which Stewie's slacker brother Chris becomes friends with Herbert, one of the weirdest of Family Guy's many peripheral characters. All this, plus quickie references to Michael Eisner, Penelope Cruz, Captain EO and the internet "flash cartoon" Peanut Butter Jelly Time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
This episode is a hilariously ham-handed slam at the FCC restrictions placed on network television after Janet Jackson's infamous Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction" (which is herein recreated--but not by Jackson!) Fed up at having his favorite TV shows censored, Peter sets up his own network, "PTV", using the Griffins' basement as his studio. Although the programs cooked up by Peter and Brian manage to escape unscatched, the family soon finds the FCC slapping regulations on their everyday activities! The opening scene of this episode might very well have set a record for the number of pop-culture references within a 60-second period. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Lois develops kleptomania, leading to a wild shoplifting spree. She lands in prison, only to be broken out by Peter and the kids. The Griffins then take refuge from pursuing policeman Joe Swanson by hiding in "Asiantown." Alas, Joe manages to pick up their trail (no great trick, since Peter has become a popular sumo wrestler), whereupon the family retreats to the sewers, where the plot thickens, as it were. So far as we can determine, this is the only American TV cartoon episode of recent memory to reference the names of both Karl Malden and Corey Haim (two treats in one!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Peter thinks he's suddenly become brilliant after winning a game of "Trivial Pursuit", little realizing that Lois had merely let him win. To let Peter down easy, Brian the dog arranges for his master to get an IQ test. As a result, Peter is classified as "retarded"--and he intends to take full advantage of the fact that the world gives a special pass to Special People. In the same spirit of taste and delicacy, this episode offers a musical performance by a singing tumor, and a knee-slapping reference to the bombing of Hiroshima. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Similar in tone to the Disney Channel's American Dragon: Jake Long, the half-hour animated series The Life and Times of Juniper Lee boasted a strong Asian-American female character in the leading role. A resident of Orchid Bay City, 11-year-old Juniper "June" Lee was typical in every respect save one. Because of her noble heritage and supernatural powers, June was expected to assume the mantle of Te Xuan Ze, and as such was required to protect the world from such paranormal predators as ghosts, demons, mummies, evil gnomes, nasty leprechauns, and other denizens of the Other Realm. Thing of it was, only June was able to see these antagonists, so she had quite a time explaining her periodic absences from her home and from school to those who weren't "in the know." Other characters included June's wise old grandmother Ah Mah, the former Te Xuan Ze; her parents Mr. and Mrs. Lee, who were a bit jealous that June's special skills had skipped a generation and bypassed them; her obnoxious kid brother Ray Ray, who aspired to be a demon fighter just like sis; her older brother Dennis, who, because he hadn't inherited June's magical powers was totally clueless as to her mission in life, and who spent all his waking hours indulging in L.A.R.P. (live action role-playing); June's cynical dog Monroe, who spoke in a Scottish burr; her friend Ophelia, a goth-girl wannabe and magician in training; Jodi, June's best friend; Marcus, the junior-high jock for whom June carried a torch; and Roger, the standard-issue class nerd and computer geek. Created by comic book writer Judd Winick, The Life and Times of Juniper Lee offset its bizarre trappings with down-to-earth sarcastic humor and sly inside jokes. The series made its Cartoon Network bow on May 30, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lara Jill Miller, Kath Soucie, (more)
- 2005
In the conclusion of Justice League Unlimited's two-part season-three finale, JL members Batman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman continue their pursuit of time-traveling thief David Clinton. Chasing their quarry to his own time -- 50 years in the future -- the three Leaguers come face to face with their own furturistic counterparts, Batman II, Static, and War Hawk. The six superheroes pool their resources to do battle against the vicious "Jokerz" gang, only to find a greater menace in the form of David Clinton -- who, hoping to get even with those who have mocked his skills as an inventor, has transformed himself into Lord Chronos, all-powerful (and highly dangerous) Master of Space and Time. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Rosenbaum, Will Friedle, (more)
- 2004
Upon entering its third season, the animated series Justice League serves up quite a few changes in its format. For starters, the titular League, comprised of the Earth's mightiest superheroes, is now under the full control of J'onn J'onnz, aka the Martian Manhunter, with former leaders Superman and Batman taking rather than issuing orders. For another, the League has been given a brand-new headquarters in an orbiting Earth satellite. Finally and most significantly, the series' title has been changed to Justice League Unlimited, reflecting the sudden expansion of the League's membership roster. In addition to old favorites J'onn J'onnz, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, the Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl, the League has welcomed such newcomers as the Green Arrow, Supergirl, and Captain Atom along with a few "stringers" whom J'onn J'onnz occasionally calls upon for backup, utilizing their unique crime-fighting talents to the utmost. Foremost among the big story developments during season three include the reformation of former villain Lex Luthor, an effort by wicked sorcerer Mordred to banish all adults from the Earth (forcing several League members to transform into eight-year-olds!), the arrival of a new superhero team called the Ultimen, the resurrection of Batman's supposedly deceased perennial foe Solomon Grundy, and a time-warp journey to the Old West on one end of the spectrum and to a futuristic Gotham City at the other end. It is, in fact, this last-named adventure, the two-part "The Once and Future Thing," which brings the third season of Justice League (or is it, technically, the first season of Justice League Unlimited?) to a pulse-pounding conclusion. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Conroy, George Newbern, (more)
- 2003
Part of the Animatrix series of animated shorts set in the universe of the Wachowski brothers' The Matrix, Program comes from Yoshiaki Kawajiri, the director of the popular anime feature Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. The short features Cis (Hedy Burress) and Duo (Phil LaMarr), a woman and man in a simulated samurai fight-training program. When Duo tries to coax Cis into betraying their fellow humans in favor of the machines, she finds herself faced with a struggle that may very well end in death. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
The second season of the animated series Justice League finds the titular superheroes -- Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, the Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and the Martian Manhunter -- continuing to combine their awesome powers to vanquish all manner of villainy, both earthbound and extraterrestrial. As in season one, several of the Justice League's adventures unfold in two- and three-episode story arcs, the better to give the viewer full value in terms of action and thrills -- and the better to explore the various personality quirks and intramural rivalries that are part and parcel of the League's makeup. This season, the League does battle against such familiar comic-book heavies as Darkseid, Brainiac, Lex Luthor (who in one incredible plot strand ends up as President of "New Earth"), the Joker,Harley Quinn, and Gorilla Grodd. Also seen during the season's 26 episodes are a few representatives of the "normal" side of the League members' existence, notably Superman's occasional girlfriend Lois Lane and Batman's faithful butler Alfred. Season two of Justice League wraps things up with a powerful three-part adventure, "Starcrossed," wherein the denizens of Hawkgirl's home planet lay siege upon the human world -- the better to destroy it. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Conroy, George Newbern, (more)
Wild Things director James McNaughton explores the doomed efforts of young couple to salvage their failing marriage in a dark romantic comedy starring Bill Murray, James Spader, Jay Mohr, Melora Walters, and Catherine O'Hara. In the grand scheme of things their relationship has only just begun, yet everything seems to be falling apart for a once-loving couple whose marriage has hit the skids. Despite the best efforts of an insightful marriage counselor, a depression expert, and two well-heeled attorneys, what was once an attempt at preserving their relationship soon devolves into a heated series of random affairs. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Season three of the animated action series Samurai Jack covers chapters "XXXVII" through "LII" in the ongoing saga of the titular protagonist's journey through time and space in pursuit of the evil, shape-shifting sorcerer Aku. The season begins with a two-part episode, subtitled "The Birth of Evil," said birth bringing Samurai Jack into battle alongside mythical gods Odin, Ra, and Rama (talk about cultural diversification!); in the course of events, the viewer is apprised of the origin of the omnipotent Aku. In a later two-parter, a latter-day strongman, the Scotsman, rescues Jack when the latter loses his memory. Other season highlights include chapter "XLVIII" (aka "Jack vs. Aku"), with hero and villain divesting themselves of all lifesaving accoutrements to have it out mano a mano -- and with nary a word spoken between them as the action unfolds. Even less reliant upon dialogue is chapter "XLIX" (aka "Seasons of Death") -- no one can accuse Samurai Jack of being a typical TV cartoon talkfest! The season ends with chapter "LII" (aka "Jack and the Baby"), the centerpiece of which is a retelling of the traditional Japanese folk tale Peach Boy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
This WB Network Saturday morning cartoon series was a spinoff of the animated theatrical feature Osmosis Jones. The stories took place in the City of Hector -- actually the blood and immune system within the body of 13-year-old Hector Cruz. The heroes were white-blood-cell police officer Osmosis Jones, aka "Ozzy," and his assistant, over-the-counter cold pill Drix. Together, Ozzy and Drix did battle with the many infectious enemies threatening Hector's health and well-being. Though the TV series lacked the celebrity voice-over lineup (Ron Howard, William Shatner, et. al.) that added so much life to the original feature, the actors chosen to supply the voices did excellent impressions of their predecessors. Ranking high on the gross-out meter, but hilarious all the same, Ozzy & Drix made its first weekly appearance on September 14, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phil LaMarr, Jeff Bennett, (more)
Season two of the animated action series Samurai Jack covers chapters "XXI" through "XLII" in the saga of the titular hero's travels through time and space to vanquish the evil, shape-shifting wizard Aku. In the season opener, Samurai Jack saves a medieval village from the dreaded Farting Dragon (silent but deadly!). A subsequent episode, "XXII," sets a record for the least amount of dialogue in any TV cartoon series of the early 20th century. Later on, Jack meets Demongo the Soul Collector, loses his precious sandals to bier-bots, squares off against zombies and a sinister DJ who holds his "Rave Slaves" in thrall, seeks the precious Crystal of Cagliostro. Our hero faces one of his most daunting challenges in the season finale, "XLII" (aka "Samurai Jack vs. Da Samurai" -- the last-named character voiced by David Alan Grier of In Living Color fame). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
If not the best new drama series of the 2001-2002 TV season, Philly bade fair to be the loudest and most abrasive. NYPD Blue alumnus Kim Delaney stars as idealistic law school graduate Kathleen Maguire, who, after her divorce from assistant DA Daniel X. Cavanaugh (Kyle Secor), put out her shingle as a Philadelphia defense attorney. When Kathleen's partner Marion (Joanna Cassidy) suffers a nervous breakdown, she reluctantly goes into business with highly unethical lawyer Will Friedman (Tom Everett Scott), thereby launching a series-long shoutfest between the two strange bedfellows. If Will weren't headache enough, Kathleen also has to deal with slimy clients, ill-tempered judges, and a seemingly endless parade of eccentric courtroom habitué, most of whom have nothing but sex on their brains. Providing a bit of moral support and affection to the long-suffering Kathleen is her outspoken ten-year-old son Patrick (Scotty Leavenworth). It should be noted that a number of genuine Philadelphia lawyers actively disliked the series, labeling it "unrealistic" and "insulting" -- but they never said it wasn't entertaining. Executive-produced by the prolific Stephen Bochco, the weekly, 60-minute Philly was supposed to have been unveiled by ABC on September 18, 2001, but the network's coverage of the World Trade Center tragedy pushed the debut date up to September 25. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kim Delaney, Tom Everett Scott, (more)
Season one of the animated series Justice League opens with the three-part "Secret Origins," which explains the reason that the League is formed and establishes the principal players. Duped into disarming the Earth's warheads, veteran superhero Superman is aghast when a fleet of bug-like space aliens attacks the Earth, led on by the traitorous Senator J. Allen Carter. Flying to the orbiting space-station headquarters of Batman, Superman and his fellow crime-fighter try to mount a strong defense against the extraterrestrials, only to discover that it is too much of a job for just the two of them. Thus is formed the mighty Justice League, comprised of Superman and Batman's comic-book confreres the Green Lantern, the Flash, Wonder Woman, and Hawkgirl -- with added backup from a new member of the gang, the telepathic, shape-shifting Martian Manhunter (aka J'onn J'onnz). Once the alien insects are thwarted, the Justice League embarks upon several new adventures, most of them unfolding in two-part story arcs. Though the League members are united in a common cause, there is a certain amount of friction, rivalry, and envy amongst them -- just like any "normal" exclusive club. Featured in the series' 26 are a number of characters who will be familiar to any fan of the original Justice League comic-book line, including underwater superhero Aquaman; Wonder Woman's mother, Hippolyta, and erstwhile boyfriend Steve Trevor; black crime-fighter Virgil "Static Shock" Hawkins; and Sgt. Rock (of Easy Company). Several infamous villains also make appearances, among them Superman's perennial nemesis Lex Luthor (who at one point organizes a rival team of bad guys called The Injustice Guild), Batman's longtime enemy the Joker, and such reprehensible reprobates as Brainiac, Mordred, Star Sapphire, the Shade, and the simian criminal genius Grodd. The season ends with the three-part adventure "The Savage Time," wherein six Justice League members are transported back to D-day during World War 2! ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Conroy, George Newbern, (more)
- 2001
Charlotte Ross makes her first series appearance as Detective Connie McDowell, who seemingly pops up from nowhere to help Diane (Kim Delaney) in her investigation of a hotel-room murder involving three goth teenagers. Meanwhile, Danny (Rick Schroder) is relegated to desk duty after beating up suspected subway slasher Sid Thompson (Phil LaMarr). And Valerie (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) receives assistance from an unexpected source in her efforts to salvage her case against Thompson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
