Joe Pichler Movies
A boy in the deep South learns the joys and sorrows of first love in this comedy-drama based on the short story by Truman Capote. Billy Bob Murphy (Joe Pichler) is a thirteen-year-old boy growing up in a small Alabama town in 1947. Billy Bob's mother Elinore (Sheryl Lee) lost her husband during World War II, and has been struggling to raise her son on her own. Billy Bob's best friend is Preacher Star (Jesse Plemons); Preacher has a pronounced mischievous streak, which is hardly tempered by the fact his Dad has a drinking problem and his older brothers are teenage thugs in training. When thirteen-year-old Lily Jane Bobbitt (Tania Raymonde) moved into town with her mother, a strange woman who never speaks, both Billy Bob and Preacher are entranced; groomed to act like a "lady" and convinced she's destined for stardom in the movies, Lily Jane isn't like any of the girls in town. But Billy Bob not only has Preacher as a rival for Lily Jane's affections, his best friend's coarse personality makes her wonder if Billy Bob is the sort of young gentleman who is worthy of her company. Lily Jane also earns the enmity of many of her schoolmates when she befriends Sister Rosalba, a girl her age from the town's African-American neighborhood. As Billy Bob struggles with first love, he also has to deal with his mother's budding romance with Speedy, the local auto mechanic (Christopher McDonald. Children On Their Birthdays was the first film directed by Mark Medoff, a noted screenwriter and playwright who received an Oscar nomination for his work on the film Children Of A Lesser God. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Based on a tale by "scary story" maestro R.L. Stine, the made-for-cable movie stars the inimitable Christopher Lloyd as an energetic zombie (replete with detachable limbs) known as Dead Uncle Fred. The moribund hero can be seen and heard only by his 12-year-old nephew, Danny Walker (Joe Pichler), who has just moved to a small Minnesota town with his family. When his freshly hung Halloween decorations begin to mysteriously disappear, Danny and Dead Uncle Fred join forces to rid the community of the bizarre curse which prevents the citizens from celebrating or even mentioning the spooky October holiday. The answer, involving a long-dead artist named Curtis Danko, is found in the deserted chocolate factory which Uncle Fred had managed during his "mortal" years. Rated PG for "mild horror action" (including a devilishly clever climactic sequence straight out of Night of the Living Dead), When Good Ghouls Go Bad originally aired over the Fox Family Channel on October 21, 2001, nearly two months after its video and DVD release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lloyd, Tom Amandes, (more)
The rude, crude, slobbering St. Bernard known as Beethoven is on thin ice with the parents who run the Newton household. If he destroys dad's (Judge Reinhold) artwork and drools on mom's (Julia Sweeney) briefcase one more time, he's history. The loving children of the family (Joe Pichler and Michaela Gallo) secretly enroll the dog into an obedience school in hopes of Beethoven learning a few manners. Meanwhile, Michelangelo, the pampered St. Bernard of the ultra-wealthy Sedgwick family -- a dog so well mannered it not only wipes its feet on a door mat but can also fold a dinner napkin -- accidentally winds up at the Newton's while Beethoven ends up at the Sedgwick estate, confusing the humans who live in both households. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judge Reinhold, Julia Sweeney, (more)
In his first feature following the success of television's Dawson's Creek, James Van Der Beek stars as Jonathan Moxon, the back-up quarterback on his high-school football team, the West Canaan Coyotes. In West Canaan, the only thing that matters is football, and the man who matters is the one with 22 divisional championships, coach Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight). Mox, as the young "A" student is called, is wrapping up his senior year on his way to Brown University in the shadow of his childhood friend, star quarterback Lance Harbor (Paul Walker). With only five games until the end of the season, Kilmer pushes his players too hard, and Lance suffers a career-ending injury, forcing Mox to play and win the game. Now the starter, Mox must deal with his newfound celebrity; the attentions of Lance's girlfriend, head-cheerleader Darcy (Ali Larter); prevent his friends and fellow players Billy Bob (Ron Lester) and Tweeder (Scott Caan) from self-destructing; prevent Coach Kilmer from crushing everybody; and hold on to his own girlfriend, Lance's sister Jules (Amy Smart). Oh, and Mox must also win the championship and prove himself the hero. ~ Ron Wells, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Van Der Beek, Jon Voight, (more)
The adventures of a boy and his beagle continue in this sequel to 1997's Shiloh. Marty Preston (Zachary Browne, replacing Blake Heron, who played the role in the first film) is a well-meaning 12-year-old who adopts Shiloh, a beagle who was treated cruelly by his first master, a bitter alcoholic named Judd (Scott Wilson). However, when Judd is hurt in an auto accident, Marty realizes Judd may have lost one of the only friends he had, even if he did mistreat Shiloh. With help from his parents (Michael Moriarty and Ann Dowd), Marty tries to help Judd get back on his feet both physically and emotionally. Rod Steiger also joins the cast returning from the first film as the crusty but lovable Doc Wallace. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Moriarty, Scott Wilson, (more)
Beethoven the Saint Bernard is back in this comedy for the whole family, in which the Newton Family (with their rather large pet in tow) hops into their camper for a cross-country vacation. Along the way, they encounter a gang of bad guys. Can Beethoven help bring them to justice? Beethoven's 3rd stars Judge Reinhold, Julia Sweeney, Jamie Marsh, and Michaela Gallo. Charles Grodin, star of the first two films, opted not to appear in this one. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Returning home to attend her sister Linda's law-school graduation, a woman named Holly (Elizabeth Berridge) becomes painfully aware that Linda (Gabrielle Carteris) is a victim of spousal abuse. When Linda's husband Ray (J.C. MacKenzie) goes overboard with his violence, Holly takes drastic action, grabbing a gun and killing Ray! Unfortunately, Linda refuses to admit that Ray had beaten her, and it looks like Holly is in for a lengthy prison term unless her erstwhile guardian angel Monica (Roma Downey), in concert with fellow angel Andrew (John Dye)--already on the scene as hockey coach for Linda's son Alex (Joe Pichler)--acts quickly. This episode was originally slated to air on December 7, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
