Greg Germann Movies
Actor Greg Germann is probably best known as attorney Richard Fish -- the tactless, neurotic litigator who went head-to-head with Ally McBeal in law school, but soon does an about face and hires her, on that character's eponymous Fox comedy drama. Actually, that role only represented the tail end of a long ascent to stardom for the gifted actor. Germann trained as a dramatist at an early age by performing in local stage productions in his childhood home of Golden, CO. In the early '80s, Germann moved to New York City and attended auditions before film producers tapped him for supporting roles in pictures ranging from the eminently forgettable (the 1986 Whoopee Boys) to the outstanding (the 1991 Once Around, the 1994 Imaginary Crimes). Germann found his greatest success, however, in television; after landing regular roles on two short-lived programs, the legal drama Sweet Justice and the sitcom Ned and Stacey (1995), the actor caught the eye of McBeal mastermind David E. Kelley. Kelley praised Germann as an actor so versatile that he could seemingly do anything; unsurprisingly, the role, like the series, lasted five seasons. Germann followed Ally McBeal up with supporting parts in a series of mostly forgettable films, including the direct-to-video Sandlot 2 (2005) and crazylove (2005), before returning to form with a prime role in the Will Ferrell racing comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006). Germann then landed a regular role as a mentally disturbed diet guru in the decidedly quirky (and short-lived) comedy drama series In Case of Emergency (2007). He also delivered an extraordinary performance as a quiet, compassionate counselor in Monty Lapica's big-screen debut, Self-Medicated (2005). ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Following their television series Home Improvement and the features The Santa Clause (1994) and Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), the actor/director team of Tim Allen and John Pasquin collaborate once again on this high-concept comedy. Allen stars as Joe Scheffer, a nice guy video specialist for a Minneapolis pharmaceutical company who's plodding through both his thankless job and an unhappy divorce from his ex-wife Callie (Kelly Lynch). When Joe brings his daughter Natalie (Hayden Panettiere) to the office with him on Take Our Kids to Work Day, he's humiliated in a spat with company bully Mark McKinney (Patrick Warburton) over a parking space. It's the last straw for the mild-mannered Joe, who challenges McKinney to a rematch, hires a has-been action movie star (Jim Belushi) to instruct him in martial arts, and pays a stylist to make over his wardrobe and hair. As Joe's image improves and the big day approaches, he finds his new self-respecting stance has positive effects in both the workplace, as he lands a long-overdue promotion, and in his romantic life, as both Callie and a cute "wellness coordinator" (Julie Bowen) start warming up to him. The levelheaded Natalie, however, seems to prefer the previously non-confrontational dad she already loved. Joe Somebody (2001) is the feature debut of screenwriter John Scott Shepherd, who actually worked as a corporate filmmaker in Minneapolis. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Allen, Julie Bowen, (more)
Comic Chris Rock co-scripted and stars in this remake of 1941's Here Comes Mr. Jordan, which was also remade with Warren Beatty in 1978 as Heaven Can Wait. Comedian Lance Barton (Rock) is struggling to get his career off the ground when he dies in an untimely bus accident; arriving at the Pearly Gates, he discovers that he's not supposed to have passed on for another 50 years. Barton is not happy with this turn of events, and eventually the Powers That Be send his spirit back to Earth, but for the time being he has to make do with the body of a middle-aged, closed-minded millionaire, Charles Wellington. Lance falls in love with a young community activist (Regina King), but he soon finds he has bigger problems at home: the millionaire's wife and her lover are both trying to kill him. The supporting cast includes Mark Addy as an actor passing himself off as an English manservant, Chazz Palminteri as Mr. King, Heaven's no-nonsense manager, and Eugene Levy as Mr. Keyes, the angel who accidentally ends Barton's life. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Rock, Regina King, (more)
This romantic melodrama reunites The Devil's Advocate (1997) co-stars Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron, and is directed by Irish filmmaker Pat O'Connor (Circle of Friends). Sara Deever (Theron) is a beautiful young woman who begins a new romantic relationship with a man each month, then helps him to evolve into a better and kinder human being before she moves on to the next partner. Although she's remained friendly with some of her former lovers, she's never broken her one-month rule. November's candidate is a particularly heartless business exec named Nelson Moss (Reeves), who takes a while to come around. Once he does, however, Nelson falls deeply in love, hoping to woo Sara for good; eventually, her resolve weakens. What Nelson doesn't know is the tragic secret behind the brevity of Sara's romances. A remake of a 1968 Sandy Dennis film by the same name, this contemporary version of Sweet November is less comedic and emphasizes more of its story's tearjerker qualities than the original. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron, (more)
