Charlie Finn
- 2007
- PG13
In the glamorous world where the ability to get past the velvet rope separates the losers from the winners, one newly single guy is about to get a shot at becoming the latest inductee into the coolest club around. Barry Shlotzak is a nice guy with a psychotic girlfriend. After emancipating himself from the relationship in order to get a fresh new start in life, Barry is convinced by his best friend, Douglas, to enter into a contest designed to select an intern for the local club crew known as the "Bar Starz" -- a trendsetting group that personifies cool, and whose members can effortlessly gain access to any nightclub at any time. Now, in order to prove that they have what it takes to become an official member of the Bar Starz crew, Barry and the other aspiring Bar Starz will endure a rigorous series of tests designed specifically by lead star Donnie Pintron to assess their nightclub aptitude. Of course, you have to dress like a superstar to be a part of this crew, but that's only the beginning. A true member of the Bar Starz can stroll effortlessly past the ropes of even the most exclusive nightclub, and pick up even the hottest of babes with the least amount of effort. Does Barry have what it takes to become the toast of the town, or was he simply better off being a plain old nice guy? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Derek Waters, Charlie Finn, (more)
- 2006
Sitcom veteran Ted Danson starred in this 30-minute ABC series, characterized by more than one critic as an edgier, up-to-date Bob Newhart Show. This time, Danson was seen as outwardly cool, calm, and collected psychotherapist Dr. Bill Hoffman, who conducted a weekly therapy session with a group of truly messed-up people. So beneficial was Dr. Bill's advice to his charges that it was just as well they had no inkling about his own chaotic private life, in which he continued to moon over his ex-wife (a recurring character played by Jane Kaczmarek) and brood over the fact that his restless daughter, Sasha (Lindsay Sloane), was carrying on with a much-older man. Dr. Bill's patients included Darlene (Darlene Hunt), whose nymphomania was but one of many hang-ups; Michael (Jere Burns), who had serious issues with anger; Dave (Charlie Finn), an office worker and would-be suicide who was inept at both pursuits; and Inger (Suzy Nakamura), who was bereft of all forms of basic social graces. Help Me Help You first hung up its shingle on September 26, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ted Danson, Charlie Finn, (more)
The General Lee is back and so are the Duke boys in this big-screen adaptation of the hit TV series, brought to you by Jay Chandrasekhar of the Broken Lizard comedy troupe. Set in the "present day," the story follows Bo (Seann William Scott) and Luke (Johnny Knoxville) as they cruise around Hazzard County and wreck havoc in their classic 1969 Dodge Charger. Together with their scantily clad cousin Daisy (Jessica Simpson) and moonshining Uncle Jesse (Willie Nelson), the two good old boys battle the corrupt county commissioner Boss Hog (Burt Reynolds) when he and local Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane (M.C. Gainey) threaten to take away the family farm. John O'Brien has the lone writer's credit on the film, though additional uncredited rewrites were handled by the Broken Lizard gang. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, (more)
- 2002
Previously portrayed in films and on TV by the likes of Bonita Granville, Janet Julian, Pamela Sue Martin, and Tracy Ryan, author Carolyn Keene's intrepid, teenaged sleuth Nancy Drew is again brought to life in the person of Maggie Lawson. Now enrolled at River Heights University with her longtime friends and fellow "detectives" Bess (Jill Ritchie) and George (Lauren Birkell), the level-headed, no-nonsense Nancy hopes to achieve academic nirvana by being accepted to the prestigious Tri Pi fraternity. Things take a sinister turn when Tri Pi's reigning "queen" Allison Price (Sabine Singh) is accused of causing the drug overdose that has put her football-hero boyfriend in a coma. As usual, Nancy suspects that the case isn't quite as cut-and-dried as it seems, and with the assistance of her aforementioned girl friends -- not to mention her erstwhile beau Ned Nickerson (Nick Stabile) -- our heroine snoops around long enough to uncover a sinister campus-wide conspiracy. Adult authority is represented in the form of Nancy's long-suffering attorney dad Carson Drew (Brett Cullen) and her overbearing, condescending journalism teacher Professor Shifflin (James Avery). First broadcast as an episode of the ABC anthology The Wonderful World of Disney on December 15, 2002, Nancy Drew was rather blatantly designed as the pilot for a potential weekly series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
American independent filmmaker Jay Craven directs the Vietnam-era coming-of-age drama The Year That Trembled, based on the novel by Scott Lax. Using stock footage along with a traditional narrative, the film takes place in Ohio following the 1970 student murders at Kent State. Right after high school, best friends Casey (Jonathan Brandis), Jim (Charlie Finn), and Phil (Sean Nelson) move into a cottage with activist-on-the-run Judy Woods (Meredith Monroe). The cottage is next door to their former teacher Helen (Marin Hinkle), who gets fired for her antiwar activities. Her husband, Charlie Kerrigan (Jonathan M. Woodward), is a lawyer torn between his moral opposition to the war and his own ambitions. Also starring Fred Willard, Martin Mull, and Henry Gibson. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Brandis, Meredith Monroe, (more)
- 2002
Upon discovering that the love of his life is set to marry another man, a determined twenty-something puts his life on hold in order to travel across California and stop the wedding. But how does one make such an all-important trip when they've got neither a car to carry them nor a dollar to buy a bus ticket? As he hits the open road alone and desperate, this lovelorn Californian encounters a life he's never known, a love he's only dreamt of, and a long-buried secret that could change everything. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Geoff Stults, Lori Heuring, (more)
The stoner road movie Rolling Kansas is the writing and directing debut of actor Thomas Haden Church (Lowell from NBC's Wings). The story concerns the Murphy brothers: Gas station attendant and local pot dealer Dave (Jay Paulson), paraplegic student Dink (Sam Huntington), and recently divorced Dick (James Roday). Just when Dick is about to lose his T-shirt-selling business in Texas, the brothers find a treasure map leading to special forest of marijuana in Kansas. Left to them by their late hippie parents, a plentiful supply to sell could answer their various financial problems. This sends the three brothers on a road trip in a junky car, accompanied by Dave's upbeat co-worker, Kevin (Charlie Finn), and Dink's useful roommate, Hunter (Ryan McDow). Rip Torn makes a cameo as a horticulturist while Church appears as a cop and a DEA agent (along with comedian Kevin Pollak). Rolling Kansas premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlie Finn, Sam Huntington, (more)
A young woman gets a startling perspective on how the other half lives in this teen-oriented thriller. Adrien Williams (Lori Heuring) is a troubled working-class college student who on the advice of her doctor takes a summer job at a posh country club. Brittany Foster (Susan Ward) is one of a group of wealthy students who while away their summer break with nighttime parties and days at the beach. Brittany takes a liking to Adrien and introduces her to her social circle, to the displeasure of her close friend Kelly (Laurie Fortier). Adrien also gets to know Matt Curtis (Matthew Settle), a tennis pro with whom Brittany is infatuated; when Adrien and Matt begin a relationship, Adrien learns the hard way that the rich kids can quickly turn vengeful and deadly. Along with Orpheus and In Between, The In Crowd was one of three films directed by Mary Lambert scheduled for release in 2000. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lori Heuring, Susan Ward, (more)
- 1999
When Jeremy's (Joshua Malina) assistant Corbin (Charlie Finn) neglects to prepare a play sheet for an important story in the broadcast, Natalie (Sabrina Lloyd) demands Jeremy fire him or else she'll be forced to do it herself. Jeremy reluctantly agrees but has second thoughts while reconsidering the fact that Corbin is a relative to network bigwig J.J. Elsewhere. Dana (Felicity Huffman) picks up on a breaking story about some drug scandal in Ohio and she begins investigating with Casey (Peter Krause), whom she later sends out to Ohio to personally prepare a report. As Casey heads for the Midwest, Dan (Josh Charles) has another session with psychiatrist Abby Jacobs (Jayne Brook), who points out that his flirtatiousness is merely a means of gaining approval. Taking no strength in this revelation, Dan proceeds to call into question every interaction he has with every female staffer on the Sports Night set. When Casey returns to New York with names and sources about some impending suspensions, the story proves to be much more personal to Dana than she had ever imagined when her younger brother is among the implicated. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
