Dan Wells Movies
- 2006
Bearing traces of such films as The Graduate and Orange County, the half-hour Fox network sitcom Free Ride (original title: Freebirds) starred Josh Dean as UC Santa Barbara student Nate Stahlings. Forced by circumstance to briefly drop out of college (only for five months -- or at least that was what he told himself!), Nate returned to his hometown of Johnson City, MO, moving back in with his parents, Margo (Loretta Fox) and Bob (Allan Havey), whose marriage was in deep, deep trouble. As if he didn't have enough to worry about, Nate was also coping with the fact that his long-time girlfriend, Amber Danwood (Erin Cahill), was now engaged to someone else. Endeavoring to raise Nate's spirits -- usually to no avail -- was his wacky, party-animal best bud, Dove (Dave Sheridan). The humor on Free Ride was laced with cynicism, irony, and angst, so much so that the producers decided to dispense with a laugh track, allowing the viewers to judge for themselves whether they should be laughing at or empathizing with the beleaguered protagonist. The series began its initial six-week trial run on March 1, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Josh Dean, Erin Cahill, (more)
- 2006
The third of MyNetwork's nightly English-language "novellas", Watch Over Me was based on Telefe Argentina's Resistere. Daynara Torres, a Puerto Rican actress and former Miss Universe, starred as young psych student Julia Rivera, who was engaged to wealthy but faithless "medical entrepreneur" Michael Krieger (Mark Menard). With fingers in several dirty pies, Michael had made enemies of a number of tough underworld characters, and thus found it expedient to hire a bodyguard for Julia, a handsome hunk named Jack Porter (Todd Cahoon). With typical soap-opera inevitability, the impressionable Julia found herself romantically torn between the dashing Michael and the down-to-earth Jack--while Jack, anxious to wrest Julia aware from her dangerous sweetheart, endeavored to open the girl's eyes to Michael's true nature. Others lurking about included several "star names", among them Casper Van Dien as Andre Forester, a hired assassin who knew where most of Michael's bodies were buried (chances are Andre buried them himself!), Catherine Oxenberg as Michael's enigmatic personal assistant Leandra Thames, and Roxana Zal as all-purpose femme fatala Natalie Weller. Rounding out the main cast was Caitlin McCarthy as Michael's troubled daughter Caroline, whose horrible nightmares invariably provided clues as to what had previously transpired and dropped hints concerning the perils in the furture. The series benefited from a strong tie-in with the Wal-Mart retail store chain, which provided many of the characters' costumes. The first of the 65 hour-long Watch Over Me episodes premiered December 6, 2006, as the replacement for the previous MyNetwork nighttime soaper Fashion House. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Lorelai (Lauren Graham) finally discovers how Luke truly feels about her -- and vice versa -- while both attending his sister Liz's (Kathleen Wilhoite) Renaissance-themed wedding. In other developments, when her date abandons her at a boozy party, Rory (Alexis Bledel) accepts a ride home from her ex-boyfriend Dean (Jared Padalecki), thereby infuriating Jess (Milo Ventimiglia). Lane (Keiko Agena) is paid a visit by her estranged mom (Emily Kuroda) -- a visit that ends as abruptly as it begins. Emily (Kelly Bishop) is hesitant about admitting to Lorelai that Richard (Edward Herrmann) has left her. And Paris (Liza Weil) prepares to fly off to England...but not alone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A newly opened gentleman's club houses a deadly secret in this bloodsucking fright fest from Camp Blood mastermind Brad Sykes. The Fetish Jam has opened for business and best pals Ken, Martin, and Sammy can't wait to get in. Greeted at the door by a trio of beautiful, lusty ladies, the unassuming friends soon find a deadly secret in the black heart of the club that has them running for their lives. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Two brothers who've taken divergent paths in life are thrown into a crisis that forces both of them to examine their lives in this drama. John (David White) is a small-time criminal who, upon his release from prison, is met by his former partner, Rome (Eric Roberts). Rome wants John to join him in a counterfeiting scheme that could earn them $20 million. John is trying to go straight, but he needs to raise money for a real estate project he's trying to get off the ground, so he agrees, despite his misgivings. Rome trusts John with $50,000 in front money, but John double-crosses Rome and runs off with the cash; Rome is not at all amused and is determined to get revenge on John. On the run and with few options, John seeks out his estranged twin brother Jeremiah (also played by White), a novice minister who long believed his brother was dead. But John soon discovers that Rome has mistaken Jeremiah for John and has taken him hostage. Jeremiah tries to play along in hopes of saving his brother's life, while John tries to stay undercover by posing as Jeremiah -- and even tries to fool his brother's girlfriend Samantha (Cynthia Watros) into believing he's a man of the cloth. Produced by a Christian film production firm, Signal Hill Pictures, Mercy Streets also features Stacy Keach, Lawrence Taylor, and Robert Lasardo. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eric Roberts, David White, (more)
