Kathy Griffin Movies
The acerbic, razor-tongued, take-no-prisoners comedian Kathy Griffin has built a career for herself -- as an actress and a standup performer -- around the schtick of being permanently under-respected by everyone (as the title of her TV series, My Life on the D List, suggests), and fighting back with her claws extended. Griffin is notorious for mercilessly skewering and taking potshots at worthy targets (particularly fellow celebrities and comedians) through her comedy, and has built a considerable career out of doing so.Born in Oak Park, IL, and raised in the Chicago area, to an electronics store manager father and a hospital administrator mother, Griffin reportedly wanted to become an actress from the age of five and frequently improvised elaborate stage and comedy acts for her family. Griffin attended Oak Park High School, and -- after graduation -- studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute in Southern California. In 1988, the then-28-year-old joined the now-infamous sketch comedy troupe the Groundlings, alongside such stars-to-be as Lisa Kudrow, Will Ferrell, and Julia Sweeney, where she evinced an extraordinary gift for improvisatory work. After the Groundlings, Griffin developed and honed a solo standup act, which -- as she later recalled -- opened numerous doors for her as an actress, including a turn as Lucy in the Bobcat Goldthwait vehicle Shakes the Clown (1992), a brief cameo in Pulp Fiction, and a small multi-episode role on Seinfeld. Griffin was particularly memorable in the latter, as Sally Weaver, the standup comedian whose act consists of trashing Jerry Seinfeld by revealing embarrassing details from his personal life. A cameo as herself in the SNL big-screen vehicle It's Pat (1994) reunited Griffin with fellow Groundling Sweeney. Beginning in 1996, Griffin parlayed her comic flair and small-screen experience into a standing role in the hit NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan, starring Brooke Shields; that program cast Griffin as Vicki Groener, magazine columnist Shields' not-so-subtly envious, über-saucy colleague. The program scored with viewers and ran for three seasons. Meanwhile, Griffin continued her big-screen roles, with turns in the 1995 omnibus picture Four Rooms (as Betty), the 1996 Ben Stiller-directed The Cable Guy (as Jim Carrey's mother), and Muppets from Space (1999), as an armed guard. Additional guest contributions on a myriad of sitcoms during the '90s and 2000s gave an added charge to the respective series casts.
Griffin also starred in the aforementioned cable series Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List, which began airing on the Bravo network in 2004. The comically charged reality show cast Griffin as herself, battling through the experiences of everyday life -- such as training a new puppy and teaching a class as The Learning Annex. Griffin would continue to find huge success as a stand-up, as well as a show host on her own aptly titled talkshow, Kathy, which was canceled after two seasons. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- 1998
In her efforts to "understand" a New Yorker cartoon, Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) takes up cartooning herself -- but her boss, Peterman (John O'Hurley), knows a Ziggy rip-off when he sees one. Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) is aghast when performance artist Sally Weaver (Kathy Griffin) puts on her latest one-woman show: "Jerry Seinfeld -- The Devil." George (Jason Alexander) likes his girlfriend, but for the life of him can't figure out why (can it be that she looks like Jerry?). And looming over all this is the brutal honesty of Kramer (Michael Richards) -- which benefits no one, himself included. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
Colin's Sleazy Friends: Raw and Extreme consists of over an hour of moments from the program of the same name. The show offers candid looks at rock stars and celebrities from the adult entertainment business hanging out together. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- 1997
- NR
A single girl steps up her dating endeavors in hopes of finding true love before she turns 30. Unfortunately, she doesn't have much time left. Her longtime friend Nick decides to make a documentary chronicling her search for the perfect mate. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dana Gould, Eliza Coyle, (more)
Though he essentially made The Big Fall a detective thriller, director/star C. Thomas Howell interjects his hard-boiled tale with a hint of parody. Though specializing in cases of adultery, Los Angeles private dick Blaize Rybeck's newest client, the beautiful Emma Russell (Sophie Ward) has a different type of project: she wants him to locate her brother Kenny, a flight instructor who was involved in a plane crash. His body was never found at the site, and Emma is convinced that Kenny is still alive. To solve the puzzle, Blaize goes undercover and joins a group of sky-diving thrillseekers. His old pal FBI-agent Bill Wilcox (William Applegate Jr.) shows up and tries to persuade Blaize to stop investigating -- as there is far more to the case than is immediately apparent -- but by that time, the gumshoe is in too deep to stop. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- C. Thomas Howell, Sophie Ward, (more)
Originally planned as a silly vehicle for Chris Farley, in the hands of director Ben Stiller and star Jim Carrey, The Cable Guy became an opportunity for Carrey to flex some of his darker comedic muscles as stalker Chip Douglas. Matthew Broderick plays Steven, an average Joe who is forlorn over his recent breakup with girlfriend Robin (Leslie Mann). When he moves into a new apartment, Steven comes in contact with Chip, who shows up to hook up the cable. Before he knows it, and whether he likes it or not, Steven has a new best-friend in the obnoxious and clingy Chip. However, Steven soon learns that obnoxious is a walk in the park compared to Chip's behavior when Steven tells him he doesn't want to be his pal anymore. What's worse, no one -- including Robin or his family -- believes Steven when he accuses the seemingly harmless Chip of being a malevolent menace. George Segal and Jack Black also star along with Stiller, who plays twins loosely-based on the Menendez brothers. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jim Carrey, Matthew Broderick, (more)
- 1995
Oscar-winning filmmaker Quentin Tarantino directed this episode, which contains all manner of characteristic black comedy touches, not to mention Tarantino's trademarked use of a popular 1960s songs to comment upon the action. The story occurs on Mother's Day, when the long-suffering Lewis (Sherry Stringfield), who is having enough trouble coping with sister Chloe's (Kathleen Wilhoite) pregnancy, is visited by her zany, irresponsible mother, Cookie (Valerie Perrine). Elsewhere, Benton (Eriq La Salle) is told that his mother is dead; Diane (Lisa Zane) is surprised by Ross' (George Clooney) reaction when she asks him to move in with her; and Carter (Noah Wyle) makes a life-altering professional decision. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Four of the most celebrated directors in the independent film community pooled their talents for this episodic comedy. Ted (Tim Roth) is the new bellboy at a beautiful but decaying luxury hotel; he is not having a good time of it on New Year's Eve, his first night on the job. In one room, a coven of witches are trying to summon the spirit of the goddess Diana; each of the witches must bring a different bodily fluid for their spell to work, but Eva (Ione Skye), who was supposed to bring semen, managed to lose her supplies, and needs Ted's help for a last-minute replacement. Another room, where Ted was supposed to deliver some ice, turns out to house an angry husband (David Proval), who is holding his bound-and-gagged wife (Jennifer Beals) at gunpoint. A third room is taken by a tough-talking gangster (Antonio Banderas), his doormat wife (Tamlyn Tomita), and their two children; the gangster demands that Ted watch over the kids, who turn out to be mischievous terrors beyond Ted's wildest imagination. And room number four is where an arrogant film actor (Quentin Tarantino) is holding a party. One of his guests makes a bet that he can get a Zippo lighter to light ten times in a row, with his finger at stake if he loses. Allison Anders directed the first segment, which also featured Madonna, Valeria Golino, and Lili Taylor. The second segment was directed by Alexandre Rockwell, husband of his frequent leading lady Jennifer Beals. Robert Rodriguez directed the third story, while the finale was directed by its star, Quentin Tarantino; the final segment also features Bruce Willis, who appeared unbilled. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tim Roth, Valeria Golino, (more)
- 1995
Not by choice, Paul and Jamie Buchman (Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt) spend their first New Year's Eve apart. This is not the only offbeat occurrence in the course of this episode, you may be sure. Things reach a summit of strangeness during the traditional countdown in Times Square. And yes, that uncredited TV personality is exactly who you think he is. ~ Rovi
- 1995
- R
Marcus Roach (Sten Eirik) is a wealthy industrialist who was left paralyzed after an industrial accident. He's after a regeneration/strength serum held by inventor's son Billy Duncan (Joe Tab), who guards it with his life. The chemical is incapable of being broken-down, so killing Billy won't help, but the essence of the serum can be transmitted sexually. So, says Roach, "we have the key. All we need is the right keyhole". A-hem! Billy's been guarding his virginity from his cute girlfriend, Mary Anne (Kathy Griffin), and his lusty stepmother, Lorna (Shannon Tweed), so he won't make them superwomen. Roach realizes he's found the right keyholes, and has his super-strippers (who dress as cheerleaders at one point) kidnap the women. Mary Anne is put in a dungeon and the hypnotized Lorna has sex with Billy until he spills his super-seed, turning her into a fanged, electricity-shooting hellcat. Mary Anne pops the super-pill and rips a stripper's heart out, throwing it into another stripper's mouth, eventually battling Electra/Lorna while Roach tries to kill Billy with a flame-throwing wheelchair. Exploding heads and people blowing apart are the fitting climax to this jaw-dropping spectacle. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Starring:
- Shannon Tweed, Joe Tab, (more)
Outrageously violent, time-twisting, and in love with language, Pulp Fiction was widely considered the most influential American movie of the 1990s. Director and co-screenwriter Quentin Tarantino synthesized such seemingly disparate traditions as the syncopated language of David Mamet; the serious violence of American gangster movies, crime movies, and films noirs mixed up with the wacky violence of cartoons, video games, and Japanese animation; and the fragmented story-telling structures of such experimental classics as Citizen Kane, Rashomon, and La jetée. The Oscar-winning script by Tarantino and Roger Avary intertwines three stories, featuring Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta, in the role that single-handedly reignited his career, as hit men who have philosophical interchanges on such topics as the French names for American fast food products; Bruce Willis as a boxer out of a 1940s B-movie; and such other stalwarts as Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, Ving Rhames, and Uma Thurman, whose dance sequence with Travolta proved an instant classic. ~ Leo Charney, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, (more)
Arguably the least successful of the many feature film spin-offs of Saturday Night Live television sketch characters, this comedy barely won a quick theatrical release. Julia Sweeney stars as the titular Pat Riley, an obnoxious, drooling nerd of mind-boggling androgyny. Pat is also a bit of a klutz, which leads to his/her dismissal from a range of workplaces, including a sushi bar and the United States Postal Service. As a next door neighbor, Kyle (Charles Rocket), becomes obsessed with distinguishing Pat's gender, even to the point of seducing Pat and stealing his/her diary, things begin looking up for the plucky hero/heroine. Pat meets a significant other, the equally sexless "Chris" (Dave Foley), gets engaged, and wins fame and success as a frank radio talk-show host. The real-life rock band Ween also plays a significant role in Pat's misadventures, casting him/her in a rock video after catching Pat's cringe-inducing musical performance on the TV show "America's Creepiest People." Despite a rumored rewrite of the script by Sweeney's hip longtime friend Quentin Tarantino, the film was considered one of the year's biggest turkeys. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Julia Sweeney, Dave Foley, (more)
- 1992
The Bankses' veddy proper butler Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell) falls in love with Karen Caruthers ( played by future Wayans Bros. regular Anna Maria Horsford), who has led him to believe that she is a maid in the new neighbor's house. Once Geoffrey discovers that Karen is actually the house's wealthy owner, he is reluctant to marry "above his station" and does everything he can to sabotage his budding romance. Meanwhile, Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) is worried that Philip (James Avery) may be simultaneously losing all his hair and all his business. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This black comedy chronicles the fall of one of the world's most unlovable clowns as he plies his trade and tries to survive in Palukaville a town where everyone is more or less a Bozo. Shakes loves women and more than that, he loves his booze. Like many of his painted peers, ol' Shakes likes to hang out at The Twisted Balloon, the favorite local pub where he hoists a few, beats up on mimes (the lowest caste in Palukaville) and causes trouble with his girl friend Judy, a woman who cannot say the letter "L." Because the slovenly Shakes can't seem to make it to birthday parties sober and on time, he is fired from his booking agency, causing him to go on a big drinking binge. Later, Shakes awakens and learns that Binky, a lousy TV-clown, is framing him for beating up Shake's former boss with a juggling pin. Now poor Shakes must clear his name. He must also rescue "Juwee" who has been kidnapped by the nefarious Binky, and he must come to grips with his alcohol problem (perhaps the film could be therefore titled "Clown and Sober?"). Keep an eye peeled for cameos by Robin Williams, as a mime instructor, and Florence Henderson as one of Shake's illicit sexual conquests. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bobcat Goldthwait, Julie Brown, (more)
A married woman who has not been able to successfully conceive a child turns to a specialist who succeeds in inseminating her artificially. Before too long, she hears rumors of the doctor's past and present genetic experiments and when she finally aborts the fetus, finds that it is a monster as she had feared--and still alive! ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brooke Adams, Jeffrey Hayenga, (more)
- 1990
Just before Philip (James Avery) is to receive the Urban Spirt Award, his rural parents Hattie (Virginia Capers) and Joe (Gilbert Lewis) pay a visit. Though the snobbish Philip is upset by his folks' "uncouth" behavior, Will (Will Smith) is fascinated by this hitherto unknown aspect of his Uncle's childhood--especially when he learns that Philip was once known as "Zeke", and he once had a pet pig named Melvin. This information somehow makes its way to an inquiring reporter (played by a pre-stardom Kathy Griffin) who is looking for an interesting angle on the Banks family! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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