Marilu Henner Movies

After a blissful year of living together, Kelly (Maggie Lawson) and Michael (Joey Lawrence) decide to get married. All they want is a small, simple, old-fashioned ceremony, without the "bells and whistles" attending most contemporary weddings. Alas, Kelly's control-freak mother Carol (Marilu Henner) had other ideas--and if that isn't bad enough, the couple's friends have come up with a plethora of discouraging words about matrimony, otherwise known as "The Rules of Engagement" (which was the working title for this film). A broad but generally credible made-for-cable comedy in the tradition of Father of the Bride and Betsy's Wedding, Love Rules! made its ABC Family Channel bow on June 6, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally titled Mercury Project, this made-for-cable thriller focuses on 17-year-old Todd Baker (Ryan Merriman) and his ex-astronaut grandfather, Gus Baker (Robert Wagner). Hoping to honor the memory of his late father, likewise a space explorer, Todd collaborates with Gus in restoring a Mercury Redstone Rocket (purchased from a junk heap for a mere $80,000) as a high school science project. When Todd grafts the Rocket to a Mercury 10 capsule found in a space museum, he brings down the wrath of the Feds, who inform him that he's committed an infinite number of security breaches. Denied permission to complete his project, our hero is nonetheless redeemed when a space shuttle crew is trapped hundreds of miles above earth...and only Todd's rebuilt rocket and capsule is capable of going to the rescue! About as credible as anything else on the ABC Family Channel ever since, Rocket's Red Glare debuted on August 27, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"Inspired by actual events", this made-for-TV drama stars Melissa Gilbert ad Donielle, who since childhood has been blessed--or cursed--with a Sixth Sense. It all began at her best friend's funeral, when 8-year-old Donielle was seized with a vision which indicated that her friend had been murdered by his own father. Disowned by her family and ostracized by the community, Donielle learns the hard way to keep her premonitions to herself. By the time she has reached adulthood, Donielle is a rootless single mother, travelling from town to town with her children to avoid coming in close contact with anything that might retrigger her paranormal gifts. But upon arriving in a small town where the citizens are being terrorized by a serial killer, Donielle again begins experiencing horrible visions--and this time, maybe someone will listen...and believe...A Vision of Murder: The Story of Donielle first aired February 9, 2000, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In 1912, the H.M.S. Titanic was the largest ocean liner built to date, and its designers had incorporated several features they believed would make the ship virtually unsinkable. However, the Titanic never returned from its maiden voyage; after striking an iceberg, the ship slowly sank to the bottom on the ocean, with most of its passengers meeting a watery grave in the freezing ocean. The 1996 made-for-television movie Titanic tells the story of how this disaster came to befall the great ship, and what happened to the passengers on board -- both the wealthy socialites in first class and the poor immigrants in steerage. The cast includes George C. Scott as Capt. Smith, Peter Gallagher as Wynn Park, Eva Marie Saint as Hazel Foley, Tim Curry as Simon Doonan, Marilu Henner as Molly Brown, and Catherine Zeta-Jones (before she became a major star in The Mask Of Zorro and Entrapment) as Isabella Paradine. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This made for cable movie premiered over the Lifetime network on August 21, 1996, barely one year after the court case which inspired it. Though they have adopted a son, infertile couple John and Debbie Challender (Randle Mell, Marilu Henner) still feel unfulfilled. Desperate to have a child of her own, Debbie submits to experimental fertility treatments conducted by the brilliant and arrogant Dr. Ash (Castullo Guerra), the self-proclaimed miracle man of Irving University. The treatment, involving "hyperstimulated" ovaries, nearly kills Debbie, but it all seems worth it when she gives birth to a healthy son. But this is not the end of the story by a long shot: As Debbie discovers to her outrage that her own eggs have been implanted in other women without her permission, Marilyn Killane (Linda Lavin), office manager for Dr. Ash, unearths evidence that the doctor's staff has been regularly mishandling embryos--and that several of his nurses aren't even certified. Ultimately, Dr. Ash ends up in court, facing charges that, in so many words, he has been illegally "Playing God" with unwary women for the sole purpose of elevating his own reputation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When the state of Ohio refuses to help a poor single mother get her child's father to pay support, she launches a statewide campaign to enact newer, better child-support laws. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This stylish animated adventure is based on the '90s animated television series, which in turn is based on the original comics and Tim Burton's live action "Batman" films. Unlike the campy 1960s version of Batman, this version is half-mad from the superhero's obsession with justice. It is only his unusual sense of ethics that keeps him from becoming a full-blown psychotic. The story describes the origins of Batman as it follows the Dark Knight's attempts to capture the elusive, deadly Phantasm who kills a crime lord and makes it look as if Batman did it, causing a media smear campaign against the Caped Crusader. At the same time, millionaire Bruce Wayne holds a party at his mansion. There he meets Councilman Arthur Reeves, the man behind the accusations. Reeves derides playboy Wayne for allowing his college sweetheart Andrea Beaumont to leave him. Suddenly Wayne flashes back to his pre-Batman days. He remembers how he met her while visiting his parents' graves to renew his vow that he would spend his life fighting crime to avenge their wrongful deaths. He has already devised an early version of his alter-ego Batman, but that is nearly forgotten when he falls in love with Andrea. The story then jumps from past to present and back as the mysterious Phantasm strikes again. Batman continues his investigation and discovers a disturbing link between Andrea, who suddenly shows up after many years absence, and the villain. Meanwhile, the Phantasm, feeling that Batman is too close to learning his/her identity hires the Joker to kill him. But the Joker has his own agenda and much action ensues before the mystery of the Phantasm identity is solved, Batman clears his name, and justice is served. This film was originally made to go straight to video, Warner's studio liked it enough to release it theatrically. Some of the violence may be inappropriate for very young children. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Performance footage and interviews combine to offer a hilarious look at controversial comedian Andy Kauffman's surreal journey into the world of professional wrestling. He had kept Americans in stitches as a featured player on the hit television sitcom Taxi, but Kaufman would single-handedly destroy his small-screen career when he went on television to taunt Memphis-based professional wrestler Jerry "The King" Lawler", and challenged females to fight him in the ring. As Kaufman put every ounce of his energy into taunting Lawler, his abrasive form of comedic performance art alienated the fan-base that had so ardently supported him during his days as lovable, squeaky-voiced cabbie Latka Gravas on the series that propelled him to stardom. In this documentary, fans are offered a rare glimpse into the genius of a comic who was so effective at duping the audience that many assumed his diagnoses with terminal cancer was just another warped gag. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

This video presents the accounts of well-known personalities, including Shirley MacLaine and Dennis Weaver, of their belief in reincarnation. The celebrities talk about the use of hypnosis to experience past life regressions. Believers claim that learning about prior lives has resulted in a greater understanding of the present life, and the lessons the soul is trying to master. The program looks at independent corroboration of some remembered lifetimes. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide

In this crime comedy, the daughter of a notorious French burglar must follow in her father's illustrious footsteps after he is suddenly killed. She soon finds herself nearly in over her head as she is required to perform a variety of death-defying stunts in order to ply her trade. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide