Jay Johnston Movies
Whether appearing on camera or simply stepping in front of the microphone to voice one of countless animated characters, actor/writer/producer and director Jay Johnston had a way of bringing the laughs to every project he worked on. While Johnston's career got off to a respectable start thanks to walk-on roles in Ellen and Just Shoot Me, it was the multi-faceted funnyman's involvement with Mr. Show that truly served to launch his career. Later, in between roles in such features as Jack Frost, Bicentennial Man, Not Another Teen Movie, and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Johnston kept busy with appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm and Malcolm in the Middle. By the time Johnston assumed the role of Officer Taylor on Arrested Development, he was widely considered one of the comedy world's best-kept secrets. A role in the 2006 comedy Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny found Johnston helping to bring the self-proclaimed "Greatest Band in the World" to the big screen, with a recurring role on The Sarah Silverman Program following in quick succession. In 2007, Johnston signed on as writer/producer/voice star of the cynical, clay-animated religious satire Moral Orel -- which took direct aim at such kitchy religious propaganda as Davey and Goliath. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2006
- R
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In this musical comedy-adventure starring self-proclaimed greatest band in the world Tenacious D, a pair of aspiring rock superstars attempt to convince the world of their true talents as they embark on a daring quest to acquire the supernaturally powered guitar pick that will finally allow them to fully realize their vast rock & roll potential. JB (Jack Black) is a naïve Midwesterner whose strict Christian parents view his burning passion for heavy metal as a mortal sin. After his dad tears down every poster in his bedroom except for a Ronnie James Dio poster on the back of the door, the former Black Sabbath frontman instructs the aspiring young rocker to seek out his fortune no matter what the cost. Subsequently setting his sights on Hollywood and hellbent to take the world of rock music by storm, JB sneaks out his bedroom window and makes his way to Venice Beach, where he soon meets guitar-strumming slacker KG (Kyle Gass). With a future of rock & roll superstardom now well within their reach, JB and KG harness the power of Satan to form hellfire hard rock duo Tenacious D and set out on a quest to achieve musical immortality by stealing the mythical guitar pick said to instill its owner with unprecedented musical prowess. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Black, Kyle Gass, (more)
Otherworldly villains are on the loose again, and it's up to Earth's interstellar police force to bring them to justice in this sequel to the sci-fi comedy blockbuster Men in Black. Agent Jay (Will Smith) has become a high-ranking member of the Men in Black, the secret government task force designed to deal with unruly visitors from other worlds, while his former cohort, Agent Kay (Tommy Lee Jones), had his memory wiped clean and now lives a simple but contented life as a mailman. However, an especially nasty alien threat has reared its not-so-ugly head; Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle) is a shape-shifting Kylothian alien who is in pursuit of another escaped visitor who holds the key to powers that would allow her to destroy the world. Making Serleena all the more dangerous is the fact she's taken on the appearance of a lingerie model, making her irresistible to most men. When the rampaging Serleena takes control of the MIB offices, Jay is forced to turn to the only man who can help him save the world -- the former Agent Kay. After restoring Kay's memory, the two remaining Men in Black set out to conquer Serleena with a motley band of friendly aliens, including a handful of worm creatures and a talking dog named Frank (voice of Tim Blaney). Jay, meanwhile, has his head turned by Laura (Rosario Dawson), an attractive waitress who was an unwitting witness to an alien attack. Men in Black 2 also features Rip Torn, Tony Shalhoub, David Cross, Patrick Warburton, and Johnny Knoxville. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, (more)
Dana Carvey ventures into the world of PG-rated, family-oriented entertainment as star and co-writer of this light adventure comedy, which requires the actor to assume more than three dozen different identities. Carvey's primary role in Master of Disguise, however, is that of Pistachio Disguisey, an ordinary waiter with a hidden, mostly untapped talent for transforming himself into any persona he wishes. When his kindly parents, Mama (Edie McClurg) and Frabbrizio (James Brolin), are kidnapped by the evil thief Devlin (Brent Spiner), the usually meek Pistachio is forced to rescue them. Enlisting the help of his grandfather (Harold Gould), Pistachio learns that he is one of a long line of family members to have the power of "Energico," a mystical means of changing one's identity to suit any given situation, and Pistachio learns to use these powers to their fullest to defeat Devlin and win back his folks. Carvey's original idea for Master of Disguise was helped to the screen by executive producer Adam Sandler, a buddy of his from their time on NBC's Saturday Night Live. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dana Carvey, Jennifer Esposito, (more)
- 2002
Roly-poly comedian Cedric the Entertainer was host and principal instigator of this weekly, half-hour variety series. Combining the best elements of The Jackie Gleason Show and In Living Color, the series offered brash, cutting-edge comedy sketches with a full complement of recurring characters, among them the Love Doctor, Mrs. Cafeteria Lady, and heat-sensitive golf commentator Raj. One of the series' early highlights was the Mexican soap-opera spoof "Que Hora Es?," designed for people who never got past third-year Spanish (in one sketch, two Latino lovers pitched woo at one another by counting to ten in their native tongue). Joining in the general hilarity were regulars Amy Brassette, Shaun Majumber, and Wendy Raquel Robinson. Telecast in tandem with the Fox Network sitcom The Bernie Mac Show, Cedric the Entertainer Presents debuted September 18, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cedric the Entertainer, Amy Brassette, (more)
