Shaun Micallef Movies
Two teenagers think they have problems until they come to the rescue of a girl with a fishy story to tell in this teen-oriented comedy. Thirteen-year-old Claire (Emma Roberts) and same-aged Hailey (Joanne "JoJo" Levesque) are two close friends living in Tampa, FL, who are facing a separation in a few weeks -- Claire's mother is a marine biologist who has been given a prestigious new job in Australia, meaning the girls are not likely to see much of each other again. While the girls wonder if there's anything they can do to avoid the inevitable, a storm breaks out and the waves toss an unusual example of sea life into Hailey's swimming pool -- Aquamarine (Sara Paxton), a teenaged mermaid who has some problems of her own. Aquamarine's father is a leader of the undersea world who has arranged for his daughter to marry a boy whom she doesn't care for. It seems Dad doesn't put much stock in the land-locked notion of love, and unless Aquamarine can prove to him that it's real, she will have to go through with the wedding. Claire and Hailey find Aquamarine, and discover that she fortunately sprouts legs when on dry land during the daylight hours; after learning of her romantic dilemma, they decide to help her by teaching her how to turn the head of Raymond (Jake McDorman), a cute lifeguard at the nearby beach. However, pretty Aquamarine learns her lessons well enough to make Cecilia (Arielle Kebbel), a mean girl with a crush on Raymond, jealous, leading her into a battle over the young man's affections, which Aquamarine has to win if she wants to avoid a loveless marriage. Aquamarine was the first feature film from director Elizabeth Allen. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Emma Roberts, Joanna 'Jojo' Levesque, (more)
A troubled youth learns a valuable lesson about trust and knowledge in this fantasy drama. Ryan (Ryan Kelley) is a teenager who lacks the ability to speak. One day, Ryan falls off a bridge and he finds himself transported to a strange fantasy world where he encounters his Grandpa Randolph (Armin Mueller-Stahl) and a pretty girl named Melanie (Hayden Panettiere); together, Ryan and Melanie learn to help one another with their problems, and they both discover the wisdom they can gain from elders like Grandpa Randolph. The Dust Factory is the first directorial credit for Eric Small, who also wrote the film's screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Armin Mueller-Stahl, Hayden Panettiere, (more)
- 2003
A pair of Melbourne detectives working in the Zero Tolerance Unit set out to uncover a web of corruption in the directorial debut of famed Australian comic Tony Martin. Though a highly publicized accident involving a dead magistrate quickly relegates dedicated lawmen Ben Kinnear (Mick Molloy) and Mike Paddock (Bob Franklin) back to lowly uniformed duty, the pair can't help but notice an odd link between the accident and the questionable business associations of a suspicious casino boss they had been investigating. Realizing that they can no longer accept the widespread corruption that surrounds them, Ben and Mike set out to bust the crooked casino hustler and rid their city of the criminal element. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mick Molloy, Bob Franklin, (more)
- 2003
After having spent quite a bit of time feeling like little more than a corporate slave, Mark (Damon Gameau) is slightly excited after finding out that his horoscope predicts a new opportunity would present itself to him after passing a series of tests. Sure enough, Mark is called to attend a board meeting on the seldom seen 13th floor, where he's greeted by a man known simply as Sir (Shaun Micallef) and 12 other employees. After informing Mark and the rest of the contenders that they were destined for greater things, Sir assigns them a several tasks that, if completed successfully, would assure one of them a seat at the board room table. Although Mark was eager to accept the challenge, he quickly realizes he may be in over his head -- his tasks include firing one of his friends and delivering a package he expects contains a ticking time bomb -- and his newly complicated existence becomes even more so after beginning an affair with Minerva (Rebecca Havey), the 13th floor's mysterious receptionist. The 13th House was directed by Shane McNeil. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Damon Gameau, Shaun Micallef, (more)
- 2003
Australian filmmaker Ted Emery directs the fish-out-of-water comedy The Honourable Wally Norman. Kevin Harrington stars as the down-to-earth Wally Norman, a foreman at a meat-packing plant who generally gets along with everyone in the small town of Givens Head. The upcoming election for the county seat involves the conservative Total Country Party member F. Ken Oats (played by comedian Shaun Micallef) and the Australian People's Party member Willy Norman (Alan Cassell). Due to a corrupt government scam, Wally's name appears on the ballot and he is approached to run for Federal Parliament. He decides to run just for the heck of it and brings his entire family along with him. Melissa Madden-Gray plays political reporter Rebecca Jane Thompson and John Singleton appears in a cameo role as the Prime Minister. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Harrington, Alan Cassell, (more)
- 1993
The Australian sketch comedy series Full Frontal was very much in the same vein as the earlier weekly Fast Forward, utilizing several of the same writers and performers. Though the satire was wide-ranging, the principal targets were the films, TV programs, talk shows, and musical specials carried by Australia's Seven Network, which also happened to be the home of this particular series. Talk about biting the proverbial hand. Over twenty hour-long episodes of Full Frontal were broadcast from 1993 to 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
