Ken Marino Movies
Handsome, dark-haired comedian Ken Marino is one member of the sketch-comedy troupe The State that seems to have broken off from the group in favor of a career in television sitcoms. Born in Long Island, he studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute and N.Y.U. before working in touring companies and off-Broadway plays. In the early '90s, he joined up with the gang that would become The State, the hilarious comedy show that aired on MTV from 1994-1995. His good looks and memorable characters (the Talking Hormone and Louie, the guy who's gonna dip his balls in it) earned him many admiring fans. After the show's cancellation, he was cast in the NBC sitcom Men Behaving Badly. (Starring Rob Schneider and Ron Eldard, the short-lived show was an Americanized version of a popular, long-running British series.) Several guest-starring appearances followed, leading to a recurring role as Professor Wilder on the WB's teen drama Dawson's Creek.Marino made his film debut with a small role in Gattaca, which was followed by several poorly distributed independent comedies (Love Happens, Carlo's Wake, and 101 Ways [The Things a Girl Will Do to Keep Her Volvo]). He also had supporting roles in the more mainstream romantic comedies Tortilla Soup and Joe Somebody. In 2001, he reunited many other members of The State for the teen satire Wet Hot American Summer as sexually desperate camp counselor Victor. Back on NBC, he starred as young San Francisco lawyer Miles Lawton in the series First Years, another short-lived Americanized version of a popular, long-running British TV series. When the show was canceled after a month, he starred in the NBC sitcom Leap of Faith as magazine reporter Andy, best friend of the titular Faith (Sarah Paulson). When this show was canceled after a month, he went back to guest-starring roles on shows like Las Vegas and Rock Me Baby. Projects for 2004 include a leading role in the independent romantic comedy feature Love for Rent opposite Colombian actress Angie Cepeda.
In 2006 he made his feature screenwriting debut with Diggers, and followed that up the next year with the script for The Ten, and had his biggest success to date the year after that with his screenplay for Role Models. He was a regular on the short-lived but highly-respected sitcom Party Down, and in 2012 he wrote and had a superb supporting part in the comedy Wanderlust. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
Director David Wain (Role Models) teams up with producer Judd Apatow (Get Him to the Greek) for this comedy about an overtaxed Manhattan couple who move to a liberated community that rejects the rules of contemporary society. Urban power couple George (Paul Rudd) and Linda (Jennifer Aniston) are already buckling under the stress of living in the city when George loses his job. Desperate, they decide to move to Atlanta and stay with George's obnoxious brother until they can get back on their feet. Along the way, however, they find themselves venturing into Elysium, a small, free-spirited community where money has no value, clothes are strictly optional, and everyone works together to make life more meaningful. It's the perfect place for a stressed-out couple like George and Linda to breathe deep and put their lives into perspective. But will they remain in Elysium, or will the many temptations of the modern world ultimately prove too attractive to resist? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, (more)
A single father finds his lackluster parenting skills coming back to haunt him in this Adam Sandler comedy directed by Sean Anders (Sex Drive). As a teenage father, Donny (Sandler) struggled to raise his son Todd (Andy Samberg) until Todd was old enough to strike out on his own. Subsequently estranged from his father for years, Todd is about to marry the love of his life when Donny turns up determined to form the father-son bond they never had. Now the harder Donny tries to connect with his long-lost son, the more furious Todd's future bride grows with the unwelcomed intruder and his obnoxious antics. Leighton Meester and James Caan co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, (more)
- 2009
This sitcom focuses on a group of struggling performers living in L.A., who pay the bills working for a catering company called Party Down as they wait for their respective big breaks. Working everything from swank Hollywood mixers to children's birthday parties, the group endure a wide array of humiliations, bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase "paying your dues." ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
- Starring:
- Adam Scott, Ken Marino, (more)
A pair of irresponsible energy drink salesmen realize that serving a month of hard time is nothing compared to spending 150 hours in a community mentorship program after they trash the company truck and find themselves at the mercy of the court in this comedy starring Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd. Wheeler (Scott) and Danny (Rudd) wouldn't necessarily be the first people a parent would turn to when seeking out a babysitter, in fact, they probably wouldn't even make the list in the first place. After slamming a few too many Minotaur energy drinks and crashing the company truck, however, the two loose-living pals narrowly avert jail when the court decides to let them become mentors to a group of young misfits. But how is the recently dumped Danny supposed to help bashful, role-playing geek Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) become a man when all he can offer the boy is bitter sarcasm, and is beer-chugging man-child Wheeler really the best choice to help foul-mouthed fifth-grader Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson) develop more respect for his elders? Probably not, but they'll have to do their best anyway when the center's ex-con director (Jane Lynch) confronts them with a harsh ultimatum. Now, if Wheeler and Danny can just make it through the rest of their probation without getting tossed in jail, maybe there's hope for the boys -- and Danny's relationship with his fed-up girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks) -- after all. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, (more)
Much of the group responsible for MTV's The State -- including director/actor David Wain and performers Ken Marino, Kerri Kenney-Silver, and Joe Lo Truglio -- reunite for this outrageous, irreverent, and raunchy sketch comedy, which skewers the Ten Commandments. In the framing sequences, comedian Paul Rudd (who collaborated with much of the cast on Wet Hot American Summer and The Baxter) stands on a black stage with giant Biblical tablets projected behind him and promises to deliver ten mini-stories, each loosely based on one of the commandments, from "Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me" through "Thou Shalt Not Covet." For all of the storyteller's efforts, however, he is constantly, comically distracted by interferences, particularly those emanating from intrusions by his multiple girlfriends. The stories are nonetheless told one by one in short-film form, beginning with a sketch in which Stephen (Adam Brody) goes skydiving with his intended, Kelly (Winona Ryder), but forgets to wear his parachute and gets stuck in the mud, waist-deep, which draws gawkers, media, and in time, worshipers. Several of the subsequent stories consist of raunchy, jet-black riffs on sexual perversion, including one about a virginal librarian (Gretchen Mol) entangled in a sultry and messy affair with a Mexican, and another memorable bit about a nutty surgeon who plays a prank by burying a pair of scissors in a patient's stomach and is then sent to prison -- where he experiences brutal sexual abuse at the hands of other men. As an added bonus, the picture packs in a fully animated sequence, narrated by several crack-smokers, entitled "The Lying Rhino." ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Paul Rudd, Famke Janssen, (more)
The bumbling cops of Comedy Central's hit television series take a trip to Miami Beach for a national police convention. After the trip there turns out to be much more difficult than anticipated, the bumbling crew must leap into action when the convention center becomes the target of a biological terrorist attack. Lieutenant Jim Dangle (Thomas Lennon) must keep together his motley and inept crew in order to save everyone from the disaster, and keep peace on the streets of the popular Florida city. The film features the same cast from the popular Comedy Central series of the same name. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lennie Loftin, Danny DeVito, (more)
In the years before the Hamptons became the ultimate Long Island destination, two generations of clam diggers work the land and struggle to make sense of the changes that threaten to forever transform their simple way of life. The year is 1976, and the future Long Island vacationing hotspot is little more than a tight-knit community of hard-living folks who make their living from the sea. While the impending presidential race between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter has the entire country swept up in the wind of change, the local Hamptons clam diggers begin waging a losing battle against the wealthy developers who are gradually encroaching on their waters. Hunt (Paul Rudd) is a restless and imaginative digger who comes from a long line of hardworking seafarers and has a keen eye for black-and-white photography. When Hunt's father suddenly dies, Hunt and his lifelong pals Frankie (Ken Marino), Jack (Ron Eldard), and Cons (Josh Hamilton) slowly begin to take stock of their modest lives. Meanwhile, as Hunt's recently divorced older sister, Gina (Maura Tierney), struggles to get by while working as a waitress at a local diner, Hunt himself enters into a playfully flirtatious relationship with vacationing Manhattanite Zoe (Lauren Ambrose). Constantly questioning why Hunt refuses to venture out of his dead-end town in favor of pursuing his artistic talents in the big city, Zoe serves as a persistent reminder that one is not always necessarily bound by his or her roots. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Paul Rudd, Lauren Ambrose, (more)
- 2006
Reunited as adults, childhood friends Mark Lucas (Bridget Brannagh and Theresa Connolly (Crystal Allen) fall in love and decide to get married. The wedding plans are okay so far as Mark and Theresa's golfing-buddy dads are concerned. Alas, the couple's mothers constitute a different story: Betsy Lucas (Shelley Long) and Bridget Connolly (Patty Duke) have carried on a bitter feud for the past 25 years, and they aren't about to go into "all is forgiven" mode just because their kids are in love. The situation reaches a disastrous peak when Betsy and Bridget take it upon themselves to arrange the couple's Catalina Island wedding--and as terrifying as these two ladies are when they're on opposite sides of the fence, they're even more so when they join forces! Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door was first telecast February 4, 2006, as a cinematic Valentine card from cable's Hallmark Channel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2006
The day's rounds require that George (T.R. Knight) team up with Derek (Patrick Dempsey)--and, less harmoniously, that Callie (Sara Ramirez, now a series regular) team up with Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). In other developments, Finn (Chris O'Donnell) gets an update on the wellbeing of Meredith's dog Doc; Denny (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is all primed for the transplant, but the donated heart suddenly becomes unavailable, forcing Izzie (Katherine Heigl) to take drastic measures; and Callie has something very important to say to George. The episode comes to a shocking climax as Burke (Isaiah Washington is literally laid low by an unexpected catastrophe. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A man with a "doormat" personality tries standing up for himself for a change in this comedy. Mild mannered tax accountant Elliot Sherman (Michael Showalter) is what he calls a "Baxter": the kind of calm, unexciting fellow who "wears sock garters" and "enjoys raking leaves." Loved by bosses and parents, Elliot is a perfectly nice guy. And that's his problem -- he's safe and pleasant, but not very interesting, so as a consequence he hasn't had much luck with long-term relationships, and more than one woman has abandoned him for someone more exciting. Elliot believes his luck has finally changed for the better when he becomes engaged to Caroline Swann (Elizabeth Banks), a smart and attractive editor at a successful magazine. However, a few weeks before the wedding, who should come back into Caroline's life but Bradley Lake (Justin Theroux), her high school sweetheart and, according to many, the great love of her life. Bradley quickly makes it clear that he wants to win Caroline back, and generally in such circumstances Elliot would politely step aside, but just this once Elliot decides to fight for the woman he loves. Elliot gains an unexpected champion in Cecil Mills (Michelle Williams), a frumpy but adorable temp employee at his office who encourages Elliot to develop a take-charge attitude, though the results aren't quite what he expects. The Baxter was written and directed by Michael Showalter, who also plays Elliot; Showalter was a member of the sketch comedy troupe the State, and also works with the comedy performance trio Stella, whose other members, Michael Ian Black and David Wain, also appear in the movie. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Showalter, Elizabeth Banks, (more)
- 2004
Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is placed on a new medication which modifies his obsessive-compulsive disorder, making him a more relaxed and well-adjusted person--in fact, he's now so laid back that he's abandoned his conservative business suit in favor of a garishly flowered Hawaiian shirt! Unfortunately, Monk's gain is the SFPD's loss: The medication has seriously impaired his crimesolving abilities. As it happens, the "new" Monk could not have emerged at a less convenient time: Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) has been shot and wounded, and his assailant is still at large. This episode marks the last appearance of Bitty Schram as Monk's nurse-assistant Sharona Fleming. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A Colombian law student living in Los Angeles and recently threatened with deportation enters into an unusual agreement with an eccentric couple in hopes of maintaining her citizenship and earning her degree in actor-turned-director Shane Edelman's affectionate romantic comedy. Sofia (Angie Cepeda) once had big plans for her life, but lately it seems like everything is falling apart. Her debts steadily growing and her future in the U.S. thrown into question when the man she had married as a means of obtaining her Green Card cruelly steals all of her possessions while threatening her with divorce, Sofia's sole joy in life is the time spent with her precocious six-year-old neighbor Max (Max Wolf Burkholder), a lonesome boy whose parents have always been too busy to provide him with the attention he so desperately needs. When a series of comic coincidences lead Sofia into the company of wealthy eccentrics Frank (Jim Piddock) and Helen Bauman (Nora Dunn), she soon discovers that she may have found the answer to all of her problems. Saddened by their inability to bear children but determined to realize their dream of parenthood at any cost, Frank and Helen offer Sofia 50,000 dollars if she will agree to become a surrogate mother for the pair. Her outspoken cousin Monica (Martita Roca) and Monica's husband George (Richard Speight, Jr.) providing just the support needed to help her successfully deal with both her pregnancy and the increasingly strange demands placed on her by the Baumans in hopes of birthing a healthy baby, Sofia soon begins to feel an increasing closeness with her kindly doctor Neil (Ken Marino). Though her feelings are seemingly reciprocated at first, it soon becomes increasingly obvious that something in Neil's personal life is preventing him from developing a romantic bond with his adoring patient. Determined to face her labor and forge ahead despite her seemingly unending string of personal disappointments, Sofie strives to find the power to regain control of her life during a time when all hope seems lost and she appears to have no one to turn to. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Angie Cepeda
- 2002
Still waging an internal battle between his good and evil sides, Cole (Julian McMahon) becomes convinced that a malevolent outside force is rechannelling him into committing murder. That "force" turns out to be Barbas (Billy Drago), the Demon of Fear, and an old nemesis of the Charmed Ones. Although Phoebe (Holly Marie Combs) and Piper (Alyssa Milano) steer clear of Cole's plight for fear of further strengthening Barbas, Paige (Rose McGowan) has no qualms about trying to vanquish the Demon of Fear, who in retaliation launches a campaign of psychological terror that turns the girls against one another in an extremely violent fashion. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Brian Krause, Julian McMahon, (more)
- 2002
After envisioning the death of her new boyfriend, Miles (Ken Marino), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) ends up repeatedly rescuing the poor fellow from certain doom. In so doing, Phoebe upsets the time-space continuum, unleashing the futuristic warlock Bacarra (Butch Klein) -- who in turn is under the control of the demonic "future" Cole (Julian McMahon). The "present" Cole balks when ordered by Bacarra to take Miles' life, even though his refusal will result in the deaths of Phoebe and Paige (Holly Marie Combs). Ultimately, the only "Charmed One" left standing is Piper (Holly Marie Combs), and it is she who must put time back in joint and save her sisters (not to mention the future world). ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Brian Krause, Julian McMahon, (more)
- 2002
If the NBC sitcom Leap of Faith tended to resemble the no-holds-barred cable series Sex and the City at times, it may have been because both series shared the same executive producer, Jenny Bicks. Set (of course) in New York City, the NBC series starred Sarah Paulson as thirty-ish Faith Wardwell, a sharp-witted ad executive. Getting cold feet just before her wedding to "looks good on paper" fiance David (Bradley White), Faith opted instead to continue playing the sexual field, with sideline coaching from her three best buds, Andy (Ken Marino), Patty (Lisa Edelstein), and Cynthia (Regina King). Oscar-winning actress Jill Clayburgh was seen as Faith's freewheeling mom Cricket. Leap of Faith inaugurated its network run on February 28, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sarah Paulson, Lisa Edelstein, (more)
1980s teen comedies finally get the parody they so richly deserve with Wet Hot American Summer, the first feature film from writer/director David Wain and co-screenwriter Michael Showalter, formerly of the sketch comedy troupe the State. It's the last day of the summer season at Camp Firewood, and as camp director Beth (Janeane Garofalo) prepares to wrap things up, the staff of teenage counselors realize this is their last chance to do something about the summer romances that have been brewing for the past three months. Sweet but shy Coop (Michael Showalter) is crazy about pretty Katie (Marguerite Moreau), but there's the problem of her severely moody boyfriend Andy (Paul Rudd). Meanwhile, Victor (Ken Marino) is trying to score with sexy Abby (Marisa Ryan), who is known to make friends easily, and McKinley (Michael Ian Black) and Ben (Bradley Cooper) attempt to keep their hot and heavy relationship a secret. Meanwhile, arts and crafts teacher Gail (Molly Shannon) turns to her students for comfort as her marriage falls apart, drama coach Susie (Amy Poehler) tries to whip the talent show into shape with Ben's help, and camp chef Gene (Christopher Meloni) deals with his unique sexual quirks with the help of a talking can of vegetables (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin). Beth even finds time for romance with socially inept astrophysicist Henry (David Hyde Pierce), but first Henry has to save Camp Firewood from a large piece of space junk about to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. Like Wain and Showalter, Ken Marino, Michael Ian Black, and Joe Lo Truglio (who appears in a small role) were also members of the State; fellow State alumnus Kerri Kenney was cast in a supporting role in the film, but her character didn't appear in the final cut. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, (more)
- 2000
Young, beautiful, single Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) heads out for a hot date with William Christopher (Ken Marino), a successful shutterbug introduced to her by her girlfriend Sarina (Daphne Duplaix). After spending the night with this handsome gentleman, Cordelia awakens to find herself pregnant -- with no fewer than seven offspring! She enlists the help of Angel (David Boreanaz) and Wesley (Alexis Denisof) in tracking William down to discover the supernatural origin of her rapid pregnancy. They learn that Sarina, too, is pregnant -- another victim of William's covert demon brethren. As Cordy succumbs to the demon's telepathic control and fiercely protects her impending offspring, Wesley and the huge demon that William serves engage in a duel. Angel arrives to put the freeze on the demon, and soon Cordy is her svelte, normal self. Originally broadcast January 25, 2000, on the WB network, "Expecting" marked season one, episode 12 of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- 1999
- NR
In this comic "Boy meets Girl" story, the Girl, in this case named Lisa (Megyn Price) has a habit of not sticking with anyone for very long. However, when she meets the Boy, here called Mike (Ken Marino), to her surprise (as well as his) Boy and Girl hit it off. Lisa has a friend (Jenica Bergere) who encourages her to stick with Mike, while Mike has a friend (Ryan Bollman) who is tired of his best buddy not being able to hang out with him because he'd rather be with a beautiful woman. However, the real fly in the ointment is that Mike also has a girlfriend (Elizabeth Lackey) who happens to be away when Boy and Girl meet. Will Mike chose to stick with his new flame, go back to his older infatuation, or forget both of them and go grab a brew with his pals? Love Happens was screened as part of the 1999 Seattle Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Megyn Price, Ken Marino, (more)
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