Debra Frank Movies
L. Frank Baum's enduring fantasy story gets a new and very funny spin in this made-for-TV comedy. Dorothy (Ashanti) is a young woman who works in a diner in Kansas owned by her Aunt Em (Queen Latifah) and dreams of one day making it big as a singer. When a tornado makes its way through the trailer park Dorothy and Em call home, the young woman is spirited off to a magical land known as Oz, where she accidentally kills the most wicked witch in the land. Dorothy, however, isn't so sure she wants to stay, and sets off to find a wizard who might be able to help her. As Dorothy searches for the wizard's castle, she makes some friends along the way -- a scarecrow (Kermit the Frog, voiced by Steve Whitmire), a cowardly lion (Fozzie Bear, voiced by Eric Jacobson), a combination robot and computer made of tin (The Great Gonzo, voiced by Dave Goelz) -- but she also has to fend off The Wicked Witch of the West (Miss Piggy, voiced by Eric Jacobson), whose sister fell victim to Dorothy upon her arrival in the strange new land. Featuring most of the best-known Muppet Show characters, The Muppets' Wizard of Oz also features guest appearances by Jeffrey Tambor, David Alan Grier, and Quentin Tarantino. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ashanti, Queen Latifah, (more)
- 2002
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Macaulay Culkin lookalike (and soundalike) Mike Weinberg steps into the role of resourceful youngster Kevin McAllister in this made-for-TV sequel to the immensely popular theatrical Home Alone trilogy. On this occasion, young Kevin finds himself stranded in the computerized "safe house" owned by Natalie (Joanna Going), the predatory new girlfriend of Kevin's recently divorced dad Peter (Jason Beghe). Combining the technology of the house with his own improvisational brilliance, Kevin endeavors to save a royal heir from a trio of kidnappers, one of whom is the boy's old burglar nemesis Marv Merchants (French Stewart, replacing the first two films' Daniel Stern). Needless to say, Kevin also finds time to befriend an adult "outcast" and to bring his parents back together. Home Alone 4 originally aired November 3, 2002, as an episode of the ABC anthology The Wonderful World of Disney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mike Weinberg, French Stewart, (more)
Jason Alexander stars as fabled toy manufacturer, A.C. Gilbert in this Capraesque TV movie. An overachiever since his school days, Gilbert surprises his stern father (Ed Asner) by forsaking a career in medicine to pursue an entirely different business. Creating the now legendary Erector Set, A.C. sets up his own toy company in 1913, an enterprise which is raking in millions within two years. But with America's entry into WWI, the U.S. government prevails upon Gilbert to convert his factory into a munitions plant. Though at heart a pacifist, Gilbert agrees to do so, secure in the belief that he will be able to return to toys once the hostilities have ceased. Alas, the Government has other plans. At their behest, Gilbert reluctantly mounts a "Buy Bonds, Not Toys" campaign designed to divert the money normally spent on Christmas gifts to the war effort. Is this the end of Christmastime as millions of children know it, or will Gilbert be able to salvage both the holiday and the spirit of giving? The Man Who Saved Christmas debuted December 15, 2002, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Pregnant with David's baby, Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) has decided to return from Chicago to LA via train--but she's still not sure whether or not she and David should resume their relationship. En route, Maddie meets a dweebish fellow passenger named Walter Bishop (Dennis Dugan), to whom she pours out her heart--and a generous supply of story exposition. Meanwhile, Agnes (Allyce Beasley) and Bert (Curtis Armstrong) anxiously await Maddie's return so that they can fill her in as to what occurred in the episodes she has missed--little suspecting that Maddie has a bit of startling news of her own! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Evidently, David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) have come down to earth after sharing their first kiss in the previous episode. It's back to business this week, as David uses information supplied by a gorgeous prostitute (Lisa Blount) to solve a few recent murders; it seems that one of the girl's more prominent clients has a habit of talking in her sleep. David's "sleuthing" skills make him famous overnight--and also target him for extinction by certain parties who don't like all the publicity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
The spotlight in this episode is not on detectives David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepherd),but instead on their mousy, poetry-spouting secretary Agnes Dipesto (Allyce Beasley). Yearning for some excitement in her life, Ms. Dipesto gets more than she bargained for when a mysterious man slips her a piece of paper, then dashes off for parts unknown. The delighted Agnes thinks that the paper contains the man's phone number--but it doesn't, not by a long shot. Before the story plays itself out, Agnes has been injected with truth serum and sent on a wild cab ride, and a man is murdered (or appears to be murdered) in a bowling alley. As indicated by its title, this episode owes more than a little to the cinematic oeuvre of Alfred Hitchcock. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
There must be an inviolate law on the TV statute books demanding that every series turn out at least one takeoff of the 1946 film classic It's a Wonderful Life. Moonlighting's contribution to this ongong Yuletide tradtion finds a disgruntled Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) wondering what her life would have been like had she sold the Blue Moon Detective Agency as she originally planned. The "Clarence" character this time out is a most unangelic angel named Albert, played by Richard Libertini. Guest appearances include model Cheryl Tiegs as herself, and Lionel Stander in his "Max" character from the earlier TV detective series Hart to Hart (which had previously occupied Moonlighting's Tuesday-night network timeslot!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In his last acting assignment before his death, Orson Welles narrates this highly unusual episode of Moonlighting. While gathering evidence for their latest case, David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill learn of the famous Flamingo Cove Murder, a 1946 case that has never been solved. It doesn't take long for the two detectives to dream up their own separate solutions to the murder--dreams filmed in glorious black and white in the manner of a classic film noir (David's scenario looks like something out of the Rita Hayworth flick Gilda, while Maddie's resembles a Tennessee Williams-style romantic melodrama!) Cybill Shepherd sings "Blue Moon" and "I Told Ya I Love Ya, Now Get Out!" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
The latest client of the Blue Moon Detective Agency is Kathleen Kilpatrick (Alexandra Johnson), an Irish lass who claims to be a leprechaun. Kathleen hires David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) to protect her pot of gold--and herself--from a sinister criminal. Although the detectives have their doubts about Kathleen's authenticity as a leprechaun, there is no doubt that a very dangerous individual is out to get her. This week's chase climax occurs in and around an airport luggage carousel, leaving our two protagonists positively giddy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
