Gabe Sachs Movies
- 2010
Hotel for Dogs' director Thor Freudenthal helms the adaptation of Jeff Kinney's acclaimed Diary of a Wimpy Kid comics with this Fox 2000 production. Zachary Gordon starring as the titular character, with Steve Zahn, Rachael Harris, Robert Capron, and Devon Bostick filling out the rest of the cast. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- 2008
The series that redefined the prime-time teen drama back in the 1990s gets a modern makeover in this spin-off series centering on a family attempting to adjust to life in Beverly Hills after relocating from the Midwest to California and seeing their lives change in ways they never anticipated. Annie Wilson (Shenae Grimes) is a teenage girl with a big heart and a passion for the theater, and her brother Dixon (Tristan Wilds) is a talented athlete and gifted scholar who was adopted by Annie's parents after living with the family as a foster child. Their father Harry (Rob Estes) and mother Debbie (Lori Loughlin) decided to move their family from Kansas to Beverly Hills in order to be closer to Harry's elderly mother Tabitha (Jessica Walter), a former television star who spent her fair share of time at the Betty Ford Clinic. Of course adjusting to life at a new high school is never easy when you're a teenager, though Annie and Dixon's transition is made especially awkward due to the fact that their father has accepted a position as the new school principal. It's going to take a little time for the two West Beverly Hills High newcomers to identify the cliques and connect with classmates, who include bratty rich girl Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord), popular jock Ethan (Dustin Milligan), ambitious student journalist Navid (Michael Steger), and rebellious broadcaster Silver (Jessica Stroup). Perhaps with a little help from such staff members as hip teacher Ryan Matthews (Ryan Eggold) and helpful guidance counselor Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth) - not to mention Kelly's longtime friend Donna Martin (Tori Speling), the owner of a popular Beverly Hills boutique - Annie and Dixon will make some lasting friendships while finding their way though the hallowed halls of California's most exclusive high school. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Created by J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost) and Dana Stevens (For Love of the Game), the weekly, 60-minute dramedy What About Brian covered reliable territory previously staked out in the 1969 Broadway musical Company. Set in Los Angeles, the series starred Barry Watson as Brian O'Hara, who at age 34 was the only one in his circle of friends, six in all, who was neither married nor engaged -- and, of course, all of Brian's friends were anxious that he "join the club" and find the right girl. Actually, no one was more anxious for this than Brian himself, who was tired of feeling like a "seventh wheel." Brian ran a video business called Zap Monkey with Dave Greco (Rick Gomez), who had been married to wife Deena (Amanda Detmer) for 13 years. After having three children and pretty much wearing out each other's welcome, Dave and Deena were seriously considering experimenting with an "open" marriage, even while trying to convince Brian of the joys of matrimony. Elsewhere, Brian's best friend, Adam (Matthew Davis), had just become engaged to "perfect in every way" pediatric surgeon Marjorie (Sarah Lancaster) -- good news for Adam, but bad for Brian, who hadn't yet gotten over his own adoration of Marjorie. Finally, there was Brian's older sister, Nic (Rosanna Arquette), recently wed to much-younger hunk Angelo (Raoul Bova), and desperate to have children before her biological clock ceased ticking. What About Brian inaugurated its ABC network run on April 16, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Not be confused with the British sitcom of the same name, ABC's Life As We Know It was produced by the same people responsible for the cult favorite Freaks and Geeks, and based on Doing It, a novel by Melvin Burgess. Set in Seattle, the series endeavored to delineate modern high school life as experienced by a trio of hormone-driven teenaged boys. Sean Faris played central character Dino Whitman, outwardly a sports jock and chick magnet, inwardly a kind, sensitive soul (and one easily hurt and offended, especially when he unearthed an unsavory secret about his parents). Chris Lowell played Jonathan Fields, a shy aspiring filmmaker whose view of life was filtered through the lens of his ubiquitous vidcam. And Jon Foster played Ben Conner, an academic overachiever who never could understand why he was always falling short in the eyes of his hyper-judgmental parents. Also in the cast were Missy Peregrym as Dino's girlfriend, Jackie Bradford, to whom abstention from sex was becoming more of a challenge with each passing day; Jessica Lucas as Jackie's sensible best friend, Sue Miller; Kelly Osbourne as Jonathan's eccentric gal pal Deborah Tynan; Marguerite Moreau as Ben's voluptuous (and available!) English teacher Ms. Monica Young; and D.B. Sweeney and Lisa Darr as Dino's parents, Michael and Annie Whitman. Described by the ABC publicity department as "A show about sex, school, and growing up (not necessarily in that order)," and further described by one media reviewer as "Sex, sex, sex!," Life As We Know It debuted October 7, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Faris, Jon Foster, (more)
- 2001
Described by the Fox Network as "Freaks and Geeks Goes to College" (both series were produced by Judd Apatow), the weekly half-hour sitcom Undeclared offered a glimpse into college dorm-room life, 21st century style. As the title indicated, the series focused on a group of nerdish freshmen who were not quite certain what their major would be, but were determined to have a lot of fun making that decision. For incoming student Steven Karp (Jay Baruchel), the dorm was not exactly a home away from home, inasmuch as his recently divorced father Hal (played by iconoclastic balladeer Loudon Wainwright III) insisted upon dropping in from time to time, just to be a "pal" to his son's new roommates. Among the regulars was Charlie Hunnam as Lloyd, an erstwhile theater arts major, and Carla Gallo as Steven's self-styled "soul mate," Lizzie. Undeclared debuted on September 25, 2001, hammocked between Fox's That '70s Show and Love Cruise: The Maiden Voyage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jay Baruchel, Charlie Hunnam, (more)
- 1999
Lindsay's "you can do it" Midwestern work ethic proves to be at odds with the Freaks' laid-back approach to rock & roll in this pivotal episode of the short-lived teen saga. Now fully indoctrinated into the Freaks' hang-out/jam sessions in Nick's basement, Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) takes it upon herself to offer some constructive criticism, specifically: practice makes perfect, and "Anarchy's Child" makes a better band name than "Creation." Drummer Nick (Jason Segel) is the only one who's receptive to Lindsay's brainstorming; needless to say, ostensible guitarist Daniel (James Franco) and rest of Creation take umbrage to her band-wrecking ideas (dubbing her "Yoko" in the process). When Nick's stern father tells him to stop beating the skins and focus on his studies -- or else -- Lindsay takes pity and further encourages Nick to hone his talent, against all odds. Meanwhile, Sam (John Daley) has problems of his own, now that Coach Fredricks (Tom Wilson) is enforcing mandatory showers for every student after P.E. class. When his various evasive tactics fall through, Sam has to suck in his gut and take that long, cold walk across the locker-room tile to the communal shower room. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
