Yolanda Wood Movies
A talented but troubled high-school rugby star gets a second shot at redemption after being sentenced to serve time in a Salt Lake City boys' home and landing a coveted spot on the famed Highland High School rugby team in this inspirational sports drama from director Ryan Little (Saints and Soldiers, Everything You Want). Rick Penning (Sean Faris ) was the star player on his Arizona rugby team until his life took a turn for the worse. Now, after a fateful brush with the law, Rick finds himself out of the spotlight and forced to ponder the consequences of his actions in a Salt Lake City juvenile detention center. As fate would have it, however, Salt Lake's famed Highland High rugby team could use a player like Rick. With a little help from coach Larry Gelwix (Gary Cole), Rick may even be able to lead the Highland High team to the national championships. When Rick discovers that the team they'll be competing against is none other than his old team from Arizona, which is coached by his father, Richard Penning (Neal McDonough), the deciding game takes on a newfound sense of gravity in the eyes of the ambitious young athlete. Arielle Kebbel and Sean Astin co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Faris, Gary Cole, (more)
- 2003
This Disney Channel feature film is based on the true story of female hot rod racers Erica Enders and her sister Courtney Enders. When the National Hot Rod Association begins a new children's league, eight-year-old Erica (Briana Shipley) is first in line to sign up -- only to be flatly informed that hot rodding is a "man's" sport, and that little girls should stay home with their dollies. Undaunted, and urged on by her supportive father Gregg (Jon Robert Lindstrom), Erica persists in her dream to become a champion racer, and by the time she has entered her teen years (whereupon she is played by Beverly Mitchell), the girl has handily beaten all of the local male competition, with her equally talented kid sister Courtney (Brie Larson) keeping apace in her own souped-up roadster. But the big-time national competitions are still in the future, and Erica and Courtney have yet to confront their most formidable racing rivals. The real-life Enders sisters doubled for the actresses portraying them in the hot-rodding sequences. Filmed in Salt Lake City, Right on Track made its cable TV bow on March 21, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Beverley Mitchell, Brie Larson, (more)
- 2002
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Monica (Roma Downey) continues struggling with her emotions as Tess (Della Reese) sinks deeper and deeper into Alzheimers' Disease. Tess' plight makes Monica's current assignment, to help reformed wastrel Kevin Greeley (Charlie Schlatter, repeating his role from the third-season episode "Inherit the Wind", adopt his foster son despite resistance from a woman named Hannah (Jenice Bergere), who claims to be the boy's real mother. The fact that Hannah works in the same nursing home where Tess is currently residing is a subtle hint that somehow, some way, the episode's two main crises will intertwine. Ossie Davis and Keb Mo' make return visits as the Archangel Gabriel and the Angel of Music. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Tess (Della Reese) brings her fellow angels along on a visit to one of her former assignments, ebullient tavern owner Betty Poplovich (Debbie Reynolds). Before long, everyone on the premises--including Betty's partner Lew (Billy Barnes)--is conspiring to help a lonely lass named Zoe (Sarah Paulson) discover the true meaning of love. Will she find that meaning with equally lonely delivery guy Billy (Chris Wiehl)--or can it be that Jeff (Christopher Jacobs), the man who has broken her heart, will come back into her life? The answers, of course, are not immediately forthcoming...and it will take a devastating tragedy for Zoe to finally discover what love really means. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
