Christopher Lloyd Movies
Christopher Lloyd is among Hollywood's busiest and best character actors and has created a number of unforgettable roles on television and in film. Lanky, dark-haired, gravel-voiced, hollow-eyed, and possessing almost skeletal facial features that belie their flexibility, he takes after Lon Chaney in his ability to transform himself into a variety of odd personages ranging from malevolent villains to lovable cooks, most of which are comical. Lloyd is also a versatile theatrical actor known for his ability to improvise in inventive, often outrageous ways. This despite the fact that in his personal life he is famously reclusive and shy. Raised in New Canaan and Westport, CT, Lloyd became interested in acting at age 14 and started out in summer stock at age 16. Following high school, he moved to New York to study acting with such noted drama coaches as the Neighborhood Playhouse's Sanford Meisner. Beginning in 1969 with a Broadway appearance in Red, White and Maddox, he went on to appear on and off-Broadway and with several New York Shakespeare Festivals; in one production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Lloyd starred opposite Meryl Streep. In 1973, he won an Obie and a Drama Desk Award for his work in Kaspar.He became interested in becoming a film actor after making a memorable debut as the cynical, sadistic mental patient Taber in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). He moved to Los Angeles in 1976, but did not get his big break until 1978 when he walked into an audition for the innovative comedy Taxi. They were looking for someone to play Reverend Jim Ignatowsky, a burned-out nut case who took one drug too many during the '60s and never recovered. Lloyd shuffled into the audition wearing a faded, funky jean jacket, with his hair all askew, and his eyes bleared: he was instantly cast. His character was only meant for one episode, but proved so popular that he was written in as a regular character. Between 1979 and 1983, Lloyd won two Emmy's for Reverend Jim and the actor remains closely identified with him.
His success on Taxi led Lloyd to larger film roles, but he did not become a big name in pictures until he portrayed the crazy but lovable inventor Doc Emmett L. Brown opposite Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future (1985) and its sequels. He later voiced Doc Brown in the CBS morning cartoon version of the popular trilogy, Back to the Future--The Animated Series, and also appeared in a version of the film made especially for a theme park ride. Some of his other memorable roles from the '80s include that of a Klingon in Star Trek II: The Search for Spock (1984), the sneaky Professor Plum in Clue (1985), and the nefarious Judge Doom in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988). He played his third most recognizable role, that of Uncle Fester opposite Angelica Huston's Morticia and Raul Julia's Gomez in both Addams Family films (1991 and 1993). Occasionally Lloyd plays "normal" people in such films as Eight Men Out (1988). In addition to film and television work, Lloyd is also finding success as a voice artist in such projects as Anastasia (1997), where he played the wicked Rasputin. In regard to his hermit-like tendencies, Lloyd insists on signing a contract for every project that frees him from all promotion duties so he won't have to do interviews and have people pry into his private life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Originally produced for NBC television, this adaptation of the Lewis Carroll classic features an impressive cast, including Miranda Richardson, Martin Short, Ben Kingsley, Whoopi Goldberg, Gene Wilder, Peter Ustinov, and George Wendt. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Comedian Andy Kaufman gave performances that were bizarre and difficult to categorize, in which he might do or say almost anything: show cartoons, impersonate Elvis Presley, play conga drums while singing children's songs, read aloud from The Great Gatsby, or take the audience out for milk and cookies. Written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski and directed by Milos Forman (the team behind The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)), this biopic takes an in-depth look at Kaufman's life and art, with Jim Carrey as Kaufman, who could (and would) be any number of different people onstage: the quiet and childlike man, the little foreign guy, the overbearing showbiz "professional," the violently obnoxious wrestler, or the world's worst lounge singer. As Kaufman rose from comedy clubs to guest appearances on Saturday Night Live and a spot on the TV sitcom Taxi, his performances became more complex and dangerous -- so much so that when word got out in 1984 that he was suffering from lung cancer, many fans and associates thought it was just another bizarre stunt; the disease took his life later that year. Man on the Moon features Danny De Vito as Kaufman's manager George Shapiro, Courtney Love as his girlfriend Lynne Margulies, Paul Giamatti as his friend Bob Zmuda, and David Letterman, Judd Hirsch, Marilu Henner, Carol Kane, and Christopher Lloyd as themselves. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Carrey, Danny DeVito, (more)
John Ritter, JoBeth Williams, Christopher Lloyd, and Yasmine Bleeth star in this comedy-drama about a couple having serious problems with their marriage. Help, however, arrives in the least expected way when a small plane crashes into their roof and they are suddenly introduced to a pair of wealthy eccentrics who give them a lesson in how to enjoy life. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yasmine Bleeth, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
- 1999
In this Canadian comedy, Richard (Gil Bellows) departs his office, driving north for a Christmas holiday at the country home of his fiancé Sarah (Kristin Leeman), the daughter of his boss George Billings (Leon Powhall). When his car collapses en route, he arrives instead at a house inhabited by a kooky family. He is subjected to various humiliations and indignities, but amid the madness and general goofiness, he soon finds himself attracted to the clan's sleepwalking Celia (Parker Posey), "the world's greatest hair stylist," causing him to question his planned marriage. Shown at the 1997 Mill Valley and Hollywood film festivals. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gil Bellows, Parker Posey, (more)
My Favorite Martian stars Jeff Daniels as Tim O'Hara, once a newspaper man and now a struggling television producer in Santa Barbara. Tim has a crush on vapid news reporter Brace Channing (Elizabeth Hurley) while overlooking his feelings for Lizzie (Daryl Hannah), a technician working at the station. Driving home one night, Tim wanders upon the crash landing of a spaceship from Mars. The Martian inside (Christopher Lloyd) has come to Earth searching for a fellow Martian who had been lost here 35 years ago. After the crash, he hides on the beach and shrinks his spaceship to the size of a toy to avoid detection; Tim finds the ship anyway, and takes it home. With little choice, the Martian, aided by his sentient and very neurotic spacesuit, follows Tim home and reveals himself. Tim sees the alien as his ticket to the big time, but the Martian, now masquerading as Tim's Uncle Martin (thanks to some Martian gum that transforms his appearance to that of a human) thwarts Tim at every turn. Just as he gets the video he needs for his story, O'Hara develops a friendship with his planetary neighbor and new "Uncle." The two suddenly find they are racing against the the clock -- a government team, led by a wacky scientist (Wallace Shawn), hunts Martin down, and the spaceship (a rental) is on a timed sequence to self-destruct if it cannot be repaired in time. Along the way, Tim loses his infatuation with Brace and finds his true feelings for the loyal Lizzie. Martin might also find his lost friend on Earth, just as he has found new ones. ~ Ron Wells, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Daniels, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
Dr. Elena Kinder (Kathleen Turner) is the highly visible chief executive of BABYCO, the world's largest manufacturer of baby products. The company funds orphanages across the world and just opened an indoor theme park for children adjacent to its corporate headquarters in Los Angeles. Unbeknownst to the public, Kinder, with the help of Dr. Heep (Christopher Lloyd), has been conducting a vast research program devoted to decrypting in secret labs deep beneath BABYCO's corporate campus the language that babies speak. It's said that Tibetans believe all babies are born with complete knowledge of the universe and the ability to speak to each other in an ancient language. However, once infants turn two years old, they lose this knowledge as they bond more closely with adults. To study this theory, Dr. Kinder has culled the smartest babies from her orphanages to be raised in a special development program in her private lab. As a test of developmental progress, she has separated a pair of twins, Sly and Witt. While Sly is raised within the lab, Witt has been adopted by Kinder's niece, Robin Bobbins (Kim Cattrall) and her husband Dan (Peter MacNicol), who run an old-fashioned day care and child research center. Sly manages to escape the center and finds his way to a shopping mall during Christmas. While eluding Kinder's henchmen, Sly stumbles across Witt; Witt is promptly mistaken for Sly and taken away, while Sly goes to the day care center with his new mother. The two boys, who develop an empathic link, must find each other and free the children from the research center before Dr. Kinder can smuggle them out of the country. ~ Ron Wells, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kathleen Turner, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
A brush with death causes a woman to see into the world in a different way in this psychological thriller from Canada. A young woman writing for a tabloid (Cynthia Preston) is working with a veteran reporter (Christopher Lloyd) on a story about a patient at a mental hospital who claims to be able to predict people's deaths. The woman finds herself flashing back to a plane crash in which she was nearly killed and recalling a series of unusual events that occurred in its wake. Soon she begins to wonder if these things may be linked in some way. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lloyd, Cynthia Preston, (more)
- 1998
Kirsten Dunst and Christopher Lloyd provide voices for this animated adaptation of Mark Twain's tale of a mischievous boy and his adventures growing up in the American South. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirsten Dunst, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
In this comedy with dramatic overtones, Susan "Soosh" Teagarden (Moira Kelly) is an aspiring artist with plenty of emotional baggage. Her father Theo (Christopher Lloyd) is a famous painter; he's also an alcoholic who has never been able to express his affection for his daughter. Soosh's mother died when she was young, and she still cherishes her memory but also feels deep loss. These days, Soosh has trouble with men, her job at a clothing store, her art, and her landlord, after she's caught shoplifting. Looking for somewhere to stay, she goes to a nearby convent and tells them a sob story that moves the Mother Superior (Eileen Brennan) to take her in. Soosh discovers that Christian charity isn't the easy street she expected; she has to work alongside the sisters at the convent and follow their schedule, and Soosh isn't accustomed to rising at 5 a.m. and having to be in by 11 p.m. But the Mother Superior sees Soosh's paintings and realizes that she has a true gift; she encourages her in her art and tries to help her put the broken pieces of her life together. Along the way, Soosh also falls in love with Felix (Dylan Walsh), who happens to run the art supply store where she steals most of her supplies. Changing Habits also stars Shelley Duvall as a speechless nun and Teri Garr as one of Soosh's co-workers. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Moira Kelly, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
In this youth-oriented comedy, a grieving football player and his losing team receives a little help from above in order to become champions. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lloyd, Matthew Lawrence, (more)
This romantic comedy from writer and director Tom DiCillo follows some New York City pals seeking authenticity with the real blonde, a symbol of amorous perfection. Joe (Matthew Modine) is an out-of-work actor struggling for even bit parts in Madonna music videos by groveling in front of a high-powered agent (Kathleen Turner), while his makeup artist girlfriend Mary (Catherine Keener) pays the bills. After six years of cohabitation, Joe's lack of success is wearing on their relationship. In the meantime, Joe's friend and fellow actor Bob (Maxwell Caulfield) has finally hit the jackpot with a role on a soap opera opposite the beautiful Kelly (Daryl Hannah), who just might be the real blonde of his dreams. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Modine, Catherine Keener, (more)
Body parts take on a life of their own in these two below-par horror stories made for television. In one story, a pair of teeth bite into a nasty hitchhiker at an opportune moment, and in the other, an artificially attached hand leaves the body it belongs to and takes off for a series of adventures. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lloyd, Matt Frewer, (more)
The first feature from the 20th Century-Fox animation unit in Phoenix, Arizona, this is the ninth film produced and directed by the Don Bluth/Gary Goldman duo (An American Tail) and the first animated feature to be made in CinemaScope since Disney's Sleeping Beauty (1959). This $50 million animated fantasy retells the story of Anastasia, daughter of Czar Nicholas, beginning with her childhood in 1916 Russia. After Rasputin's curse on the Romanovs, little Anastasia is separated from her grandmother, the Dowager Empress Maria. After growing up in an orphanage, Anastasia emerges as a young woman called Anya. With no clear memory of her youth, Anya encounters entrepreneurs who seek an Anastasia look-alike in hopes of collecting a reward in Paris from the aged Dowager Empress. Despite demonic interference from Rasputin, the three travel to Paris where another problem awaits: the Dowager Empress is now skeptical of the parade of imposters. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meg Ryan, John Cusack, (more)
Three disparate Texas sisters reunite to celebrate the wedding of the youngest and end-up having a thrilling adventure racing across the prairie with a fortune in stolen loot. The sisters, Francis, Mary Katherine, and the irrepressible spitfire CJ Crowley, whom the other two had to bail out of jail, were abandoned by their father in 1974 (this situation is presented via black and white flashback in the prologue and at various points throughout the story). No sooner is CJ free than she returns to the strip joint where she works. The owner is an ex-Texas Ranger, Wood Grimes. It was he who had their father sent to prison. CJ isn't there long, before Grimes fires her for sassing back. To get even, the sisters swipe a key and steal the loot that Grimes, their father, and another stole many years before. It was the murder of the third crook that got their father, Travis, sent to prison, but the girls think Grimes is the real killer. As the women flee with the booty, they have time to rehash their pasts and discuss their feelings about their father. At one point they encounter Beau, a handsome, overly-polite cowboy with whom Francis has a romantic fling. The story begins and ends at the famous"Cadillac Ranch" a combination burial ground and art gallery devoted to the luxurious old cars. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Suzy Amis, Renee Humphrey, (more)
- 1996
- R
In this police actioner, a brand-new lady cop's lack of enthusiasm at getting a job behind a criminal processing desk instead of on the streets proves unfounded. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lea Thompson, Robert Loggia, (more)
- 1996
This version of O. Henry's oft adapted comical short story stays close to the original and chronicles the chaos suffered by two vagrants who decide to kidnap a little boy who turns out to be such a terror that they must pay a ransom for his parents to take him back. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In this light-hearted comedy, an ingenious salesman devises a clever scheme for finding homes for orphans. A pair of yuppies, trying to decide whether or not to become parents, use the plan to test out three rambunctious children in their home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
- R
- Add Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead to QueueAdd Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead to top of Queue
In the mode of Quentin Tarantino, this film, directed by Gary Fleder from a script by Scott Rosenberg, concerns itself with hip, smart gangsters. The film is set in Denver, and the title comes from a Warren Zevon song. A retired, good-hearted gangster named Jimmy the Saint (Andy Garcia) runs a company that videotapes dying people giving life advice to their children and grandchildren, to be delivered when they come of age. Jimmy's former crime boss, The Man with the Plan (Christopher Walken), summons him. The Man is wheelchair-bound and doesn't have long to live; he explains that Jimmy owes him a favor and must perform one final job. It involves frightening the boyfriend of the ex-girlfriend of Bernard (Michael Nicolosi), the son of The Man, who has been so shaken by the girl's rejection of him that he has been fondling schoolyard children. Jimmy rounds up his old gang -- including Pieces (Christopher Lloyd), a porno theater projectionist; Franchise (William Forsythe), an ex-biker with a trailer-trash family to support; Critical Bill (Treat Williams), a psychotic, trigger-happy ex-con; and Easy Wind (Bill Nunn), an exterminator. Pieces and Bill pose as cops as part of the needlessly elaborate plan, which misfires badly. The Man, enraged, gives Jimmy 48 hours to leave town, and he orders his comrades wiped out, hiring the notorious hitman Mr. Shhh (Steve Buscemi) to track them down. But Jimmy can't seem to get the others to leave town, and despite The Man's decree, Jimmy is also reluctant to leave, because he's become romantically entangled with Dagney (Gabrielle Anwar). Jack Warden's character serves as a kind of Greek chorus who comments from time to time on the unfolding action. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andy Garcia, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
A young boy overcomes his obsessive fears by discovering a love for books in this animated fantasy adventure. In a live action wraparound, Macaulay Culkin stars as Richard Tyler, an easily bullied, nervous wreck of a kid who's an expert on safety statistics. His mother and father (Mel Harris and Ed Begley, Jr.) don't know how to inspire their son to embrace life boldly. Barely able to leave the house, Richard ventures out one day, but he gets lost in a storm and ends up at a mysterious library. Inside, he slips, knocks himself unconscious and finds himself in a cartoon realm where books come to life. Guided by Adventure (Patrick Stewart), Fantasy (Whoopi Goldberg) and Horror (Frank Welker), Tyler experiences the adventures of classic novels such as Moby Dick and Treasure Island, and he even meets some famed fictional characters, such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Leonard Nimoy). Through his experiences in the pages of the legendary books, Richard confronts his phobias and learns to face life more courageously. The Pagemaster was directed by Joe Johnston, a former special effects supervisor and production designer who later directed Jumanji (1995) and October Sky (1999). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Macaulay Culkin, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
A blend of screwball farce and whodunit murder mystery, this madcap period piece was the brainchild of executive producer George Lucas. In 1939, Penny Henderson (Mary Stuart Masterson) is the harried general secretary and de facto manager of a new fourth radio network, WBN. On the night that the Chicago station goes live on the air, a mysterious voice interrupts, and a series of murders soon follows, each one described by the same sonorous phantom. While Penny and her staff desperately try to keep WBN's roster of shows afloat during the unfolding crisis, her estranged husband Roger (Brian Benben), a staff writer, becomes the chief suspect. Roger is forced to dodge a detective, Lieutenant Cross (Michael Lerner), find the real killer, win Penny back, and perform last-minute script rewrites for an unhappy sponsor. As the backstage hysteria reaches a fever pitch, the show goes on with real-life radio-era pros such as George Burns and Rosemary Clooney. Although never explicitly pointed out in the film, Radioland Murders (1994) was a pseudo-prequel to an earlier Lucas feature -- Roger and Penny are the future parents of Curt Henderson (Richard Dreyfuss) from American Graffiti (1973). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Benben, Mary Stuart Masterson, (more)
This is a children's video about the life and work of the author commonly known around the world as Dr. Seuss. The video also contains original musical productions based on Dr. Seuss' books, including Oh, The Places You'll Go, Green Eggs and Ham, and The Cat in the Hat. On this video, you will see Dr. Seuss characters featured in original animated and live-action tales and fun games for fans of the author's books. Some of the participants featured in this video are Kathy Najimy, Robin Williams, Christopher Lloyd, David Paymer, Patrick Stewart, Eileen Brennan, Billy Crystal, and Howie Mandel, among others. ~ Cecilia Cygnar, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kathy Najimy
This light-hearted comedy depicts a typical summer camp, but with a special twist: this camp was designed by the campers themselves! "Mud" Himmel is a nerd. Once again he is faced with attending computer camp. His buddy Zack will be marching into go to military camp while Trish is acting happy about theater camp. That Gaby is going again to fat camp weighs heavily upon her mind. None of them are thrilled with their camp prospects and it is rebellious Mud who suggest that they create their own, secret camp. Enter Dennis Van Welker, their crazy high school drama instructor. He offers to join the conspiracy and act as their camp counselor. Just as it looks as if the four misfits are going to have a really great summer together, two dozen of their peers find out about the camp and decide to come along. For a time it's one big chaotic party. But as the kids act out their camp fantasies, they are gaining valuable insight into their lives. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Jackson, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
Updated from the 1951 film of the same name, Angels In The Outfield takes liberties with the original to bring sentimental values to a modern setting. Roger (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a foster child whose irresponsible father promises to get his act together when Roger's favorite baseball team, the California Angels, wins the pennant. The problem is that the Angels are in last place, so Roger prays for help to turn the team around. Sure enough, his prayers are answered in the form of angel Al (Christopher Lloyd), and, before you know it, the Angels' bitter manager (Danny Glover) is watching in amazement as his team starts making the plays -- with the help of angels visible to the audience only as glowing special effects. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Glover, Tony Danza, (more)
John Hughes continues the trend he began with the Home Alone series in Dennis the Menace, the Hughes-scripted film version of Hank Ketcham's long-running comic strip, cartoon show, and television comedy. The film opens as Dennis (Mason Gamble) is seen careening down a sidewalk in a beautiful and idealistic suburban town on his training-wheeled bike -- cans on string clattering behind him, baseball cards flapping in the spokes of the wheel, his red wagon filled to the brim and his dog following him. "Hey! Mister Wilson!" he screams and slams his bike to a halt in front of his much put-upon neighbor, Mr. Wilson (Walter Matthau). Half of the film concerns vignettes of small-town Hank Ketcham life as Dennis' mom Alice (Lea Thompson) starts a new job, Dennis stays over at his friend Margaret's (Amy Sakasitz) house, and Mr. Wilson and his gentle, well-meaning wife, Martha (Joan Plowright), mind Dennis during the night of a big garden party. Through all this, Dennis continually gets into Mr. Wilson's hair. But then the Home Alone plot kicks in -- with an unsubtle dose of O. Henry -- when Switchblade Sam (Christopher Lloyd) makes an appearance. Switchblade Sam is a homeless drifter who combs the neighborhood stealing purses and small home items. But when Switchblade Sam steals Mr. Wilson's collection of gold coins, Dennis comes to the rescue and inflicts Dennis the Menace-type tortures upon the thief in order to reclaim the coins for Mr. Wilson. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Mason Gamble, (more)
This fascinating chronicle of the life and times of a twenty dollar bill was originally written by Endre Boehm in 1935 and languished forgotten on the shelf until his son Leslie resurrected it after his father's death, and updated the script. (Both received screenwriter credit for the released version). The scrap of currency's journey begins after it is spit out of a downtown Minneapolis ATM machine into the hands of a busy young mother. It's a windy day, and the crisp bill is blown out of her hands into those of a bag lady who uses it on the lottery because she believes the serial numbers are lucky. Unfortunately, the bill is plucked from her hands by a light-fingered skate boarder who uses the money at a local bakery. From there the bill's odyssey takes it to a wide variety of places including a wedding, a stripper's g-string, a con artist's scam, and a robbery. It ends up used as a note pad, a birthday present, a coaster, and a fishing contest trophy. Interestingly, every one who encounters the bill changes in some way. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Hunt, David Rasche, (more)
