Karen Mayo-Chandler Movies
- 1997
In this drama based on Hal Foster's long-running comic strip, Prince Valiant and his cohorts engage in medieval adventure and romance. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Moyer, Katherine Heigl, (more)
- 1989
According to this film by no-budget auteur (and conspiracy buff) Larry Buchanan, singers Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and the Doors' Jim Morrison didn't die of drug overdoses; in fact, Morrison didn't die at all! The government sent an assassin (who got the job because he didn't like his son listening to rock 'n' roll records) to kill them because they were trying to influence young people to protest against the Vietnam war. Hendrix and Joplin were killed by the assassin, but Morrison faked his death and hid out in a monastery in Spain. Oh well, stranger things have happened . . . ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gregory Allen Chatman, Riba Meryl, (more)
Stripped to Kill 2: Live Girls, the sequel to the excellent Stripped to Kill, directed by Katt Shea Ruben, is a lurid, exploitation film which has none of the humor, suspense or eroticism of the original. As in the original, exotic dancers are being murdered at their strip club in a variety of bloody and inventive ways. A psychic is brought in to help solve the murders. Director Katt Shea Ruben has a great pace and visual sense and works well within the confines of her tight budget, but this film, despite her best efforts, remains a formula slasher film with little to recommend it except for the beautiful women in various stages of undress. Those who loved Stripped to Kill will be disappointed in this routine sequel which captures none of the appeal of the original. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Ford, Eb Lottimer, (more)
- 1989
Robert Mitchum's son Chris is one of the principal players in Death Feud. On a similar familial note, young Mr. Mitchum's costar is celebrity brother Frank Stallone. So far as we know, leading lady Karen Mayo Chandler isn't related to Jeff Chandler, or Virginia Mayo, or Karen Black. The story concerns a hooker and her pimp, who must be kept alive to deliver valuable state's evidence. A nail-tough detective must prevent the two witnesses from becoming fish food. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
In this suspense thriller with a few humorous touches, an employee of a phone-sex service (Lynn Danielson) is being stalked by a clown-masked psychotic killer (Cameron Dye) who has already murdered a number of her colleagues. ~ Yuri German, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cameron Dye, Karen Black, (more)
- 1987
- R
Separated at birth, in this thriller, a "good" twin seeks out his brother in order to claim a share in his inheritance but becomes embroiled in a plot with the "bad" twin's wife to murder the bum. Unfortunately for them, a few other people are involved in the scheme, and a great many more murders take place than anyone planned. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Grant Goodeve, Robin Mattson, (more)
- 1986
- R
In addition to sexual encounters and nudity, toilet humor is on a roll in this story about some teens trying to finish a 12-week course in fast-food service -- yes, 12 weeks to study how to make and sell a hamburger. As their final exam, the teens have to run a burger place. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leigh McCloskey, Dick Butkus, (more)
Explorers turns out to be much ado about nothing, but it's so sublimely assembled we're willing to overlook the sappy climax. Young sci-fi geek Ben Crandall (Ethan Hawke) (could he possibly be based on director Joe Dante?) would give anything to travel in space. Thanks to his computer-happy pal Wolfgang Muller (River Phoenix), Ben gets his wish, together with best bud Darren Woods (Jason Presson). In the Great Beyond, the boys encounter an extraterrestrial (Robert Picardo), whose knowledge of earth is limited to what he's gleaned from 1960s TV sitcoms (this is unusual?) Lots of outer-space fun ensues before the film's inevitable downward spiral. Moderately successful in theatres, Explorers had a healthy second life on video and cable TV, especially after director Dante rethought the film and rearranged a few scenes for better dramatic (and comic) impact. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix, (more)
What's that wisecracking young black guy (Eddie Murphy) in that beat-up Chevy Nova doing in lily-white Beverly Hills? He's Axel Foley, a Detroit detective who's been sent on involuntary vacation because he refuses to drop his intention of avenging his friend's murder. Warned by Beverly Hills police chief Ronny Cox to stay out of trouble, Foley nonetheless dogs the trail of above-the-law Steven Berkoff, the British crime czar who was responsible for the murder of Foley's friend. With the help of sympathetic local cops Judge Reinhold and John Ashton and lady friend Lisa Eilbacher, Foley attempts to corner Berkoff in his mansion, which leads to a wild slapsticky shootout. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, (more)
Opening well past the point favored by most romantic comedies, director/co-writer/star Albert Brooks' take on the genre begins with a breakup. After exchanging harsh words in a diner, Brooks and Kathryn Harrold go their separate ways. Brooks then spends the next few days attempting to forget his troubles through work, exercise, drugs, and other women, torturing himself at each step. While it's hinted early on that this isn't the couple's first breakup, it eventually becomes clear that the they have cycled through the same events for even longer than expected. Meanwhile, Brooks' character, a film editor assisted by Bruno Kirby, attempts to put the finishing touches on his latest assignment, a none-too-promising space adventure starring George Kennedy and helmed by a details-obsessed director (James L. Brooks). ~ Keith Phipps, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Brooks, Kathryn Harrold, (more)
