Andrew McCarthy Movies
Youthful actor Andrew McCarthy went to prep school in New Jersey, lending to his classic, clean-cut good looks. A member the so-called Brat Pack of '80s Hollywood teen stars, McCarthy was usually cast as a good-guy leading man, basically sincere underneath his brooding teen angst. After studying theater at N.Y.U., he made his film debut in 1983 in the teen sex comedy Class with Rob Lowe and Jacqueline Bisset. In 1985, he appeared as the sulky writer Kevin in St. Elmo's Fire and the new Catholic school kid in Heaven Help Us. The next year, he was cast opposite Molly Ringwald as rich boy Blaine in John Hughes' Pretty in Pink. He later re-teamed with Ringwald for the dark romantic drama Fresh Horses. In 1987, he appeared opposite Kim Cattrall in the screwball comedy Mannequin and opposite Jami Gertz and Robert Downey Jr. in the addiction drama Less Than Zero. The same year, he portrayed Henry Hopper in the PBS American Playhouse production of Waiting for the Moon, based on the colorful lives of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. In 1989, McCarthy formed a winning comedy team with Jonathan Silverman for the goofy farce Weekend at Bernie's, a surprisingly funny hit. They re-teamed for the less-successful Weekend at Bernie's II in 1993. The next year, he appeared briefly in the critically acclaimed ensemble films The Joy Luck Club and Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle. In 1999, he married his college girlfriend, actress Carol Schneider. They have one child. Much of his work during this time involved independent films (New Waterford Girl), straight-to-video thrillers (Nowhere in Sight), and made-for-TV movies (Straight From the Heart). His youthful good looks enabled him to play Bobby Kennedy in the 2000 television miniseries Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. He also appeared in a romantic musical called Anything but Love. In 2004, McCarthy was cast as surgeon Dr. Hook in the ABC horror miniseries Kingdom Hospital. Adapted by Stephen King, the television drama is based on the original series by Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Mark S. Waters's adaptation of the popular fantasy novels The Spiderwick Chronicles tells the tale of the Graces, a family who must adapt to their new strange surroundings. As the story begins, twin brothers Jared and Simon, along with their sister Mallory and their mother, move away from the big city to a mansion owned by their uncle. When a series of strange happenings suggest that Jared may be causing a number of disturbances, the siblings band together to figure out what is going on. Soon they discover the magical history of the property. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, (more)
Based on the best-selling novel by Candace Bushnell, author of Sex and the City, Lipstick Jungle is the sassy, sexy, and inspirational new series about three high-powered women who support each other through the triumphs and tears of big-city life. In all seven Season 1 (2008) episodes, follow the ups and downs of Wendy (Brooke Shields), a sophisticated movie exec trying to manage a career and a family; Victory (Lindsay Price), a free-spirited designer dreaming of romance and making it big; and Nico (Kim Raver), an independent and ambitious fashion magazine editor. Armed with strength, style and a wicked sense of humor, these women show that it takes a lot to make it in the Big Apple...especially good friends!
- Starring:
- Brooke Shields, Kim Raver, (more)
As the wife of fading Hollywood producer Kit Freers (Andrew McCarthy), children's book illustrator Holly Freers (Justine Bateman) would love to have some of the fame and fortune of her movie star neighbors rub off on her just once in a while. However, there is one aspect of living in Beverly Hills that Holly despises. Whereas she is deeply devoted to her daughter Chloe (Holliston Coleman), most of the wives in Holly's neighborhood regard their children as mere ornaments, treating motherhood more as a passing fad than as a blessing. This is especially true of Julia Prentice (Angie Everhart), the trophy wife of a popular sitcom star, who is gearing up to stage the baptism of her baby as a major media event. Nor is this the only reason that Holly resents Julia; it seems that the woman had once been Kit's lover. Thus, when Julia's corpse is found floating in the Freers' swimming pool, the police have two ready-made suspects -- and Holly suddenly becomes a celebrity, just like she always wanted...though she certainly didn't want it like this! Hoping to track down the real killer, Holly starts playing Jessica Fletcher (or is it Nancy Drew?) in the company of her handsome neighbor, screenwriter and mystery buff Justin Caffrey (David Gale). Originally telecast by the Hallmark Channel on August 8, 2004, The Hollywood Mom's Mystery is based on Dead Hollywood Moms Society, a novel by Lindsay Maracotta. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Justine Bateman, Elizabeth Peña, (more)
Frank (Adam Trese of Laws of Gravity) is in trouble. His dot-com start-up collapses before it goes online, essentially bankrupting him and his partner, Josh (Andrew McCarthy). Frank is forced to leave his fancy Manhattan apartment and move back in with his parents (Robert Vaughn and Hayley Mills), and he can't even bring himself to tell them he's failed. His kooky friend Sal (John Turturro) warns Frank that his priorities are wrong, and sends him to Gina (Aida Turturro), a cheerful psychic. Then Frank comes up with a new idea tailor-made for the dot-com bust, but the first potential investor he meets with, Abrams (Mark Margolis), seems more interested in Frank's diet than his idea, and the second guy (Michael Badalucco) he meets with threatens to steal the idea, causing Frank to collapse in a sweaty panic. Then Abrams calls again. While Frank's project is too small for him to handle, he knows a couple of guys. Soon Frank and Josh are working again, with a new office and a new CFO, Peter (Bruce MacVittie). Things are going swimmingly, until Frank takes a closer look at the books, and begins to suspect that his investors are using the company to launder money. 2BPerfectlyHonest marks the feature debut of writer/director Randel Cole. The movie had its world premiere at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Trese, Andrew McCarthy, (more)
Based upon the critically acclaimed Lars von Trier miniseries Riget (The Kingdom), this American remake from fright master Stephen King unfolds over 15 hours and centers on the creepy goings-on at a hospital known as The Kingdom. Andrew McCarthy leads the cast as Dr. Hook, one of the physicians at the hospital which was built atop the scene of a fire that killed several children more than a century ago. As the inhabitants of the hospital are confronted with disturbing and unexplained phenomena that suggest the hospital is haunted, the doctors find themselves increasingly unable to come up with logical scientific explanations. Bruce Davison and Diane Ladd also star. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andrew McCarthy, Diane Ladd, (more)
An unethical, small-time reporter stumbles onto a secret that just may revolutionize the entire telecommunications industry in this made-for-television action thriller starring Andrew McCarthy, Michael York, and Bo Derek. Having used less-than-legitimate means to acquire the shocking footage from his source, reporter Hank Robinson (McCarthy) must maintain a low profile as he attempts to go public with the controversial story. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2003
The recent, highly publicized arrest of a longtime fugitive from American justice was the evident source of this 2003 Law & Order episode. It all begins with a jewelry-store robbery in which the owner is killed and a customer (Mandy Patinkin) is wounded. A suspect is brought into court, only to be dismissed when the surviving victim fails to show up to testify -- and with good reason: The missing witness is none other than a notorious political activist, who had fled the U.S. years earlier to avoid a murder rap of his own. The question: Can a man who was tried and convicted in absentia still be sent to prison on the basis of the original trial -- or do the detectives and the lawyers have to reopen a case in which most of the evidence is cold and many of the original participants are dead? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The old "wrong person answers the 'object-matrimony' ad" story device was refreshingly brought up to date in this made-for-TV romance. Jilted by her boyfriend, professional photographer Jordan Donovan (Teri Polo) decides that her problem is one of bad location; though a New Yorker for several years, she still feels like a fish out of water. Meanwhile, Jordan's roommate, Laurie (Patricia Kalember), ever searching for a suitable mate, has put an ad in the personals column of a national magazine. When a widowed rancher answers the ad, Jordan (with Laurie's blessing) answers the letter herself and heads to Wyoming. Upon meeting Jordan, taciturn rancher Tyler Ross (Andrew McCarthy) is disappointed, and lashes out with a steady stream of preconceptions about New York girls. Recoiling, Jordan lets Tyler know exactly what she thinks of "cowboys." Naturally, this means that the two lonely people are crazy about each other -- but before a happy ending can transpire, Tyler must overcome a profound feeling of guilt over his first wife's death, fueled by his spiteful father-in-law. Originally slated to debut over the Hallmark Channel on February 14, 2002, Straight from the Heart was curiously held back for nearly a year, finally premiering on February 9, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Teri Polo, Andrew McCarthy, (more)
A wandering black sheep attempts to gain his angel wings when his large inheritance turns out to be a small church in director Tom Reeve's touching tale of love and redemption. Raymond (Andrew McCarthy) has never been the most popular member of his family, but thanks to a little help from his generous brother Otis, Raymond has always managed to scrape by even in the hardest of times. Just when it seems that things couldn't look any worse, Raymond receives word that he has inherited a property on the English countryside. Upon arrival, Raymond discovers that the property is neither an expansive manor nor a cozy house, but instead a decrepit stone church on the edge of ruin. When conniving village businessman Malcolm Slee (Bill Treacher) approaches Raymond about purchasing the property so that he may ransack the place in search of King Charles' mythical treasure rumored to have been hidden there at the end of the English War, Raymond initially agrees before learning from local bed and breakfast owner Rachel (Louise Lombard) that a poor family has taken shelter in the crumbling house of worship. With the bond between Raymond and Rachel growing ever stronger, and a little help from a friendly young orphan named Diggity (Max Dolbey), Raymond may shed his shady ways and make it to the pearly gates after all. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Season Two of Monk begins as television's favorite obsessive-compulsive detective (Tony Shalhoub) hires on as a substitute teacher at Ashton High School. This enables him to investigate the death of English teacher Beth Landow (Erica Yoder), who fell from the school's clock tower while most of the students were taking a Saturday-morning SAT exam. Principal Arlene Cassidy (Rosalind Chao) doesn't buy the official theory that Beth committed suicide--and neither does Monk, once he's perused certain bits of evidence overlooked by the police (including a suicide note filled with grammatical errors). In a further complication, the Most Likely Suspect has an airtight alibi: He was proctoring the SATs in full view of a roomful of students at the time Beth fell! With this episode, Kane Ritchotte returns to the role of Benjy Fleming, the son of Monk's loyal nurse-assistant Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Originally titled On the Edge, this Lifetime cable network feature film is the story of Zoey Carter (Julia Whelan), the superachieving "perfect" daughter of professional couple Marcia and Larry Carter (Mia Farrow and Cliff De Young). Traumatized by her parents' divorce, Zoey begins experimenting with drugs, only to grow more and more dependent upon narcotics -- and the thrill of shoplifting -- thanks to the influence of unsavory high school senior Ron Morris (Michael Coristine). After weeks and weeks of obfuscation, lies, and denial, Zoey and her parents are forced to face the seriousness of the girl's problem. But for all the help and support extended by sympathetic social worker Mike Harper (Andrew McCarthy), the solution to the dilemma lies with the choices made by Zoey's mom and dad -- if they are indeed equal to the challenge. The Secret Life of Zoey first aired on August 19, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mia Farrow, Cliff De Young, (more)
A woman is forced to decide which of her dreams she'd like to come true in this musical-comedy drama. Billie Golden (Isabel Rose) is a young woman who dreams of being a successful cabaret singer and often imagines herself performing in a swank lounge or starring in a classic movie musical of the 1940s. At the moment, however, Billie is singing in a dingy cocktail lounge near an airport and lives in a ramshackle row house in Queens with her hard-drinking mother (Alix Korey). One day, Billie bumps into an old friend from high school, Greg Ellenbogen (Cameron Bancroft); as it happens, Greg is now a very successful lawyer, and he still carries a torch for Billie. While Greg loves Billie and can easily give her all the creature comforts of life, she's also infatuated with Elliot (Andrew McCarthy), a hipster piano player who believes in her abilities as a singer. When Greg asks Billie for her hand in marriage, she's forced to decide between love and security or the career in music for which she's always longed. Also screened under the title Standard Time, Anything but Love includes an appearance by legendary entertainer Eartha Kitt; leading lady Rose also wrote the film's screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Isabel Rose, Andrew McCarthy, (more)
A woman must battle villains she cannot see in this thriller. Carly (Helen Slater) is a woman who has lost her sight in an accident. Still adjusting to her new circumstances, Carly is having a hard time handling things on her own and has come to depend on her boyfriend for help as she re-learns her daily routine. But when her boyfriend is called away, Carly must fend for herself for a few days, and as she struggles to find her way around the house, she finds that she's not alone -- a pair of thugs have broken into her home, and as they hold Carly captive, she must find a way to protect herself and stave off the intruders. Nowhere In Sight also stars Andrew McCarthy, Christopher Heyerdahl, Mark Camacho, and Richard Jutras. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Slater, Chris Heyerdahl, (more)
- 2000
The life of one of the most famous American women of the last half of the 20th century receives yet another retelling in this made-for-TV drama. Raised by a harsh, domineering mother (Frances Fisher) and a charming but unfaithful (and alcoholic) father (Fred Ward), Jacqueline Bouvier (Joanne Whalley) is born into privileged circumstances but learns early on that wealth and power do not guarantee happiness. Jackie falls in love with John F. Kennedy (Tim Matheson), the son of a family even richer and more influential than her own, and is by his side as he becomes President of the United States -- though she soon discovers that, like her father, his charm and position make him very attractive to other women, a temptation he does little to resist. After the assassination of Kennedy in 1963, Jackie becomes America's best-known widow, and is forced to struggle through her mourning in the glare of the public eye. Alone and with expensive tastes, Jackie eventually becomes the trophy wife of Aristotle Onassis (Philip Baker Hall), yet another wealthy and flamboyant man. Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was first aired in two parts on November 5 and 8, 2000, by the CBS television network. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joanne Whalley, Tim Matheson, (more)
Robert Wise brings his distinguished name and considerable directorial skill to this remake of a 1970 Rod Serling TV drama. Set in 1969, Abel Shaddick (Peter Falk), a crotchety deli owner, has a grudge against virtually everyone in his upstate New York town of Fairview, particularly against his slacker nephew Stanley (Andrew McCarthy) who lives behind the shop. Without telling his uncle, Stanley agrees to put up a needy city kid for the summer as part of a charity program run by rich debutante Gloria (Nastassja Kinski). Abel immediately vetoes the plan, but it is too late. The kid, young Herman Washington (Aaron Meeks), is already on his way. Though initially the two intensely dislike each other, they bond over fishing and war heroes -- Abel's son died during WWII, while Herman's brother was killed in Vietnam. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Falk, Aaron Meeks, (more)
Filmed in London, the cable-TV movie The Sight stars Andrew McCarthy as American architect Michael Lewis. Like the youthful protagonist in the theatrical feature Sixth Sense, the reluctantly psychic Michael "sees dead people." In fact, he sees the ghosts of 21 dead people in a single location, the old British hotel that he has been hired to refurbish. Michael's disturbing "gift" ultimately leads him to the eight victims of a contemporary serial killer -- and, armed with the cryptic clues supplied by these restless spirits, the hero races against time to prevent murder number nine. The pilot film for an unsold weekly TV series, The Sight was broadcast October 29, 2000 over the FX cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
While imagining the childhood of Andy Warhol, Lou Reed once wrote, "There's only one good thing about a small town: you hate it, and you know you have to leave." A similar notion seems to have occurred to Mooney Pottie (Liane Balaban), a 15-year-old Canadian girl growing up in a village deep in the rugged coal mining area of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Mooney wants to be an artist and feels out of place among the rough-hewn villagers and her unsophisticated family. When her art teacher, Cecil Sweeney (Andrew McCarthy), tells her that he could arrange for her to attend an art institute in Manhattan, her parents refuse to allow her to go. Stranded in a place she hates, Mooney finally discovers a kindred spirit when new girl Lou (Tara Spencer Nairn) moves into the neighborhood. Lou's father was a boxer from Brooklyn, and she's inherited his talent for fisticuffs; Lou has a way with a sucker punch that soon has all the girls in town begging her to knock out their boyfriends when they get out of line. Mooney and Lou soon team up on a plan that will allow them to move on to bigger and better things. Canadian filmmaker Allan Moyle returned home for this comedy set in the mid-1970s, which features a soundtrack of classic Canadian rock, including vintage tracks by April Wine and The Stampeders. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liane Balaban, Tara Spencer-Nairn, (more)
- 1999
In this high-tech thriller, David Marx (Rutger Hauer), a take-no-prisoners homicide detective, is teamed with computer expert Kris Paddock (Tara Fitzgerald) to track down Kurt Bishop (Andrew McCarthy), a software pirate who has been trying to steal a valuable encryption security program. Bishop will stop at nothing, even murder, to get the codes, but when he kidnaps Paddock, he finds out the hard way how Marx gained the nickname "The Coroner." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rutger Hauer, Andrew McCarthy, (more)
The city's latest serial killer has got it in for priests, nuns, and other pious people, and the method of dispatching them is nasty: crucifixion. Detective Henry Smith, played by Andrew McCarthy, investigates the repulsively grisly crimes but his own moral crisis at home -- he and his wife (Jayne Heitmeyer) have a terminally ill daughter -- overtakes his emotions and complicates his investigation. The clock starts ticking once Smith's drifter brother (Sean Day Michael) becomes a suspect and the police want the case closed quickly. But when Smith discovers the real reason the cops want to shut the case in a hurry, the most unlikely of suspects emerges. Or is it Smith's fevered imagination?
~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
Former Brat Packer Andrew McCarthy stars in this emotional drama about a widowed man's fight for the child he loves. When Keith (McCarthy) and Kim (Teri Polo) made plans to adopt a baby, they never expected Kim to suddenly die of cancer, leaving Keith with the tasks of both grieving for his loss and battling with a system that is resistant to make the adoption final. Based on a true story, Change of Heart also stars Michael Learned. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 1998
- NR
In this crime drama, a specially-trained FBI agent suspects that his former professor may be involved in terrorist activities. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andrew McCarthy, Robert Patrick, (more)
- 1998
Childless couple Keith and Kim Lussier (Andrew McCarthy and Teri Polo) have seemingly had their prayers answered when they are placed in charge of 3-month old foster child Brittany. When the couple decides to adopt the child, it is Kim who seems most enthusiastic about her prospective parenthood, while the noncommittal Keith assumes a "whatever" posture. And then, disaster strikes: Kim is diagnosed with cancer. When it seems as though she'll recover, the adoption agency elects to allow the couple to continue caring for Brittany--and in the process Keith, who has had to take full responsibility during Kim's convalescence and treatment, grows to dearly love Brittany and proves to be an ideal apart. Alas, Kim goes into remission and dies, whereupon the agency falls back on its long-standing policy that no single parent be permitted to adopt. Keith long, agonizing legal battle to win full custody of Brittany serves as the climax to the fact-based TV movie A Father for Brittany (home video title:Change of Heart, which originally aired March 15, 1998, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andrew McCarthy, Michael Learned, (more)
