Michael McManus Movies
Lead actor, onscreen from the '80s. ~ All Movie Guide
Satirist Jim Arahams returned with this comedy spoofing the Godfather trilogy, and other films and TV, including Jurassic Park, Lord of the Dance, and Barney. The opening emulates a Saul Bass sequence with Anthony Cortino (Jay Mohr) in a flight amid flames much like Robert De Niro in the Casino credits. After flashbacks go back in time to Sicily, Coppola/Scorsese references abound. Young Vincenzo (Jason Fuchs) travels to America to later become the clumsy chief of organized crime (with the late Lloyd Bridges as the aging Vincenzo) with his sons -- short-fused Joey (Billy Burke) and educated Anthony. Tony's WASP fiancee is Diane (Christina Applegate), recalling Diane Keaton in the Coppola films. During the wedding, assassins try to do away with Don Vincenzo, who's hospitalized, so Tony sets out to gain revenge for the murder attempt. In Vegas, Tony gets involved with showgirl Pepper (Pamela Gidley). When betrayals begin, can violence be far behind? This was Lloyd Bridges' final movie, and the film is dedicated to him. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jay Mohr, Billy Burke, (more)
- 1997
- R
In this episode of the sci-fi adventure series, the spaceship Lexx's crew find themselves battling addiction after imbibing a strange liqueur made from body parts. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael McManus, Eva Habermann, (more)
- 1997
- R
This episode of the sci-fi adventure series follows the courageous Kai and his crew as they take on the monstrous entity that dwarfs their ship and threatens to destroy their part of the universe. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael McManus, Malcolm McDowell, (more)
- 1997
- R
In this futuristic sci-fi adventure, an intergalactic warrior and his pals team up to stop the wicked dictator His Shadow. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael McManus, Eva Habermann, (more)
- 1997
In this sci-fi adventure, an awesome intergalactic warrior engages in an epic battle with the hologram of an ancient poet while on the planet Brunnis. The fighter is assisted by his cadre of friends. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael McManus, Eva Habermann, (more)
- 1994
Real-life father and son Lloyd and Beau Bridges star in the tense modern melodrama Secret Sins of the Father. Nebraska farmer Louis Thielman (Lloyd) is charged with murder of his wife. Making the charge is Louis's son Tom (Beau), the town sheriff. Though the evidence points to Louis, there are those who believe that Tom is pursuing a vendetta rather than justice. For starters, Louis has been carrying on an affair with Lisa Carson, Tom's ex-lover. Despite the film's docudrama approach, this one isn't based on a true story. Beau Bridges doubled as director for this made-for-TV drama, which debuted January 9, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lloyd Bridges, Beau Bridges, (more)
Family Pictures is a two-part TV adaptation of the Sue Miller novel of the same name. Anjelica Huston and Sam Neill are Lainey and David Eberlin, a 1950s married couple with six children, one of whom, Randall (Jamie Harrold), is autistic. The parents' initial decision not to institutionalize the boy results in a terrific strain on the rest of the family, until finally only Lainey is willing to shoulder the responsibility of raising Randall. The second half of Family Pictures, related from the vantage point of the 1980s by the Eberlins' oldest daughter (Kyra Sedgwick), details the effect that Randall's inevitable institutionalization had on the family. This anecdotal four-hour drama first aired on March 21 and 22, 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Movie references, sight gags, silly puns, and double entendres abound in Hot Shots! Part Deux, Jim Abrahams' sequel to Hot Shots -- only now the object of the skewering is the Stallone Rambo movies instead of Top Gun. Charlie Sheen returns as the lunk-headed Topper Harley, who has retreated to a Buddhist monastery after being dumped by Ramada Rodham Hayman (Valerie Golino). In this far-off retreat, the monks have "taken a vow of celibacy, just like their fathers and their fathers before them." But Topper bulks up and goes back into action when his superior officer, Colonel Denton Walters (Richard Crenna) is captured by a Saddam Hussein look-alike, missing somewhere between "Iraq and a Hard Place." Topper charges into Iraq (after barreling through a Beverly Hills barbecue) along with sexy CIA operative Michelle Rodham Huddleston (Brenda Bakke) in tow, his guns ablazing. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlie Sheen, Lloyd Bridges, (more)
- 1990
Dan (John Larroquette) is convinced he's a goner when a pair of street punks (Richard Coca, Chico Montez) hold him hostage at knifepoint. But rescue may soon be at hand! Enter a strange-looking man calling himself VHK 937 (Michael McManus), who claims to be a visitor from the future--and who is armed with a genuine laser gun. Less serious but no less vexing than Dan's plight is the dilemma facing Bull (Richard Moll): a severe case of hiccups. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
As a birthday present for Peg (Katey Sagal), Al (Ed O'Neill) takes her to the beautiful Bowlarama. Here he continues the celebration by breaking the record set by his longtime bowling rival Puggy (Michael McManus). Alas, Al's triumph is shortlived; grabbing the ball herself, Peg ends up bowling a perfect 300! Sportcaster Roy Firestone and TV journalist Garrett Glaser appear as themselves. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In the conclusion of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single hour-long "special"), the Night Court staffers are still quarantined in the courtroom as the result of an accidental toxic spill. They are also still reminiscing on the events in the past that changed their lives. For example, eternally horny prosecutor Dan (John Larroquette) recalls losing his virginity to the sexy young wife of a client, while court clerk Mac (Charlie Robinson) harks back to his Vietnam experiences. As for court bailiff Bull (Richard Moll), his recollections have a curiously familiar ring--mainly because they're all lifted from movies that he's seen! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In the first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single hour-long "special"), the Night Court staff is quarantined in the courtroom building when a toxic experimental virus is accidentally spilled. Forced to share close quarters, the staffers begin to recall the separate turning points in their lives. Flashbacks reveal Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson) pursuing an abortive career as a stage magician, acerbic court matron Roz (Marsha Warfield) working as a stewardess, public defender Christine (Markie Post) competing for the "Miss Buffalo" crown, and libidinous prosecutor Dan (John Larroquette) as a 25-year-old virgin! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Season Six of Hunter once again finds LAPD detective Rick Hunter (Fred Dryer) invoking memories of Clint Eastwood--not by emulating "Dirty Harry", but by getting involved in a gender-switch variation on Play Misty for Me. Erin Gray guest stars as Kate Lawson, host of a nighttime radio fantasy show. A demented male fan, obsessed with Kate, has vowed to be the "only man" in his life by systematically murdering all of her male friends and acquaintances. To flush out the killer, Hunter poses as Kate's lover--only to find himself genuinely falling for her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
"In my films, you're always encouraged to remember that you're watching a collection of designed images." Thus spake Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan in describing his calculatedly non-realistic style. In keeping with his earlier works, Egoyan's Speaking Parts, though grounded in reality, could never be confused with the facts of life. Arsinee Khanjian plays a near-somnambulistic maid who carries a torch for aspiring actor Michael McManus. She obsesses on McManus by renting tapes of the films in which he's appeared as a non-speaking extra. As McManus ignores Khanjian while wooing would-be filmmaker Gabrielle Rose (he wants to star in a film based on Rose's life-saving organ donation), Khanjian develops a sort of rapport with video store manager Tony Nardi, who also harbors dreams of becoming a filmmaker. The most curious (and, to some, maddening) aspect of Speaking Parts is that all the characters physically resemble one another. What this has to do with Egoyan's "message"--if any--is unclear, but it sure works towards the director's goal of assuring that the viewers are constantly aware that they're watching a movie and not Real Life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael McManus, Arsinée Khanjian, (more)
- 1989
Robert Foxworth is special guest murderer in the two-hour Columbo drama Grand Deceptions. Foxworth plays a retired Army colonel, currently fronting a paramilitary organization. He preaches duty, honor and country, all the while dipping into the organization's funds. When a colleague threatens to blow the whistle, Foxworth murders the man, making the killing look like an accident. Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) suspects that the colonel is guilty, but finds it difficult penetrating his phalanx of followers. Viewers were first treated to Columbo's customary diligence in Grand Deceptions on May 1, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
In the conclusion of Night Court's two-part Season Six opener (originally telecast as a single hour-long "special"), prosecutor Dan Fielding (John Larroquette) is still marooned in a remote Eskimo village after surviving a plane crash. Successfully--if nervously--performing an emergency appendectomy, Dan then manages to alert the authorities to his whereabouts. Returning to New York City in a barely recognizable condition (shaggy beard and all), Dan arrives just in time to attend his own funeral! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Night Court launches its sixth season with the second episode of a two-part story, introduced as the cliffhanger ending of Season Five (the denouement was originally telecast on October 26, 1988 as a one-hour special, later to be re-edited for syndication as two separate episodes). Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson) and the Night Court staff are mourning the demise of smarmy prosecutor Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), who was reported killed in an Alaskan plane crash. In truth, however, Dan is still alive, having been rescued by an Eskimo family after his plane did "a half-gainer" in a glacier. Now stuck in the remote village of Kiska, Dan sets off a flare to alert the authoritities of his whereabouts--and accidentally incapacitates the only doctor in the area who is able to perform an emergency appendectomy on an Eskimo girl! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Ex-football player Carl Weathers stars in this violent action film as Detroit policeman Jericho Jackson. The dedicated but brutal cop is plunged into nefarious doings concerning a crooked industrialist (Craig T. Nelson) and his drug-addicted girlfriend (pop-singer Vanity), breaking many people's bones before solving the case. Sharon Stone stands out in a cast of genre veterans including Nicholas Worth, Sonny Landham, and Robert Davi. Heavy on the sex and violence, this film harkens back to the glory days of 1970s blaxploitation, but is a bit too mean-spirited to be as much fun. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, (more)
- 1988
In 1982, five young left-wing extremist shook up the Canadian government and its people by bombing a power plant, destroying a Litton Industries plant that made cruise missile guidance systems and firebombing several pornographic video stores. Based on interviews with one of the convicted bombers and wiretap transcripts, this made for Canadian television drama tells their story. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robyn Stevan, Michael McManus, (more)
In this black comedy, the mysterious death of the owner of an amusement park prompts his widow to sell the property to a group of mobsters, the DiMaurios. When the DiMaurios take over, they lower everyone's salary and fire the park's clown mascot, Bruce Burger (David Lander). With his job taken away, the clown loses it and begins to stage his revenge. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Windom, David L. Lander, (more)
- 1987
- PG
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In the third sequel to the hit comedy Police Academy, Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) decides that the police force is overworked and understaffed, and he comes up with the idea of recruiting civilian volunteers to work side-by-side with his officers. Of course, with the hapless Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg) in charge of training the new Neighborhood Watch groups, one might reasonably expect things will not go smoothly; meanwhile, the duplicitous Capt. Harris (G.W. Bailey) sets his sights on Lassard's job, and he schemes to get his aging boss out of the way. Series regulars Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, Bob Goldthwait, and Tim Kazurinsky are on board, as is Sharon Stone, who moved on to bigger and better things a few years later. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, (more)
- 1987
Hoping to surprise Danny (Bob Saget) on his 30th birthday, Jesse (John Stamos) buys his brother-in-law some expensive new car seats for his precious antique automobile. Unfortunately, before he can show off this gift, Jesse not only wrecks Danny's car, but also sends the vehicle gurgling to the bottom of San Francisco Bay. Now Jesse must conspire with Joey (David Coulier) to make up for this gaffe and transform Danny's birthday party into something that he'll always remember--without any regrets whatsoever. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Oh No! Mr. Bill is about to be splattered by the evil Mr. Sluggo in this live action film. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1986
Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns) are outraged when the monthly phone bill arrives, indicating that someone in the Seaver household has made 67 calls to a phone-sex service. Automatically, Jason and Maggie conclude that Mike (Kirk Cameron) is the guilty party--but it turns out that the "phantom caller" is Ben, who not only lies about his indiscretion but tries to shift the blame to his friend Kris (Michael Kenworthy). Interestingly enough, this little moral lesson is told in flashback--we know WHAT has happened, but it takes a bit of time to figure out HOW and WHY. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In the first episode of a two-part story, Kip Niven returns to the series, but not in his familiar role as Vera's duplicitous ex-fiance Steve Marsh. Instead, he shows up as Steve's cousin Travis Marsh, a heavily bewhiskered country-western singer. After hearing Alice (Linda Lavin) warble a tune, Travis invites her to join his travelling band--but his interest in Alice is a bit more than professional! Linda Lavin and Kip Niven sing "Higher and Higher". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
