Sam Pancake Movies

Carrie Preston, John G. Preston, Michael Emerson, and Lurie Poston star in director James Vasquez's coming of age comedy about a young boy obsessed with dresses, dolls, and cheerleading. Joshua Dowd (Poston) isn't like the other boys in class. All Joshua's single mother Andy (Carrie Preston) wants is for her son to be normal, but instead of joining the wrestling team like the rest of his classmates Joshua longs to try out for his school's all-girl cheerleading team. Upon receiving the news that her absent father has died, Andy is surprised to see her wayward brother Alex (John G. Preston) appear unannounced on her doorstep. Perhaps now that these estranged siblings have finally come back together, they can finally start to understand what it truly means to be a "family" - even if they don't fall under the traditional definition of the word. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Two friends who've convinced themselves they would never make a good couple discover they might just be wrong in this romantic comedy. Oliver (Ashton Kutcher) and Emily (Amanda Peet) first met when they were college students sharing a flight from California to New York; Emily spontaneously seduced Oliver on the plane, and they spent the next few days together in the city. When they parted, however, Emily decided not to pursue a relationship with Oliver, even though he was obviously interested. Over the next several years, circumstances kept putting them in one another's paths, and over the years Oliver and Emily became close friends and confidantes. Both are still certain, though, that they're entirely wrong for each other on a romantic level. However, after nearly a decade, with both Oliver and Emily edging into their thirties, they begin to wonder if they've allowed a great opportunity to pass them by. A Lot Like Love also stars Kathryn Hahn, Ali Larter, and Kal Penn. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

An actor trying to keep the truth about his love life under wraps discovers feelings he doesn't want to hide in this frothy comedy. It's the mid-'50s, and Guy Stone (Matt Letscher) is a very successful movie star. Tall, good-looking, and boyishly charming, Stone has a reputation as a ladies' man with a very active love life. However, the truth is a bit different: while Stone is indeed enjoying more romantic misadventures than he can keep track of, he happens to prefer the company of men. When a scandal sheet gets wind of his sexual proclivities, Stone's manager (Veronica Cartwright) and the head of his studio (Victor Raider-Wexler) decide some camouflage is in order. Stone's handlers arrange for him to marry Sally (Carrie Preston), a sweet and naïve secretary from the studio who is entirely unaware that the man of her dreams is gay. As Stone tries to make the best of his sham marriage while feeling twinges of guilt about the toll it may take on Sally, he meets Rick Foster (Adam Greer), an author whose most recent novel is being adapted into a script for Stone. To Stone's surprise, he find himself falling seriously in love with Foster and discovers that Foster, like himself, has a few secrets that could put his Hollywood career in jeopardy. Straight-Jacket was directed by Richard Day, who also wrote the screenplay which was adapted from his off-Broadway play of the same name. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Jon Lovitz makes a return appearance as Steve, the dopey doper whose restaurant Monica (Courteney Cox) auditioned to be a chef for during season one of Friends. Steve turns out to be one of several "candidates" that Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) have chosen as potential sight-unseen dates for Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). The logic behind this is sublime: by demonstrating how many bad choices there are in the world, Joey and Pheebs hope to bring Ross and Rachel back together. ~ All Movie Guide

In the premiere episode of this spin-off from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy's ex-boyfriend, Angel (David Boreanaz), the vampire with a soul, relocates to Los Angeles and finds a new purpose in life. Shortly after the events of Buffy's "Graduation Day, Part Two," Angel prowls the clubs of Los Angeles to kill vampires, let off steam, and drown his sorrows. He soon meets Doyle (Glenn Quinn), a half-human, half-demon representative of The Powers That Be. Doyle informs Angel that he must become a helper of the helpless, using the visions that the Powers send to Doyle as his guide. Angel's first assignment is to help Tina (Tracey Middendorf), a would-be actress who is being harassed by rich vampire Russell Winters (Vyto Ruginis). In the course of trying to do so, Angel bumps into Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter), another recent Sunnydale transplant, would-be actress, and target of Russell's bloodlust. After Angel saves Cordelia from the fiend, she decides to become Angel's assistant and set up Angel Investigations, a paranormal private-eye business, as a front for their activities. "City of" originally aired on the WB network on October 5, 1999. To introduce non-Buffy watchers to their main character and his backstory, series creators Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt used flashback clips from the earlier show to illustrate a scene in which Doyle plays "This is Your Life" with his new partner. In addition to introducing Doyle and The Powers That Be, "City of" marks the first appearance of Wolfram & Hart, the demonic law firm that would become a recurring nemesis for the title character. Although he's never named in this episode, attorney Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane) also appears. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

In this comedy, the title delivery boy finds his life tossed up and spun 'round when he inadvertently finds himself enmeshed in an international conspiracy. In Hollywood, where he works, Elmo Bunn's speedy delivery and ability to make sure he is always paid has elevated him to nearly legendary status. His troubles begin when he is called to deliver a sausage and anchovy pizza in East Hollywood at the very address where his best friend and fellow delivery man was last seen years ago. Though he knows he is in for trouble, he cannot deny an order and so heads out to meet his fate. Along the way, he meets some of the most powerful men and women in the U.S. (all played by professional look-a-likes). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide