Stuart Pankin Movies
Burly comic actor Stuart Pankin attended Dickinson College and Columbia University. At 22, Pankin made his off-Broadway debut in 1968's War of the Roses. His film supporting roles are generally along the lines of the ineffectual sheriff in Arachnophobia (1990) and the blowhard giant in Beanstalk (1994). He is frequently spotlighted in buffoonish roles in such cinematic lampoons as That's Adequate, Love at Stake and Silence of the Hams. On TV, Stuart Pankin was seen as Stuf (so named because of his gargantuan eating habits) in The San Pedro Beach Bums (1977), Tuttle on the wacked-out No Soap, Radio (1982), and Jace Sampson on the 1989-90 (and last) season of Falcon Crest; he was also a reporter on the satirical Not Necessarily the News (1983), and the voice of audio-animatronic dino Earl Sinclair on Dinosaurs (1991-94). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
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In this frantic satiric comedy, Maximus Powers (Eric Roberts) and Mike Saunders (Charlie Schlatter) are a pair of airline pilots who are flying a chartered jet to Japan, booked for the contestants in the Miss Galaxy Beauty Pageant. Bad luck is following them and the pilots crash-land on a deserted island, where they struggle to find a way to ferry themselves and the glamour girls back to civilization. However, things on the island are hardly as quiet as they might imagine, as they soon discover its home to a gigantic half-pig, half-dinosaur; a tribe of intelligent ape people; and the remnants of Noah's Ark. As Powers and Saunders plot their next moves, they are recruited for an unusual mission by Special Agent MJ (Michael Jackson), who appears as a giant light in the sky. By the way, that really is Michael Jackson the pop singer appearing in a cameo role; other guest stars include Stuart Pankin, Evan Marriott, and Colleen Shannon. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2004
The third of the Disney Channel TV movies inspired by Marylyn Sadler and Roger Bollen's novel Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, Zenon: Z3 once again stars Kristen Storms as the title character, a "typical" teenager from the year 2054 A.D. who lives on a space station with her family and friends. In this one, Zenon aspires to attend the Moonstock music festival, and to that end she enters the Galactic Teen Supreme Contest. At first, Zenon thinks that the only roadblock to her success is her snotty rival Bronley Hale (Glen McMillan), but soon she finds herself sidetracked by the efforts of space ecologist Sage Borealis (Ben Easter) to prevent further colonization of the Moon. As it happens, however, the problems of Bronley and Sage don't amount to a hill of beans when a hitherto unsuspected villain appears, intent upon destroying the universe. Many of the film's biggest laughs are delivered by little Alyson Morgan as Zenon's precocious cousin and "biggest fan" Dasha. Filmed in Capetown, South Africa, Zenon: Z3 first aired on June 11, 2004, doing quite well in the ratings despite wall-to-wall coverage of Ronald Reagan's funeral on the other channels. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirsten Storms, Lauren Maltby, (more)
- 2003
This IMAX feature is a sequel to 1999's Encounter the Third Dimension, which provided a humorous yet educational take on the history of 3-D cinema. In this film, director Ben Stassen "disappears" in front of a live audiences, claiming he has gotten stuck between the second and third dimension. In order to get back, he must convince an official sounding CEO that 3-D cinema is, indeed, worthy of more scientific exploration. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stuart Pankin, Kim Delgado, (more)
- 2001
This science fiction-tinged comedy for the whole family concerns Zenon (Kristen Storms), a girl from another planet whose parents have sent her to Earth as a punishment for misbehaving. Zenon discovers the space station she calls home is drifting off course, and suddenly she has to save the day by dealing with a pack of pesky aliens and finding a cache of the rare mineral Prota Zoa. Zenon: The Zequel was produced for (and first aired by) The Disney Channel, where it premiered on January 12, 2001. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirsten Storms, Shadia Simmons, (more)
- 2000
Join actors Stephen Furst and Stuart Pankin in the slapstick "guy" comedy D-4-G: Diabetes for Guys - A Guy Flick, an instructional video about the treatment and management of diabetes. Through a series of humorous vignettes, the film parodies Furst's experiences with diabetes -- his denial, noncompliance, and inability to modify his lifestyle -- while promoting responsible behavior. Endorsed by the American Diabetes Association, the production is aimed at men who are disinclined to make the necessary changes in combating the disease.
~ Kathleen Wildasin, All Movie Guide
~ Kathleen Wildasin, All Movie Guide
- 1999
The first large-format 3-D film to open simultaneously in all three IMAX theatres in Los Angeles, Encounters In The Third Dimension uses a visit to an eccentric inventor who has invented a new 3-D device, "Real-O-Vision," as a framework for a series of spectacular three-dimensional sequences, capturing both real life events and bizarre computer-animated fantasy worlds. The film also traces a brief history of 3-D in the movies, and features a guest appearance from Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (aka Cassandra Peterson). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stuart Pankin, Cassandra Peterson, (more)
- 1999
Produced for the Disney Channel cable service, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century was based on the children's book by Marilyn Salder and Roger Bollen. Kristen Storms heads the cast as Zenon Car, a trouble-prone 13-year-old girl, who, in the year 2049 A.D., lives on a space station with the rest of her family. When she runs afoul of Parker Windom, the owner of the station, Zenon is determined to be "incorrigible," and as punishment is exiled to the worst place imaginable: the planet earth. After several painful weeks of adjustment to her new surroundings, Zenon enlists the aid of his earthbound pals to return to her "real" home with evidence that the "respectable" Mr. Windom is up to no good. Originally telecast on January 23, 1999, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century was intended as the pilot for a weekly TV series -- and though this series never came to pass, the film was deemed worthy of a sequel the following year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirsten Storms, Raven Symone, (more)
- 1999
Mel Brooks is back as Paul's redoubtable Uncle Phil. As Paul (Paul Reiser) stands on the sidelines with mouth agape, Uncle Phil elects to go for his high school diploma -- some 63 years after dropping out. This plot development is almost as fascinating as the breast-transplant treatment undergone by Jamie's (Helen Hunt) mercurial sister, Lisa (Anne Elizabeth Ramsay). ~ All Movie Guide
- 1998
The weekly Babylon 5 series still had three episodes to go when TNT presented the two-hour "spinoff" movie Babylon 5: The River of Souls. Departing a bit from the established fifth-season chronology, the film finds Garibaldi returning to B5 after an 18-month tenure as CEO of Edgars Enterprise. The purpose of Garibaldi's arrival is a conference with archeologist Dr. Robert Bryson (Ian McShane), who claims to be on the verge of discovering the secret of eternal life. Alas, the immortality-granting alien artifact discovered by Bryson actually belongs to the Soul Hunters, who will stop at nothing to retrieve the sacred relic. In a lighter but no less significant development, the owners of a virtual-reality brothel bring legal action against Zack. Martin Sheen costars as the chief Soul Hunter. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, and subsequently novelized by Yvonne Navarro, Babylon 5: River of Souls was first broadcast on November 8, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracy Scoggins, Jerry Doyle, (more)
- 1998
Having been burned by a traumatic childhood experience, greedy toy tycoon Tyler Madison (Harry Hamlin) is contemptuous of his fellow man, ruthlessly nasty in his business dealings, and callously neglectful of his wife Elyse (Megan Gallegher) and son Danny (Curtis Blanck). Just before Christmas, Madison piles into his private plane and heads for the North Pole, determined to put his chief competitor, Santa Claus (William Hookins), out of business. But upon his arrival, he realizes that he and S.C. have a lot in common--and thus the inevitable epiphany occurs, culminating in the settling of an "Elf strike" and a closer bond between Tyler and his loved ones. Like Father, Like Santa was telecast by cable's Fox Family Channel on December 1, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harry Hamlin, Megan Gallagher, (more)
The Szalinsky family once again discovers size really does matter in this follow-up to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Honey, I Blew up the Kid. Inventor Wayne Szalinsky (Rick Moranis) is preparing to donate his problematic shrinking/expanding machine to the Smithsonian Institution as he and his wife Diane (Eve Gordon) get ready for a long weekend away from their son Adam (Bug Hall). Wayne's brother Gordon (Stuart Pankin), his wife Patty (Robin Bartlett), and his kids Jenny (Allison Mack) and Mitch (Jake Richardson) volunteer to look after Adam while his parents are away, but as luck would have it (and the title would lead you to expect), the grown-ups are accidentally zapped by Wayne's shrinking ray. As the kids run amok, their miniaturized folks must contend with monstrously huge insects, wrinkles in the carpet that look like canyons, and other threats to the existence of the suddenly tiny. Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves marked the directorial debut of cinematographer Dean Cundey. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rick Moranis, Eve Gordon, (more)
In this comedy, a writer's triumphant return to his hometown turns out to have a very long string attached. As a child, small and timid David Leary grew up in Hastings, MN, where he lived in mortal fear of the school bully, Roscoe Bigger, aka "Fang." Fang loved nothing more than making David's every waking moment a physical and emotional torment. Fortunately for David, his parents moved the family to California not long after David turned the tables on Fang; Fang stole a moon rock from a school display and David finked on him, putting Fang on the fast track to reform school. Years later, David (played as an adult by Rick Moranis) is a successful author, and he has been invited to teach English at the school he attended as a child. David is intrigued to discover that Victoria (Julianne Phillips), the girl he used to have a crush on, is also on the faculty (as the sex-ed instructor, no less) and interested in seeing him. But David's happiness is short-lived when he meets the school's shop teacher -- none other than Roscoe (Tom Arnold). Fang's stay in a juvenile home shattered his spirit, and he's been a spineless loser ever since; these days, David is the only person still afraid of him. Having someone to intimidate again does Roscoe a world of good; it restores his confidence, lifts his spirits, and even saves his marriage. But it doesn't do much for David, who can't exactly complain to the principal that Fang's picking on him again. Don Knotts appears in a supporting role as Principal Kokelar. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rick Moranis, Tom Arnold, (more)
Based on Carl Hiaasen's satirical novel, Striptease tells the story of Erin (Demi Moore), who has just gotten a divorce from Darrell (Robert Patrick), the sleazy ex-con she foolishly married. However, the judge's memories of Darrell's days as a football hero win him custody of their daughter, and Erin, concerned for her child's safety, is determined to fight the decision. Erin has just lost her position as a secretary for the FBI, so, to cover her legal bills, she takes a job as an exotic dancer at a strip club called the Eager Beaver. While she has no experience taking off her clothes in front of an audience, Erin soon makes friends with the fellow dancers and finds a protector in the club's burly but good-hearted bouncer, Shad (Ving Rhames). She also makes a few fans among the regulars at the club, most notably David Dillbeck (Burt Reynolds), a drunken lout with a bottomless appetite for sleaze -- who also happens to be a conservative congressman with ties to right-wing religious groups. One of Erin's admirers snaps a photo of her with the congressman when a brawl breaks out at the club, and he suggests that it would make fine blackmail material. However, when the man with the photo turns up dead, Erin discovers that Dillbeck's people play a bit rougher than she expected. The home video version of Striptease contains two minutes of footage that was clipped from the theatrical release in order to win the film an R rating. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Demi Moore, Armand Assante, (more)
Good gorillas meet bad gorillas while human beings search for treasure in this jungle advnture saga. R.B. Travis (Joe Don Baker) is the ruthless head of Travi-Com, a telecommunications firm on the cusp of a major breakthrough in laser communications technology. However, Travis needs diamonds to finish the project, so he sends a group of men to Zaire, where he's told that a large supply of the gems can be easily found. When the men go missing, Travis sends his trusted assistant Karen Ross (Laura Linney), a one-time CIA associate, into the jungle to find both his staff and the jewels. Hoping to keep her mission a secret, Karen travels to Zaire in the company of Peter (Dylan Walsh), a researcher on primate development who is hoping to return Amy, a gorilla who has been taught sign language and can "speak" English with the help of a glove-controlled computer device. Also travelling with them is Herkermer (Tim Curry), a Romanian with a secret agenda: he's convinced that Amy can guide him to the Lost City of Zinj, where he believes that King Solomon's Mines are located. Upon arrival, the group is met by Monroe Kelly (Ernie Hudson), a self-described "great white hunter who happens to be black," and they discover that the jungle holds a menace that they weren't counting on: a tribe of bloodthirsty gray gorillas. Congo was based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dylan Walsh, Laura Linney, (more)
- 1994
In the modern-day retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, a young man named Jack (J.D. Daniels) is looking for a way to help out his financially stressed single mother. Finding a handful of magic seeds, Jack plants them and soon discovers that a gigantic beanstalk has sprouted, leading into the sky and to a strange but remarkable world of giants and adventure. The supporting cast includes Margot Kidder and Richard Moll. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Native American history got the Disney treatment in this biography aimed at younger audiences. Adam Beach stars as Squanto, an Eastern Massachusetts native of the 17th century, who befriends the English settlers who are starting to colonize the region. Naively trusting his new friends, Squanto and his best friend Epenow (Eric Schweig) offer to help some sailors load a vessel that's departing for England. The two Indians are shanghaied and taken across the ocean to serve as sideshow attractions for the greedy owner (Michael Gambon) of the shipping line. Squanto quickly escapes and finds refuge in a nearby cloister, where he is protected by the kindly monks, in particular Brother Daniel (Mandy Patinkin), who teaches Squanto to speak English. Squanto learns of a ship carrying more settlers to the New World, so he stows away and returns to his homeland, where he finds that his village has been wiped out by disease brought by the colonists. Nevertheless, Squanto brokers a peace deal between his hostile brothers and the settlers, and they celebrate the first Thanksgiving together. Beach went on to star in the Native American drama Smoke Signals (1998). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adam Beach, Mandy Patinkin, (more)
- 1994
Included are two episodes from the early-'90s live-action TV series, "The Golden Child" and "The Last Temptation of Ethyl." ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
In the style of the screwball comedies of the 1930s and 1940s, I Love Trouble depicts the developing romance of two rival reporters who reluctantly fall for each other while competing for a major scoop. Old hand Peter Brackett (Nick Nolte) and aspiring newcomer Sabrina Peterson (Julia Roberts) first meet when they are both assigned to cover a mysterious train crash. The pair immediately develops a connection despite their professional rivalry, and they decide to work together. Sensing something fishy about the crash, they look deeper and are soon fighting to expose a wide-ranging conspiracy, while also struggling to outmaneuver and out-charm each other along the way. Co-creators Charles Shyer and Nancy Meyers, who previously found success harking back to 1940s comedy in Father of the Bride, borrow heavily from His Girl Friday, Bringing Up Baby, and other screwball classics. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julia Roberts, Nick Nolte, (more)
- 1994
- R
In the tradition of Mel Brooks, this Italian comedy offers an episodic parody of classic thrillers and horror movies. Film includes cameos from several stars including Mel Brooks, John Astin, Larry Storch, Phyllis Diller, John Carpenter, and John Landis. The story begins as director Ezio Greggio is being stabbed ala Psycho in his shower. Before he dies he recaps the events leading to his death. The scene was L.A. and FBI rookie Jo Dee Fostar has been assigned to interview psycho inmate Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza. Meanwhile Fostar's girlfriend swipes $400,000 bucks from her boss and ends up hiding in the Cemetery Hotel, run by Antonio Motel. Inspector Balsam investigates cases of dead hotel victims. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dom DeLuise, Ezio Greggio, (more)
A father gets a crash-course in the outdoors in this made-for-television comedy for kids. Comedian Bob Saget stars as an urban-living dad who decides to take his son Michael (Brian Bonsall) -- working his way to Eagle Scout -- on a camping trip. Poor dad is well-meaning, but fumbles his way through a series of mishaps. Saget (Full House) served as executive producer for the film. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Saget, Brian Bonsall, (more)
- 1992
Included are two episodes from the early-'90s live-action TV series, "High Noon" and "Endangered Species." ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- R
When a successful businessman Graham Krakowski (Bill Paxton) buys a house, he has a hard time evicting the previous tenant--a dirty, homeless vagabond (Marshall Bell). As Graham tries stunt after stunt to rid himself of his unwanted guest, he begins to crack, while the bum figures out new and exciting ways to torment him. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Paxton, Michael Ironside, (more)
- 1992
Included are two episodes from the early-'90s live-action TV series, "Don't Cross the Boss" and "Wesayso Knows Best." ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Divorcee Helen Slater doesn't mind single life, but she doesn't like being alone either. Her best pal Kelly LeBrock dutifully sets up a blind date. Outwardly charming doctor Billy Zane is Slater's companion for the evening, and things couldn't be rosier. But it turns out that neither Zane nor LeBrock are dealing from the top of the deck, and before long Slater and her daughter Heather Lind are embroiled in a life- threatening situation. This reasonably involving thriller was scripted by actor Robby Benson. Featured in the cast are Harvey Korman and Alan Thicke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
