Corey Parker Movies
- 1998
Loosely following the format of ABC's 1969-74 comedy anthology series Love, American Style, Aaron Spelling's first Love Boat set sail September 24, 1977 with the series' intertwining stories all taking place aboard the cruise ship Pacific Princess, captained by Gavin MacLeod. Spelling Television updated the concept in this 1998 romantic comedy series with Captain Jim Kennedy III (Robert Urich) retired from the Navy and now at the helm of the luxury liner Sun Princess. There's a full crew of regulars on board, and Kennedy's 15-year-old mischievous son Danny (Kyle Howard) roams the ship while it cruises about in search of love, Caribbean style. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Urich, Joan Severance, (more)
- 1996
Still bitter over the fact that his Jewish grandfather Sam (Harold Gould) had opposed his marriage to a Catholic girl named Roseanne (Holly Fulger), archaeologist Henry Moskowitz (Corey Parker) stubbornly resists Sam's attempts at reconciliation. At the same time, Henry is at odds with a group of Navajo Indian elders, who charge him with desecrating sacred ground during his latest archeological dig. As Henry's new research assistant Monica (Roma Downey) and his Native American intern Dillon (Adam Beach) lead a boycott against him, tragedy strikes--and only then does Henry awaken to the true meaning loyalty and tradition. Real-life Native American activist Russell Means plays a key role in this episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
- PG13
Based on a true story, this emotional made-for-television drama is aimed at heightening public awareness of the tragedy for children with HIV-positive parents. Linda Hamilton was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance as widow Rosemary Holmstrom, a single mother who is battling the AIDS virus. As she struggles to deal with her disease, she is also faced with the grim reality of making arrangements for the future care of her son (Noah Fleiss). Gender-bending singer RuPaul makes an appearance as a helpful HIV-positive social worker. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Two drug runners holed up in a ramshackle LA hotel await the arrival of their employers in this fascinating crime drama. The drug runners hope the bosses show up soon, as both of them have swallowed dozens of small balloons filled with heroin, and soon the balloons will pass through their systems. One of the runners, Craig, is afraid that a balloon has burst and that he will eventually die. His partner, Michael, is also worried because the employers have not returned his phone calls and the plans have been changed. He fears that they are both in real danger. Meanwhile, a few doors down, a religious fanatic raves, and two women are feeling sexually ambivalent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
The life of Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor is told in this made-for-television drama. Sherilyn Fenn stars as Oscar-winning actress Liz Taylor, whose career began when her mother pushed her into acting as a child in the 1940s. Her tumultuous career ups and downs, and her turbulent personal life are chronicled in the film, which was based on the book by C. David Heymann. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
Adaptation of the David Leavitt novel in which a young man agonizes over revealing his homosexuality to his parents, but doesn't realize that his father is also gay and is about to come out of the closet in a way that will destroy his marriage. ~ Nicole Gagne, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Cox, Eileen Atkins, (more)
- 1992
The 1986 stage hit Broadway Bound is the third entry in playwright Neil Simon's "autobiography trilogy". Unlike the cinemadaptations of Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues, Broadway Bound was filmed for television, where it debuted March 23, 1992. Brighton Beach Memoirs star Jonathan Silverman returns as Neil Simon's alter ego Eugene Jerome, while Corey Parker plays Eugene's brother Stanley (based on Simon's brother and early writing partner Mel). The year is 1948: Eugene and Stanley have begun writing comedy sketches for the Catskills resorts, hoping that this activity will be the first step on the road to fame and fortune. As they seek out funny material, the boys' home life is rapidly disintegrating. The crises at hand include their parents' constant quarrelling (brought about by their father's philandering) and a seemingly insurmountable dilemma involving their aged uncle. Just as WASPish Blythe Danner scored as Eugene's Jewish mother in Brighton Beach Memoirs, so too do non-Jewish actor Anne Bancroft and Hume Cronyn effectively essay Hebraic characterizations in Broadway Bound. Following its American television premiere, the film was released theatrically in Europe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Corey Parker, Jonathan Silverman, (more)
- 1991
- R
An innocent law student gets accused of murdering a mob chief's son when a casino poker game turns into a fistfight that ends with a fatality. Soon the mob and the corrupt local police are after the kid whose only respite in this film is a short romance with a new-found sweetheart. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelly Preston, Ken Pogue, (more)
- 1990
A made-for-TV effort from horror director Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), this supernatural thriller is ostensibly based on the novella of the same name by Cornell Woolrich -- but the title is pretty much where the similarity ends. The plot involves a possessed Aztec ceremonial cloak (once used to line a sacred burial chamber) which poisons the soul of anyone who wears it. An improbable string of events sees the cloak turned into a little slip of a dress -- donned by several different women, but worn to evil perfection by Madchen Amick (Twin Peaks's Shelly). I'm Dangerous Tonight features colorful supporting performances from Anthony Perkins and R. Lee Ermey. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Screenwriters Ted Tally and Alvin Sargent adapted the novel by Glenn Savan into this intelligent comedy-drama about a May-December romance where the woman is the senior partner. James Spader is Max Baron, a 27-year-old St. Louis advertising executive who has completely shut himself off from the world in the two years since the auto accident death of his wife. When he meets free-spirited, 43-year-old burger joint waitress Nora Baker (Susan Sarandon), his attraction to the earthy, outspoken woman is immediate and overpowering. The difference in age isn't their only obstacle happiness: Nora's into Marilyn Monroe, drinking beer, and lives in Dogtown, the city's low-rent district, while Max is cultured, sophisticated, and wealthy. Despite their differences, Max and Nora are alike in their suffering and in their deep need for connection, but their charged relationship is put to the emotional test when it becomes clear that Max is hiding his affair with Nora from his upper middle-class, Jewish social circle. White Palace co-stars Renée Taylor, Eileen Brennan, Kathy Bates, Jason Alexander, and Corey Parker. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Sarandon, James Spader, (more)
- 1989
This light comedy is a contemporary--and wacky--version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In this version, a malformed young man hangs out in the bell tower of a California college campus and has to face a number of prejudices when he is brought out into the light. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Allan Katz, Corey Parker, (more)
This teen comedy from Savage Steve Holland stars Corey Parker as an underachieving high schooler who hatches a crazy plot with valedictorian Lara Flynn Boyle to gain acceptance into a prestigious university. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Edwards, Corey Parker, (more)
Biloxi Blues was the second of playwright Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical trilogy (number one was Brighton Beach Memoirs; number three, Broadway Bound). Matthew Broderick stars as Simon's alter ego Eugene Morris Jerome, who is drafted and shipped off to boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi in the waning days of World War II. Eugene is at the mercy of near-psychotic drill sergeant Toomey (Christopher Walken), who seems to have a personal vendetta against the poor schlemiel (Toomey also has all the film's best lines). While sweating out basic training, Eugene is indoctrinated into manhood by local prostitute Rowena (Park Overall). The film version of Biloxi Blues retains the wit and poignancy of the theatrical original--except towards the end, which pointlessly emphasizes a showdown between Eugene and Toomey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken, (more)
- 1987
There were two rival TV dramatizations of the sensational murder case involving "monster Mom" Frances Schreuder. Stephanie Powers was the star of the two-part 1987 TV movie At Mother's Request. Part One details the events leading to the murder of Frances' multimillionaire father Franklin Bradshaw (E.G. Marshall). Though Frances' complicity was well known at the time of Part One's first telecast on January 4, 1987 (in fact, she was already serving a life sentence in the Utah State Prison), the case is treated like a whodunit.
Part Two demonstrates how Frances' teen-age son Marc (Doug McKeon) was coerced into committing the deed by his manipulative Mom. Though lacking depth, At Mother's Request is still a powerful re-enactment of what was once considered "The Crime of the Century" (O.J. hadn't happened yet). The second half of this two-part TV-movie debuted on January 6, 1987. For the record, Lee Remick starred in a like-vintage TV adaptation of the same story, Nutcracker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Part Two demonstrates how Frances' teen-age son Marc (Doug McKeon) was coerced into committing the deed by his manipulative Mom. Though lacking depth, At Mother's Request is still a powerful re-enactment of what was once considered "The Crime of the Century" (O.J. hadn't happened yet). The second half of this two-part TV-movie debuted on January 6, 1987. For the record, Lee Remick starred in a like-vintage TV adaptation of the same story, Nutcracker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Eighteen-year-old Roy Thomas (Corey Parker) thinks his future is assured when he is accepted at Dartmouth. Unfortunately, he may never be able to go to college: his 16-year-old girlfriend, Maria (Christine Langer), is pregnant. Refusing to put the baby up for adoption, Maria expects Roy to "someday" fulfill his parental duties -- and that day has apparently already arrived. Teen Father covers familiar ABC Afterschool Special ground, but is no less effective because of this. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Corey Parker, Christine Langner, (more)
- 1986
- PG13
Pamela Segall gives a winning performance in this gender-bending comedy about a girl who wants to be a boy and gets her wish. 14-year-old Milly Niceman's "deepest, darkest heart's desire" is to be a boy, as she feels that boys' lives are simpler and more interesting than girls' lives. After her best friend's brother sells her an "eclipse powder," she wakes up in the middle of the night to discover that she has grown a penis. When she becomes a boy, calling herself Willy, she finds that her girlfriend has now developed an amorous interest in him/her. Willy also makes friends with a handicapped boy named Alfie (Eric Gurry), who also confesses his "unnatural desires" for Willy. Finding that being a boy is as confusing as being a girl, Willy wishes upon a star to be changed back to a girl. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pamela Segall, Eric Gurry, (more)
This three-hour TV movie stars Sophia Loren as New Yorker Marianna Miraldo. Hurt and angered by her son's cocaine addiction, Marianna discovers that a close friend also has ties with the drug scene. After several of her imprisoned friend's associates try to contact him through her, the DEA persuades Marianna to aid them in an undercover operation headed by cop Bobby Jay (Billy Dee Williams). Despite the "don't get involved" admonitions of her husband (Hector Elizondo), Marianna agrees to cooperate with the DEA, if only for the sake of her son. This fact-based film, which first aired September 24, 1986, concludes with the feds closing in on a $3.5 billion cocaine ring. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sophia Loren, Billy Dee Williams, (more)
- 1985
The sensitive topic of child molestation is compellingly (and tastefully) handled on this ABC Afterschool Special. While babysitting for six-year-old Molly Stewart (Niki Scalera), teenager Karen Anderson (Kelly Wolf) cannot help but notice the inordinate amount of attention showered upon the child by the much older "family friend" Mike (Lenny Von Dohlen). Still harboring painful memories of being molested as a child, Karen does not trust Mike, and for good reason. Will Karen be able to alert Molly's parents that their child is in imminent danger of being sexually assaulted -- and, of more importance, will they believe her before it is too late? ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelly Wolf, Niki Scalera, (more)
- 1985
- R
- Add Friday the 13th, Part V: A New Beginning to QueueAdd Friday the 13th, Part V: A New Beginning to top of Queue
The murderous spirit of Jason Vorhees lives on in this horror sequel, although the plot hinges on the mystery of whether the killer's body actually survives. Opening with a nightmare prologue in which Corey Feldman reprises his role as Tommy Jarvis, the boy who killed Jason in the previous installment, the film jumps forward several years to when a teenaged Tommy (John Shepherd), haunted by visions of Jason returning to life, moves into a group home for mentally disturbed kids. Almost as soon as he arrives, Tommy witnesses the death of Joey (Dominick Brascia), an overweight, annoying boy who is hacked to death by psychopathic patient Vic (Mark Venturini). Although Vic ends up safely behind bars, other bodies begin to turn up -- more than 20 by the end of the film. Tommy's own violent streak, displayed when he lashes out at a fellow resident, makes him a suspect; he even doubts his own sanity. But as the bloodshed continues, Tommy finds himself allied with Reggie (Shavar Ross), the grandson of one of the home's employees, in a desperate bid to survive the carnage and find out who the killer behind the hockey mask really is. The producers of the Friday the 13th series actually planned to end it with Friday the 13th -- The Final Chapter, but the box-office success of that film paved the way for the series to continue. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Shepard, Melanie Kinnaman, (more)
- 1984
- R
Scream for Help could be a failed horror spoof, or just a bad horror film -- either way, this story about a teenage daughter trying to convince the world that her cheating stepfather is out to kill her wealthy mother has its flaws. When the young teenager finally gets some proof that she is right, she and her mother are taken captive by the crazed stepfather, and a series of grisly murders results. With pompously dramatic music and acting that is over the edge, the story plays as tongue-in-cheek, until the blood and gore start to gush, turning anyone's stomach. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rachel Kelly, Marie Masters, (more)
