Andra Akers Movies
Garry Marshall directed this film which starts as a light comedy but moves into heavy-duty drama later on. David Basner (Tom Hanks in a good performance) works in an ad agency, where he enjoys bantering with his co-workers and meets a lot of women. He hasn't been especially close to his father (Jackie Gleason) and never thought about him much until his Dad is left devastated when his wife of 36 years walks out on him. He is soon faced with serious health problems as well. This propels the elder Basner on a downward slide that affects David and their relationship. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Jackie Gleason, (more)
A timid aerobics instructor learns that her new best friend is also her husband's mistress in this domestic drama starring Mary Tyler Moore. Suffering from a bit of empty-nest syndrome as her children pass through adolescence, indecisive homemaker Holly Davis (Moore) reluctantly accepts a part-time gig teaching exercise classes for frazzled gym owner Helga (Salome Jens). There, she meets struggling, independent-minded broadcast journalist Sandy Dunlap (Christine Lahti) and they quickly become thick as thieves. As it turns out, though, Sandy is actually an adulteress -- she's engaged in a clandestine affair with Chip (Ted Danson), Holly's seismologist husband. Chip loves both women and wants to continue seeing Sandy, but she breaks things off with him now that she knows his wife. When Chip dies suddenly, Sandy helps Holly cope and finances Phase Two of her life as the new owner of Helga's aerobics center. Unfortunately, though, evidence of Chip's infidelity lies around just waiting to be discovered. In the end, it's up to Chip's friend Harry Crandall (Sam Waterson) -- who's been nursing a crush on Holly for years -- to help a pregnant Sandy and a heartbroken Holly come to terms with their complicated friendship. Just Between Friends marked the directorial debut of screenwriter Allan Burns. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Tyler Moore, Christine Lahti, (more)
Director Donna Deitch makes a strong impression in her first feature film, a simple story of a lesbian love affair, based on Jane Rule's 1964 novel Desert of the Heart. Helen Shaver stars as Vivian Bell, an uptight 35-year-old Columbia University professor who travels to Reno to get a divorce. She arrives in Reno on her way to Frances Parker's (Audra Lindley) ranch, where she is staying to establish six weeks of residency in order to obtain the divorce. Once at the ranch, Vivian catches the fancy of Frances's adopted daughter Cay (Patricia Charbonneau), a casino worker ten years younger than herself. Vivien tries to remain unruffled as Cay makes unabashed overtures to her. Cay thinks that all Vivian needs is the love of another woman, and soon enough the two are in each other's arms. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Shaver, Patricia Charbonneau, (more)
- 1985
This campy drama, set in the 1940s, was inspired by a hit song by Barry Manilow. It tells the tale of an aspiring songwriter, Lola, a showgirl, and the sleazy owner of the Copa. Tragedy ensues as the two men duel over Lola's love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
When a quintet of college classmates take summer jobs, their adventures lead to comic consequences. Max (Paul Reiser) gets a job working for the Cabrizzi Brothers moving company. Dwight (Robert Townsend) and Byron (Paul Provenza) become caddies, while Woody (Scott McGinnis) waits tables and Roy (Rick Overton) sells vacuum cleaners door-to-door. When all five get fired from their jobs, they combine forces to form a moving company in direct competition with the Cabrizzi Brothers. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reiser, Robert Townsend, (more)
- 1982
Forcibly retired from NASCAR, driver Molly Hargrove (Andra Akers) offers Daisy (Catherine Bach) a job on the racetrack circuit. Having long envied her auto-happy cousins Luke (Tom Wopat) and Bo (John Schneider), Daisy is thrilled at the prospect of getting behind the wheel of Molly's souped-up car. But Daisy wouldn't be so thrilled if she knew that Molly has mortgaged her car to Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke)--who in turn has hired a couple of thugs to make sure Daisy won't win an upcoming race! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
- R
John Travolta played his first romantic lead in this drama about an ill-fated May-September romance. Trisha (Lily Tomlin) is a wealthy middle-aged housewife living in Southern California. Trisha's life has become dull and uneventful, and her long-term marriage to Stu (Bert Kramer) has gone stale. One day, a handsome young drifter named Strip (Travolta), nearly 20 years her junior, happens along the beach near Trisha's house. He finds Trisha attractive, and he approaches her. Soon the two have fallen into an affair, but while Trisha enjoys Strip's company and thinks that he's handsome, it's obvious that he's more interested in her than she is in him. Moment by Moment was written and directed by Jane Wagner, Lily Tomlin's longtime companion and frequent writing partner. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lily Tomlin, John Travolta, (more)
- 1976
The scene is a roller-games rink, where skating star Karen Jason has been killed in an "accident." To find out the truth behind Karen's death, the Angels go undercover as roller girls. Along the way, they discover that Karen was murdered as part of a scheme to defraud an insurance firm -- but the villains aren't about to let our heroines skate away scot-free. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Farrah Fawcett-Majors, Kate Jackson, (more)
This dark comedy finds Charlie (Charles Pfulger) traveling to stay at the house of his fiancee's parents two days before his wedding to Josephine (Jill Clayburgh). With his two friends, he discusses Vietnam, the sexual revolution, black power, and compares bachelor life to that of a married man. Charlie tries to talk Josephine's former suitor into resuming his quest, is propositioned by the church organist, and misses his own bachelor party before finally making to the wedding at the insistence of his friends. Robert De Niro plays the role of Charlie's friend Cecil in this unusual comedy with lots of improvisational dialogue. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jill Clayburgh, Charles Pfluger, (more)
A man is being blackmailed by his wife, who wants him to get out of the pornography business. His girlfriend steals some jewels from a friend to help the financially strapped man, but she ends up being a murder victim in his studio, and the man must track down the killer to clear his own name. The trail leads to three possible suspects, all with a motive for murder. Brian De Palma relies more on visual effect than character development in this independently produced film. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margo Norton, Andra Akers, (more)
