Ernie Sabella Movies

New York City songwriter Danny (Kent Moran) fights for the love of deaf beauty Ariana (Alexia Rasmussen) after her wealthy, controlling mother (Cybill Shepherd) prevents them from seeing one another in this urban romantic drama. Inspired by Ariana to compose a series of soul stirring ballads that she will tragically never hear, Danny realizes that he has finally found the love of his life as Ariana takes her first tenuous steps toward independence after leading a sheltered childhood. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

15-year-old Raven Baxter (Raven-Symone) manages to get herself, her family, and her friends into all sorts of hilarious scrapes thanks to her remarkable -- and remarkably faulty -- gift for prophecy in season one of the Disney Channel sitcom That's So Raven. In fact, the series has barely gotten started before Raven is on the outs with her friend Eddie (Orlando Brown) because she refuses to peer into the future to help him pass his high school Spanish exam. Later on, Raven experiences a vision that her ten-year-old brother Cory (Kyle Orlando Massey) despises her, senses disaster when her dad Victor (Rondell Sheridan) gets the opportunity to appear on a TV cooking show (and also predicts that Victor will lose his chef's job), nearly wrecks her various friendships in her efforts to touch base with other psychics, and jumps to the conclusion that her dad and mom (T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh) are headed for divorce. The problem, you see, is that Raven's glimpses into the future are only fragmentary -- leading her to misinterpret what's in store for her and react upon it in a fashion that would do I Love Lucy proud! The season ends with Raven discovering that the source of her -- er -- gift might well be her Grandma Viv (Jenifer Lewis), who may or may not be a witch. (Though clearly intended as the season finale -- and identified as such in the series' rerun package -- this episode did not originally air on Disney Channel until halfway through season two!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Darrell Rooney directed this direct-to-video sequel to Disney's 1994 The Lion King, which climaxed with Simba (voice of Matthew Broderick) enthroned as the ruling king of beasts following the death of the evil Scar. With the spirited tune He Lives in You, Simba and his mate Nala (Moira Kelly) issue a triumphant announcement of the birth of Lion Princess Kiara (Neve Campbell)! Given to misadventures and mischief, Kiara wanders into the forbidden Outlands, the haunt of Scar's exiled minions, and there she encounters another mischievous cub, Kovu (Jason Marsden), son of lioness Zira (Suzanne Pleshette), once a close friend of the late Scar and now the leader of the exiles. Zira plots against Kiara, drawing her son into her scheme. Kovu has divided loyalties as his love for Kiara deepens. Several original characters (and original voices) from the 1994 film return. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

In the film Happy New Year (1987), actor Peter Falk donned old-age makeup to play a senior citizen. Eight years later, he did it again, twice, in the TV movie remake of The Sunshine Boys (1995) and this film, a comedy-drama. Falk stars as Rocky Holzcek, a cantankerous 76-year-old Polish-American baker who insists, despite relatives' protests, upon adopting his young grandson Michael when the boy's parents pass away. Twenty years later, Michael (D.B. Sweeney) is a medical student who's forced to take in his still-spry grandfather when the old man is evicted from his apartment building. Although the crusty, outspoken Rocky gets along fine with Michael's Chinese college roommates, he is less enthused about his grandson's girlfriend Beth (Julianne Moore). Eventually, Michael and Beth marry, move away and have children, while Rocky continues working as a baker, passing the age of 100. When a tragedy befalls Michael and his kids, the old man once again comes to his grandson's rescue, but even a force of nature like Rocky can't last forever. Roommates was loosely based on the real-life experiences of screenwriter Max Apple and his grandfather. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

One of the most popular Disney animated musicals, The Lion King presents the story of a lion cub's journey to adulthood and acceptance of his royal destiny. Simba (voiced first by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, then by Matthew Broderick) begins life as an honored prince, son of the powerful King Mufasa (voiced by James Earl Jones). The cub's happy childhood turns tragic when his evil uncle Scar (voiced by Jeremy Irons) murders Mufasa and drives Simba away from the kingdom. In exile, the young lion befriends the comically bumbling pair of Pumbaa the warthog (voiced by Ernie Sabella) and Timon the meerkat (voiced by Nathan Lane) and lives a carefree jungle life. As he approaches adulthood, however, he is visited by the spirit of his father, who instructs him to defeat the nefarious Scar and reclaim his rightful throne. Borrowing elements from Hamlet, classical mythology, and African folk tales, The Lion King tells its mythic coming-of-age tale with a combination of spectacular visuals and lively music, featuring light, rhythmic songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, and a score by Hans Zimmer. Embraced by children and adults alike, the film also spawned hit songs ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight", "Circle of Life") and a hit Broadway musical. In late 2002, The Lion King was re-released in the large-screen IMAX format. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Jealous over Whitley's new boyfriend, Dwayne (Kadeem Hardison) tries to forget his troubles by accompanying Ron (Darryl M. Bell) to the annual Hillman-Virginia A&M football game. By the end of the evening, both Dwayne and Ron have been arrested, along with a trio of white A&M students who are accused of defacing Ron's car with a spray-painted racial slur. In their efforts to find out what happened, the authorities are barraged with a number of wildly contradictory "facts" from all concerned. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this Navy spoof, a mismatched bunch of sailors are sent to sea as the incompetent crew of the U. S. S. Substandard, a faulty, unfinished submarine. Little does the crew of the Substandard know that the government doesn't intend for them to make it back to shore, as they encounter all kinds of crazy problems. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

This action film revolves around the adventures that befall a Beverly Hills girl when her parents are killed in a tragic accident. When Faith (Sylvia Seidel) is shuffled off to a nightmarish foster home, she runs off to Hollywood. Once there she meets up with an Italian mobster and they form a friendship that carries them through the story's twists and turns. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

Peg (Katey Sagal) wants a VCR, but Al (Ed O'Neill) won't pony up the necessary money. In a snit, Peg decides to earn the dough herself by landing a job behind the clock counter at Muldin's Department Store. Predictably, the customers suffer -- but not so much as Al, who complains that all the fun has gone out of his marriage now that Peg can pay her own way. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Season One of Perfect Strangers begins not long after aspiring photographer Larry Appleton (Mark Linn-Baker) has moved out of his family's house (bidding his eight siblings goodbye in the process) and into his own apartment in Chicago. Any hopes of enjoying the life of a carefree bachelor are dashed when Larry's distant cousin Balki Bartokomous (Bronson Pinchot), a sheepherder from the faraway island of Mypos, shows up at Larry's doorstep and promptly moves in with him. The wide-eyed, effusive, easily impressed Balki provides hilarious contrast to the uptight, well-organized Larry, especially when both men dip into the dating pool, and when Balki insists upon honoring one of the many, invariably bizarre Myposian customs. During this season, Larry works at the Ritz Discount Shop, taking orders from his nasty, avaricious boss "Twinkie" (Ernie Sabella) and occasionally from Twinkie's equally abrasive wife Edwina (Belita Moreno). Balki doesn't hold down a regular job, but instead attends night school in hopes of becoming an American citizen. Occasionally, Larry goes out with his upstairs neighbor, nurse Susan Campbell (Lise Cutter). Episode highlights include Balki's first date, a benighted effort by Larry to give Balki driving lessons, and the Myposian immigrant's innocent abuse of his checking-account privileges. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Given a six-episode trial run in the spring of 1986, the slapstick sitcom Perfect Strangers) returned for its first full season in the fall of that same year. Also returning were Mark Linn-Baker as aspiring Chicago photographer Larry and Bronson Pinchot as his cousin and roommate Balki, a recent émigré from the faraway Mediterranean island of Mypos. Whereas in Season One only Larry was gainfully employed, in Season Two Balki has joined Larry in a menial job at the Ritz Discount Shop, run by the misanthropic "Twinkie" (Ernie Sabella) and his loudmouthed wife Edwina (Belita Moreno). In another new development, Larry's upstair neighbor (and occasional girlfriend) Susan has moved out, replaced by a pair of curvaceous stewardesses, Mary Anne (Rebecca Arthur) and Jennifer (Melanie Wilson). Now that a year has gone by, has the nervous Larry completely adjusted to the zany Balki, and has the innocent Balki gotten over his tendency to take everything literally and accept everyone he meets at face value? In the words of Balki himself, "Dun't be ridi-ku-louse!" Why, in the opening episode alone, Balki generously allows a pregnant foreigner whom he's met in his citizenship class to use Larry's room until the baby comes--without informing Larry. In subsequent episodes, Balki rigidly adheres to Myposian custom by becoming Larry's permanent manservant after Larry saves his life; the boys have a harrowing experience as babysitters, attempt to hide a dog from their landlady, and endeavor to patch up the marriage between Twinkie and Edwina (not so much out of the goodness of their hearts, but to get Twinkie out of their apartment). And in a two-part misadventure, Larry, Balki, Mary Anne and Jennifer embark upon a skiing trip, only to be trapped in an avalanche (evidentally they've traveled some distance from Chicago!) Near the end of the season, Larry and Balki both serve notice to Twinkie and try their hands at a variety of temporary jobs--with the expected disastrous results. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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, Rovi

This standard, tongue-in-cheek, gangsters and good guys saga is carried on the star power and screen presence of Clint Eastwood as Lt. Speer, a taciturn, tough, play-it-by-the-book cop, and on Burt Reynolds as Mike Murphy, Speer's old friend in the force, now turned private eye but still a captivating rogue at heart. With a sub-text of playing their well-known screen personas off each other, Eastwood and Reynolds provide more than a surface interpretation of the characters that made them famous. After Murphy's partner is murdered, he focuses on pitting one mob boss against another in an attempt to have both mobsters kill each other. In the meantime, Lt. Speer -- who has never approved of Murphy's private detective business -- does not really know if Murphy is for or against the two top gangsters. Set in the era of speakeasies and Prohibition, an added layer of "film noir" can be discerned under the complex plot, verbal repartée, and episodes of toned-down violence (a kind of parody in themselves). Although this may not be the best film either star has made, it is still interesting to see them together on screen. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi