Wendy Schaal Movies
Actress Wendy Schaal made her feature-film debut in the teen comedy Records (1978). She subsequently went on to have a sporadic film career, the highlights of which include Innerspace (1987) and The 'Burbs (1989). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Joe Dante directed this satirical action-comedy about talking tech toys accidentally juiced-up with military microchips. After the defense industry firm Globotech takes over a small toy company, Heartland Play Systems' CEO Gil Mars (Denis Leary) gives the green light to develop a new line of action figures, requesting an upgrade to more realistic figures from Heartland toy designers Larry Benson (Jay Mohr) and fumbling Irwin Wayfair (David Cross). Mars wants toys that act like the ones in TV commercials. The results are fierce fighting figures, the Commando Elite, programmed to seek out and destroy the kindly alien-like Gorgonites. In an effort to make the toys as natural as possible, Benson inserts Globotech's most powerful military computer chips. Meanwhile, in quiet Winslow Corners, Ohio, toy-store owner Stuart Abernathy (Kevin Dunn) and his 15-year-old son Alan (Gregory Smith) are stuck in a failing business, so when Heartland truckdriver Joe (Dick Miller) stops by with the Commando and Gorgonite toys, Alan is convinced they will be hot sellers, commenting, "Maybe this store will finally make a little money." With blistering blows to their blister packs, the Commandos burst out, receive orders from their leader Chip Hazard (voice of Tommy Lee Jones) and ready for an all-out assault on the Gorgonites. When the Gorgonite leader Archer (voice of Frank Langella) begins communicating with Alan, it causes the Commandos to perceive humans as another enemy, simply by their association with the "Gorgonite scum," so an attack on the Abernathy house begins. Unfortunately, the Gorgonites can offer only limited assistance, since they have been programmed to lose. The film combines animatronics, puppetry, and computer animation. The Commando Elite voices include surviving actors from Robert Aldrich's The Dirty Dozen (1967), while the Gorgonite voices reunited several This Is Spinal Tap (1983) cast members. A dedication to Phil Hartman (the voice of Phil Fimple) after the closing credits features a brief Hartman outtake. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirsten Dunst, Gregory Smith, (more)
- 1997
Disgruntled Ross (David Schwimmer) thinks that Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) new co-worker Mark (Steven Eckholdt) is a bit too friendly, while Rachel's former boss Gunther (James Michael Tyler) gets all moony-eyed. Monica (Courteney Cox) dates a poetic and somewhat xenophobic busboy named Julio (Carlos Gomez). And Joey (Matt LeBlanc), anxious to land a job in a Broadway musical, claims on his resumé that he is an expert dancer -- with disastrous results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In the first episode of a two-part story, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is in Ireland, staying at a bed-and-breakfast at Ballynook Castle. Rumor has it that the castle is haunted by the ghost of a murdered woman, and the locals are convinced that the spirt is responsible for the death of a kitchen worker. Suspecting that the victim was murdered by "live" culprits who are searching for a hidden treasure, Jessica follows a trail of clues that may well lead her into a death trap! Rod Taylor and Fionnula Flanagan, both of whom had appeared in previous episodes filmed in Ireland, show up here in different roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is still in Ireland, investigating the mysterious (and deadly) goings-on at ancient Ballynook Castle. In her efforts to prove that a legendary ghost was not responsible for the death of a kitchen worker, Jessica had become trapped in the castle's dank and gloomy dungeon. Meanwhile, the genuine culprits, who may or may not be involved in an intricate antique-smuggling scheme, remain at large. Rod Taylor and Fionnula Flanagan, both of whom had appeared in previous episodes filmed in Ireland, show up here in different roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Some teen girls take to the road in this made-for-cable remake of the 1956 original. Set in 1957, three guy-crazy friends take to the road in a stolen car, trying to track down one of their ex-lovers before he goes off into the Navy. The film is part of Showtime's "Rebel Highways" series of remakes. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Rudd, Julie Bowen, (more)
- 1991
- PG
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, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In this made-for-TV movie, a woman suffering the ravages of terminal cancer desires, against the wishes of her husband, to permanently end her suffering. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
Ward and June Cleaver have nothing on suburban couple Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher. Together with their perfect son, Hanks and Fisher are so clean that they squeak. Thus, when new neighbors Henry Gibson, Brother Theodore and Courtney Gains begin evincing bizarre behavior, Hanks is slightly put out. Fisher thinks that Hanks is getting all worked up over nothing. Hanks and his fellow suburbanites endure all sorts of slapstick misadventures in the vain hope of getting "the goods" on the newcomers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, (more)
- 1989
- PG
In this action drama, after putting in a full shift, two deep sea divers return to the deep to perform a quick repair to a piece of equipment and wind up trapped 100 yards below the surface for hours, and before long they are cut off from the lines which connect them to the surface. Frantic efforts are made by those on the surface to find some way to rescue them before their air completely runs out. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Kitchen, Björn Sundquist, (more)
- 1988
Slated to receive a humanitarian award, Harry (Harry Anderson) searches high and low for someone to escort to the ceremony. Stopping at a newsstand, Harry makes the acquaintance of an attractive, charming and well-spoken woman named Diane (Wendy Schaal), who shares many of his interests. On the spot, Harry invites Diane to the award ceremony--only to be "reunited" with the young lady a few hours later when she is hauled into court and revealed to be a porn-film star! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Michael J. Fox once more makes a courageous effort to shed his nice-guy image in Bright Lights, Big City. Fox plays an impressionable Kansan who comes to the Big Apple to take a job at a major magazine. It isn't long before he falls into the twin traps of drug and alcohol abuse. His only hope for redemption is in the hands of Vicky (Tracy Pollan), the cousin of his scuzzy drinking buddy Tad (Kiefer Sutherland). Jay McInerney's bestselling novel does not translate easily to the big screen, but Fox strives hard to please, as do all of his costars. The white stuff snorted by Fox wasn't really cocaine, but powdered milk. Watch for Frasier's David Hyde Pierce in a small role and Jason Robards in a significant unbilled cameo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael J. Fox, Kiefer Sutherland, (more)
- 1988
Despite the negative experience of appearing in a TV promo in the previous episode, DJ (Candace Cameron) accepts the leading role in her school play--and is convinced that she is on the road to stardom. DJ begs Danny (Bob Saget) to let her audition for a TV cereal commercial, only to be consumed by jealousy when her sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) gets the job instead. This is the first episode in which Stephanie utters her familiar catchphrase "How rude"--and rude DJ is, in abundance, until Jesse (John Stamos) and Joey (David Coulier) step in to resolve the problem. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Director Joe Dante infuses this science fiction comedy with the visual razzle-dazzle and manic, goofball performances typical of his cartoon-inspired sensibilities. Navy test pilot Lt. Tuck Pendleton (Dennis Quaid) has volunteered for a highly dangerous medical experiment. A submersible craft, with Tuck at the controls, is to be shrunk down to molecular size and inserted into the body of a living rabbit. If successful, the test could result in radical breakthroughs in surgical techniques, but some high-tech thieves attempt to steal Tuck and his ship while both are in miniature form. Enter Jack Putter (Martin Short), a mild-mannered, hypochondriac retail store clerk, a nerd who suddenly finds himself injected with Tuck and his tiny ship. Now poor Jack's got to rise above his mundane existence to help an American hero get back to safety, while also trying to reunite Tuck with his beautiful estranged girlfriend Lydia (Meg Ryan). Innerspace (1987) won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, (more)
- 1987
- PG
While on a dig in Peru, a shady archaeologist uncovers a strange creature, which he dubs a "Munchie." He brings the animal home, but it begins to mutate and procreate--with disastrous results--soon after a con artist kidnaps it. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harvey Korman, Charles Stratton, (more)
- 1985
The henchmen of crooked land developer Phillip Chadway (Ray Wise) make a big mistake when they use strongarm tactics to force the elderly tenants of a Chicago apartment building to vacate the premises. It seems that one of those tenants is a certain Mrs. Barracus (Della Reese)--who happens to be the mother of a certain short-tempered "A-Teamer" by the name of B.A. (Mr. T). As a consequence, B.A.'s fellow Team-mates take it upon themselves to champion the tenants' cause, and to teach Mr. Chadway a valuable (and very painful) lesson! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Less than a year before James Cameron's turbo-charged sequel, Hollywood (or its overseas counterparts) still managed to find ways to retread the badly-worn theme of Ridley Scott's Alien, as evidenced in this 1985 low-budget item. When a mysterious canister is uncovered on Saturn's largest moon Titan, a dormant, eons-old monster is released, making lunch of both the explorers who discovered it and the rival corporation's exploration team which investigates their disappearance. The most enjoyable "creature" in this otherwise pedestrian film is the ever-leering Klaus Kinski, who plays the lecherous sole survivor of the previous expedition, but the only real source of entertainment -- the depiction of gooey, gory effects and gratuitous nudity -- is spoiled by inadequate lighting and static camera set-ups. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stan Ivar, Wendy Schaal, (more)
- 1984
Convicted murderer Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald had hoped that, by telling his side of the story to investigative journalist Joe McGinniss, the authorities would be persuaded of MacDonald's innocence. Instead, McGinniss ended up unswerving in his belief of MacDonald's guilt, and the result was the devastating best-seller Fatal Vision. In this two-part TV adaptation of McGinniss' book, Gary Cole plays MacDonald, a former Green Beret officer, while Frank Dent essays the role of McGinniss. MacDonald's wife and two children are brutally murdered in their Fort Bragg, North Carolina home on February 17, 1970. The prime suspect, MacDonald insists that the killings were committed by a gang of stoned-out hippies, a story that at first is accepted in toto by the doctor's father-in-law Freddy Kassab (Karl Malden). But after MacDonald is officially exonerated, Kassab notices several holes in his son-in-law's story, and becomes convinced that MacDonald was in fact the murderer. Through Kassab's persistence, as well as the uncovering of new forensic evidence, MacDonald is ultimately convicted for all three murders in 1979. Since the TV premiere of Fatal Vision on November 18 and 19, 1984, there has been a growing movement by MacDonald's sympathizers to discredit McGinniss' book and to retry the case--a movement that has been hampered time and again by MacDonald's own erratic behavior. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Karl Malden, Eva Marie Saint, (more)
- 1984
- R
In this mindless movie aping the 1960 hit about teens out for sun, surf, and sex, the "boys" are at the beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida -- the destination of thousands of U.S. university students on their spring break and the destination of the four female protagonists here. After arriving, Jennie (Lisa Hartman) has to decide whether she really cares for Camden (Daniel McDonald), a nerdy musician, or the jock Scott (Russel Todd); Carole (Lorna Luft) has been unexpectedly followed to Lauderdale by a boyfriend; Sandra (Wendy Schaal) falls in love with a cop when she is arrested; and Laurie (Lynn-Holly Johnson) is simply out for a good time with anyone, or everyone. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lisa Hartman, Russell Todd, (more)
- 1981
The lavish "wish-fulfillment" TV series Fantasy Island enters it fourth season with the mysterious Mr. Roarke (Ricardo Montalban) and his mercurial aide Tattoo (Herve Villechaize) still making dreams come true for the various and sundry visitors to Roarke's lavish island resort. New to the series is Wendy Schaal), who is seen in a handful of episodes as Roarke's goddaughter Julie. If there were any doubts that Roarke was no mere entrepreneur, but instead possessed magical and even mystical powers, those doubts are dispelled in the season opener, in which Roarke enables a terrified woman (Carol Lynley) to break the bargain she has made with the Devil Himself, or, as he is known hereabouts, Mephistopholes (played by Roddy McDowell). This would not be Roarke's last dust-up with Satan, as proven later in the season in the rare half-hour episode "Possessed". The "fantasy" element of Fantasy Island is delved into even further in the Season Four episodes wherein a mermaid (Michelle Phillips) dreams of being human, Tattoo (Herve Villechaize) is endowed with the artistic talent of Toulouse-Lautrec, and Julie begs Roarke to revoke her own magic powers so that she can have a "normal" marriage. This year's guest-star lineup includes Ross Martin, Tom Wopat, Charlene Tilton, Loni Anderson, Lyle Waggoner, Bobby Sherman, Peter Marshall, Jerry Van Dyke, Ann Jillian, Joe Namath and Jimmy Dean. The longest entry this season is the 90-minute "Skater's Edge/Concerto of Death/The Last Great Death", which, per its title, features three rather two separate plotlines, and boasts a guest roster including skating star Peggy Fleming, Dick Shawn, Juliet Mills, Jack Carter and Bradford Dillman. Season Four ends with a standard hour-long effort, in which a poor Mexican family is allowed by Roarke bypass the usual $50,000 fee in order to give their son the "best birthday ever", while at the same time a timid woman "inherits" a romantic fantasy from a deceased relative. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ricardo Montalban, Herve Villechaize, (more)
- 1979
Although the people of Walnut Grove are delighted when a carnival comes to town, Nels Oleson (Richard Bull) is in despair. It seems that the carnival's fat lady, Annabelle (Harriet Gibson), is Mr. Oleson's long-estranged sister. Elsewhere, Laura (Melissa Gilbert) has a new rival for the affections of Almanzo (Dean Butler) in the form of snooty Christie (Wendy Schaal). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, (more)
