Jonathan Stark Movies

Originally titled The Dad, the half-hour ABC sitcom According to Jim starred Jim Belushi as the title character, a middle-aged husband and father who found himself literally surrounded by women. Having long ago learned to adopt the least line of resistance, Jim was eternally acquiescent to his wife, Cheryl (Courtney Thorne-Smith), and an overgrown kid at heart to his sister-in-law, Dana (Kimberly Williams) and his three children -- Ruby (Taylor Atelian), Gracie (Billi Bruno) and Kyle (Conner Rayburn). The laughs arose whenever Jim tried to exercise some macho-man authority, only to be figuratively (and sometimes literally) shouted down by the feminist majority in his household. Slated to debut on September 26, 2001, According to Jim was moved to October 3 due to late-breaking news events. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The titular first date takes place at the planetarium where Drew (Steve Carey) and Kate (Christa Miller) first met in grade school. When they trade stories about their most unforgettable experiences, Kate reveals that she once picked up a guy at the airport who was butt-naked except for a trenchcoat, a story that Drew cannot match no matter how hard he tries. Worried that now Kate will find him too dull for her tastes, Drew decides to prove he can be just as exciting as the next guy by duplicating the naked-under-the-coat incident; unfortunately, he has chosen the precise moment that Kate has invited him to a Greek restaurant with her grandparents! Meanwhile, Mrs. Louder (Nan Martin) offers to treat Mimi (Kathy Kinney) and Steve (John Carroll Lynch) to an expensive honeymoon--on condition that she be allowed to watch when the couple consummates their marriage. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) eagerly anticipates a reunion with her high school sweetheart Mark, "the only man I ever loved." The gang at Cheers can't bring themselves to tell her how radically Mark has changed over the years (and since he is played by Harvey Fierstein, it should not be necessary to provide full details about his "transformation"). Meanwhile, Sam (Ted Danson) launches a support group with other people whose Corvettes have been stolen, and Kelly (Jackie Swanson) makes a bid to be one of "the guys." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

It had to happen: Cliff (John Ratzenberger) finally introduces his mother (Frances Sternhagen) to his mixed-up girlfriend, Margaret (Annie Golden). Stranger than fiction, Mom takes an immediate liking to Margaret, even unto proposing to the girl on Cliff's behalf. Meanwhile, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) tries to expedite the baby-conception process by ordering Sam (Ted Danson) to don frozen fertility underwear. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This opening episode of Moonlighting's second season begins with stars Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis, aka Maddie and David, briefly dropping character to chat with the audience and explain that they have to kill a little time because the script isn't long enough to fill out the hour. In the story proper, Charles Rocket makes his first appearance as David's irksome brother Richie, who blows into town with one hundred thousand dollars to his name. David is jealous that Richie is able to impress Maddie by tossing his new-found wealth around, but what begins as a case of sibling rivalry develops into something far more deadly when it is revealed that the money actually belongs to a Philadelphia drug dealer named Mr. Navarone (Ed O'Ross)--a man who is not known for his gentle nature or sense of humor! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this racy made-for-TV comedy, a handsome hunk (Mark Harmon) does more than merely plumb the pools of beauteous Bel Air housewives and lonely women. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Eddie Murphy gets way, way out in this futuristic sci-fi comedy. In the year 2087, the Earth's natural resources have been largely depleted, and an increasingly large number of people have taken up residence on the moon, where the pioneering attitude of the new residents has created a culture not unlike the old west. Pluto Nash (Eddie Murphy) is one such lunar exile who formerly made his living outside the law, but has since gone straight and now runs the hippest nightclub in the moon colony known as "Little America." Pluto is approached by Mogan (Joe Pantoliano), a gangster who wants to buy the nightclub; Pluto has no interest in selling, but it seems Mogan isn't about to take no for an answer. Pluto also discovers Mogan is in cahoots with Max Crater, a crime boss whose goal is to take over the entire moon. The Adventures Of Pluto Nash also features Randy Quaid as Pluto's robot bodyguard, Rosario Dawson as a naive singer who has just arrived on the moon, Peter Boyle as Rowland the pool hustler, Jay Mohr as old-school lounge singer Tony Francis, Illeana Douglas as a cloning technician, and Pam Grier as Pluto's mother. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

This sequel to New World Pictures' surprise horror hit bears little connection with its predecessor apart from the participation of writer Ethan Wiley, who also assumed directorial duties. This time around, the title abode is an old mansion inherited by the great-great-grandson of its original owner, a legendary frontier outlaw. The new owner, Jesse (Arye Gross), whose parents were murdered in the mansion 20 years ago, unwisely searches the premises for a cache of gems believed to be hidden there. With the aid of girlfriend Kate (Lar Park Lincoln) and buddy Charlie (Jonathan Stark), Jesse stumbles upon the original owner himself (Royal Dano), who is remarkably still alive (albeit in particularly decrepit condition) and cantankerous as all get-out. Great-great-grandpa has been preserved by the supernatural powers of an Aztec crystal skull, which is also capable of reanimating the dead and opening portals into other dimensions. Its true powers are tested readily when the skull falls into the wrong hands, leading our heroes on a wacky supernatural chase. The horror comedy formula that kept the original film's shaky premise afloat is far less functional here, filling the story with silly contrivances that include a collection of pet monsters and a time-travel romantic subplot. Still, the film has some clever moments, mainly from Dano, who makes the most of his difficult character by adding a cartoonish flair, and from Cheers alum John Ratzenberger's amusing cameo turn as a plumber strangely accustomed to cross-dimensional travel. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Making great fun of the '70s, this lively sci-fi comedy centers on a trio of time travellers who go into the past in hopes of retrieving the Constitution to celebrate America's 300th birthday. Unfortunately, the travelers end up in 1976 not 1776. The trouble is, they don't realize it. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi