Reggie Theus Movies
Pint-size rap music star Lil Bow Wow shows that he can play ball as well as he raps in this youth-oriented comedy about a young boy whose dream comes true in an unexpected way. Calvin Cambridge (Lil Bow Wow) is a 14-year-old boy, who, since the death of his parents, has been living in an orphanage run by the unpleasantly eccentric Stan Bittleman (Crispin Glover). While the tough but caring Sister Theresa (Anne Meara) tries to encourage the kids, Calvin knows that he and most of the other kids his age are poor prospects for adoption. Calvin loves basketball and idolizes Michael Jordan, but he's too short to be much of a challenge to the older kids when shooting hoop at the playground. One day, Calvin discovers a pair of old basketball sneakers with the initials "MJ" written on the inside. Calvin is convinced they once belonged to Michael Jordan, but he can hardly believe what happens when he puts them on -- suddenly he's able to make superhuman jump shots and dunks just like a miniature version of Air Jordan himself. Calvin's newly developed talent on the court comes to the attention of Frank Bernard (Eugene Levy), the manager of the Los Angeles Knights, an NBA team having a humiliating season. Bernard brings Calvin to the team as a novelty item, but with the help of Coach Wagner (Robert Forster) and the new kid's can-do attitude, the Knights start to climb out of the cellar and look like possible season champs. However, Tracey Reynolds (Morris Chestnut), who used to be the team's star player, isn't happy to have his thunder stolen by a 14-year-old boy -- especially when he's made Calvin's roommate and de-facto guardian on the road. Like Mike also features cameo appearances by a number of pro basketball stars, including Allen Iverson, Chris Webber, and Jason Kidd. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lil' Bow Wow, Morris Chestnut, (more)
- 2000
Three young, mischievous boys get more than they bargained for in this 2000 film directed by Eric Hendershot. Brad's sister Becky gets hired to babysit by star NBA basketball player Mosiah "The Messiah" Jackson (Reggie Theus), who happens to live nearby. Brad and his two friends decide to play a prank on Becky by leaving a ransom note and taking the baby, which they hide in one of the cars in the professional athlete's garage. After the infant unexpectedly (to the boys, at least) "makes a mess," the boys quickly decide to end the prank, leaving the baby in the car as they go back into the house to let Becky in on the joke. But a desperate and not so bright car thief named Jack (Joe Piscopo) breaks in and steals the car, along with the baby. Jack -- who was actually blackmailed into stealing the hoopster's vintage Rolls Royce by a pair of mafia goons -- has a change of heart after discovering that not only did he steal the wrong car but he inadvertently kidnapped the star's infant. While he decides what to do with the baby, the two goons learn of the kidnapping and decide to find Jack, take the baby from him, and put a ransom on the infant. Meanwhile, Brad and his friends attempt to track down the baby and return him to Becky before Mosiah and his wife return home from their night out. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julie Hagerty, Joe Piscopo, (more)
Actor Billy Crystal co-wrote, directed, and starred in this romantic comedy. Forty-something couple Andy (Joe Mantegna) and Liz (Cynthia Stevenson) are about to be married, and as they gather with their friends for dinner not long before the wedding, they are told the story of their mutual friends Mickey (Billy Crystal) and Ellen (Debra Winger) as a cautionary tale of where a relationship can go wrong. Mickey is a top referee with the NBA who has traveled to Paris to bury his father, who wanted to be laid to rest with his Army buddies from World War II. The body is somehow lost in transit, and Mickey has an argument with Ellen, who works for an American airline in France. However, she likes his sense of humor, he is taken with her, and after a few days together in Paris, they decide to marry. However, once they return to Mickey's home in the United States, things get complicated; she's not so sure that she cares for his bachelor apartment ("a shrine to watching ESPN"), or juggling her career against his, while both have problems with their respective families. Several major basketball stars and sports figures appear in Forget Paris as themselves, including Charles Barkley, Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Marv Albert. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Crystal, Debra Winger, (more)
Set within a Chicago housing project this low-budget, but earnest independently produced comedy, the debut of Chicago filmmaker Darryl Roberts, tells the romantic story of an African American actor who returns home from Hollywood to reestablish the ghetto roots he worked so hard at ignoring the past few years. No sooner is the actor home than he meets his enterprising boyhood buddy, now a sleazy beauty pageant promoter who uses the lovely contestants to satisfy his unending lust. He asks the actor to host his latest pageant and the actor agrees to the proposition. The actor's life changes when he sees a young boy attempting to hijack his car. Collaring the lad, the actor learns that he has been orphaned and is being raised by his beautiful big sister. The actor falls for this girl, but fears she will not fit well with the Hollywood crowd. Fortunately, the actor's big brother is around to offer him excellent advice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Norman McKay, Liza Cruzat, (more)
