Laura Waterbury Movies
- 1995
Sex-flick icon Shannon Tweed appears in this episode as voluptuous pop psychologist Dr. Honey Snow. Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) is so smitten by "Dr. Honey" that he agrees to write the introduction for her latest "feel-good" book. But once he returns to Planet Earth, Frasier realizes that he has just endorsed a pile of worthless psychobabble. Will our hero's ethics get in the way of his romantic self-fulfillment...again? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Paul (Paul Reiser) makes a vivid impression when he reveals a secret about a bride to her father on the girl's wedding day. In time-honored "Truth or Dare" fashion, Jamie (Helen Hunt) is required to reveal a secret from her past -- and oh, does she ever. (Incidentally, who is Stan Franklin and what is he doing in London?) This episode marks the first series appearance of John Pankow as Paul's cousin Ira. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Long before The Commish and The Shield, Michael Chiklis guest-starred on this Murphy Brown episode as a foul-mouthed, misogynistic standup comedian named Andrew Dice...er, named Tony Rocket. Not wishing to put up with Rocket's patented anti-feminist slurs, Murphy refuses the opportunity of interviewing the man (sort of like what's-her-name on Saturday Night Live, remember?) But Miles (Grant Shaud) forces Murphy to proceed with the interview, struggling to keep her cool in what the CBS publicity folks described as "Rocket's Red Glare"! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Erstwhile inventor Rick Moranis has been experimenting with an electro-magnetic shrinking machine. He leaves the device unattended in his attic; shortly afterward, it is accidentally activated. Alas, the demon machine is aimed at Moranis' children, as well as the son of neighbor Matt Frewer. The kids, shrunk to 1/4-inch height, are tossed into the trash bin by the unwitting Moranis. For the rest of the film, our teeny-tiny protagonists attempt to gain their parents' attention--and to survive the wilds of the backyard, where all sorts of dangers, from bumblebees to lawnmowers, threaten their well-being. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids features Marcia Strassman as Moranis' wife, and juvenile players Robert Oliveri, Kristine Sutherland, Thomas Brown, Jared Rushton and Amy O'Neill. The visual effects are the handiwork of such masters as Joe Johnston, Phil Tippett, and David Allen. When originally released to theatres, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids was double-billed with the "Roger Rabbit" cartoon Tummy Trouble; this is how it is presented on videotape as well. The film (the live-action one, that is) prompted a 1992 sequel, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, (more)
- 1989
Christine (Markie Post) doesn't realize what's in store for her when she agrees to babysits for the weekend. To begin with, the childs needs constant attention, and screams at full volume when attention isn't immediately forthcoming. For another, Christine's Night Court colleagues have chosen this weekend to descend upon her apartment to watch a televised college LaCrosse game, upon which all of them have wagered heavily at the urging of Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This sci-fi tearjerker has the distinction of being one of the most obviously commercial films ever made with constant plugs for MacDonalds, Coca-Cola companies, candy and other products. These not so subtle endorsements are woven into the story of a wheel-chair bound boy and the stranded alien MAC (not as in "Big" but rather Mysterious Alien Creature) who become friends and help each other with their family problems. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jade Calegory, Christine Ebersole, (more)
- 1988
Artist Jill Clayburgh is divorced by her doctor husband James Farentino. Despite the obvious fact that Farentino is a louse, the loyalties of the couple's friends are divided. Left with precious little money, Clayburgh tries to make a go of it as a single mother, but finds that many of her so-called "close friends" don't want to have much to do with her anymore. Despite its melancholy tone and moments of dead seriousness, the made-for-TV Who Gets the Friends is a comedy, and at times a very funny one. Its bittersweet tone is, however, compromised by an out-of-the-blue happy ending. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
On the eve of his Hawaiian vacation, irresponsible high school teacher Mark Harmon is forced into teaching a summer school class. His students are all malcontents and layabouts with the standard repertoire of teenaged hangups and hostilities (two of the kids, who can't see enough slasher movies to suit them, are hilarious precursors to Beavis and Butt-Head). Harmon would rather spend his time with history teacher Kirstie Alley, but she doesn't think much of his laziness and lack of dedication. Harmon finally begins to take his job seriously when he realizes his students' problems are not all of their own making. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, (more)
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
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Carla's hockey goalie boyfriend Eddie LeBec (Jay Thomas) goes from a sizzling winning streak to a devastating slump. Can Carla possibly be a jinx? Elsewhere, Diane (Shelley Long) is somewhat put out when attempted-murder charges are dropped in the trial in which she served as jury foreperson. What Diane doesn't know is that her well-meaning interference caused the plaintiff to have a change of heart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this madcap comedy, Demi Moore plays Cassandra and John Cusack is Hoops McCann, two people who eventually fall in love and help each other out. Hoops is a cartoonist working on a teen love story that he hopes will get him accepted into art school. Cassandra is a troubled young woman about to lose her home to a money-hungry developer. Characters with names like Squid Calamari, Clay Stork, or Ack Ack Raymond are involved in the unfolding romance and figure in several slapstick routines. Several cartoon sequences are inserted throughout this comedy to comment on the story. This was director Savage Steve Holland's second feature-length film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Cusack, Demi Moore, (more)
Most animation aficionados of the 1990s know "Savage Steve Holland" as the cocreator (with Bill Kopp) of the all-stops-out TV cartoon series Eek! The Cat. But Holland had been exercising his own peculiar brand of deviltry on live characters long before Eek! came into being. In Holland's Better Off Dead, John Cusack plays a lovestruck teenager, hopelessly enamored with Amanda Wyss. When she dumps him in favor of a more popular high-schooler, the boy's entire day quickly goes to Hell. In the words of Hamlet, all occasions do inform against Cusack: he is bullied, tormented and torn apart by everyone from the paperboy (who seemingly turns up everywhere) to the disembodied voice of a radio deejay. Cusack attempts suicide, but his efforts are just as unsuccessful-and amusing-as Bud Cort's in Harold and Maude. Meanwhile, French exchange student Diane Franklin, held a virtual prisoner by her host family, develops a long-distance crush on Cusack. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Cusack, David Ogden Stiers, (more)
