Shonda Whipple Movies
A brother and sister who are sent to visit their uncle in Los Angeles go on a wild adventure. It seems that good old uncle owes some money to gangsters, and the children inevitably get tangled up in the chase. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- 1991
Carol (Tracey Gold) worries that she has become trapped in the Blind Date from Hell when she goes out with her girlfriend's brother, a doofus from Yale named Brad (Manfred Melcher). Even worse, Brad ditches Carol when the couple goes to a carnival, making her feel all the more unattractive and unwanted. But salvation--and a truly "uplifiting" experience--is in the offing when Carol is rescued by charismatic carny worker Jake (Jay Acovone). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1990
- Add Family of Spies: The Walker Spy Ring, Part 1 to QueueAdd Family of Spies: The Walker Spy Ring, Part 1 to top of Queue
The true story of American turncoat John Walker, Jr. is related blow-by-blow in this made-for-TV movie. Powers Boothe stars as Walker, a Navy petty officer who spends half of his career selling secrets to the Soviets. At first the soul of discretion, the hard-drinking, philandering Walker eventually becomes careless enough in his activities to arouse the suspicions of his in-the-dark wife Barbara (Lesley Ann Warren). With the skill and aplomb of the true sociopath, Walker also manages to convince his own son (Andrew Lowry) to join the "family business." The spy ring is ultimately smashed through the joint efforts of the FBI and Walker's embittered ex-wife. Based on the books Family of Spies by Pete Earley and I Pledge Allegiance by Howard Blum, Family of Spies: The Walker Spy Ring was originally telecast in two parts on February 4 and 6, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1989
It's the beginning of another school year, and DJ (Candace Cameron) isn't all that keen about entering the 7th grade, especially since she will now be forced to deal with the "cool kids". As for Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), the 2nd grade isn't any more pleasurable, nor does preschooler Michelle (played by the Olsen twins) look forward to another year separated from her older siblings. Elsewhere, Joey (David Coulier) and Jesse (John Stamos) pull a "Ralph Kramden" by trying to learn golf in a hurry to impress a business client. This is the first episode in which little Michelle utters her soon-to-be-famous catchphrase "You got it, dude." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1988
- PG
Linda Shayne wrote and directed this children's story based on the 1958 novelty song "Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley. Billy Johnson (Neal Patrick Harris) is joined by a friendly alien from outer space who wants to play in a rock & roll band. Peggy Lipton plays Billy's mom, with James Houghton as the father and Ned Beatty as Grandpa. The band lends a hand to some senior citizens in their fight to keep their beloved retirement complex. Add Little Richard and Chubby Checker to the fun as the heroes try and stop the greedy landlord Mr. Noodle (John Brumfield) from kicking out the elderly residents. Only one word in the film gives the movie a PG rating instead of G. Watch for Sheb Wolley in a cameo role as the trapeze instructor in this low-budget family feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ned Beatty, Neil Patrick Harris, (more)
- 1986
A high-rise apartment is the murder scene where trendy Hollywood decorator Sheila Parker is found smothered to death. Though Sheila's estranged husband Alex (Ray Wise) is a prime suspect, he manages to avoid police scrutiny by wooing and winning the impressionable DeeDee McCall (Stepfanie Kramer). When the other major suspect, Sheila's boyfriend Dennis Stone (Kristoffer Tabori), also turns up murdered, McCall begins to wonder if Alex is playing her for a sucker. It falls to Hunter (Fred Dryer) to prove that the motive for murder had nothing to do with a romantic triangle--and everything to do with a particularly odious case of child molestation! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
