Weird Al Yankovic Movies

Larry "Wild Man" Fischer was a wildly eccentric singer who in 1968 was discovered on the streets of Hollywood by Frank Zappa, who was intrigued by Fischer's offer to write and perform original songs for passers-by for a mere ten cents each. After hearing a few dollars' worth, Zappa offered Fischer -- who had been wandering the edges of the music business for several years, with no success -- a recording contract, and in 1968 the album An Evening With Wild Man Fischer was released. Sometimes funny, sometimes harrowing, and always boasting Fischer's wobbly matter-of-taste voice and adult-child songwriting, the two-LP set of oddball tunes (including "Merry-Go-Round," "Monkeys vs. Donkeys," "Are You From Clovis," and "The Rocket Rock") sold only modestly, and after an altercation at Zappa's home, Fischer soon found himself without a record deal. While he remained a favorite among a tiny cult of admirers, Fischer was difficult for most folks in the music industry to deal with -- he'd been diagnosed as both a manic-depressive and a paranoid-schizophrenic, and his extreme mood swings, obsessive need for attention, and inability to conform to societal standards of public behavior have kept him at the sidelines of show business as a freak talent, when his abilities are acknowledged at all. But there are a number of people who know music and believe Fischer is a genuine talent, including legendary big band singer Rosemary Clooney, soul icon Solomon Burke, Devo leader Mark Mothersbaugh, and music historian and disc jockey Dr. Demento. Derailroaded: Inside the Mind of Larry "Wild Man" Fischer is a documentary which offers a look at Fischer's torturous childhood, his strange adventures in show business, his struggle to be heard, and his constant battle with his own demons; the film includes interviews with Fischer and his admirers, as well as vintage performance clips (including his appearance on Laugh-In). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This refreshing music video features Dr. Demento as he hosts this look at bizarre music videos. Included are tunes by Cab Calloway, Allan Sherman, "Weird Al" Yankovic, and many others. ~ All Movie Guide

This spoof of the 1930s and '40s crime stories ranges from the ridiculous to the sublime as it tells the story of Johnny Dangerously (Byron Thames as the young Johnny, Michael Keaton as the older), a devoted son to his ailing mother (Maureen Stapleton), so ill that she needs money for several operations. Johnny has nowhere to turn, and because gangsters tend to flourish in his neighborhood he goes to work for Dundee, a benevolent godfather-gangster type, in order to cover his mother's medical bills. Johnny hides his association with Dundee from his younger brother Tommy (Griffin Dunne) and goes so far as to pay for Tommy's law school fees -- supporting him until Tommy joins the staff of the local (and corrupt) district attorney's office for Burr (Danny DeVito). When Johnny starts working for Dundee, he clashes with the evil Vermin (Joe Piscopo) right from the beginning, but things only get worse. After Dundee decides to retire, Johnny ascends to the helm, and it does not look like Vermin is going to take that sitting down. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Born out of the internet, nerdcore hip-hop is a genre of music created by computer-obsessed geeks. In this documentary, filmmaker Negin Farsad explores the musical phenomenon in which rappers boast not about money and cars, but Magic: The Gathering and internet porn addiction. With appearances by such nerdcore mainstays as MC Frontalot and MC Chris, this film offers an entertaining look at a rapidly expanding musical subculture. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Curtis Armstrong and Lainie Kazan star in this goofball comedy (directed by Savage Steve Holland) about the new kid at school who wants more than anything to join the Safety Patrol -- never mind the fact he's so inept it's dangerous. Also features guest appearances from Leslie Nielsen and "Weird" Al Yankovic. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this high-energy satire of the music biz, Ivan Alexov (John Cusack) and Josh Tager (Tim Robbins) lose their jobs as security guards, and they decide to start their own video production company. Their first gigs are less than inspiring, including a rappin' commercial for a chicken-and-waffle place, a living will, and a right-wing Presidential-hopeful's (Clu Gulager) gala dinner. Eventually, they get to direct a heavy-metal music video which becomes a huge surprise success. But now the politician needs to get back a private videotape from the boys, and the Secret Service is put on their trail. This chaotic romp has cameos from more music celebs than you can shake a tape reel at, as well as a hopping little soundtrack by Fishbone. This is also the film that introduced a conservative folksinger/politician character who later got his own movie, Bob Roberts. ~ John Voorhees, All Movie Guide

With Mr. Wick in drug rehab, Drew (Drew Carey) is offered an opportunity to manage Winfred-Louder, but would rather spend time with his rock band, the Horndogs. As a result, Mrs. Louder gives the job to her "boy toy" Larry (Ian Gomez), who immediately cuts the employee health coverage to the bone. In the ensuing chaos, the employees beg Drew to come back to work, but he resists until discovering that he has an inborn talent for dull and repetitious budget management. Thus, the Horndogs are forced to find a quickie replacement for Drew--and we aren't about to reveal who that is (take a look at the supporting cast if you really want to know). Songs: "Think" and "Cleveland, Ohio". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Leslie Nielsen returns as the intrepid (and accident-prone) Lt. Frank Drebin in Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, "un film de David Zucker." This second feature film from the "Police Squad!" series finds Drebin as a guest at a White House dinner, receiving an award for shooting his 1,000th drug dealer, although he admits to shooting only 998 -- he ran over the last two in his car. ("Luckily, they turned out to be drug dealers"). Also at the White House dinner is energy czar Dr. Albert S. Meinheimer (Richard Griffiths), whom President George Bush (John Roarke) has chosen to start a new national energy policy. Since Meinheimer believes in promoting alternative energy resources, the evil leaders of the polluting energy industries (coal, oil, and nuclear power--or the lobby groups SMOKE, SPILL and KABOOM) are horrified at Bush's choice. Joining together with arch-villain Quentin Hapsburg (Robert Goulet), they plan to kidnap the real Meinheimer and substitute a fake Meinheimer in his place who will enact energy policy according to the dictates of the energy lobby. Drebin becomes deeply involved in the conspiracy when he runs into his ex-girl friend Jane (Priscilla Presley), who is not only Meinheimer's public relations director but also Hapsburg's current paramour. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Madcap musical parodist (and part-time master of the accordion) "Weird" Al Yankovic takes his unique brand of humor to the stage in this concert video, in which Al and his band rock the house with such hits as "Gump," "Smells Like Nirvana," "Amish Paradise," "Dare To Be Stupid," "Like a Surgeon," "Fat," "Bedrock Anthem," and ten others. Weird Al Yankovic Live also features two bonus music videos ("The Saga Begins" and "It's All About the Pentiums") and a pair of educational film parodies that Yankovic created for his MTV special AL-TV. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Scotty Brothers Records presents this collection of music videos by the clown prince of pop music, "Weird" Al Yankovic. Released in 1996, Weird Al Yankovic: Bad Hair Day coincided with the album of the same name and includes four videos, each skewering a different popular song. "Amish Paradise," for example, lampoons Coolio's award-winning rap tune "Gangsta's Paradise, complete with an appearance by Florence Henderson of Brady Bunch fame. The other songs included are "Gump," "Headline News," and a parody of Dire Straights' "Money for Nothing" that features the real Mark Knopfler on guitar and was originally a part of Yankovic's film, UHF. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

An entertaining performance that features a spoof on singers like Michael Jackson and Madonna. Tunes include "I Lost on Jeopardy," "Like A Surgeon" and others. ~ All Movie Guide