Spike Alexander Movies

Brain Donors is a game attempt to redo the Marx Brothers' A Night at the Opera in a contemporary setting. John Turturro plays the "Groucho" character, a shifty lawyer (he's even given a Grouchoesque three-barrelled moniker). Bob Nelson is the "Harpo" counterpart, a puckish handyman. And Mel Smith completes the trio as a Chico-like cabbie. All three conspire to save a failing ballet company on behalf of dowager Nancy Marchand, who does a film-length impersonation of Margaret Dumont. At times, Pat Proft's script comes off more like a 3 Stooges short than a Marx Brothers romp, but that's not so bad. What hurts the film is its fluctuating pace, which shifts into neutral just when it should go into hyperdrive. Will Vinton's Claymation opening titles supply some of the film's biggest laughs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cliff (Bill Cosby) is upset that his son Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) hasn't invited him to his new apartment, all because Theo is worried that Cliff's long-winded anecdotes would bore his roommates. Happily, this proves not to be the case; unhappily, Theo and his buddies are evicted after trying to replicate one of Cliff's childhood stunts! Anthony Quinn guest stars as Theo's irascible landlord in this episode, which also introduces two new sets of twin child actors as the children of Cliff's eldest daughter Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide