Joyce Brothers Movies

A pair of lovers have no idea that their affair is overseen and orchestrated by an angel sent by Cupid to see that they remain together in this romantic comedy. Steve, is a youthful college professor with a love of Renaissance poetry and a firm belief that the old poets knew the secret of lasting love. Megan is an opinionated pediatrician who thinks of love only in the most pragmatic terms. Despite their many differences, Cupid knows they were meant for each other and so dispatches his minion to make it so. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Though Harry (Harry Anderson) is in love with Margaret Turner, he balks at the notion of moving in with her. Meanwhile, Bull (Richard Moll) arranges for matchmaker Wanda Finn (Cathy McAuley in her first series appearance) to find him a wife--in the classified ads--while Christine (Markie Post) mopes around the courtroom in the wake of her divorce. With all this emotional intrigue, is it any surprise that famed psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers makes a guest appearance? This episode was originally scheduled for January 30, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

We know we're in a 1988 film when we're invited to laugh at O.J. Simpson in an opening slapstick sequence. We can also pinpoint the year of production when hard-nosed cop Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen), during a scuffle with the world's leading dictators, wipes the wine-colored birthmark off the head of Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. Those wacky ZAZ boys -- David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker -- serve up a feature-length spin-off of their cult favorite TV show Police Squad!. Seeking vengeance when his partner (Simpson) is shot full of holes by drug dealers, dead-pan and dead-brained Lt. Frank Drebin searches for the Mister Big behind it all. Drebin suspects above-reproach shipping magnate Vincent Ludwig (Ricardo Montalban), but he can't prove a thing. Bumped from the force by the mayor (Nancy Marchand), Drebin, with the unexpected assistance of Ludwig's ex-girlfriend (Priscilla Presley), manages to nab the bad guy at a baseball game, where Reggie Jackson has been programmed to assassinate Queen Elizabeth. MGM mogul Irving Thalberg once reportedly told the Marx Brothers, "You can't build jokes on top of jokes." The producers of Naked Gun prove otherwise; indeed, one could develop writer's cramp just listing the gags in the film's first 20 minutes. Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad was followed by two lesser but still hilarious sequels, Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As Moonlighting begins its fourth season, detectives David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) wonder if they should continue their romance after their memorable boudoir tussle in the closing moments of Season Three. As the couple weighs their options, three fantasy sequences play themselves out. In one, David consults Ray Charles in matters of the heart; in another Maddie is given sage advice by Dr. Joyce Brothers; and in the third, the dilemma is reconfigured as a black-and-white episode of The Honeymooners, with David as Ralph, Maddie as Alice, David's brother Richard (Charles Rocket) as Norton and the couple's secretary Agnes (Allyce Beasley) as Trixie! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It is a glorious day for immigrant mechanic Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman) when no less an authority than Dr. Joyce Brothers (as herself) declares him cured of his multiple-personality syndrome. Now, at long last, Latka can tie the matrimonial knot with his lovely countrywoman, Simka Dahblitz (Carol Kane, repeating her Emmy-winning recurring role). But given the bizarre customs of Latka and Simka's homeland -- not to mention the jaundiced critical eye of Latka's mother (Susan Kellerman) -- will the wedding come off without the usual setbacks attending situation-comedy marriage ceremonies? Familiar character actor Vincent Schiavelli (Ghost) appears as Rev. Gorky. ~ All Movie Guide

Beggarman, Thief is the 4-hour sequel to the ratings-busting miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man; both productions were based on the works of novelist Irwin Shaw. For the purposes of the sequel, a new member of the Jordache clan is introduced: filmmaker Gretchen Jordache Burke, played by Jean Simmons. It is Gretchen's task to keep the family together after the murder of her brother Tom (played by Nick Nolte in Rich Man, Poor Man) and the recent disappearance of her other brother Rudy (Peter Strauss, re-creating his RMPM role). Originally presented in two parts, Beggarman, Thief was first telecast November 26 and 27, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The "National Lampoon" franchise is resurrected for another politically incorrect collegiate romp with this R-rated gross-out sex comedy. National Lampoon's Van Wilder revolves around the exploits of its title character (Ryan Reynolds), a seventh-year senior who's made it his goal in life to help each and every Coolidge College undergrad succeed in life -- or at least in bed. Van's charmed life seems to have an expiration date, however; his father (Tim Matheson) has cut off his presumably vast allowance. Financial insecurity doesn't phase the big man on campus, and he soon starts up a lucrative cottage industry as a planner of high-priced campus blowouts. When an enterprising reporter from the college paper gets wind of Van's liberal interpretation of the school's code of conduct, it seems his gig is up -- unless, of course, he can charm the hard-edged Gwen (Tara Reid) into accepting his uniquely skewed world view. In addition to Matheson, Van Wilder features cameos from a number of '80s teen movie stalwarts, including Edie McClurg, Paul Gleason, and Erik Estrada. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Here's a "backwards BIG" where, instead of turning younger, this leading man turns into an old man--overnight. Jonathan Silverman plays Seymour, who, shortly after a promising youth full of high-minded aspirations (he'd hoped to become an astronaut), finds himself working in a dead-end office job. And then he goes to sleep to awake the next day with an 80-year-old's body. He looks the same outside, but inwardly he's become and old man. It's not long before he loses his job and is doctor- shopping in a frustrating attempt at finding the medical reason for his premature decline. Somewhat introspective, this film explores our youth-dominated society and examines the perspective of the aged. ~ All Movie Guide

Comedian Charlie Barnette relates his perspective on college and what it takes to get through it. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

The first of several sight gag and slapstick-rich comedies he produced without the team of Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, and Jim Abrahams, this lowbrow comedy from executive producer and star Leslie Nielsen suffers by comparison to his work with the "ZAZ" team. Nielsen plays Dick Steele, secret agent WD-40, called out of retirement to stop the world-conquering plans of his old nemesis, General Rancor (Andy Griffith), an armless madman determined to avenge himself upon Steele (who is responsible for Rancor's lack of appendages). With the help of Russian agent Veronique Ukrinsky (Nicolette Sheridan), Steele prepares to battle Rancor at his tropical island lair, where the daughter of Steele's long-ago love is being held captive. Along the way, such films as True Lies (1994), Speed (1994), Jurassic Park (1993), Pulp Fiction (1994), and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) are spoofed. Director Richard Friedberg had previously directed Nielsen in a series of automobile rental commercials and goofy "how-to" golf videos. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide