Ken Kwapis Movies

When a family of gray whales becomes trapped in the Arctic Circle, a Greenpeace volunteer and a small-town reporter go to extraordinary lengths to save the majestic creatures in this romantic adventure inspired by actual events. Alaskan newsman Adam Carlson (John Krasinski) has grown weary of working in such a small market. He's eager to move on to bigger and better things when the story of a lifetime lands right in his lap. Ice has been forming in the Arctic Circle at a rate so fast that a family of gray whales has become hopelessly stranded. As the eyes of the world turn toward this small, chilly corner of the globe, an oil tycoon, slews of politicians, and countless journalists descend upon Alaska -- each with their own hidden agenda. Meanwhile, the only one Adam notices is Rachel Kramer (Drew Barrymore), a devout environmentalist who also happens to be his ex-girlfriend. As the situation grows dire, the unlikely pair rallies a diverse coalition of allies to work together toward the common goal of saving the endangered marine mammals. The result is a rescue mission that will help to thaw Cold War tensions between America and Russia, and show the entire world just what can be accomplished when we start working together, instead of pulling apart. Dermot Mulroney, Tim Blake Nelson, Ted Danson, and Kristen Bell co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Ken Kwapis' adaptation of Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo's best-selling self-help book He's Just Not That Into You follows the love lives of a dozen or so characters. Ginnifer Goodwin stars as Gigi, a young woman attempting to understand the mixed signals she gets from the men she's dating. She gets advice from a bar owner (Justin Long) who prides himself on understanding the ins and outs of the dating scene. Gigi's co-worker Janine (Jennifer Connelly) finds herself involved in a major redecorating project with her husband, Ben (Bradley Cooper). Unbeknownst to Janine, Ben contemplates an affair with Anna (Scarlett Johansson), an attractive woman trying to make a career as a singer. Another of Gigi's friends at work, Beth (Jennifer Aniston), enjoys a successful, healthy relationship with Neil (Ben Affleck), but storm clouds hover over them as he has no interest in getting married. Kris Kristofferson co-stars as Beth's father. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

The American TV version of the award-winning British sitcom The Office opens by establishing its faux documentary format, as Michael Scott (Steve Carell), regional manager of a branch office of Dunder-Mifflin Paper, jumps through hoops to convince the filmmakers that he presides over a happy, well-running ship. This is but one of Michael's many pathetic self-delusions: he also thinks he's the epitome of "cool," he's convinced that everything he says is a laugh riot, and even worse, he actually labors under the misapprehension that he is qualified for his job. Meanwhile, Dunder Mifflin's employees inadvertently but efficiently put the lie to Michael's self-serving prevarications: sales rep Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) continually cooks up methods to undermine his hated cube-mate, the obnoxious know-it-all Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson); receptionist Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) continually deals with Michael's insensitivities and flubs; and office temp Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak) acts mostly as an observer of the insanity around him. Some of the episodes in The Office's six-episode trial run carried over general plot ideas from the earlier British series, particularly the threat of wholesale downsizing that weaves through the various plots and subplots; however, only the pilot was a direct adaptation of one of the U.K. version's episodes. ~ Rovi

The NBC sitcom The Office was based on the British comedy series of the same name, co-created by Ricky Gervais, who in the original series had also starred as David Brent, terminally disingenuous office manager of Wernham Hogg Paper Merchants (Slough Branch). The American version top-billed Steve Carell as Michael Scott, regional manager in a branch office of the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company. Forever trying to put a "happy face" on office conditions where he worked, Michael was cursed with two fatal flaws: he thought he was funny and cool, and worse yet, he thought he was actually competent. Michael's employees included laid-back, sarcastic sales rep Jim Halpert (John Krasinski); Jim's cubicle-mate and mortal enemy, ineffectual but power-hungry Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson); engaged receptionist Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), whom Jim secretly has a crush on; and office temp Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak), who quietly observes the office hijinks from the sidelines. Filmed in a faux documentary style, The Office began its first season (actually a six-episode trial run) on March 24, 2005. ~ Rovi

Following in the footsteps of her former Seinfeld co-stars Michael Richards and Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus starred in her own sitcom, Watching Ellie. Created by the star's husband, Brad Hall, the weekly NBC series showcased Louis-Dreyfus as Eleanor "Ellie" Riggs, a moderately successful but slightly disaster-prone L.A. nightclub singer. In some ways, this was a traditionalist sitcom, with Ellie crossing verbal swords with her irksome ex-sweetie Edgar (Steven Carell), her new musician boyfriend, Ben (Darren Boyd), and her wacky neighbor, Ingvar (Peter Stormare). There was, however, an intriguing gimmick; in the tradition of the weekly drama series 24, each episode of Watching Ellie was played out in "real time," with a clock at the corner of the screen ticking out the allotted 22 minutes (originally, Louis-Dreyfus had demanded that there be no commercial interruptions during the action, but NBC saw things differently). The series debuted February 26, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the opening bit, Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) snaps to restore order while getting a family portrait taken. Stevie (Craig Lamar Traylor) excitedly calls about Malcolm's (Frankie Muniz) impending overnight visit. It takes an effort to get past Lois, who mistakes the asthmatic boy for a crank caller. Later, at the Kenarben house, Malcolm tries to get Stevie to rebel against his insanely overprotective parents, Abe (Gary Anthony Williams) and Kitty (Merrin Dungey, who played a teacher on the pilot). Once the boys get past the pressure-sensitive floor alarm, they're ready for a wild night at the arcade. But things take a desperate turn when Stevie's wheelchair is stolen. Back at home, Reese (Justin Berfield) tries to convince Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois to let him stay up past his bedtime to watch a "Chucky" movie on TV. Lois offers him a dastardly deal. He can stay up if he manages to put Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan) to bed. Meanwhile, at military school, Francis (Christopher Kennedy Masterson) runs afoul of the dreaded "Brothers of the Apocalypse." But as it turns out, he's immune to their "amateurish" scare tactics after growing up under the care of the genuinely terrifying Lois. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) is forced to play street hockey without skates. As he explains to Stevie (Craig Lamar Traylor), no one in his family can skate until they take lessons from skating fanatic Hal (Bryan Cranston). "He doesn't even call it skating," Malcolm explains, "he calls it 'the Brotherhood of the Wheel.'" Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) yells at Reese (Justin Berfield) so forcefully that she throws out her back. Unwilling to take any medication, she lies in bed and keeps track of goings-on in the house through the use of baby monitors. Malcolm eventually decides to take skating lessons from his father. Hal puts on an astounding roller disco exhibition before setting Malcolm on the path. But he won't even let Malcolm wear skates, starting him out instead with paper wheels taped to his sneakers. "Your skates...are in here," Hal tells him, pointing to his head. Frustrated with the pace of the lessons, Malcolm eventually curses Hal out, which Hal deals with in his own unique way. Meanwhile, Francis (Christopher Kennedy Masterson) finds a way to get out of the military academy's "Survival Weekend," which angers his buddy Stanley (Karim Prince). ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

After she smashes up her father's car, Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) extricates herself from the Freak clique, deciding that she's better off with her former best friend, Millie (Sarah Hagen), and the rest of the prim and proper Mathletes. As Lindsay buries herself in her studies, obsessively prepping for the group's imminent math-off with a rival high school, the remaining Freaks begin questioning their own life ambitions -- however minimal they may be. Meanwhile, Sam (John Daley) and the Geeks, after careful analysis of high school dating patterns, come to the conclusion that feathered hair and polyester clothes are the way to a young woman's heart. But when Sam follows through on Joe Jackson's missive to "look sharp," he finds out he's in for a long, long day at McKinley High. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Executive-produced by actor Anthony Edwards, the made for TV Border Line is a showcase for Edwards' ER costar Sherry Stringfield, cast as attorney and single mom Allison Westlin. As the representive of the LA-based Fuller Adoption Agency, Allison has never had any reason to question the integrity of her employers--until she stumbles upon the murder of an Asian woman. Investigating, Allison unhappily concludes that the Fuller Agency has been using illegal strongarm tactics abroad, literally snatching babies from the arms of poor and helpless Asian mothers to service their customers. Working hand in glove with Private Eye Mariano (Christopher Reid) and immigration officer Macivers (James LeGros), Allison puts her own life on the line--not to mention those of her daughter and her Hispanic nanny (Elizabeth Pena)--to see that justice is served. Border Line debuted February 22, 1999 on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this made-for-television outing, a man's life changes dramatically after an enigmatic stranger shows up and convinces him to build an ark. To complete his bizarre task, the poor fellow must undergo cruel bouts of ostracism from friends and neighbors. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

A nervous hotel manager has all sorts of monkey business to deal with (actually orangutan business, but you get the idea) in this comedy for the family. Robert Grant (Jason Alexander) is the manager of The Majestic Hotel, a large and highly luxurious five-star facility. Grant is harried, overworked, and wants to take his two sons, Kyle (Eric Lloyd) and Brian (Graham Sack), on a well-deserved vacation, but when the owner of the Majestic, Mrs. Dubrow (Faye Dunnaway), hears that the hotel is being considered for the newly-minted and very prestigious six-star rating by the Le Monde Guide, it falls on Robert to make sure that everything is perfect when the guide's staff arrives. Since the inspectors will arrive unannounced, Robert has to chase after anyone who looks like they could be a VIP, so he finds himself giving the star treatment to new guest Lord Rutledge (Rupert Everett) when he spots Rutledge using a pocket camera to snap pictures in the lobby. However, Rutledge is actually a skilled jewel thief who has come to the Majestic to take advantage of its wealthy clientele, and he's arrived with his pet orangutan, Dunston, who has been trained to be Rutledge's partner in crime. Dunston gets lost in the hotel's air duct system; Kyle finds the friendly ape and discovers he makes a great playmate, which makes things all the more difficult for Robert. Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman) also appears as a trigger-happy animal control officer. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Love blinds a lonely sidekick on this episode of HBO's The Larry Sanders Show. Despite Hank's (Jeffrey Tambor) elation at the prospect of marrying a younger woman whom he has just met, his enthusiasm may be short-lived as Larry (Garry Shandling) attempts to decide whether he should reveal some relevant, and ultimately damning, information concerning the bride-to-be. Guest stars include Leah Lail, Ed McMahon, Roger Eschbacher, Katherine Olsen, Dennis Tracy, Adam Sandler, and Alex Trebek. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rekindling an old flame can be more complicated than it sounds, as Larry (Garry Shandling) finds out in this episode of HBO's popular late-night talk show parody. When Larry begins to suspect that Francine (Kathryn Harrold) may not be as committed to their relationship as he initially thought, a lovers' quarrel threatens to dampen their current romance. Guest stars include Gary Kemp and Talia Balsam. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi