Joseph Merhi Movies
Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry reprise their roles as a killer for hire and a dentist with a bad case of nerves in this sequel to the comedy hit The Whole Nine Yards. Former hitman Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski (Bruce Willis) has retired from his life of crime and is living a quiet life of cooking and housekeeping in Mexico, despite the fact his wife, Jill (Amanda Peet), a would-be hired killer, still wants to keep her hand in the business. Tudeski has been able to convince the authorities he's dead thanks to dental records falsified by his former neighbor Nicholas "Oz" Oseransky (Matthew Perry), who lives in Los Angeles. But Oseransky discovers that not everyone is fooled by Tudeski's handiwork when his wife, Cynthia (Natasha Henstridge), is kidnapped by Lazlo Gogolak (Kevin Pollak) and his goons. Gogolak is a high-ranking member of the Hungarian mafia, and Tudeski previously murdered his son, so he's abducted Cynthia in order to get Oseransky to reveal the hired killer's current whereabouts. But Tudeski has come to like the quiet life, and isn't so sure he wants to face Gogolak and his crew for the sake of a jittery dentist who once did him a favor. Most of the principle cast of The Whole Nine Yards returned for this sequel, though director Howard Deutch stepped in to replace Jonathan Lynn, who was working on The Fighting Temptations when The Whole Ten Yards went into production. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Willis, Matthew Perry, (more)
David Mamet writes and directs the political thriller Spartan. Respected Secret Service agent Robert Scott (Val Kilmer) is assigned to the kidnapping case of Laura Newton (Kristen Bell), the missing daughter of a high-ranking political figure. Scott is teamed up with rookie Curtis (Derek Luke). Aided by the FBI and the CIA, the team discovers a human trafficking operation that may lead to Laura's kidnappers. Meanwhile, political operative Stoddard (William H. Macy) refuses to cooperate with the rescue mission. Scott and Curtis are forced to quit the investigation when the media reports Laura's death. Believing her to be alive, Curtis is motivated to start up a dangerous unofficial investigation of his own. Spartan premiered at the Bangkok International Film Festival in 2004. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Val Kilmer, Derek Luke, (more)
When a deadly microorganism threatens to wipe out the entire human race, the only hope for the future of mankind is to send a special team of soldiers back in time to prevent the virus from ever coming into existence. The year is 2204. Mankind is under attack from a fast-spreading super-bug that now threatens to destroy the very fabric of human civilization. Our only hope lies with Captain John Foster (Dolph Lundgren) and his elite squad of genetically resistant soldiers. Captain Foster's mission: travel back into the past, and ensure that the first infection never happens. Now, as Captain Foster's team races to save the world, they realize that their actions in the present could yield dire consequences for the future. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Rob Reiner directs Luke Wilson and Kate Hudson in Alex & Emma, a romantic comedy about an author and his secretary. Gangsters will kill Alex (Wilson) in 30 days if he doesn't pay back his gambling debts. The only way he can do that is to finish his new novel. He hires sassy court stenographer Emma (Hudson) to transcribe his dictation. The film intercuts between the two of them writing the story, and the story within the story. Hudson plays three roles in the film, and Wilson plays two. Sophie Marceau and David Paymer round out the cast. The premise is (very) loosely based on a series of events that befell Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kate Hudson, Luke Wilson, (more)
Directed by Harry Basil, The 4th Tenor stars octogenarian Rodney Dangerfield as Lupo, a restaurant connoisseur who falls for a singing waitress named Gina (Annabelle Gurwitch). After finding out that Gina claims to be unable to love any man who doesn't sing opera, the tone-deaf Lupo vows to learn. Wasting no time, he boards a plane headed for Italy and commences singing lessons with Vincenzo (Richard Libertini), a sketchy voice coach. What he doesn't realize, however, is that Gina can't tolerate him whether he can sing or not, and that this was merely her way of getting rid of him. Luckily, a beautiful young songstress named Rosa (real-life opera star Anita De Simone) takes pity on Lupo, and takes him to her rural, wine-making family. It turns out that their wine can transform even the worst singer into an opera extraordinaire. Initially determined to use his newfound talent in order to snare Gina, Lupo comes to realize that Rosa may be his true love after all. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rodney Dangerfield, Robert Davi, (more)
- 2000
Those intrepid LAPD detectives Chase McDonald (Wolf Larson)--the white, reckless one--and Austin Brooks (Steven Williams)--the black, sensible one--continue to dodge bullets, embark upon hectic car chases, and narrowly escape being blown to smithereens as the 60-minute action series L.A. Heat enters its second season. The two protagonists also try really, REALLY hard to avoid imitating Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, the stars of the series' blatant "role model", the Lethal Weapon films. This season's crop of 22 episodes begins with "Fangs", a Night Stalker derivation wherein McDonald and Brooks track down what appears to be a genuine vampire. The obligatory "hero is accused of murder" plotline is the basis of the season's second entry, "F is for Framed"; while another reliable plot hook, a vicious Neo-Nazi organization, figures prominently in Episode Three, "Burning Sanctuary." And of course, no cop show of the 1990s would be complete without the occasional drop-in of a bevy of nearly naked exotic dancers--as witness the season's fourth and fifth episodes, "Strip Show" and "Eyewitness". This last-named episode also serves to introduce Gary Hudson in the role of ruthless, "untouchable" criminal mastermind Bobby Cole, who would remain the detectives' most deadly adversary throughout the rest of the year. Arguably the season's most poignant episode is "Little Saigon", which probes deeply--perhaps too deeply--into the troubled past of Detective August Brooks. And one of the most harrowing installments is "Call of the Wild", in which a desperate Chase must hunt down and neutralize a serial killer before the felon is able to bump off both August and his wife Kendra. Other episodes worth noting include "Faces of Fear", with Chase taking a page out of Miami Vice by going undercover as infamous drug lord Jake Rheams; "In Harm's Way", featuring Tina Louise, of all people, as a homicidal bank robber; and "Legacy of a Buffalo Soldier", an elaborate flashback to the Old West in which Steven Williams plays the dual role of August Brooks and his namesake great-great-grandfather. The series comes to a rousing conclusion with "Vengeance", as McDonald and Brooks defy orders from their police superiors--and the FBI--to take down the elusive Bobby Cole for keeps! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wolf Larson, Steven Williams, (more)
- 1999
- PG13
Alaskans may be used to a big snowfall every once in a while, but not the sort that hits Juneau in this disaster picture. Jack (C. Thomas Howell), his wife Lia (Caroleen Feeney), and their friend Neil (Thomas Ian Griffith) all work for the Environmental Protection Agency in Juneau, Alaska's capital city. One day, while they are tagging animals for a research project in the mountains near Juneau, a sudden avalanche occurs; Jack is immediately killed, and Lia is believed dead by search party leader Grant (R. Lee Ermey). Neil eventually finds and rescues Lia, but he sinks into a deep depression, convinced that he's responsible for Jack's death. A few years later, a large petroleum concern wishes to install a large pipeline through Juneau's mountain range to transport oil. Lia, who had moved away, comes back to Alaska to protest the proposed pipeline, believing that this will mean more avalanches and more loss of life. Neil is certain that she's right, and together they fight the all-powerful oil company, which is not above using violence to get its way. Avalanche was shot on location in Alaska, with the state's pristine natural beauty one of the film's most notable features. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Thomas Ian Griffith, Caroleen Feeney, (more)
- 1999
Actor Ben Zook co-wrote and co-directed this broad comedy, in which he stars as Randy Rubio, the leader of a small-time dance troupe who hasn't let his 260-pound girth get in the way of his dreams. When Randy and his fellow hoofers are told their 15-year run at a Topeka, Kansas theme park has come to an end, they decide to pack up their bus and move to Hollywood, where he's convinced fame and fortune await them. Randy's dance partners include Saturday Night Live's Melanie Hutsell and comic Margaret Cho; Janeane Garofalo, Illeana Douglas, Noah Wyle and Laura Innes also make cameo appearances. Satirizing sad-sack showbiz hopefuls and 1980's pop musicals such as Flashdance and Footloose in equal measure, Can't Stop Dancing milks its characters' big ambitions and small talent for all they're worth. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Zook, Melanie Hutsell, (more)
- 1999
Season One of the unabashedly derivative and highly entertaining action series L.A. Heat begins with the pilot episode "Daybomber", in which loose-cannon white LAPD detective Chase McDonald (Wolf Larson) is teamed with level-headed black detective Austin Brooks (Steven Williams) for the very first time. In their efforts to bring a deranged anti-technology activist to justice, Chase and Austin somehow manage to keep alive despite innumerable car crashes and explosions--not to mention the volatile verbal remonstrations of their superior officer, Captain Jensen (Kenneth Tigar). If all this sounds like a rehash of the Lethal Weapon pictures--well, you wanna make something out of it? Later episodes this season include "In Transit", the plot of which bears a marked resemblance to (surprise, surprise!) Lethal Weapon 2; "Electra", in which Chase's actual first name "Chester" is revealed, much to his embarrassment; "Cop Star", wherein the partners are saddled with babysitting the arrogant production crew of a TV reality series; "Rage", featuring series regular Renee Tenison in the dual role of Brooks' wife Kendra and her twin sister Rosie; "Words Will Never Hurt Me", pitting the detectives against a Howard Sternish radio "shock jock" (Robert B. Martin Jr.); "Rap Sheet", in which Brooks demonstrates a hitherto untapped talent as a rap singer; "Old Scores", wherein a murder draws August back into his previous life as a pro boxer; "211 Kidney", a grim new spin on an old urban legend; "Captain Crimestopper", featuring Peter Breck (The Big Valley) as the former star of a popular 1960s "superhero" TV show; and "Kiling on Lily Lane", which marks the last series appearance of Chase's long-suffering girlfriend Jody (Dawn Radenbaugh). The season finale, "Wake-Up Call" provides a valuable service for novice viewers of L.A. Heat) by offering a compendium of highlights from previous episodes--not to mention a compelling guest appearance by Abby Dalton (Falcon Crest) as Chase's mother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wolf Larson, Steven Williams, (more)
- 1999
- NR
As the dawn of the year 2000 rolls around, a nervous military leader (Malcolm McDowell) assembles a team to help him deal with an unforeseen problem. In the early 1960s, the CIA hid a stash of nuclear weapons in a secret base in the Colombian jungle, and the aging computer system that governs it will set things off soon if someone doesn't find a way to let it know the proper date. A high-ranking CIA agent (Ed O'Ross), a decorated military veteran who helped design the facility (Louis Gossett Jr.), a beautiful former agent of the KGB (Sarah Chalke), and a computer expert well versed in debugging systems for Y2K (Jaimz Woolvett) are dispatched to deal with the crisis, but it turns out that one of the party isn't so sure about seeing the system made safe. If you're reading this after Jan. 1, 2000, chances are good that everyone got the millennium bug worked out in time. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louis Gossett, Jr., Jaimz Woolvett, (more)
- 1999
- PG13
Alaskans may be used to a big snowfall every once in a while, but not the sort that hits Juneau in this disaster picture. Jack (C. Thomas Howell), his wife Lia (Caroleen Feeney), and their friend Neil (Thomas Ian Griffith) all work for the Environmental Protection Agency in Juneau, Alaska's capital city. One day, while they are tagging animals for a research project in the mountains near Juneau, a sudden avalanche occurs; Jack is immediately killed, and Lia is believed dead by search party leader Grant (R. Lee Ermey). Neil eventually finds and rescues Lia, but he sinks into a deep depression, convinced that he's responsible for Jack's death. A few years later, a large petroleum concern wishes to install a large pipeline through Juneau's mountain range to transport oil. Lia, who had moved away, comes back to Alaska to protest the proposed pipeline, believing that this will mean more avalanches and more loss of life. Neil is certain that she's right, and together they fight the all-powerful oil company, which is not above using violence to get its way. Avalanche was shot on location in Alaska, with the state's pristine natural beauty one of the film's most notable features. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
In this actioner, a genius crook concocts an elaborate scheme for kidnapping the President, but before he can enact it, he must bust a certain racecar driver out of prison. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Madsen, Roy Scheider, (more)
The animal movie Hollywood Safari features a case of mistaken identity. Kensho, a trained lion used on film sets, is mistaken for a mountain lion that has killed people after he becomes separated from his handlers and goes into the wild. Troy and Jane, the animal trainers who control Kensho, realize what is happening and must, with the help of their sons, stop an overly enthusiastic deputy from killing the wrong creature. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Savage, Ted Jan Roberts, (more)
Real estate agent Maceda (Chris Sarandon) once testified against drug trafficker Orosco (Miguel Najera). Now Orosco is out of prison, and Maceda has a problem. He flees, hiding out at a near-vacant California Central Valley inn where innkeeper Kat (Mariel Hemingway) is happy to have him sign the register. His presence, however, arouses the suspicions of lone cop Gilchrist (Dennis Hopper). Meanwhile, Fed agent Gere (Peter Coyote) hopes to track Maceda before Orosco's thugs pick up the scent. Shown at the 1997 Mill Valley Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Hopper, Peter Coyote, (more)
The survivors of an unusual aviation tragedy race to save the granddaughter of their fallen friend when the young girl develops psychic powers and gets targeted by the government. The year was 1965; a group of American fighter pilots were flying over the Bermuda Triangle when they spotted an unidentified spacecraft. Before they could act, one of the planes was shot down. Though the surviving pilots vow never to speak of the incident again, strange things start happening to the son of the missing pilot and his family. The son's daughter has developed "sending" powers, and now the military is planning to kidnap her. But what is the government trying to cover up? As the race for the psychic child begins, all bets are off. Michael Madsen, R. Lee Ermey, Robert Vaughn, and Dyan Cannon star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Madsen, Robert Vaughn, (more)
In this high-flying, suspenseful actioner, a routine helicopter charter turns into a life-or-death situation when the pilot lands on a building and discovers it is overrun by terrorists led by a lunatic. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Nicole Smith, Richard Steinmetz, (more)
- 1997
In this eccentric comedy, Jacob (Andy Velasquez) is a young man from Israel whose father has long regarded him as a test presented to him by God. Jacob's mind runs on a path all his own, and he has a mild handicap -- his feet stick out at right angles from his legs, giving him a very curious walk. Having little luck finding his place in the world at home, and depressed after his girlfriend leaves him, Jacob learns of a land of wonder and opportunity called Canada, and he soon relocates to Toronto. Jacob isn't in town long before he is befriended by a thief (Giancarlo Giannini) who shows him the ropes of life in the big city, when he's not busy knocking over ATMs. Jacob spends his days wondering the streets of Toronto and meets a woman named Selma (Joanna Pacula), who not only becomes his new girlfriend, but finds him work impersonating Charlie Chaplin in a street-theater act with a pig and a rock band. Omar Sharif makes a brief appearance as the author and philosopher Khalil Gibran, and Leonard Cohen plays a man who impersonates Leonard Cohen. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
This martial arts actioner moves on the premise that the LA riots were the dirty work of the Irish Republican Army. Okay. Sure. The hero in this low-budget outing is British Special Air Service officer Shane who flies out to the LA ghettos to rescue the daughter of the British ambassador who also happens to be his ex-girl friend. A burly FBI agent helps him. Together they deal with rollerblading gangsters, bikers and other LA-style villains, all of whom are working for the IRA. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Daniels, Sugar Ray Leonard, (more)
Joseph Merhi's crime thriller Last Man Standing tells the story of police officer Kurt Bellmore, who, after the death of his partner, becomes enmeshed in a web of corruption that leaves him unable to know whom he can trust with his life. In addition to former allies turning against him, he must contend with bad guy Snake Underwood. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Wincott, Jillian McWhirter, (more)
In this actioner, a secret group of citizens who want to take the law into their own hands do their best to convince an L.A. cop to join them. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- C. Thomas Howell, Ed Lauter, (more)
The mythical, urban-legendary "men in black" make a lower-rent appearance here than in the movie of the same name. Jack Scalia stars as Rafferty, a secret service agent whose impressive marksmanship and survival skills are not enough to save a California senator from an assassination at the hands of some mysterious, otherworldly men clad in black. The killers are aliens disguised as human beings, working as an advanced force for their race, which intends to conquer Earth. A handful of humans knows about the aliens' invasion plot and that the killers have been sent to eliminate those who know -- and silence those who suspect -- the truth. Enter Comdor (Dennis Christopher), an eccentric, New Age sort of alien from a different intergalactic species, sent to Earth in an effort to help the humans defeat the space menace. Comdor teams up with Rafferty, who discovers that his new partner has a purpose in pursuing the villains that goes deeper than a simple quest for justice -- they are responsible for the death of his family. The duo's quest takes them into blazing gun battles, a freeway chase, and a goofy UFO convention, leading up to a brutal final confrontation. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Scalia, Dennis Christopher, (more)
A young martial arts expert takes on an evil villain for the possession of a magical ring said to grant its wearer unlimited power. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ted Jan Roberts, Jacob Parker, (more)
Joseph Merhi's thriller Rage concerns a young man named Alex Gainer who escapes from a science lab, but not until after he was injected by a new serum that causes a person to experience brutal fits of aggression. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Director Jerry P. Jacobs made his feature debut with this martial arts action film starring Ted Jan Roberts as Ethan, a teen karate expert looking to uncover the truth surrounding the recent death of his older brother. Suspecting the involvement of a shady band of fellow martial artists, Ethan penetrates the group's inner circle in search of answers. Before all is said and done, Ethan will meet the leader of the team in a rousing one-on-one fight. A Dangerous Place also stars Corey Feldman and Dick Van Patten. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
