David Steinberg Movies
The son of a Rumanian rabbi, Canadian actor/comedian David Steinberg was considered the quiet member of his large family -- until he developed a gift for lying. Steinberg's prevarications did not endear him to his father, who said "I kiss the train that takes you away" when Steinberg left Winnipeg to study theology in Israel. All plans for a rabbinical career ended when Steinberg happened to catch Lenny Bruce's act, whereupon he decided to become a comedian. Paul Sills of Chicago's Second City troupe hired Steinberg after seeing the young comic in a University of California production of Candide, but Steinberg didn't really fit in with the communal spirit of Second City and chose to strike out as a solo actor. He appeared in Broadway productions as Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights and Little Murders, both failures. Finally he attained a new agent who guided Steinberg through the Playboy-club circuit in the late '60s. Steinberg confused many club patrons by avoiding standard mother-in-law jokes in favor of conceptual comedy - humor based on observations of everyday life. One of his routines centered around a sanctimonious minister's sermon, and on the strength of this Steinberg was hired for guest spots on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. After his appearance on October 27, 1968, Steinberg was deluged with angry mail complaining about his "blasphemous" performance; the Smothers refused to cave in to pressure and used Steinberg on other programs, including their final taping in April 1969, which remained untelecast after the brothers were fired by CBS. Adverse publicity or no, Steinberg was hired to emcee a 45-minute ABC-TV variety program, The Music Scene, in 1969, where his comic gifts were stifled and he was expected to merely point fingers as the singing groups were introduced. In 1972, when censorial pressure had subsided somewhat at CBS thanks to the advent of All in the Family, Steinberg was hired by the network for a summer replacement series, The David Steinberg Show. The program played to so-so ratings, but did give Steinberg a brief spurt of popularity wherein fans could be heard repeating his catchphrases "Boogie boogie boogie" and "Get OFF me." Steinberg's fame crested in the mid '70s, after which he faded from television. In the early '80s Steinberg turned to film directing with such movies as Paternity (1980) and Going Berserk (1982), and in 1985 he gave TV another try with a series of syndicated interview specials. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
In the distant future, after the Texas Confederacy has gone to war and wiped out Syria with a deadly virus because of oil prices, disgraced Captain Sean Murdoch (Malcolm McDowell) is recruited to take command of a hulking ship headed for a port in Nigeria. The ship is operated by means of forced labor from slave prisoners, and its mysterious cargo happens to be containers of the deadly virus used in the war. The ruthless Proxate Corporation, represented on the ship by icy businessman Tarkis (Michael Pare), wants the ship sunk despite the idea that the cargo would contaminate all the water on the planet. Capt. Murdoch finds an opportunity to redeem himself in saving the ship and its crew of violent convicts, but the wily cyborg (Daniela Nolano) sent to sabotage the ship has abilities that may prove to be too much for Murdoch and his crew to combat. ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Malcolm McDowell, Michael Paré, (more)
One of the most expensive of Don Bluth's animated cartoon features, All Dogs Go to Heaven was also among the most successful. Set in late-'30s New Orleans, the story centers upon a roguish German shepherd named Charlie B. Barkin (voice of Burt Reynolds), who is killed early in the proceedings by his business partner, Carface (voice of Vic Tayback). Charlie travels to Heaven, and is promptly warned that if he heads back to Earth, he can never return; he does decide to go back to Earth, however, to exact revenge on Carface, who has kidnapped Anne-Marie, a little orphan girl who can talk to Animals.
The film also includes the vocal skills of Dom DeLuise, Charles Nelson Reilly, Vic Tayback, Melba Moore, Loni Anderson, and a host of others. All Dogs Go to Heaven was the first production of the Dublin-based Sullivan Bluth Studios. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The film also includes the vocal skills of Dom DeLuise, Charles Nelson Reilly, Vic Tayback, Melba Moore, Loni Anderson, and a host of others. All Dogs Go to Heaven was the first production of the Dublin-based Sullivan Bluth Studios. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Judith Barsi, (more)
The horny teen heroes of American Pie (1999) return for further raunchy antics in this comedy sequel written by the first film's creator, Adam Herz. Returning home following their freshman year of college, old friends Jim (Jason Biggs), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Oz (Chris Klein), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), and Stifler (Seann William Scott) rent a summer house on Lake Michigan where they hope to score romantically. However, complications ensue due to Jim's relative lack of experience, requiring an interlude with a fellow student and a visit to his old friend Michelle (Alyson Hanigan), who's now a band camp counselor, all in preparation for the return of Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth). In the meantime, Oz is separated from Heather (Mena Suvari) by a trip abroad, Finch has another encounter with Stifler's mom (Jennifer Coolidge), and Jim's dad (Eugene Levy) is as clueless as ever about his son's love life. Director J.B. Rogers served as first assistant director on the first film and made his directorial debut with Say It Isn't So (2001). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth, (more)
- 1986
This hilarious comedy video contains performances from some of the funniest stand-up comedians of the 1980s as they do their schtick at the Improv comedy clubs. Performers include funnyman/magician Harry Anderson, Billy Crystal, and Michael Keaton. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 2006
- Add Carlos Mencia: No Strings Attached - Live, Extended and Uncensored to Queue Add Carlos Mencia: No Strings Attached - Live, Extended and Uncensored to top of Queue
Observance and politically-incorrect comic Carlos Mencia commands the stage of San Francisco's Warfield Theater for an audacious night of no-holds-barred comedy that covers a wide ranging variety of topics ranging from religion and diversity to terrorism and race. Few comics can offer such astute observations about such sensitive issues as Mencia, and when the bad boy comic gets on a roll about the pope or the handicapped, he truly brings out the absurdity of day-to-day life as few other comedians can. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
This made-for-cable science fiction drama is set in a grim future where abuse of the environment has rendered much of the Earth unlivable and most of the survivors wile away their days playing high-tech virtual reality adventure games. Carver (Michael Pare), who works for DreamCore, the world's leading VR technology firm, makes a startling discovery after his close friend Dinah (Tara Maria Manuel) dies testing a new game. It seems that Dinah was working with a revolutionary system called the Trancender, which allows players unprecedented entry into the VR world but also allows the creatures from the VR games to enter the real world. Carver must first travel into the virtual world in hopes of finding out the truth about Dinah's murder, then track down the VR killers who have left it behind. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Paré, Tara Maria Manuel, (more)
This animated comedy for the family, which gently parodies the movie musicals of the '30s and '40s, follows Danny (voice of Scott Bakula), a cat from Kokomo, Indiana, who loves to sing and dance and longs to be in show business. One day, Danny decides to do something about his ambitions instead of just wishing, so he heads for Hollywood, convinced that he can become a star in a week. However, Danny quickly becomes aware of the species barrier in Tinseltown; the studios don't much care for animals, even ones with star quality, and the best Danny's agent can get for him is a tiny role in a movie with adorable child star Darla Dimple (voice of Ashley Peldon), who turns out to be a mean-spirited brat who loathes animals as soon as the camera is turned off. Danny soon makes the acquaintance of several other animal performers stuck in the same bind as himself, including Sawyer (voice of Jasmine Guy), a pretty but cynical cat; Woolie (voice of John Rhys-Davies), a piano-playing elephant; Tillie (voice of Kathy Najimy), a singing hippo; and Pudge (voice of Mathew Herried), a performing penguin. Together, the critters struggle for acceptance and a chance to show the world what they can do. Sawyer's singing voice for the musical numbers was provided by Natalie Cole; Randy Newman wrote several original songs for the film, and Gene Kelly was a consultant for the character's choreography. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Scott Bakula, Jasmine Guy, (more)
- 2004
The Spider Demon (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe), who appears once every century to feed upon the most magicially powerful being on earth, kidnaps and cocoons our gal Piper (Holly Marie Combs). In his efforts to protect his future mother, Whitelighter Chris (Drew Fuller) is himself infected by the Spider Demon's venom. As Paige (Rose McGowan), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), and Leo (Brian Krause) prepare to go to the rescue, Leo makes a disturbing discovery about Chris. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brian Krause, Drew Fuller, (more)
- 2002
Larry (Larry David) visits Dr. Lynch (Jack Gallagher) because he's got what will discreetly be referred to as "a hair" stuck in his throat. He finds out that it will hurt to remove the hair, so he decides to let it work itself out. Dr. Lynch knows Larry went to see U2 the night before, because Larry's maid, Dora (Dyana Ortelli) told the receptionist. This alarms Larry, who doesn't want people knowing his business. When he gets home, Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) tells him that they have to get a Christmas tree, because her parents are coming for Christmas. This concerns Larry. "There's nothing worse than Jews with trees," he later tells Jeff (Jeff Garlin). Cheryl asks Larry to take care of tipping everyone. He gives a tip to Dora, and tells her not to tell people where he goes. He also tips Carlos (Gary Carlos Cervantes), the gardener. Jeff tells Larry about an elaborate lie he told Susie (Susie Essman) and Larry backs up Jeff's lie, making it even more involved. Jeff and Larry go to the club and work the room, tipping everyone in sight. Larry gets into a confrontation with a waiter he thinks he accidentally tipped twice. He goes home to find Cheryl's parents (Paul Dooley and Julie Payne) and a huge Christmas tree in his living room. Cheryl tells him Dora heard that Carlos got a bigger tip, and suggests Larry take Dora to the club for lunch to make it up to her. This creates more problems Larry runs into Susie at the club. Larry's situation worsens when he eats the nativity cookies Cheryl and her sister baked, mistaking them for animal crackers. Larry decides to go out and hire a manger to replace the cookies. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- 2005
It's Larry's (Larry David) birthday. Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) has mysterious plans that have yet to come to fruition. Jeff (Jeff Garlin) gets invited to the Playboy Mansion, but Larry doesn't think he can go because Cheryl's already mad at him about something else. Jeff has to explain the "double transgression theory." Larry visits the comatose Louis Lewis (Bill Saluga), hoping that he'll die so that Larry won't have to give Richard a kidney. At the hospital, he meets Wilson (Grant Rosenmeyer), a terminally ill kid who has a wish that the Make-A-Wish Foundation refuses to grant. He turns to Larry. Larry's cousin Andy (Richard Kind) pays a visit, and receives a treasured smoking jacket from Larry's ailing father, Nat (Shelley Berman), that Larry believes was meant for him. Andy invites himself along on the visit to the Playboy Mansion, where Larry discovers that he has something in common with Hef (Hugh Hefner). Larry runs into repeated problems with people bringing items that belong to him into the bathroom with them. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- 1984
This comedy performance features the best routines of David Steinberg, as he performs in Toronto. ~ Rovi
- 1967
In this eccentric independent comedy filmed in Chicago, Frank (Jon Voight) is a hayseed who heads north to the big city of Chicago, only to run afoul of gangsters and wind up murdered. Frank soon finds himself resurrected as a virtuous superhero, Fearless Frank, but a mad scientist (Severn Darden) soon crafts an evil twin, False Frank, to do his sinister bidding. Monique Van Vooren plays Plethora, one of the gangster's molls, and novelist Nelson Algren appears as Needles; much of the supporting cast was drawn from the Second City comedy troupe, including David Steinberg and Ben Carruthers. Frank's Greatest Adventure was the first solo directorial credit for Philip Kaufman and the screen debut for Jon Voight, though it would not receive wide distribution until after his breakthrough role in Midnight Cowboy. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jon Voight, Monique Van Vooren, (more)
- 1998
Launching a story thread that would ultimately dominate most of Friends' fourth season, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) contemplates granting the wishes of her half-brother, Frank Jr. (Giovanni Ribisi), and his wife, Alice (Debra Jo Rupp) -- namely, that Phoebe carry their child in her uterus. In other developments, Joey (Matt LeBlanc) is subjected to class discrimination while working as a tour guide at Ross' (David Schwimmer) museum. And Chandler (Matthew Perry) wonders if he will be able to measure up to Joey in his relationship with Joey's former girlfriend Kathy (Paget Brewster). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
In this comedy, a stuffy congressman is dismayed when he discovers that his beloved daughter intends to marry limousine driver John Bourgignon (John Candy). While intending to put on a good show for his father-in-law to be, John is captured by some political opponents of the congressman. His capturers attempt to brainwash him into assassinating the congressmen, but things don't go exactly as planned. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Candy, Eugene Levy, (more)
Jim Norton: Monster Rain captures a night of comedy by the stand-up who delivers routines about such diverse topics as advertising, toilet paper, and televised poker. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jim Norton
- 1999
A real-life murder story that commanded headlines for several months in 1990 served as the basis for the tense but unsatisfying cable-TV movie Judgment Day: Ellie Nesler Story. Christine Lahti stars as Ellie Nesler, who cannot help but notice that her seven-year-old son Brandon (Andrew Ducote) has been sullen and withdrawn since returning from summer camp. Eventually it is revealed that Brandon had been sexually molested by camp counselor Daniel Driver (Robert Bockstael)--and that Driver has had a history of such repellant behavior, but has managed to remain out of prison thanks to the loopholes of the legal system. Driven over the edge when Driver beats the rap once more, Ellie confronts the man outside a courtroom and shoots him dead! The rest of the film recounts Ellie's murder trial, and the spectacular outpouring of public reaction--both pro and con--in its wake. Though it is uncompromising in detailing the long-range consequences of the actions by both Ellie Nesler and Daniel Driver, the film refuses to take a definite stance of its own in the controversy, and thus its dramatic impact is muted. Judgment Day: The Ellie Nesler Story made its USA cable network debut on June 23, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1993
Actor-comedian Kevin Pollak performs an hour of stand-up comedy, impersonations, and anecdotes in this hour-long special. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
The Canadian sketch-comedy masters hit the big screen with Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy, their send-up of psychopharmacology and its social ramifications. Each "kid" plays a plethora of roles; in fact, nearly every character in the film is played by one of the five "kids". When Roritor Pharmaceuticals finds itself on the verge of bankruptcy, research chemist Chris Cooper (Kevin McDonald) finds himself pressured to push his latest development to market without adequate testing at the risk of losing his job. The product -- Gleemonex, an anti-depressant bearing more than a slight resemblance to Prozac -- seems at first to be a wonder drug; users find themselves in a perpetual state of bliss as they relive their fondest memories time and again. Success goes awry, however, when a fatal side-effect surfaces -- users become catatonics. The craze has caught on, however, and the entire world seems to be taking Gleemonex, forcing Dr. Cooper to fight his employers and warn the masses before disaster strikes. The plot is really just an excuse for a series of funny, hallucinogenic sketches involving the memories and fantasies of its users; the funniest include a grandmother's all-too brief holiday visit with her family, and a married man's homoerotic experiences in the military. Another winning scene: a brooding grunge-rock idol (Bruce McCulloch) who's taken the drug unexpectedly changes his tune at a concert to the bewilderment of his angst-hungry fans. Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy is hit-or-miss satire, but much of the humor finds its mark in this humble, surprisingly intelligent film. ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, (more)
- 1995
Hank Azaria, longtime significant other of series star Helen Hunt, makes his first Mad About You appearance. When Jamie's sister Lisa (Anne Ramsay) passes on walking Murray, the Buchmans (Hunt and Paul Reiser) are obliged to hire a professional walker. That worthy is a fellow named Nat, played by Azaria. Problems arise when Murray (aka "Furry Murray," aka "F. Murray Abraham") indicates that he likes Nat a lot more than his owner Paul Buchman. ~ Rovi
- 1997
Melanie Mayron guest stars as Doris, the astrologer sister of the Buchmans' dog-walker, Nat (Hank Azaria). When Doris offers to draw up charts for the Buchman family, Jamie (Helen Hunt) is reluctant to cooperate -- and not without good reason. Originally slated to air in the U.S. on February 4, 1997, this episode was bumped to March 11 due to an unexpected pre-emption (though it ran on Canadian TV on February 4, as scheduled). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
Everybody wants new mother Jamie (Helen Hunt) to go back to work -- except Jamie. Despite her worries over leaving baby Mabel in the care of others, Jamie agrees to accept a job with political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin (playing themselves). Elsewhere, Paul (Paul Reiser) goes on the defensive against the newspaper writer who turned out an error-ridden article on the movie "Buchman." Fred Willard makes his first appearance as Jamie's immediate superior, Henry Vincent. ~ Rovi
- 1998
The time has come for baby Mabel to choose between breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Her choice does not please Paul (Paul Reiser) or Jamie (Helen Hunt), by try to reason with an infant. Meanwhile, Jamie's flamboyant mother, Theresa (Carol Burnett), begins dating a much-younger member of the Lord of the Dance ensemble. ~ Rovi
- 1997
Jamie (Helen Hunt) reveals her pregnancy to boss Lance Brockwell (Harry Groener) and the rest of the City Hall staff. The question: Can she still maintain the hectic pace of her job? Meanwhile, Ira (John Pankow) takes over the financing of Paul's (Paul Reiser) epic documentary "Buchman" -- and manages to secure the services of a moderately famous narrator. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
While being interviewed on film by Paul (Paul Reiser), great-uncle Marty (Shecky Green) ruins the shot by dropping dead. Marty's garbled final words ("Hummus?" "Cow Moos?" "Hey Miss?") touches off yet another crisis in the Buchman family. Amidst a veritable smorgasbord of famous guest stars, episode director David Steinberg garners some of the biggest laughs in the role of a long-winded rabbi. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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