Judd Apatow Movies
A talented screenwriter/producer whose television work is often critically praised before being prematurely canceled, Judd Apatow has a dedicated fan base that has nevertheless continued to grow thanks to such winning efforts as The Ben Stiller Show and Freaks and Geeks. Work on a high-school radio show offered the showbiz hopeful his first taste of success, and in the years following his high-school graduation, the quick-witted aspiring standup comedian hit the comedy circuit to generally positive notice. Apatow's act eventually became a staple of FOX's Comic Strip Live, and when the series was canceled in 1994, he opted to shift his focus toward writing and producing. Though he had already achieved some amount of notoriety as a result of his involvement with such efforts as The Larry Sanders Show and The Ben Stiller Show, Apatow began to move into feature territory as the writer and executive producer of Heavyweights and Celtic Pride. Though neither film proved a hit at the box office, they did find a healthy second wind on home video, and Apatow's next endeavor as a producer was the widely panned Jim Carrey film The Cable Guy. Directed by friend and frequent collaborator Ben Stiller, The Cable Guy offered a pointed satire on media influence with Carrey's dark, disturbing performance deviating about as far from the antics of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective as one could get. Once again, Apatow's vision was simply ahead of its time, and it wasn't until The Cable Guy hit home video that the filmgoing masses were truly able to digest the warped masterpiece. When Freaks and Geeks hit the air in 1999, it appeared as if Apatow finally had a hit on his hands. A funny, touching, and endearingly realistic take on high-school life among the less popular set, the show was quickly canceled and never afforded the chance to find an audience thanks to overzealous network executives. Apatow's next series, Undeclared (essentially Freaks and Geeks goes to college), fared only moderately better, with 16 episodes aired before the plug was pulled. In 2003, Apatow served as producer for the made-for-television feature Life on Parole, and shortly thereafter, he returned to feature-film territory as the producer of the throwback Will Ferrell comedy Anchorman (2004). By this point it was only logical that the increasingly-prolific writer/producer would try his hand at writing directing a feature film, and after penning the 2005 Jim Carrey comedy Fun with Dick and Jane, Apatow seemed to find the ideal collaborator in the form of wildly unpredictable Daily Show correspondent Steve Carell; their work together ultimately yielding the suprisingly endearing 2005 comedy hit The 40 Year Old Virgin. A brief return to the producer's chair found Apatow teaming with former Freaks and Geeks co-hort Jake Kasdan for the 2006 comedy The TV Set, and after joining Will Ferrell and company for a side-splitting trip to the racetrack as producer of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, the busy multi-hyphenate would take on triple duty by writing, producing, and directing the 2007 comedy Knocked Up - a one-night-stand laugher that featured a number of Apatow's old small-screen cast members including Freaks and Geeks' Seth Rogen, Martin Starr, Jason Segel, and Undeclared's Jay Baruchel. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Late-night talk show anniversary specials are always a treat for fans, though Larry's (Garry Shandling) dwindling interest in the traditional highlight show finds him attempting to find ways to pass the time. As rumors of a film role for Larry flood the office with speculation, our host decides to instead focus on the possibility of penning a book. Guest stars include Anita Barone, Suzanne Somers, Richard Frank, Les Lannom, and Joan Embery. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1993
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, All Movie Guide
- 1994
With his impending divorce nearly finalized, an increasingly troubled Hank (Jeffrey Tambor) begins exhibiting increasingly bizarre behavior and hitting on guests Sarah Jessica Parker and Mary Gross. With his desperation spiraling increasingly out of control, Hank hits on a visibly distressed Darlene (Linda Doucett) before checking into a hotel to embark on a hollow frenzy of sex and drugs. When the network begins to catch wind of Hank's plunge into darkness, Artie (Rip Torn) sets out to convince his old friend to stay away from destruction and join his old friends in the land of the living. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Camp Hope is a summer camp for fat kids; it is also the locale of this Disney family comedy. All of the kids at Camp Hope have a weight problem. It is the one place they can go without feeling different. But when the previous owners declare bankruptcy, the camp is purchased by an obnoxious fitness freak who becomes obsessed with changing his chubby charges into budding body builders. He immediately begins serving them low calorie foods and subjecting them to rigorous exercises. Part of his motivation is greed: he is in the process of writing a book, and filming an infomercial on weight loss. The boys at camp rebel and mayhem ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom McGowan, Aaron Schwartz, (more)
- 1995
Ever since Paula (Janeane Garofalo) began dating Larry's (Garry Shandling) agent, Stevie (Bob Odenkirk), the conflicted host can't help but feel that Stevie is using the relationship to his advantage by having an increasing number of his own clients on the show. When Paula needs to find a guest and Stevie offers Jennifer Aniston with the stipulation that Paula will book Andy Kindler as well, Larry's suspicions seem to be confirmed. Meanwhile, an ethnic joke on the show has sparked protests and Hank (Jeffrey Tambor) attempts to weasel out of paying back a 20-dollar loan. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Fed up that he has been bumped from the show nine times in a row, comedian Jeff Cesario is somewhat placated by Larry's (Garry Shandling) promise that he will most certainly be on the next show. Complications arise when Artie (Rip Torn) and Larry discover that not only has the next show been booked solid, but Hank's (Jeffrey Tambor) father has died, and the grief-stricken co-host has demanded tribute time on the show. When Artie and Larry decide that a guest must be cut, who will it be? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In an attempt to boost the show's ratings and possibly take the show on the road to Hawaii, Artie (Rip Torn) encourages Larry (Garry Shandling) to get guest Ellen DeGeneres to come "out of the closet" on the air. After having dinner with DeGeneres to discuss the show, host and guest end up in bed together, making it difficult for Larry to speculate on her sexuality when the cameras begin to roll. Meanwhile, after a hurried Artie gives Beverly (Penny Johnson) the show's budget and asks her to place it in his desk, the sensitive document quickly finds its way around the office. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Two basketball fans, whose enthusiasm overwhelms their intelligence, come up with a new but legally problematic way of helping their favorite team in this comedy. Physical education instructor Mike O'Hara (Daniel Stern) and plumber Jimmy Flaherty (Dan Aykroyd) are close friends and obsessive followers of the Boston Celtics; to them, the Celtics are everything, to the point where Mike's marriage is falling apart because his wife can't deal with his mood swings, hinged as they are on the Celtic's fortunes. One night, with the Celtics and the Utah Jazz tied at three games each in the NBA championships, Mike and Jimmy spot Lewis Scott (Damon Wayans) in a sports bar. The star player with the Jazz, Lewis is known to sink up to 50 shots a game, and his talent on the court is exceeded only by his arrogance. Emboldened by alcohol, Mike and Jimmy start buying Lewis drinks, posing as Jazz fans; the next morning, they wake up hung over to discover that they kidnapped Lewis while drunk, and he's tied to a chair in Jimmy's living room. Neither of them planned on doing anything like this and at first they think they ought to let him go. But then again, if Lewis can't play the final game of the championship series, the Celtics chances look a lot brighter. Former Celtics star Larry Bird has a cameo as himself; as do sports heroes Bill Walton and Deion Sanders. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Damon Wayans, Daniel Stern, (more)
Originally planned as a silly vehicle for Chris Farley, in the hands of director Ben Stiller and star Jim Carrey, The Cable Guy became an opportunity for Carrey to flex some of his darker comedic muscles as stalker Chip Douglas. Matthew Broderick plays Steven, an average Joe who is forlorn over his recent breakup with girlfriend Robin (Leslie Mann). When he moves into a new apartment, Steven comes in contact with Chip, who shows up to hook up the cable. Before he knows it, and whether he likes it or not, Steven has a new best-friend in the obnoxious and clingy Chip. However, Steven soon learns that obnoxious is a walk in the park compared to Chip's behavior when Steven tells him he doesn't want to be his pal anymore. What's worse, no one -- including Robin or his family -- believes Steven when he accuses the seemingly harmless Chip of being a malevolent menace. George Segal and Jack Black also star along with Stiller, who plays twins loosely-based on the Menendez brothers. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Carrey, Matthew Broderick, (more)
- 1998
Hesitant to have Illeana Douglas as a guest on the show despite the fact that he's currently dating her, Larry (Garry Shandling) is compelled to coach the confounded actress through her appearance. Meanwhile, amidst a seemingly endless barrage of gay jokes from Phil (Wallace Langham), Brian (Scott Thompson) announces that he's considering filing a sexual harassment suit. Despite the chaos around him, Hank (Jeffrey Tambor) uses a video camera to coax celebrity guests into wishing the departing host well as the crew prepares for the final broadcast. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1998
When Sid (Sid Newman) dies, nearly all of the crew members of The Larry Sanders Show find themselves in mourning. Having just told Sid in a jealous rage that the audience was laughing "at" him instead of "with" him following a successful skit, Hank (Jeffrey Tambor) is especially affected due to the fact that he feels partially responsible for Sid's death. As Hank vows to offer financial support to Sid's family, Larry (Garry Shandling) attempts to keep his relationship with Laura Dern a secret. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Lindsay's "you can do it" Midwestern work ethic proves to be at odds with the Freaks' laid-back approach to rock & roll in this pivotal episode of the short-lived teen saga. Now fully indoctrinated into the Freaks' hang-out/jam sessions in Nick's basement, Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) takes it upon herself to offer some constructive criticism, specifically: practice makes perfect, and "Anarchy's Child" makes a better band name than "Creation." Drummer Nick (Jason Segel) is the only one who's receptive to Lindsay's brainstorming; needless to say, ostensible guitarist Daniel (James Franco) and rest of Creation take umbrage to her band-wrecking ideas (dubbing her "Yoko" in the process). When Nick's stern father tells him to stop beating the skins and focus on his studies -- or else -- Lindsay takes pity and further encourages Nick to hone his talent, against all odds. Meanwhile, Sam (John Daley) has problems of his own, now that Coach Fredricks (Tom Wilson) is enforcing mandatory showers for every student after P.E. class. When his various evasive tactics fall through, Sam has to suck in his gut and take that long, cold walk across the locker-room tile to the communal shower room. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
Though it didn't even make it through its inaugural season on NBC, this 1999-2000 cult hit helped launch the career of many a fine young actor and attracted a huge new audience upon its elaborate DVD release in 2004. An ensemble comedy drama about a group of misfits growing up in the Detroit suburbs in the early '80s, Freaks and Geeks was the brainchild of executive producer Judd Apatow. With a writing staff that included indie-film mainstay Mike White, Apatow set out to chronicle those twin crossroads of adolescence: the move from junior high to high school, and the choice between stoner antics and goody two-shoes academics. To unite his two titular cliques into a single fictional framework, Apatow created the Weir family: Lindsay (Linda Cardellini), a brainy "mathlete" newly turned on to the thrill of rebellion; Sam (John Francis Daley), her swooningly romantic pipsqueak brother; and their rock-solid if painfully earnest parents, Harold (Joe Flaherty) and Jean (Becky Ann Baker). James Franco, soon to find movie stardom in the Spider-Man flicks, portrayed freak king Daniel Desario, a charismatic layabout and the object of Lindsay's secret affections. Busy Philipps, a future Dawson's Creek star, played his volcanic girlfriend, Kim Kelly, while Seth Rogen and Jason Segel played beta-male losers Ken Miller and Nick Andopolis. As for the geeks, young Sam found himself joined at the hip by asthmatic Bill Haverchuck (Martin Starr) and dapper, if tiny, Neal Schweiber (Samm Levine). With storylines that bounced back and forth between both groups and broke down the mythic high-school hierarchy developed in the '80s oeuvre of John Hughes, Freaks and Geeks earned plenty of critical praise upon its inaugural run. Despite its rich, character-driven humor and nostalgic, retro setting, the series dealt with all sorts of weighty issues: domestic violence, drugs and alcohol, single motherhood, and simple adolescence. NBC declined to air one episode, "Kim Kelly Is My Friend," deeming its family psychodrama too disturbing. The series was soon canceled, leaving several unaired episodes. But thank to Internet fandom and growing word of mouth, Freaks and Geeks cemented its status as the coulda-been hit that was snuffed out too early, and the clamor for a DVD release reached a deafening roar. By the time the complete series, including unaired episodes, was released in 2004, the show's reputation had grown to the point where a deluxe edition -- including a fake high-school yearbook -- could be released and even the regular edition boasted more commentary tracks than there were episodes. Since the show's cancellation, star Cardellini has gone on to greater fame in the Scooby-Doo movies and on ER, while her cast mates have turned up in all sorts of unexpected places. But for a large contingent of obsessive Freaks and Geeks fans, the actress will always be identified with her character's signature green jacket. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, (more)
- 2000
The Geeks' outlook on life brightens when a new girl, Maureen (Kayla Elwell), joins their class. Maureen is everything Sam (John Daley), Neal (Samm Levine), and Bill (Martin Starr) look for in a young woman: she's smart, pretty, and, best of all, she likes to shoot off model rockets and make toilet jokes. As the Geeks fight over which one of them should ask her out on a real date, they realize that it won't be long before they lose someone as cool as Maureen to the popular kids -- and they try their best to stop her from crossing over to the other side. Meanwhile, Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) further ingratiates herself with the Freaks by offering to buy the whole group fake IDs so that they can go see the local band Feedback at a bar. Underage drinking proves to be more of a challenge than Lindsay once thought, however, when she has to go through two separate, increasingly sketchier counterfeiters (Rushmore's Jason Schwartzman and Slums of Beverly Hills' Kevin Corrigan) in order to be legit. Originally aired out of order between episodes five and six, "Carded and Discarded" marked Freaks and Geeks' return after its November 1999-January 2000 hiatus. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- 2000
The bane of the Geeks' existence, gym class, serves as a focus for this episode of Freaks and Geeks, directed by former Thirtysomething star Ken Olin. Tired of being picked last for the class baseball teams by the jocks, Haverchuck (Martin Starr) takes matters into his own hands by swiping a faculty phone list and harrassing Coach Fredricks (Tom Wilson) at home. Meanwhile, inspired by reading On the Road in English class, Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) takes up the art of hitchhiking with pal Kim (Busy Phillips) -- and on the first try, she happens to hitch a ride with a friend of her father's. When they get wind of Lindsay's rebellious behavior, Mr. and Mrs. Weir sit down for a dinner chat with Kim's mother, Cookie (Ann Dowd), who implores them to read their daughter's diary so that they'll know what she's really up to. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Described by the Fox Network as "Freaks and Geeks Goes to College" (both series were produced by Judd Apatow), the weekly half-hour sitcom Undeclared offered a glimpse into college dorm-room life, 21st century style. As the title indicated, the series focused on a group of nerdish freshmen who were not quite certain what their major would be, but were determined to have a lot of fun making that decision. For incoming student Steven Karp (Jay Baruchel), the dorm was not exactly a home away from home, inasmuch as his recently divorced father Hal (played by iconoclastic balladeer Loudon Wainwright III) insisted upon dropping in from time to time, just to be a "pal" to his son's new roommates. Among the regulars was Charlie Hunnam as Lloyd, an erstwhile theater arts major, and Carla Gallo as Steven's self-styled "soul mate," Lizzie. Undeclared debuted on September 25, 2001, hammocked between Fox's That '70s Show and Love Cruise: The Maiden Voyage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jay Baruchel, Charlie Hunnam, (more)
- 2004
- PG13
- Add Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy to QueueAdd Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy to top of Queue
Marking the directorial debut of Adam McKay, former head writer for Saturday Night Live and founder of the Upright Citizen's Brigade, Anchorman is set during the 1970s and stars Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy, San Diego's top-rated news anchorman. While Burgundy is outwardly willing to adjust to the idea of females in the workplace -- even outside of secretarial positions -- he certainly doesn't want his own job challenged. Keeping that in mind, it's no wonder that the arrival of Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), an aspiring newswoman, is, in Ron's eyes, not the studio's most welcome addition. After Veronica pays her dues covering so-called female-oriented fluff pieces (think cat fashion shows and cooking segments), the ambitious Veronica sets her eyes on the news desk; more specifically, on Ron's seat behind it. Not unpredictably, Ron doesn't take the threat lightly, and it isn't long before the rival newscasters are engaged in a very personal battle of the sexes. Anchorman was co-written by Ferrell, and features supporting performances from David Koechner, Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, Tara Subkoff, and Maya Rudolph. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, (more)
Immaturity and poor sportsmanship once again find their firmly established place in children's athletics (at least among the adults) in this sports comedy. Phil Weston (Will Ferrell) is a tightly wound suburban father who had a competitive streak worn into him by his father, Buck (Robert Duvall), who never seemed to feel that his son measured up. When Phil's son joins a Little League soccer team, Phil signs on as coach, only to learn that Buck -- who also has a ten-year-old son these days -- will be coaching a team in the same league. Determined to show his father he can do the job, Phil impresses upon his young charges that winning is the only important thing, and soon gains a few enemies as he humiliates not only the kids on his own team, but their opponents as well. Directed by Jesse Dylan, Kicking & Screaming also features Kate Walsh and legendary football coach Mike Ditka. The screenplay was authored by Steve Rudnick and Leo Benvenuti (The Santa Clause) prior to the latter's death in 2000. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Ferrell, Robert Duvall, (more)
One man nervously ventures forth into the final frontier in this comedy starring comic actor Steve Carell. Andy Stitzer (Carell) is a cheerfully geeky guy who is settling into middle age with his large collection of comic books, action figures, and collectable models. Andy works in an electronics store, and seems reasonably happy with his life. However, one day his friends and co-workers David (Paul Rudd), Jay (Romany Malco), and Cal (Seth Rogen) discover that Andy has a secret -- due to his rather severe jitters around women, Andy is still a virgin. Andy's pals are appalled at this state of affairs, and set out to find a woman who'd be willing to get horizontal with him. After a number of disastrous dates, everyone thinks Andy has finally struck gold when he meets Trish (Catherine Keener), an attractive single mother who takes an immediate liking to him. What the other guys don't know is that Trish has just gotten out of a bad relationship, and has informed Andy she isn't ready to be intimate with him just yet. The 40-Year-Old Virgin was the first feature film directed by Judd Apatow, who previously served as a writer and producer for the well-regarded television shows Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, and The Larry Sanders Show. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Carell, Catherine Keener, (more)
