Steven Spielberg produced this underwhelming 1986 effort at a slapstick spin on Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. The pre-Oscar Tom Hanks stars with Shelley Long as a married couple whose efforts to finish construction on their home are sabotaged by costly and sporadically funny accidents. The unfinished domicile becomes a metaphor for their troubled relationship, as evidenced by the attraction of Long's character to a madman violinist (Alexander Godunov). Hanks is the only reason at this point to check this film out. Richard Benjamin (My Favorite Year) directs but with no flair or distinction. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
Richard Benjamin's off-beat 1990 comedy Mermaids found Cher at the peak of her big-screen form. She plays Mrs Flax to the manner born. The eccentric mother feeds her two daughters on hors d'oeuvres and sticks a pin in the map to decide the family's next destination when her love affairs have run their course. When they reach New England, however, events--and an unlikely but amiable suitor (Bob Hoskins)--interrupt her self-centred progress and bring the facts of life home to roost with a vengeance. It's a well-made comedy with good performances from Cher and Hoskins, although neither of them is particularly stretched. There is also enough tension in the relationship between Mrs Flax and her eldest child to make it poignant as well as funny. As the Flax daughters, Winona Ryder (neurotic, unworldly Charlotte) and Christina Ricci (swimming-mad "fishhead") show plenty of the promise which has since made them two of America's most appealing film actresses. Stuffed with authentic 1960s detail, Mermaids is actually a modern "woman's picture" which affirms the often precarious bonds of family relationships. On the DVD: Presented in widescreen format, optimised for high-resolution television sets, Mermaids is a vibrant visual treat for anybody with an affection for 1960s kitsch and fashion. The picture quality is superb and the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack sharp; some cracking dialogue has to share the sound waves with thumping hits of the day and, over the final credits, Cher's global smash hit rendering of "It's in His Kiss". But apart from a multilingual choice of soundtracks and subtitles and the original theatrical trailer, there are no extras. --Piers Ford
He married a girl from out of town Way out of town. Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbusters), Kim Basinger (The Nice Guys) and Jon Lovitz (Southland Tales) star in a fish-out-of-water comedy with a sci-fi twist that questions whether a romance between two star-crossed lovers who are literally worlds apart can ever work. When widowed astronomer Steve Mills (Aykroyd) inadvertently causes a gravitational disruption in deep space, a race of hyper-advanced alien lifeforms sends one of their own to investigate, disguised in the alluring human form of Celeste (Basinger). Tasked with seducing the lovelorn Steve in a bid to gain access to his scientific research, Celeste finds herself falling for the man she's been sent to swindle. But they've reckoned without Steve's young daughter Jessie (Alyson Hannigan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), who's none too thrilled by the prospect of a new mother especially not one from another planet. Funny and touching in equal measure, My Stepmother is an Alien is an offbeat and at times surprisingly risqué comedy that confirms the adage that what unites us is far greater than what divides us even if what divides us happens to be an entire galaxy. Special Edition Contents Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation Original lossless 2.0 stereo audio Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Brand new audio commentary by critic Bryan Reesman Cosmetic Encounters: Directing My Stepmother is An Alien, a brand new interview with director Richard Benjamin Original trailer Image gallery Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Colin Murdoch First Pressing Only: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Amanda Reyes
This fast moving Cinderella-story comedy follows the fortunes of 18 year-old Connie Doyle (Ricki Lake). Homeless penniless and pregnant Connie's life changes forever when she is mistaken for another woman after the train she is travelling on crashes.
Falling in love can drive you crazy... Samantha suffers from many complex phobias. When her shrink is taken away Samantha grabs the oppurtunity to impersonate her doctor and hopefully win over the man of her dreams...
Richard Benjamin's off-beat 1990 comedy Mermaids found Cher at the peak of her big-screen form. She plays Mrs Flax to the manner born. The eccentric mother feeds her two daughters on hors d'oeuvres and sticks a pin in the map to decide the family's next destination when her love affairs have run their course. When they reach New England, however, events--and an unlikely but amiable suitor (Bob Hoskins)--interrupt her self-centred progress and bring the facts of life home to roost with a vengeance. It's a well-made comedy with good performances from Cher and Hoskins, although neither of them is particularly stretched. There is also enough tension in the relationship between Mrs Flax and her eldest child to make it poignant as well as funny. As the Flax daughters, Winona Ryder (neurotic, unworldly Charlotte) and Christina Ricci (swimming-mad "fishhead") show plenty of the promise which has since made them two of America's most appealing film actresses. Stuffed with authentic 1960s detail, Mermaids is actually a modern "woman's picture" which affirms the often precarious bonds of family relationships. On the DVD: Presented in widescreen format, optimised for high-resolution television sets, Mermaids is a vibrant visual treat for anybody with an affection for 1960s kitsch and fashion. The picture quality is superb and the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack sharp; some cracking dialogue has to share the sound waves with thumping hits of the day and, over the final credits, Cher's global smash hit rendering of "It's in His Kiss". But apart from a multilingual choice of soundtracks and subtitles and the original theatrical trailer, there are no extras. --Piers Ford
Steven Spielberg produced this underwhelming 1986 effort at a slapstick spin on Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. The pre-Oscar Tom Hanks stars with Shelley Long as a married couple whose efforts to finish construction on their home are sabotaged by costly and sporadically funny accidents. The unfinished domicile becomes a metaphor for their troubled relationship, as evidenced by the attraction of Long's character to a madman violinist (Alexander Godunov). Hanks is the only reason at this point to check this film out. Richard Benjamin (My Favorite Year) directs but with no flair or distinction. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
Starring four times Oscar-nominated Ed Harris as the widowed Father and Melanie Griffith as the 'tart with a heart'; the film explores themes of acceptance and love through the eyes of a young boy. The relationship between father and son is played out with sensitivity and understanding between Harris and the young Michael Patrick Carter. The bond the two actors share allows the film to create an authentic family environment into which Griffith's good-hearted prostitute enters and even
The title pretty much says it all, folks: A gorgeous ET cosies up to an eccentric scientist (a disarmingly straight Dan Ackroyd) in an attempt to save her dying planet and falls in love in the process. Much wackiness ensues. Art it ain't, but this likably lightweight film does deliver the laughs, with assured leading performances (for once, Kim Basinger's formica loveliness is utilised as an effective comedic asset), a surprisingly bawdy sense of humour and a riotous supporting turn by a then dewy-fresh Jon Lovitz. --Andrew Wright
Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks stars with Shelley Long in this devastatingly hilarious comedy romp from executive producer Steven Spielberg. Evicted from their Manhattan apartment, Walter and Anna (Hanks and Long) buy what looks like the home of their dreams - only to find themselves saddled with a bank-account-draining nightmare. Struggling to keep their relationship together as their rambling mansion falls to pieces around them, the two hapless homeowners watch in hilarious horror as everything - including the kitchen sink - disappears into The Money Pit. It's an outrageously entertaining comedy for everyone who's ever been deeply in love...or deeply in debt.
When you pound this beat it pounds you back. Alex Kearney (Anthony Edwards) is an honest hard-working cop patrolling the subdued suburbs of Philadelphia who polices by the book. When he naively gives a powerful local businessman a speeding ticket he gets unfairly relocated to a very different side of Philadelphia - downtown! He's assigned a new partner in the form of Dennis (Forest Whitaker) a grizzled veteran who survives by following his instincts rather than the rules. Ne
Dragnet (1987): A seemingly squeaky-clean TV reverend and a porno magazine king are suspected of operating a crime-ridden cult. Joe Friday's nephew (Aykroyd) and his 'hip' partner (Hanks) are given the task of proving these allegations armed with ""just the facts""... Punchline (1988): Sally Field and Tom Hanks star in a tender romantic and bittersweet comedy about the backstage world of stand-up comedians exposing the heartache behind the smiles of the laughter makers. The Money Pit (1986): A couple (Shelley Long Tom Hanks) buys their dream home only to find out that it's in horrible disrepair. Struggling to keep their relationship together as the house falls apart around them the two watch in horror as everything disappears - including the kitchen sink!
He went to bed an all-American kid and woke up the son of Russian spies. Roy Parmenter is an FBI agent in San Diego; 20 years ago his partner was killed by a Soviet spy nicknamed Scuba still at large. Scuba is now trying to extort the Soviets; to prove he's serious he's killing their agents one by one including ""sleepers "" agents under deep cover awaiting orders. Roy interviews a high school lad Jeff Grant an applicant to the Air Force Academy. In a routine background ch
This box set features the following films: To Sir With Love (Dir. James Clavell) (1967): A novice teacher faces a class of rowdy undisciplined working-class teenagers in this classic film that reflected some of the problems and fears that existed among young people in the 1960's. Sidney Poitier gives one of his finest performances as Mark Thackeray an out-of-work engineer who turns to teaching in London's tough East End. Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (Dir. Stanley Kramer) (1967): Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn are unforgettable as perplexed parents in this landmark movie about mixed marriage. Joanna (Katharine Houghton) the beautiful daughter of a crusading publisher Matthew Drayton (Tracy) and his patrician wife Christina (Hepburn) returns home with her new fiancee John Prentice (Sidney Poitier) a distinguished black doctor. Christina accepts her daughter's decision to marry John but Matthew is shocked by this interracial union; and the doctor's parents are equally dismayed. Raisin In The Sun (Dir. Daniel Petrie) (1961): The Younger family frustrated with living in their crowded Chicago apartment sees the arrival of a 000 insurance check as the answer to their prayers. Matriarch Lena Younger (Claudia McNeil) promptly puts a down payment on a house in an all-white suburban neighborhood. But the family is divided when Lena entrusts the balance of the money to her mercurial son Walter Lee (Poitier) against the wishes of her daughter (Diana Sands) and daughter-in-law (Ruby Dee). It takes the strength and integrity of this African-American family to battle against generations of prejudice to try to achieve their piece of the American Dream... Buck And The Preacher (Dir. Sidney Poitier) (1972): Buck (Poitier) an ex-Union Army Cavalry sergeant becomes a scout for freed slaves heading to the Colorado frontier. Tagging along with him are his wife (Ruby Dee) and a Bible-thumping con artist known as the Preacher (Belafonte). Attacked by racist bounty hunters determined to return the former slaves to a life of sharecropping in Louisiana Buck and his followers must summon all the courage they have in order to reach their destination and help settle the Wild West... Little Nikita (Dir. Richard Benjamin) (1988): Roy Parmenter is an FBI agent in San Diego; 20 years ago his partner was killed by a Soviet spy nicknamed Scuba still at large. Scuba is now trying to extort the Soviets; to prove he's serious he's killing their agents one by one including sleepers agents under deep cover awaiting orders. Roy interviews a high school lad Jeff Grant an applicant to the Air Force Academy. In a routine background check Roy discovers that Jeff's parents are sleepers. He must see if Jeff is also a spy confront the parents yet protect them and catch his nemesis. Bedford Incident (Dir. James B. Harris) (1965): Nerve-wracking suspense surrounds The Bedford Incident the tale of a U.S. naval vessel on a routine NATO patrol that ends up in a freakish showdown with a Russian submarine. Richard Widmark is Capt. Eric Finlander the maniacal commander who drives his tense crew to the brink of of nervous exhaustion. Sidney Poitier is Ben Munceford photojournalist aboard assigned to record a 'typical' mission. His moral indignation is put to the test by the captain's obsession with forcing the sub to the surface. Several crew members are at their breaking points as Finlander continues his prowl. Especially affected is a former German U-board commander now aboard the Bedford as a NATO observer portrayed by Eric Portman.
Includes the following great Clint Eastwood movies: Where Eagles Dare: The mission: rescue an important US general from the hands of the German High Command. The obstacle: the most inaccessible fortress in the world. The stakes: the very outcome of World War II... City Heat: A tough cop and a wise-cracking private investigator are forced to work together on a case involving the mob. Heartbreak Ridge: Sergeant Tom Highway (Eastwood) a hardened veteran of Korea
Marci Feld (Kudrow) doesn't know about rap she thinks it's what salespeople do in the ritzy boutiques where she shops. But everything changes after rapper Dr. S (Wayans) releases a controversial CD for the record label owned by Marci's ailing father (Richard Benjamin). When the music ignites a national protest against her father and his company Marci decides to step in and save his reputation and the family business! With her posse of pampered girlfriends and her designer bag st
Henry (Penn) and Nicky (Cage) are small town pals from blue-collar families with only a short time before they ship off to World War II. Henry begins romancing new-to-town Caddie Winger (McGovern) believing her to be wealthy. Mischievous and irresponsible Nicky gets into trouble which forces the other two to become involved testing their relationship as well as the friendship between the boys...
Colonel James Burton (Cary Elwes) of the U.S. Air Force is assigned to the Joint Testing Program to test weapons systems for the armed services under the watchful eye of General Partridge (Kelsey Grammer). Observing his first test of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle all appears well but Burton receives a mysterious telephone call suggesting he look further into the test. He discovers that the ammunition fired at the Bradley is considerably inferior to anything it would encounter in a
Bring It On: The Toro cheerleader squad from Rancho Carne High School in San Diego has got spirit spunk sass and a killer routine that's sure to land them the national championship trophy for the sixth year in a row. But for newly-elected team captain Torrance the Toros' road to total cheer glory takes a shady turn when she discovers that their perfectly choreographed routines were in fact stolen from the Clovers a hip-hop squad from East Compton by the Toros' former captain. While the Toros scramble to come up with a new routine the Clovers led by squad captain Isis (Gabrielle Union) have their own problems coming up with enough money to cover their travel expenses to the championships. With time running out and the pressure mounting both captains drive their squads to the point of exhaustion: Torrance hell bent on saving the Toros' reputation and Isis more determined than ever to see that the Clovers finally get the recognition they deserve. But only one team can bring home the title so may the best moves win... She's The Man: It's hard enough being the nerdy new guy on campus without also being the new girl on campus who has fallen for the coolest guy on campus who is totally obsessed with the most beautiful girl on campus who is crushing on the nerdy new guy on campus. Viola Johnson (Amanda Bynes) had her own good reasons for disguising herself as her twin brother Sebastian (James Kirk) and enrolling in his place at his new boarding school Illyria Prep. She was counting on Sebastian being AWOL from school as he tried to break into the music scene in London. What she didn't count on was falling in love with her hot roommate Duke (Channing Tatum) who in turn only has eyes for the beautiful Olivia (Laura Ramsey). Making matters worse Olivia is starting to fall for Sebastian who-for reasons Olivia couldn't begin to guess-appears to be the sensitive type of guy she'd always dreamed of meeting. If things weren't complicated enough the real Sebastian has come back from London two days earlier than expected and arrives on campus having no clue that he's been replaced... by his own twin sister. The Shrink Is In: Samantha suffers from many complex phobias. When her shrink is taken away Samantha grabs the oppurtunity to impersonate her doctor and hopefully win over the man of her dreams...
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