Captain Ron (1992) – Thom Eberhardt

Kurt Russell lets out his goofy side in Captain Ron, which he made with Martin Short, and this makes for a wondrful pairing, and really lets Russell be silly and (mostly) charming. Short plays Martin Harvey. He and his family, wife Katherine (Mary Kay Place), daughterCaroline (Meadow Sisto), and son Ben (Benjamin Salisbury) are off…

Red Sonja (1985) – Richard Fleischer

It’s too bad this one wasn’t better. It could have been a lot of fun. Insttead, it’s releegated to cult status and is a delightful, but flawed romp. Arnold Schwarzenegger is obviously playing Conan, but they can’t call him Conan in this sword and sorcery adventure that introduced the world to Brigitte Nielsen, the towering,…

Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988) – Stephen Chiodo

Practical effects, matte paintings, hilarious cartoon-like gags, and a goofy sense of humor have turned Killer Klowns From Outer Space into a cult classic. A small town comes under assault from aliens who look like clowns, and spaceship that look like a big top. And the local sheriff, Curtis Mooney (John Vernon!) doesn’t believe any…

My Blue Heaven (1990) – Herbert Ross

Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Joan Cusack, and Carol Kane in a film with a script by Nora Ephron? It may not have ended up a complete winner, but damn if I didn’t find it charming, and watching Martin pretend to be a member of an Italian crime family who is part of the Witness Relocation…

Novocaine (2025) – Dan Berk and Robert Olsen

Jack Quaid brings his likable charm to the action comedy, Novocaine, a film that definitely leans into the pain can be funny and gross school of cinema. Born with a rare disease, Nate Caine, can’t feel pain. Consequently, he’s lived his life in a safely controlled way, exuding caution every step of the way. Until…

Stargate: Atlantis (2007) – Irresponsible, and Tao of Rodney

Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie penned Irresponsible, which first aired on 27 April, 2007. It saw the return of Richard Kind’s Lucius Lavin. He’s causing problems again, but things are going to get really complicated for Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and the rest with the arrival of Kolya (Robert Davi). Lucius comes to the attention of…

The Great Train Robbery (1978) – Micheal Crichton

Michael Crichton writes and directs The Great Train Robbery and invites Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Lesley-Anne Down along for the ride. Not quite a romp, the film is definitely an entertaining heist film, resting easily on Connery’s charm, and Sutherland turning in a wonderfully goofy performance. It’s England, in the 1850s. Connery plays Pierce,…

Northern Exposure (1995) – The Mommy’s Curse, and The Quest

Maggie’s (Janine Turner) mother, Jane (Debra Mooney) arrives in town, with her new beau, Leland (Linden Chiles) still believing that Maggie and Joel (Rob Morrow) are still engaged and there’s a wedding in the offing. The Mommy’s Curse was written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, this episode debuted on 1 February, 1995. While that…