Sneak Peek footage, images and synopsis from "The Vampire Diaries" episode "This Woman's Work", written by Chad Fiveash, James Stoteraux and directed by Garreth Stover, that aired February 19, 2016 on The CW:
"...when complications from her supernatural pregnancy leave the life of 'Caroline' hanging in the balance, 'Stefan' and 'Valerie' take extreme measures to try and save her and the babies.
"Meanwhile, after uncovering a dark secret about 'Damon', 'Enzo' uses the information to force Damon into helping him track down 'Rayna Cruz', a ruthless vampire hunter who is on the loose.
"However, when Damon’s actions inadvertently put everyone he loves in Rayna's path, he is forced to make things right before it’s too late..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Vampire Diaries: This Woman's Work"...
"...when complications from her supernatural pregnancy leave the life of 'Caroline' hanging in the balance, 'Stefan' and 'Valerie' take extreme measures to try and save her and the babies.
"Meanwhile, after uncovering a dark secret about 'Damon', 'Enzo' uses the information to force Damon into helping him track down 'Rayna Cruz', a ruthless vampire hunter who is on the loose.
"However, when Damon’s actions inadvertently put everyone he loves in Rayna's path, he is forced to make things right before it’s too late..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Vampire Diaries: This Woman's Work"...
- 11/1/2017
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Sneak Peek footage, images and synopsis from "The Vampire Diaries" episode "This Woman's Work", written by Chad Fiveash, James Stoteraux and directed by Garreth Stover, that aired February 19, 2016 on The CW:
"...when complications from her supernatural pregnancy leave the life of 'Caroline' hanging in the balance, 'Stefan' and 'Valerie' take extreme measures to try and save her and the babies.
"Meanwhile, after uncovering a dark secret about 'Damon', 'Enzo' uses the information to force Damon into helping him track down 'Rayna Cruz', a ruthless vampire hunter who is on the loose.
"However, when Damon’s actions inadvertently put everyone he loves in Rayna's path, he is forced to make things right before it’s too late..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Vampire Diaries: This Woman's Work"...
"...when complications from her supernatural pregnancy leave the life of 'Caroline' hanging in the balance, 'Stefan' and 'Valerie' take extreme measures to try and save her and the babies.
"Meanwhile, after uncovering a dark secret about 'Damon', 'Enzo' uses the information to force Damon into helping him track down 'Rayna Cruz', a ruthless vampire hunter who is on the loose.
"However, when Damon’s actions inadvertently put everyone he loves in Rayna's path, he is forced to make things right before it’s too late..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Vampire Diaries: This Woman's Work"...
- 11/24/2016
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Vampire Hunter Rayna Cruz (Guest Star Leslie-anne Huff) Arrives To Mystic Falls -- When complications from her supernatural pregnancy leave Caroline’s (Candice King) life hanging in the balance, Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Valerie (guest star Elizabeth Blackmore) take extreme measures to try and save her and the babies. Meanwhile, after uncovering a dark secret about Damon (Ian Somerhalder), Enzo (Michael Malarkey) uses the information to force Damon into helping him track down Rayna Cruz (guest star Leslie-Anne Huff), a ruthless vampire hunter who is on the loose. However, when Damon’s actions inadvertently put everyone he loves in Rayna’s path, he is forced to make things right before it’s too late. Kat Graham and Matt Davis also star. Garreth Stover directed the episode written by Chad Fiveash & James Stoteraux (#713). Get ready for more epic thrills and romance in the seventh season of The Vampire Diaries. After saying...
- 2/13/2016
- ComicBookMovie.com
Did Jo survive her wedding from hell? How will Elena and Tyler say goodbye? And what’s to become of Steroline? We’ve got a lot of questions leading up to Thursday’s Vampire Diaries season finale (The CW, 8/7c).
PhotosThe Vampire Diaries‘ Michael Trevino Reflects on Six Seasons of Tyler, Previews His ‘Emotional’ Finale Exit
Fortunately, executive producer Julie Plec was able to offer some insight about tomorrow night’s main event — even if her answers (specifically about the show’s potential casualties) weren’t what necessarily what we wanted to hear.
Tvline | Let’s start on a...
PhotosThe Vampire Diaries‘ Michael Trevino Reflects on Six Seasons of Tyler, Previews His ‘Emotional’ Finale Exit
Fortunately, executive producer Julie Plec was able to offer some insight about tomorrow night’s main event — even if her answers (specifically about the show’s potential casualties) weren’t what necessarily what we wanted to hear.
Tvline | Let’s start on a...
- 5/13/2015
- TVLine.com
Sneak Peek teaser footage and images from the next episode of "The Vampire Diaries" titled "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get", written by Chad Fiveash, James Stoteraux and directed by Garreth Stover, airing November 6, 2014:
"...when 'Alaric' (Matt Davis) realizes that 'Jo' (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) can't be compelled, he asks 'Elena' (Nina Dobrev) to do some digging into her background. After learning that 'Enzo' (Michael Malarkey) has been captured by 'Tripp', 'Caroline' (Candice Accola) teams up with 'Matt' (Zach Roering) and 'Stefan' (Paul Wesley) to rescue him before 'Tripp' Colin Ferguson learns their true identities.
"Armed with some new information about her past, 'Sarah' (Gabrielle Walsh) breaks into Tripp's office and is surprised when she finds Matt there, doing some investigating of his own. Meanwhile, Elena is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions, and 'Jeremy' (Steven R. McQueen) hits rock bottom, lashing out in a destructive way,...
"...when 'Alaric' (Matt Davis) realizes that 'Jo' (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) can't be compelled, he asks 'Elena' (Nina Dobrev) to do some digging into her background. After learning that 'Enzo' (Michael Malarkey) has been captured by 'Tripp', 'Caroline' (Candice Accola) teams up with 'Matt' (Zach Roering) and 'Stefan' (Paul Wesley) to rescue him before 'Tripp' Colin Ferguson learns their true identities.
"Armed with some new information about her past, 'Sarah' (Gabrielle Walsh) breaks into Tripp's office and is surprised when she finds Matt there, doing some investigating of his own. Meanwhile, Elena is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions, and 'Jeremy' (Steven R. McQueen) hits rock bottom, lashing out in a destructive way,...
- 10/31/2014
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
A Rescue In The Night - When Alaric (Matt Davis) realizes that Jo (guest star Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) can't be compelled, he asks Elena (Nina Dobrev) to do some digging into her background. After learning that Enzo (Michael Malarkey) has been captured by Tripp, Caroline (Candice Accola) teams up with Matt and Stefan (Paul Wesley) to rescue him before Tripp learns their true identities. Armed with some new information about her past, Sarah (guest star Gabrielle Walsh) breaks into Tripp's (guest star Colin Ferguson) office and is surprised when she finds Matt (Zach Roerig) there, doing some investigating of his own. Meanwhile, Elena is forced to deal with the consequences of her actions, and Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) hits rock bottom, lashing out in a destructive way. Lastly, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) is determined to take matters into his own hands when he receives some upsetting news. Garreth Stover directed the...
- 10/31/2014
- ComicBookMovie.com
Recently, CW released the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Vampire Diaries" episode 6 of season 6. The episode is entitled, "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get,” and it sounds things will get very intriguing and dramatic as Caroline, Matt and Stefan team up to actually try and rescue Enzo from Tripp. Elena has to deal with some serious consequences, and more! In the new, 6th episode press release: "When Alaric (Matt Davis) realizes that Jo (guest star Jodi Lyn O’Keefe) can’t be compelled, he is going to ask Elena (Nina Dobrev) to do some digging into her background. After learning that Enzo (Michael Malarkey) has been captured by Tripp, Caroline (Candice Accola) will team up with Matt and Stefan (Paul Wesley) to rescue him before Tripp learns their true identities. Armed with some new information about her past, Sarah (guest star Gabrielle Walsh) is going...
- 10/30/2014
- by Eric
- OnTheFlix
The Vampire Diaries, Season 4, Episode 17: “Because the Night”
Written by Brian Young and Charlie Charbonneau
Directed by Garreth Stover
Airs Thursdays at 8pm (Et) on the CW
This week, on The Vampire Diaries: Damon takes Elena out on the town, Caroline protesteth too much, and Silas finally has a body, if not a face
Several elements of “Because the Night” work well and provide interesting character beats and entertaining moments. However, on the whole, the writing lets down the characters and puts them in awkward, unearned, and unbelievable situations, prompting one of the trickier questions when part of a character’s journey fails- who’s at fault? Is it the actors, for failing to sell the moment? Is it the writer of the episode, for giving them out of character things to say? Is it the writers of previous episodes, for not properly building the character to where...
Written by Brian Young and Charlie Charbonneau
Directed by Garreth Stover
Airs Thursdays at 8pm (Et) on the CW
This week, on The Vampire Diaries: Damon takes Elena out on the town, Caroline protesteth too much, and Silas finally has a body, if not a face
Several elements of “Because the Night” work well and provide interesting character beats and entertaining moments. However, on the whole, the writing lets down the characters and puts them in awkward, unearned, and unbelievable situations, prompting one of the trickier questions when part of a character’s journey fails- who’s at fault? Is it the actors, for failing to sell the moment? Is it the writer of the episode, for giving them out of character things to say? Is it the writers of previous episodes, for not properly building the character to where...
- 3/22/2013
- by Kate Kulzick
- SoundOnSight
The Vampire Diaries Episode 417
“Because the Night”
Written By: Brian Young & Charlie Charbonneau
Directed By: Garreth Stover
Original Airdate: 21 March 2013
In This Episode...
Damon and Elena are out in New York, in Damon’s old stomping grounds (he was a NY punk - is anyone surprised by this?) Damon tells her that he just wants her to have fun, but he has an ulterior motive - find the cure. Will, the vampire he killed last week, owned an underground club called Billy’s (“The Factory was too clean; CBGBs was too high profile”). In the 1970s, Damon would kill people on the street and steal their IDs for Will; in return, Will let him feed in his club. Will had a repeat customer, a 5’7” brunette. Damon is pretty sure that is Katherine, and he is there to search Will’s records.
So Damon and Elena are hanging out at Billy’s and Rebekah shows up.
“Because the Night”
Written By: Brian Young & Charlie Charbonneau
Directed By: Garreth Stover
Original Airdate: 21 March 2013
In This Episode...
Damon and Elena are out in New York, in Damon’s old stomping grounds (he was a NY punk - is anyone surprised by this?) Damon tells her that he just wants her to have fun, but he has an ulterior motive - find the cure. Will, the vampire he killed last week, owned an underground club called Billy’s (“The Factory was too clean; CBGBs was too high profile”). In the 1970s, Damon would kill people on the street and steal their IDs for Will; in return, Will let him feed in his club. Will had a repeat customer, a 5’7” brunette. Damon is pretty sure that is Katherine, and he is there to search Will’s records.
So Damon and Elena are hanging out at Billy’s and Rebekah shows up.
- 3/22/2013
- by Alyse Wax
- FEARnet
It must be true that "music hath charms to soothe a savage breast" since in this clip from "The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.17, "Because the Night," those vamp beasts known as Damon, Elena, and Rebekah can be found together and smiling(!) while Dead Sara plays in the background.
"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.17 - "Because the Night" (airs 3/21/13, 9-10 pm)
Realizing that Elena (Nina Dobrev) needs some time away from Mystic Falls, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) takes her to New York City, where he lived and partied hard in the 1970s. When Rebekah (Claire Holt) also shows up in New York, she’s impressed with Elena’s secret agenda. Flashbacks reveal Damon’s hedonistic life in the underground club scene and a complicated encounter with Lexi (guest star Arielle Kebbel).
Meanwhile Caroline (Candice Accola) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) try to convince Klaus (Joseph Morgan) that it would be in his own best interest...
"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.17 - "Because the Night" (airs 3/21/13, 9-10 pm)
Realizing that Elena (Nina Dobrev) needs some time away from Mystic Falls, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) takes her to New York City, where he lived and partied hard in the 1970s. When Rebekah (Claire Holt) also shows up in New York, she’s impressed with Elena’s secret agenda. Flashbacks reveal Damon’s hedonistic life in the underground club scene and a complicated encounter with Lexi (guest star Arielle Kebbel).
Meanwhile Caroline (Candice Accola) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) try to convince Klaus (Joseph Morgan) that it would be in his own best interest...
- 3/19/2013
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
This clip from "The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.17, "Because the Night," makes it seem like finally the characters remember Silas is out there running around wreaking havoc. Much more important than the moral implications of feeding on opposing cheerleaders, we'd say! Check it out.
"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.17 - "Because the Night" (airs 3/21/13, 9-10 pm)
Realizing that Elena (Nina Dobrev) needs some time away from Mystic Falls, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) takes her to New York City, where he lived and partied hard in the 1970s. When Rebekah (Claire Holt) also shows up in New York, she’s impressed with Elena’s secret agenda. Flashbacks reveal Damon’s hedonistic life in the underground club scene and a complicated encounter with Lexi (guest star Arielle Kebbel).
Meanwhile Caroline (Candice Accola) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) try to convince Klaus (Joseph Morgan) that it would be in his own best interest to help them track Silas down.
"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.17 - "Because the Night" (airs 3/21/13, 9-10 pm)
Realizing that Elena (Nina Dobrev) needs some time away from Mystic Falls, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) takes her to New York City, where he lived and partied hard in the 1970s. When Rebekah (Claire Holt) also shows up in New York, she’s impressed with Elena’s secret agenda. Flashbacks reveal Damon’s hedonistic life in the underground club scene and a complicated encounter with Lexi (guest star Arielle Kebbel).
Meanwhile Caroline (Candice Accola) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) try to convince Klaus (Joseph Morgan) that it would be in his own best interest to help them track Silas down.
- 3/16/2013
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
No doubt wanting to keep "The Vampire Diaries" in the minds of its fans during the show's current break until March 14th, The CW has released several new photos from the upcoming two episodes - #4.16, "Bring It On," and #4.17, "Because the Night."
All the stills you'll see below are courtesy of The CW except for the first one for Ep. 4.17, which comes from TV Guide, who got the first good look at Elena's new 'do. Looks like she's added some red streaks to her hair to go along with her fiery new personality.
"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.16 - "Bring It On" (airs 3/14/13, 8-9 pm)
The New Normal — Elena’s (Nina Dobrev) new outlook has everyone concerned, leading Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) to agree that going back to the normal routine of high school would be the best thing for her. Caroline (Candice Accola) is pleasantly surprised when...
All the stills you'll see below are courtesy of The CW except for the first one for Ep. 4.17, which comes from TV Guide, who got the first good look at Elena's new 'do. Looks like she's added some red streaks to her hair to go along with her fiery new personality.
"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.16 - "Bring It On" (airs 3/14/13, 8-9 pm)
The New Normal — Elena’s (Nina Dobrev) new outlook has everyone concerned, leading Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) to agree that going back to the normal routine of high school would be the best thing for her. Caroline (Candice Accola) is pleasantly surprised when...
- 3/2/2013
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
The CW has released synopses for its shows airing March 18-22, and joining the March 20 "Supernatural" details posted earlier today, we have the lowdown on "The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.17, "Because the Night," and "Cult" Episode 1.05, "The Kiss."
"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.17 - "Because the Night" (airs 3/21/13, 9-10 pm)
Realizing that Elena (Nina Dobrev) needs some time away from Mystic Falls, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) takes her to New York City, where he lived and partied hard in the 1970s. When Rebekah (Claire Holt) also shows up in New York, she’s impressed with Elena’s secret agenda. Flashbacks reveal Damon’s hedonistic life in the underground club scene and a complicated encounter with Lexi (guest star Arielle Kebbel).
Meanwhile Caroline (Candice Accola) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) try to convince Klaus (Joseph Morgan) that it would be in his own best interest to help them track Silas down. Bonnie (Kat Graham) struggles...
"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.17 - "Because the Night" (airs 3/21/13, 9-10 pm)
Realizing that Elena (Nina Dobrev) needs some time away from Mystic Falls, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) takes her to New York City, where he lived and partied hard in the 1970s. When Rebekah (Claire Holt) also shows up in New York, she’s impressed with Elena’s secret agenda. Flashbacks reveal Damon’s hedonistic life in the underground club scene and a complicated encounter with Lexi (guest star Arielle Kebbel).
Meanwhile Caroline (Candice Accola) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) try to convince Klaus (Joseph Morgan) that it would be in his own best interest to help them track Silas down. Bonnie (Kat Graham) struggles...
- 2/28/2013
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
New Vampire Diaries season 4,episode 17 official spoilers,plotline revealed by CW. Recently, CW revealed the new,official,synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Vampire Diaries" episode 17 of season 4. The episode is entitled, "Because The Night," and it sounds like it'll serve up some intriguing action as Damon takes evil Elena off for some big apple, New York City action. In the new,17th episode press release, realizing that Elena needs some time away from Mystic Falls, Damon is going to take her to New York City, where he lived and partied hard in the 1970s. When Rebekah also shows up in New York, she is going to be impressed with Elena’s secret agenda. Flashbacks will reveal Damon’s hedonistic life in the underground club scene and a complicated encounter with Lexi (guest star Arielle Kebbel). Meanwhile, Caroline and Stefan will try to convince Klaus that it would be in his...
- 2/28/2013
- by Andre
- OnTheFlix
Oh, don’t look at me like that. I’m asking this question not because I want you to imagine where the fictional magic happens, but because there comes a time when you’re such a fan of a show that you start wanting to piece together more of a character’s personality — and no place is as fun to do that in as his or her bedroom (with an adjoining bathroom, preferably). Sometimes you like what you see: the lightsabers mounted above Howard’s bed on The Big Bang Theory. Sometimes you don’t: I’ve almost come to...
- 1/21/2011
- by Mandi Bierly
- EW.com - PopWatch
In the October 28th episode of "The Vampire Diaries", entitled "Masquerade", we'll find out more about new character "Lucy", being portrayed by Natashia Williams. In the meantime, thanks to The CW, we at least have the ep's synopsis to tide us over. In addition, thanks to Ford Fiesta, we have another look "Inside The Vampire Diaries" with production designer Garreth Stover.
Episode 7 "Masquerade" Synopsis:
Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) decide on a new plan to deal with Katherine (Nina Dobrev) at the Lockwood’s masquerade ball. Katherine calls on an old friend, Lucy (guest star Natashia Williams), to attend the ball with her. Bonnie (Katerina Graham), Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), and Alaric (Matt Davis) all do what they can to help Stefan and Damon, but Katherine has a surprise planned that none of them could foresee. Things take an ugly turn when Matt (Zach Roerig) and Tyler (Michael Trevino...
Episode 7 "Masquerade" Synopsis:
Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) decide on a new plan to deal with Katherine (Nina Dobrev) at the Lockwood’s masquerade ball. Katherine calls on an old friend, Lucy (guest star Natashia Williams), to attend the ball with her. Bonnie (Katerina Graham), Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), and Alaric (Matt Davis) all do what they can to help Stefan and Damon, but Katherine has a surprise planned that none of them could foresee. Things take an ugly turn when Matt (Zach Roerig) and Tyler (Michael Trevino...
- 10/8/2010
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
We have images aplenty in from Warner Bros. Pictures' comedy "17 Again," starring Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann, Sterling Knight and Michelle Trachtenberg. Burr Steers, director of 2002's "Igby Goes Down," "How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days") helms from the writing by Jason Filardi ("Bringing Down the House"). Filardi's also writing the Adam Shankman helmed "Topper," starring Steve Martin for Mandeville Films and Offspring Entertainment. See all of the images from "17 Again" starring Matthew Perry and Zac Efron. What's it about? What would you do if you got a second shot at life? Class of 1989, Mike O'Donnell (Zac Efron) is a star on the high school basketball court with a college scout in the stands and a bright future in his grasp. But instead, he decides to throw it all away to share his life with his girlfriend Scarlet and the baby he just learned they are expecting.
- 3/19/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
"Big Trouble" is a smorgasbord of comedy -- there's farce, slapstick, black humor, theater of cruelty, clever ripostes, non sequiturs, absurdity, romantic comedy and a toad that spits hallucinogenic juice. When everything is done, however, you have that bloated, overindulged feeling where too many good things got mixed up together and ingested all at once. Did you enjoy it? Well, for a while yes, and for much longer no.
There's no denying that "Trouble" contains a few spectacularly funny scenes. But the filmmakers keep pushing the jokes at the expense of character until things fall apart. You don't get casts much more talented than this one, and director Barry Sonnenfeld does a smooth job of keeping all the plates spinning as long as humanly possible. But the film implodes from excess long before a nuclear bomb -- yes, that's a nuclear bomb -- explodes for the "comic" finale. While perhaps not a boxoffice bomb for Disney, audiences may react negatively to the sheer strain of watching a film where people must work very hard at being lighthearted.
"Big Trouble", of course, ran into big trouble more than half a year ago when Sept. 11 forever changed our world. Its release was postponed because of the terrorist attacks, but it may be at least a generation before anyone finds funny the sight of characters running around airports with a nuclear device and lax security personnel waving a bomb through checkpoints. At best, the film has an extremely dated feel. At worst, the film is a serious misreading of its source material, a novel by humorist Dave Barry.
The renowned Miami Herald columnist is adept at seizing incidents from everyday life and reducing these to such absurdity a reader cannot contain his laughter. On paper, "Big Trouble" was, no doubt, hilarious. Onscreen, the novel's exaggeration takes on a flimsy silliness. Writers Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone aren't entirely to blame for rushing from one great gag to another. They are funny, but context is everything. The context of Dave Barry is a writer playing with a reader's mind, not a Hollywood production that reduces everything to unwanted literalness.
Trouble starts when a Miami arms dealer receives a nuclear bomb that everyone insists looks like a garbage disposal. At the same moment, a couple of hit men, Dennis Farina and Jack Kehler, arrive in Florida to eliminate Stanley Tucci, a corrupt businessman whose has embezzled money from his equally criminal employers.
Meanwhile, in a harmless game called "Killer", Tucci's daughter, Zooey Deschanel, is being "stalked" by schoolmate Ben Foster, the son of Tim Allen, a former Miami newspaper columnist. (Hmmm, who can that be?) So while Tucci is sexually harassing family maid Sofia Vergara and Allen is falling for Rene Russo, Tucci's wife, the kid "Killers" mess up an assassination attempt by the real killers, bringing police officers Janeane Garofalo and Patrick Warburton to the scene.
Further complicating the assassins' task are a couple of crooks who together do not possess the IQ of a single stupid person, Tom Sizemore and Johnny Knoxville; two of the strangest FBI agents in history, Omar Epps and Dwight "Heavy D" Myers; and Jason Lee, a fellow who lives in a tree and is often mistaken for Jesus.
This is not a plot you want to spend too much time describing or analyzing. The object is to deliver a series of gags such as guys robbing a bar in masks that render them virtually blind, or a retractable seat belt in their rental car that drives the hit men crazy.
But the movie all too swiftly abandons its characters and situations in favor of these gags. Since when are characters and comedy mutually exclusive?
The best thing about "Trouble" are its actors, who never abandon their characters even when the movie does. The below-the-line work is solid from James Newton Howard's pleasant, Latin-flavored musical score to Greg Gardiner's lensing, Garreth Stover's exaggerated Miami sets and Steven Weisberg's editing, which keeps things moving at a swift pace.
BIG TROUBLE
Buena Vista Pictures
Touchstone Pictures presents a Jacobson Co. and Sonnenfeld/Josephson Worldwide Entertainment production
Producers:Barry Sonnenfeld, Barry Josephson, Tom Jacobson
Director:Barry Sonnenfeld
Screenwriters:Robert Ramsey, Matthew Stone
Based on the novel by:Dave Barry
Executive producer:Jim Wedaa
Director of photography:Greg Gardiner
Production designer:Garreth Stover
Music:James Newton Howard
Co-producer:Graham Place
Costume designer:Mary Vogt
Editor:Steven Weisberg
Color/stereo
Cast:
Elliot Arnold:Tim Allen
Anna Herk:Rene Russo
Arthur Herk:Stanley Tucci
Snake:Tom Sizemore
Eddie:Johnny Knoxville
Henry:Dennis Farina
Leonard:Jack Kehler
Monica Romero:Janeane Garofalo
Walter Kramitz:Patrick Warburton
Matt Arnold:Ben Foster
Jenny Herk:Zooey Deschanel
Running time -- 84 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
There's no denying that "Trouble" contains a few spectacularly funny scenes. But the filmmakers keep pushing the jokes at the expense of character until things fall apart. You don't get casts much more talented than this one, and director Barry Sonnenfeld does a smooth job of keeping all the plates spinning as long as humanly possible. But the film implodes from excess long before a nuclear bomb -- yes, that's a nuclear bomb -- explodes for the "comic" finale. While perhaps not a boxoffice bomb for Disney, audiences may react negatively to the sheer strain of watching a film where people must work very hard at being lighthearted.
"Big Trouble", of course, ran into big trouble more than half a year ago when Sept. 11 forever changed our world. Its release was postponed because of the terrorist attacks, but it may be at least a generation before anyone finds funny the sight of characters running around airports with a nuclear device and lax security personnel waving a bomb through checkpoints. At best, the film has an extremely dated feel. At worst, the film is a serious misreading of its source material, a novel by humorist Dave Barry.
The renowned Miami Herald columnist is adept at seizing incidents from everyday life and reducing these to such absurdity a reader cannot contain his laughter. On paper, "Big Trouble" was, no doubt, hilarious. Onscreen, the novel's exaggeration takes on a flimsy silliness. Writers Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone aren't entirely to blame for rushing from one great gag to another. They are funny, but context is everything. The context of Dave Barry is a writer playing with a reader's mind, not a Hollywood production that reduces everything to unwanted literalness.
Trouble starts when a Miami arms dealer receives a nuclear bomb that everyone insists looks like a garbage disposal. At the same moment, a couple of hit men, Dennis Farina and Jack Kehler, arrive in Florida to eliminate Stanley Tucci, a corrupt businessman whose has embezzled money from his equally criminal employers.
Meanwhile, in a harmless game called "Killer", Tucci's daughter, Zooey Deschanel, is being "stalked" by schoolmate Ben Foster, the son of Tim Allen, a former Miami newspaper columnist. (Hmmm, who can that be?) So while Tucci is sexually harassing family maid Sofia Vergara and Allen is falling for Rene Russo, Tucci's wife, the kid "Killers" mess up an assassination attempt by the real killers, bringing police officers Janeane Garofalo and Patrick Warburton to the scene.
Further complicating the assassins' task are a couple of crooks who together do not possess the IQ of a single stupid person, Tom Sizemore and Johnny Knoxville; two of the strangest FBI agents in history, Omar Epps and Dwight "Heavy D" Myers; and Jason Lee, a fellow who lives in a tree and is often mistaken for Jesus.
This is not a plot you want to spend too much time describing or analyzing. The object is to deliver a series of gags such as guys robbing a bar in masks that render them virtually blind, or a retractable seat belt in their rental car that drives the hit men crazy.
But the movie all too swiftly abandons its characters and situations in favor of these gags. Since when are characters and comedy mutually exclusive?
The best thing about "Trouble" are its actors, who never abandon their characters even when the movie does. The below-the-line work is solid from James Newton Howard's pleasant, Latin-flavored musical score to Greg Gardiner's lensing, Garreth Stover's exaggerated Miami sets and Steven Weisberg's editing, which keeps things moving at a swift pace.
BIG TROUBLE
Buena Vista Pictures
Touchstone Pictures presents a Jacobson Co. and Sonnenfeld/Josephson Worldwide Entertainment production
Producers:Barry Sonnenfeld, Barry Josephson, Tom Jacobson
Director:Barry Sonnenfeld
Screenwriters:Robert Ramsey, Matthew Stone
Based on the novel by:Dave Barry
Executive producer:Jim Wedaa
Director of photography:Greg Gardiner
Production designer:Garreth Stover
Music:James Newton Howard
Co-producer:Graham Place
Costume designer:Mary Vogt
Editor:Steven Weisberg
Color/stereo
Cast:
Elliot Arnold:Tim Allen
Anna Herk:Rene Russo
Arthur Herk:Stanley Tucci
Snake:Tom Sizemore
Eddie:Johnny Knoxville
Henry:Dennis Farina
Leonard:Jack Kehler
Monica Romero:Janeane Garofalo
Walter Kramitz:Patrick Warburton
Matt Arnold:Ben Foster
Jenny Herk:Zooey Deschanel
Running time -- 84 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Chronicling one couple's adventures in procreation, "A Smile Like Yours" starts out with a premise that is certainly fertile fodder for a '90s romantic comedy.
However, the end result, directed and co-written by Rysher Entertainment founder Keith Samples (with Kevin Meyer), is a dreary, labored affair that squanders the promising concept, leaving a response of widespread indifference in its wake.
At the boxoffice, given that and the fact Greg Kinnear and Lauren Holly have yet to prove themselves as bankable leads, moviegoers will likely opt for abstinence.
On the surface, Danny and Jennifer Robertson (Kinnear and Holly) would appear to have everything going for them, including a strong, passionate relationship and good jobs. He works in construction. She is co-owner of a burgeoning aroma-therapy business. The only thing missing in their lives is a bouncing bundle of joy.
While Danny isn't so sure the timing's right, Jennifer becomes absolutely obsessed with the idea. When all homespun methods fail to produce the desired result, they surrender their bodies to a fertility clinic as their marriage, too, is tested by a series of fresh stress loads.
To the script's credit, it doesn't shy away from all the invasive treats that await couples when their attempts at baby-making shift from the bedroom to the lab. The results will likely have some nodding their heads in empathy and others squirming in their seats, but that isn't the picture's problem. It's Samples' awkward freshman direction, which places undue emphasis on all the wrong moments, suffocating potential humor, not to mention lumbering pacing (the kiss of death for a romantic comedy) that makes the film's reasonable 101-minute running time feel interminable.
The other major problem is that Holly and Kinnear (last seen together in "Sabrina") make for a cute, if bland, couple. As likable and sincere as they come across, they simply lack the dynamic that would enable them to transcend the material and make it their own. Picking up the slack is the always terrific Joan Cusack as Holly's business partner, Jay Thomas as Kinnear's work buddy and Marianne Muellerleile who's a riot as a smirking, bullying fertility clinic nurse.
Even Shirley MacLaine has been recruited (obviously as a favor to Samples for Rysher's "Evening Star"), making an unbilled extended cameo at the picture's end, but her considerable comedic talents are unable to resuscitate a production that simply fails to deliver the goods.
A SMILE LIKE YOURS
Paramount Pictures
Rysher Entertainment presents
a David Kirkpatrick production
Director Keith Samples
Screenwriters Kevin Meyer, Keith Samples
Producers David Kirkpatrick, Tony Amatullo
Executive producer Robert Harling
Director of photography Richard Bowen
Production designer Garreth Stover
Editor Wayne Wahrman
Costume designer Jill Ohanneson
Music William Ross
Music supervisors Randy Gerston, Evyen Klean
Casting Jennifer Shull
Color/stereo
Cast:
Danny Robertson Greg Kinnear
Jennifer Robertson Lauren Holly
Nancy Tellen Joan Cusack
Steve Harris Jay Thomas
Lindsay Hamilton Jill Hennessy
Richard Halstrom Christopher McDonald
Dr. Felber Donald Moffat
Dr. Chin France Nuyen
Nurse Wheeler Marianne Muellerleile
Running time -- 101 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
However, the end result, directed and co-written by Rysher Entertainment founder Keith Samples (with Kevin Meyer), is a dreary, labored affair that squanders the promising concept, leaving a response of widespread indifference in its wake.
At the boxoffice, given that and the fact Greg Kinnear and Lauren Holly have yet to prove themselves as bankable leads, moviegoers will likely opt for abstinence.
On the surface, Danny and Jennifer Robertson (Kinnear and Holly) would appear to have everything going for them, including a strong, passionate relationship and good jobs. He works in construction. She is co-owner of a burgeoning aroma-therapy business. The only thing missing in their lives is a bouncing bundle of joy.
While Danny isn't so sure the timing's right, Jennifer becomes absolutely obsessed with the idea. When all homespun methods fail to produce the desired result, they surrender their bodies to a fertility clinic as their marriage, too, is tested by a series of fresh stress loads.
To the script's credit, it doesn't shy away from all the invasive treats that await couples when their attempts at baby-making shift from the bedroom to the lab. The results will likely have some nodding their heads in empathy and others squirming in their seats, but that isn't the picture's problem. It's Samples' awkward freshman direction, which places undue emphasis on all the wrong moments, suffocating potential humor, not to mention lumbering pacing (the kiss of death for a romantic comedy) that makes the film's reasonable 101-minute running time feel interminable.
The other major problem is that Holly and Kinnear (last seen together in "Sabrina") make for a cute, if bland, couple. As likable and sincere as they come across, they simply lack the dynamic that would enable them to transcend the material and make it their own. Picking up the slack is the always terrific Joan Cusack as Holly's business partner, Jay Thomas as Kinnear's work buddy and Marianne Muellerleile who's a riot as a smirking, bullying fertility clinic nurse.
Even Shirley MacLaine has been recruited (obviously as a favor to Samples for Rysher's "Evening Star"), making an unbilled extended cameo at the picture's end, but her considerable comedic talents are unable to resuscitate a production that simply fails to deliver the goods.
A SMILE LIKE YOURS
Paramount Pictures
Rysher Entertainment presents
a David Kirkpatrick production
Director Keith Samples
Screenwriters Kevin Meyer, Keith Samples
Producers David Kirkpatrick, Tony Amatullo
Executive producer Robert Harling
Director of photography Richard Bowen
Production designer Garreth Stover
Editor Wayne Wahrman
Costume designer Jill Ohanneson
Music William Ross
Music supervisors Randy Gerston, Evyen Klean
Casting Jennifer Shull
Color/stereo
Cast:
Danny Robertson Greg Kinnear
Jennifer Robertson Lauren Holly
Nancy Tellen Joan Cusack
Steve Harris Jay Thomas
Lindsay Hamilton Jill Hennessy
Richard Halstrom Christopher McDonald
Dr. Felber Donald Moffat
Dr. Chin France Nuyen
Nurse Wheeler Marianne Muellerleile
Running time -- 101 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 8/22/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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