Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Defending Your Life
by Albert Brooks
from Warner Home Video
Albert Brooks proves there's laughs after death with this almost heavenly comedy--almost heaven as in Judgment City, where recently perished Daniel Miller (Brooks) learns whether he is worthy of advancing to a higher plane of existence or will be sent back to earth for another incarnation.
His fate will be determined in a very special trial, during which scenes from his life are replayed on a giant screen. "Isn't it realistic?" a judge asks. "It makes some people nauseous." While the steely prosecutor (Lee Grant) will try to prove that Daniel failed in life to face his fears and insecurities, his glad-handing, reassuring defender (Rip Torn) will argue on behalf of this hapless "little brain" (a Judgment City term for residents of earth).
As Woody Allen did for the future in Sleeper, so does Brooks create an original vision of the afterlife. In Judgment City, white-robed residents can eat as much as they want without guilt or fear of gaining weight. They can also visit the Past Lives Pavilion, where they are greeted by a hologram of--who else--Shirley MacLaine.
Daniel finds himself touched by an angel. Meryl Streep gives an enchanting performance as Julia, whose exemplary life is in stark contrast to his. During her trial, the court watches in rapture as she saves not only children, but a cat from a burning building.
Daniel and Julia are a match made in Judgment City, but first Daniel must summon up the courage to express his true feelings for her, or she will surely advance without him.
Defending Your Life is Brooks's most ambitious film and, with Mother, his most accessible. --Donald Liebenson
Immediately following his death by bus, Daniel finds himself in the afterlife facing his past. If you can't make a case for having lived a full and fearles
superb music score won an Academy Award.s life, you must go back to Earth and try again. But Daniel doesn't want to go back after he meets Julia in this heavenly fable written and directed by Albert Brooks.
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dana Carvey
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Saturday Night Live - The Best of Molly Shannon
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Molly Shannon created a string of amazing characters on Saturday Night Live-from Catholic schoolgirl Mary Katherine Gallagher to 50-year-old Sally O'Malley-and like Molly herself they're all fearless strong and hilarious. See the best of Joyologist Helen Madden Elizabeth Taylor Anna Nicole Smith Courtney Love and other extras including Molly's favorite scenes that were cut after Dress Rehearsal and never seen until now.System Requirements: Running Time 76 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398842323 Manufacturer No: VM8423D
Saturday Night Live - Christmas
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Get the gift of laughter from your favorite Saturday Night Live cast members including Dana Carvey Chevy Chase Jane Curtin Phil Hartman Jon Lovitz Eddie Murphy Bill Murray Mike Myers Adam Sandler and many more! You'll laugh out loud with special guests Alec Baldwin Candice Bergen Danny DeVito Steve Martin Paul Simon and William Shatner. It's great comedy fun any time of the year.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398818328 Manufacturer No: VM8183D
The best Christmas material from two-and-a-half decades of Saturday Night Live is collected in this video, which gets off to a raucous start by presenting Chevy Chase's (literally) unbalanced rendition of President Gerald Ford decorating the White House Christmas tree. A number of memorable Christmas satires appear, including Eddie Murphy's spoof of Mr. Rodgers, Ana Gasteyer appearing in the "Martha Stewart Topless Christmas Special," and even Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah Song." Some of the best material is from the show's early freewheeling years: a classic bit with guest Candice Bergen, playing an uptight newswoman, being suitably offended while interviewing an irresponsible and utterly sleazy toy manufacturer (Dan Ackroyd); John Belushi doing a silent yet brilliant turn as a hard-drinking department store Santa; and the entire original cast taking part in an elaborate (by the show's early standards) production number. Also appearing in the video compilation are cast members Bill Murray, Jane Curtin, Phil Hartman, Mike Myers, and Dana Carvey, as well as guests Steve Martin, Danny DeVito, Paul Simon, William Shatner, and Alec Baldwin (who visits the NPR ladies to deliver a wickedly deadpan talk about his Christmas balls). Saturday Night Live has been notoriously uneven over the years, but this video is a full stocking of consistently inspired writing and performances. --Robert J. McNamara
SNL - Bad Boys Of Saturday Night Live
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Join the Bad Boys of Saturday Night Live along with Saturday Night Live's talented regulars and guest performers and get ready for the baddest most outrageous comedy to hit late night!System Requirements: Running Time 87 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398767121 Manufacturer No: VM7671D
Saturday Night Live - Halloween
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Saturday Night Live's Halloween Special will tingle your funny bone! Join hosts Wayne and Garth (aka Mike Myers and Dana Carvey) as they peek into the vaults of spooky mayhem and unearth hilarious comedy sketches from seasons past and present.It's the frightful best of Saturday Night Live the ultimate Halloween party video. Treat yourself to these tricks tonight!System Requirements: Running Time 59 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398816522 Manufacturer No: VM8165D
Introduced by Wayne and Garth on the set of Wayne's World, the Saturday Night Live: Halloween special collection is frighteningly funny. Mining SNL's history back to the good old days of the Coneheads and the Land Shark, this tape selects an hour's worth of the best Halloween skits presented over more than 20 years. You'll see guests such as John Travolta and James Woods put through their paces by the SNL cast--Travolta is hysterical as a certain Transylvanian nobleman trying to convince his victims that they are mistaken about his secret (they think he's gay). All the stars you love, from Bill Murray to Adam Sandler, make appearances to poke fun at the weird, spooky pleasure we all share each year. You'll get tips on making scary faces, ideas for cheap costumes like "Johnny the Human Torch," and a new outlook on vampires in the age of AIDS, plus plenty more ghoulish laughs in Saturday Night Live: Halloween. --Rob Lightner
Ohh Nooo!!! Mr. Bill Classics
by Christopher Guest
from Starz / Anchor Bay
One of the major breakout stars to come out of the first years of Saturday Night Live was not one of the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players, but was instead born from a bit of clay and the creative mind of Walter Williams.
The 18 shorts that comprise The Best of Saturday Night Live: The Mr. Bill Collection exemplify the humor and outrageousness that we have come to expect from Mr. Bill, Spot, Mr. Hands, and of course, Sluggo. The plots, and budget, may have been simple and at some times poorly executed, but they remain a catalyst of laughter and bring back memories of staying up late just to see what troubles would cause Bill to utter his famous phrase: "Ohh, nooo!!!" We are treated to classic Mr. Bill exploits, such as "Mr. Bill's Christmas Special," "Mr. Bill Goes to New York," and the inappropriately named "Mr. Bill Strikes Back," as well as a bonus "Public Service Announcement" relating to highway education.
Although the quality of the film is not always the best, the humor remains intact. In 50 minutes, The Best of Saturday Night Live: The Mr. Bill Collection illustrates how he was one of the show's brightest stars, all the while keeping his unkempt, independent charm. --Zachary Lively
Saturday Night Live - The Best of Eddie Murphy
by Christopher Guest
from Lions Gate
Perhaps one of the greatest lights ever to shine on late-night television, Eddie Murphy has gone on to well-deserved international superstardom. Check out his earliest television work on Saturday Night Live: The Best of Eddie Murphy, a collection of his greatest roles, from Gumby to Stevie Wonder to Buckwheat. Of course, some would argue that his best role was as himself, and there is plenty of evidence for that--many of the skits feature Murphy au naturel and the opening sequence is taken from his monologue when he returned to the show triumphantly after leaving for Hollywood. Exploring the world around him and finding laughs everywhere, Murphy can take a simple idea (such as the "James Brown Hot Tub Party") and run wild with it, leaving the audience hysterically begging for more. You don't have to be a fan to enjoy this collection, but odds are you'll be one by the time you're finished. --Rob Lightner
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