Film4 Listings for Sunday 24th May
11:00
The Beverly Hillbillies (Film)
Based on the classic TV series, Jim Varney heads up the Clampett family as Jed, who finds oil on his Arkansas farm. Deciding that his daughter Elly May needs to become a 'lady', the family move to Beverly Hills, where their boondock ways are forgiven on account of their wealth. But when widower Jed decides to re-marry, there's no shortage of candidates, as Jed's scheming bank manager Milburn Drysdale and his assistant, Miss Hathaway, try to make sure their own chosen candidate is selected. Penelope Spheeris's film, following her success with Wayne's World, continues in the same comic vein, and fans of the TV series should look out for a cameo role from Buddy Ebson, the original Jed Clampett.
Director: Penelope Spheeris
Starring: Jim Varney, Diedrich Bader, Erika Eleniak, Cloris Leachman, Lily Tomlin, Lea Thompson
(Widescreen, Subtitles, 1993, PG, 2 Star)
13:00
Cheaper By The Dozen 2 (Film)
Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt return as Tom and Kate Baker, parents to 12 kids, in Adam Shankman's sequel to the comedy hit. The kids are now older, and getting ready to leave home, so Tom arranges a final family holiday in rural Wisconsin. Unfortunately, also at the campsite are his rival Jimmy Murtaugh, his trophy wife Sarina and their eight offspring. But despite the two men trying to outdo each other, the two sets of kids become friends, with Sarah Baker and Eliot Murtaugh touching as the two teenagers experiencing first love.
Director: Adam Shankman
Starring: Steve Martin, Eugene Levy, Bonnie Hunt, Tom Welling, Piper Perabo, Carmen Electra
(Widescreen, Subtitles, 2005, PG, 3 Star)
14:45
Bless This House (Film)
Movie spin-off from the popular 70s TV series, starring Sid James as Sid Abbott, the middle-class, middle-aged father who doesn't understand the youth of the day; in particular his own children, Mike and Sally, who both seem keener to attend demos than get a job. Plus, he's also having problems with his new neighbour Ronald Baines. So when Baines' daughter Kate falls for Mike, comic confusions ensue.
Director: Gerald Thomas
Starring: Sid James, Diana Coupland, Sally Geeson, Peter Butterworth, Terry Scott, June Whitfield
(Subtitles, 1972, PG, 3 Star)
16:30
Ben Stiller Introduces... (Entertainment)
His latest film, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.
(Repeat)
16:35
Mighty Joe Young (Film)
Ron Underwood's re-make of the 1949 cult classic stars Charlize Theron as Jill Young, who runs a game reserve in Africa that is home to Mighty Joe Young, a paranormally large gorilla. But both of them are in danger from big game hunter Strasser, who was also responsible for orphaning Jill and Joe. When Gregg O'Hara, a Californian zoologist, offers them both a haven in his reserve in America, Jill accepts but Strasser won't be thwarted and pursues Joe. And when Joe escapes and starts running amok in Hollywood, it seems the hunter's moment may have come... Since the film is produced by Disney, it is heart-warming throughout, but fans of special effects will enjoy the realisation of Joe, the work of expert Rick Baker, who also worked on King Kong and Gorillas in the Mist.
Director: Ron Underwood
Starring: Bill Paxton, Charlize Theron, Rade Serbedzija, Regina King, Peter Firth, Naveen Andrews
(Widescreen, 1998, PG, 3 Star)
18:45
Grease (Film)
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John star as Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson, who had a summer romance and then meet again at high school. He tries to protect his macho persona against her squeaky clean image, but the tables are turned when Sandy, in a leather costume so tight Newton-John had to be sewn into it, wins his heart. Randal Kleiser's film, based on the original musical, is jammed with show-stopping songs and a stand-out supporting cast, with Stockard Channing as tough girl Rizzo almost eclipsing Sandy.
Director: Randal Kleiser
Starring: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway, Barry Pearl, Michael Tucci
(Widescreen, Subtitles, Audio Described, 1978, PG, 4 Star)
20:55
Ben Stiller Introduces... (Entertainment)
His latest film, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.
(Repeat)
21:00
Cocktail (Film)
Roger Donaldson's iconic film stars Tom Cruise as Brian Flanagan, who drops out of school to work in a bar and comes under the influence of the experienced, cynical Doug Coughlin. Following Coughlin's advice, to buy his own bar, Flanagan hitches up with Bonnie, a rich Manhattan socialite but then falls in love with Jordan Mooney. Torn between money and love, he risks losing all in this glitzy, fast-moving drama.
Director: Roger Donaldson
Starring: Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, Elisabeth Shue, Lisa Banes, Laurence Luckinbill, Kelly Lynch
(Widescreen, Subtitles, 1988, 15, 3 Star)
23:00
Under Siege (Film)
A US battleship on its way to be decommissioned is the target for a ruthless gang of terrorists. Fortunately, there is a hero, and he's the cook. Relying on his wits and incredible martial arts, it's up to him alone to battle the terrorists.
Director: Andrew Davis
Starring: Steven Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Busey, Erika Eleniak, Colm Meaney, Patrick O'Neal
(Widescreen, Subtitles, 1992, 15, 3 Star)
01:00
Porky's (Film)
Bob Clark's lust-fuelled gross-out comedy stars Dan Monahan and Mark Herrier as just two of a host of frustrated teen students who, denied a chance to pop their cherry at renowned roadhouse Porky's, return to wreak their revenge in this cult classic.
Director: Bob Clark
Starring: Dan Monahan, Mark Herrier, Wyatt Knight, Roger Wilson, Cyril O'Reilly, Tony Ganios
(Subtitles, 1982, 18, 3 Star)
