Man Of The House (1995)

 

Man Of The House - 1995

Coming up next we have 1995's "Man Of The House", a film about a boy who resents the presence of his mom's new boyfriend and seeks to assert his claim as the man in charge.  Joining a group called the Indian Guides may just be what the doctor ordered for this duo.

The film's cast includes Chevy Chase, Farrah Fawcett, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, George Wendt, David Shiner, Art LaFleur, Ron Canada, Christopher Miranda, Zachary Browne, Spencer Vrooman, Nicholas Garrett, and Richard Portnow.

Single mom Sandy Archer is raising her eleven-year-old son Ben the best she can on her own.  However, she is seeking a bit of romance in her life.

She finds what she's looking for in lawyer Jack Sturgess.  Ben, however, is less than thrilled about this new man in his mom's life.

And Ben really hates it when his mother tells him that Jack will be moving in with them.

He makes it as difficult as he can for Jack, going so far as to refuse to help move in his stuff.

Ben interrupts Jack's shower and then promptly locks him out of the bathroom, examining all of Jack's personal toiletries.  Based on all the products that Jack uses, Ben wonders if he is "decomposing".

He even arranges a special bed for Jack to sleep on, as Ben feels that the thought of Jack and Sandy sharing the same bed would be "psychologically damaging".

Jack also doesn't endear himself to Ben when he makes a huge mess in the kitchen and disrupts Ben and Sandy's usual breakfast routine.

Ben decides to test Jack further by having him join a father/son group called the "Indian Guides".  Jack genuinely hates it.

Each father/son get to pick names for each other.  Ben decides that Jack's Indian name will be "Squatting Dog".  It was a toss up between that and "Numb Nuts".  The mortification is quite evident on Jack's face.

At an Indian Guides' event, Ben paints Jack's face.  Sadly for Jack, the paint doesn't wash off in time for him to participate in a case with some real Native Americans in court, who are offended by Jack's "war paint".

Jack decides to get very involved with the Indian Guides.  Eventually, Ben begins to warm up to him and the two start to bond.

On his way to a planned canoe trip with the Indian Guides, Jack's car brakes are cut by a very angry man.  Jack had prosecuted the man's father and put him behind bars for fifty years.  Now, the accused's son wants revenge and Jack's death is what he seeks.  Ben is very upset with Jack when he doesn't show up.  Not wanting to worry Ben or his mom, Jack doesn't tell the real reason why he wasn't there.

On an Indian Guide camping trip, Ben is still upset enough with Jack to not help him with his teepee set-up.

However, when Ben goes to fill up the group's canteens with water, he overhears the men who cut Jack's brakes.  They followed him on the camping trip in order to finish the job and see him dead.  Ben hurries to warn Jack.

Jack comes clean about the reason why he wasn't on the earlier canoe trip, and he tells the other Indian Guides about the situation.  They want to help in any way that they can.

Ben wants to help, too.  He stays with Jack while the others leave the camp for help.

Have no fear.  Everything is all right in the end.  The bad guys are caught, and Ben and Jack's relationship couldn't be stronger.

Ben even gives Jack the go-ahead to marry his mom.  And Ben admits that he's never seen her happier.

Cast rundown:

   Chevy Chase............................Jack Sturgess

   Farrah Fawcett..........................Sandy Archer

   Jonathan Taylor Thomas.............Ben Archer

   George Wendt...........................Chet Bronski

   David Shiner.............................Lloyd Small

   Art LaFleur................................Red Sweeney

   Ron Canada..............................Bob Younger

   Christopher Miranda..................Hank Sweeney

   Zachary Browne........................Norman Bronski

   Spencer Vrooman......................Darryl Small

   Nicholas Garrett........................Monroe Hill

   Richard Portnow........................Joey Renda

And that's it for Man Of The House.  The role of Jack Sturgess was originally offered to Tim Allen before it was given to Chevy Chase.  Allen, however, was busy filming "The Santa Clause".  Farrah Fawcett and director James Orr were in a relationship at this time.  In 1998, Orr was convicted of misdemeanor battery after he attacked Fawcett for refusing his marriage proposal.  I guess she made the right decision!

In one scene, we see Jonathan Taylor Thomas reading a magazine, which features the film "The Lion King" on the back cover.  Thomas was one of the leading vocal actors in that film, portraying the character of Young Simba.

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Maverick (1994)

 

Maverick - 1994

Coming up next we have 1994's "Maverick", a story about a man who sets out to prove to himself that he's the best card player around.

The film's cast includes Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Garner, Graham Greene, Alfred Molina, James Coburn, Paul L. Smith, Art LaFleur, Danny Glover, Margot Kidder, Reba McEntire, and Jack Garner.

Out in the American West, Brett Maverick sets out to prove that he's the best card player around.  To do this, he plans on entering a high stakes poker game with a total pot worth $500,000.  However, Maverick is short a few thousand dollars for his entry fee.

He enters poker games in an effort to raise the money.  During one he meets an interesting cast of characters, including the hot-tempered Angel.  "From the moment I slapped eyes on this hombre, I smelled trouble...and refried beans," says Maverick.

He also meets Southern belle Annabelle Bransford, whose simple country girl ways are just a cover for what lies beneath her surface.

Maverick wins a large pot after bluffing during a game, which earns him the ire of Angel, who protests about Maverick's self-appointed rule of hardly ever bluffing.  Maverick just smiles and says, "This was one of the hardlys."

We find out that Annabelle Bransford also wants to enter that high stakes poker game, and she'll do anything to get the money to enter.  "The Widow Pork Chop conned me?  What is it with people nowadays anyhow?" asks a bewildered Maverick.

Traveling on the stage out of the town they are in, Maverick and Annabelle join forces with a certain Marshal Zane Cooper, who is in no mood to put up with Maverick's personality.

On their way to the riverboat poker game by stagecoach, the three cross some of America's most beautiful country.

Along the way, they stop to help a group of missionaries who have been attacked by "hostiles" and who want to make them pay.

Maverick and the gang agree to help for a percentage of any money recovered.  And when they find the ones responsible, Maverick has to get creative because they are outnumbered.  "The man who’ll blow your brains out is Marshal Zane Cooper.  You probably heard of him.  I know what you’re thinkin’.  He’s old and decrepit, gums his food and his women.  But he can still shoot straight.  After you is Ugly Annie Bransford.  When she was born, she came out backwards and no one noticed.  Hell, when she was a kid, she was so ugly her parents had to tie a pork chop around her neck so the dog would play with her," Maverick tells the outlaws.

Maverick also raises some money teaming up with a friend to con a European archduke out of some funding.

Of course, hot on Maverick's trail is Angel, who wants revenge for the bluff Maverick pulled during their poker game.

Naturally, Maverick makes it to the riverboat poker game, and he is reunited with Annabelle and Cooper, from whom he got separated.

The poker game is being hosted by Commodore Duvall, and everyone is excited to pay their money to gain entrance to the high stakes game.

Now, I don't need to tell you of the romance that ensues between Maverick and Annabelle.

I also don't need to tell you about the very interesting last hand of the final poker game or the winner of the $500,000 grand prize.

Nor do I need to tell you about the relationship between Maverick and Cooper.  I'll let you watch the film and find out all about it for yourself.

Cast rundown:

   Mel Gibson.............................Brett Maverick

   Jodie Foster............................Annabelle Bransford

   Graham Greene......................Joseph

   Alfred Molina..........................Angel

   James Coburn........................Commodore Duvall

   Paul L. Smith..........................The Archduke

   Art LaFleur.............................Poker Player

   Danny Glover..........................Bank Robber

   Margot Kidder.........................Margaret Mary

   Reba McEntire........................Spectator

   Jack Garner............................Porter

And that's it for Maverick.  James Garner, appearing in this film as Marshal Zane Cooper, originally appeared as Maverick in the hit 1950's TV show of the same name.  The role of Zane Cooper was first offered to Paul Newman, who turned it down.  Meg Ryan was the first choice to play Annabelle Bransford.  Julia Roberts and Michelle Pfeiffer were also considered just in case Jodie Foster wasn't available.

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