Actor Hank Azaria (1964)

The American fantasy comedy film, The Smurfs 2 (2013), is based on the beloved comic book series created by Belgian artist Peyo. It takes place two years after the first film and centers around Smurfette’s birthday. The Smurfs share the story of how she was originally created by their enemy, Gargamel, but was rescued by Papa Smurf and transformed into a true blue Smurf. However, Smurfette begins to question her identity and has nightmares about her origins. As her birthday approaches, the other Smurfs plan a surprise party for her but try to keep it a secret, causing Smurfette to think they have forgotten about ...

The fantasy adventure comedy film, The Smurfs (2011), is based on the comic series by Belgian artist Peyo. In their village, the Smurfs are getting ready for their annual Blue Moon Festival when Papa Smurf has a vision of Clumsy Smurf and an evil wizard named Gargamel. His vision involves Clumsy accidentally leading Gargamel to the village while picking smurfroot. Papa Smurf sets up traps and flings Gargamel into the air, allowing the rest of the Smurfs to escape. However, Clumsy unknowingly runs towards the Forbidden Falls with a group of other Smurfs following him – Papa, Smurfette, Grouchy, Brainy and Gutsy. As ...

George Miller directed, produced and co-wrote the 2011 animated jukebox musical comedy film, Happy Feet Two (2011). Erik, son of Mumble and Gloria, struggles to keep up with his fellow Emperor-Land penguins on the dance floor. Along with his friends Bo and Atticus, he follows Ramón, leader of the Amigos and one of Mumble’s pals, to Adélie-Land. This snowy land is now under the rule of Sven, a flying penguin who is not all he seems. Sven had previously convinced the humans to spare him by showing off his impressive flight skills before joining forces with Lovelace (formerly known as ‘Guru’). Lovelace ...

Love & Other Drugs (2010) is a romantic comedy-drama film directed and co-written by Edward Zwick. It is based on the 2005 non-fiction book Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman by Jamie Reidy. The story follows Jamie Randall, who gets fired from his job at an electronics store in Pittsburgh after having an affair with his manager’s girlfriend. His brother Josh helps him get a new job as a pharmaceutical sales representative for Pfizer. Jamie attends their training program and begins selling Zoloft to doctors. However, he faces rejection and ...

The American animated comedy film The Simpsons Movie (2007) is based on Matt Groening’s popular Fox animated sitcom. Following a concert at Lake Springfield, Green Day attempts to raise awareness about the environment, but are met with a disrespectful audience who pelts them with trash. This pollution leads to the band’s barge sinking and their eventual drowning. At their memorial service, Grampa Simpson has a spiritual awakening and forewarns of a disaster that will strike Springfield. Despite his cryptic message, only Marge takes it seriously. In light of the dire state of the environment, Lisa and her new ...

America’s Sweethearts (2001), directed by Joe Roth, is a romantic comedy. Lee Phillips, a seasoned publicist, gets fired from his job at a major film studio. Afterwards, studio head Dave Kingman invites him for a private screening of Time Over Time, a new time travel thriller starring the beloved husband-and-wife team Eddie Thomas and Gwen Harrison. However, their marriage ended when Gwen had an affair with her co-star Hector, causing Eddie to have a mental breakdown and seek treatment at a remote New Age wellness retreat. Despite Lee’s arrival, Kingman has nothing to show as the film’s director Hal ...

Fail Safe (2000), a televised broadcast play, is based on the Cold War novel by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler. Taking place during the height of tensions between the United States and Soviet Union in the early-to-mid-1960s, an unidentified aircraft approaches North America from Europe. In response, U.S. Vindicator bombers from Strategic Air Command (SAC) are sent to their designated fail safe positions near the Russian Far East. These bombers have strict orders not to continue past their fail safe points without receiving a specific attack code. Although the initial ...

Stephen Gyllenhaal’s American dark comedy-drama thriller film, Homegrown (1998), follows the story of small-time marijuana harvesters Jack, Carter, and Harlan in Northern California. The trio witnesses their boss Malcolm being shot by his pilot during a visit to his successful marijuana plantation. After recovering from the shock, Jack takes charge and leads the group as they quickly dismantle their camp and gather enough crop to make up for their losses before leaving. While Carter and Harlan transport the harvested crop to Lucy’s for drying, Jack focuses on finding a potential buyer. However, with ...

Celebrity (1998), an American comedy-drama film by Woody Allen, follows the story of a divorced couple who take different paths in life. Lee Simon, an unsuccessful novelist who turns to travel writing after his midlife crisis and split from his insecure ex-wife, Robin, a former English teacher of sixteen years. As he navigates the world of celebrity journalism, Lee’s search for purpose is hindered by his constant pursuit of fame and struggles with insecurities and neuroses, causing him to miss out on multiple opportunities. As she moves forward, Robin sheds her numerous neuroses ...

Godzilla (1998), an American monster film directed and co-written by Roland Emmerich, follows the aftermath of a military nuclear test in French Polynesia. A giant creature attacks a Japanese cannery vessel in the South Pacific Ocean, leaving only one fisherman alive. NRC scientist Dr. Niko ‘Nick’ Tatopoulos is conducting research on the effects of radiation on wildlife in the Chernobyl exclusion zone when he is approached by an official from the U.S. State Department with a special mission. In Tahiti, a mysterious Frenchman interrogates the survivor about his experience, to which he keeps responding with ...

Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994–1998) is an American superhero animated television show based on the Marvel Comics character with the same name. The series follows Peter Parker, a college student at Empire State University who struggles to balance his duties as the costumed hero with the challenges of his personal life. Along with fighting crime, Peter must navigate romantic feelings for love interests Felicia Hardy and Mary Jane Watson; maintain his friendship with Harry Osborn; excel academically as a student of Dr. Curt Connors; and support Aunt May after losing Uncle Ben by working as a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle. This newspaper is run by ...

The Simpsons (1989–2024), an American animated sitcom by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company, is a satirical portrayal of life in America. It follows the Simpson family – consisting of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie – in the fictional town of Springfield as they humorously exaggerate society, Western culture, television, and the human condition. The idea for the family came to Groening while working on animated shorts with producer James L. Brooks. He based them on his own relatives, ...