Houseguest

Houseguest, 1995

Is there a movie out there you've seen multiple times for no apparent reason? For me it's outrageous comedy Houseguest.

The irrepressible Sinbad plays a con man on the run from the mob. To avoid being caught he poses as the childhood friend of Gary Young (the late Phil Hartman) and winds up staying with his family.

This is silly stuff but there are reasons to not dismiss it completely.

Firstly, Phil Hartman, has a voice (see Troy McClure) good enough to make the phone book entertaining and in light of his death all of his work is worth cherishing.

Secondly, actors from two of TV's most decorated shows bob up in completely over the top roles. Jeffrey Jones (Deadwood) plays a dentist - not convinced that Sinbad is who he claims to be, while Paul Ben-Victor (Season 2 of The Wire) is the mobster chasing the star's tail.

Houseguest is ridiculous - complete with a terrifically stupid wine tasting scene and a bizarre trip to the golf course.

This is by no means a recommendation but if you're in the mood for something dumb and miss Phil Hartman's voice, well.....the offer's there.

4/10

Nutbuckle

Species

Species, 1995

Natasha Henstridge is a common sight on the small screen these days (Eli Stone, Commander In Chief) but in 1995 she had hundreds of teenage boys in a spin thanks to Species.

Henstridge plays Sil - the product of a DNA splicing experiment gone right.

Part human, part Alien - Sil needs to mate with a male to properly wreak havoc on Earth's inhabitants.

Also appearing in this soft porn sci-fi are the uber cool Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs), Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Ben Kinglsey (Gandhi) and even a very young Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain).

Critics didn't welcome Species with open arms but I think it's entertaining enough to warrant a look - the supporting cast has fun with what they're given.

It's directed by Australian born Roger Donaldson who was responsible for Cold War drama 'Thirteen Days' and the very watchable 'The Bank Job' and he keeps a good pace up here.

It's probably worth the hiring fee for Henstridge alone.

6/10

Nutbuckle

Copy Cat

Copy Cat, 1995

Harry Connick Jr. and Sigourney Weaver play a serial killer and psychiatrist with serious history in this not too subtle nod to The Silence of the Lambs.

Tormented by a violent encounter with the now incarcerated Darryl Lee Cullum (Connick Jr.), Helen Hudson (Weaver) prefers not to leave her house.

This proves an obstacle for two detectives who need her help solving a string of grizzly murders.

Copy Cat suffers from a 'made-for-TV feel' and Weaver's not at her best without a gorilla or alien to bounce off.

Holly Hunter (The Piano) and Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend's Wedding) play the detectives on the trail of the 'Copy Cat'.

This isn't going to blow your mind but it's worth a peek to see Harry Connick ham it up. He's really quite good.

5/10

Nutbuckle