One for the Money
1.5/4
Starring: Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara, Daniel Sunjata, Sherrie Shepard, Debra Monk
Rated PG-13 for Violence, Sexual References and Language, Some Drug Material and Partial Nudity
Is it a vote of confidence to say that the best thing about "One for the Money" is Katherine Heigl? Didn't think so. Heigl, the star of the inexplicably popular primetime soap "Grey's Anatomy" has comic timing, but is usually set on shrill. Fortunately, director Julie Anne Robinson keeps her at less than alarm-clock level, although that by no means saves the movie.
Stephanie Plum (Heigl) is a young woman with no money and now, no job. Her cousin is a bail bondsman, and right out of the gate, she gets a chance to nab an old flame. Joe Morelli (O'Mara) took her virginity in a bakery shop at age 17, but then didn't call...and Stephanie can hold a grudge. Now, she's on to him because he skipped bail on a murder charge, and she needs the 50 grand for bringing him in. But Morelli claims he's innocent; he's a cop and claims it was self-defense. Stephanie doesn't care since all she wants is the money and a little revenge. But she ends up getting roped into the investigation anyway.
I'll never understand the appeal of Katherine Heigl. She has almost no range, and most of her characters are shrewish harpies. Stephanie Plum isn't so much because she's kept in check, but she's in a story that isn't particularly interesting and doesn't even make much sense. Surprisingly, she outacts almost everyone in the cast. Jason O'Mara may be hunky, but he's as wooden as a fence post, and Daniel Sunjata is terrible as Stephanie's CIA-wannabe mentor. The worst of the lot is Debra Monk, who takes over shrew duty from Heigl. Only Sherri Shepard is good as Lula, a quick-witted hooker.
Julie Ann Robinson is a TV director who was behind the Miley Cyrus/Nicholas Sparks vehicle, "The Last Song." That wasn't particularly good entertainment, but it was better than this. Her TV experience shows; lots of close-ups and undynamic shots. This is a TV movie with a theatrical release.
I'll admit, there are a few laughs in this movie, and if anything good can be said about Heigl, she is beautiful and she has a great smile. But much of the humor falls flat; for example, Leonardo Nam, who was the most annoying character in "The Perfect Score," one of the worst movies ever made, has a one scene cameo, in which he is exceedingly irritating instead of funny.
Lionsgate is clearly hoping for a new franchise (is there any mainstream movie that is made these days without goals of a franchise? Whatever happened to a self-contained story?), and with Heigl's fame, they'll probably get their wish. It's a pity that the movie isn't better.
Starring: Katherine Heigl, Jason O'Mara, Daniel Sunjata, Sherrie Shepard, Debra Monk
Rated PG-13 for Violence, Sexual References and Language, Some Drug Material and Partial Nudity
Is it a vote of confidence to say that the best thing about "One for the Money" is Katherine Heigl? Didn't think so. Heigl, the star of the inexplicably popular primetime soap "Grey's Anatomy" has comic timing, but is usually set on shrill. Fortunately, director Julie Anne Robinson keeps her at less than alarm-clock level, although that by no means saves the movie.
Stephanie Plum (Heigl) is a young woman with no money and now, no job. Her cousin is a bail bondsman, and right out of the gate, she gets a chance to nab an old flame. Joe Morelli (O'Mara) took her virginity in a bakery shop at age 17, but then didn't call...and Stephanie can hold a grudge. Now, she's on to him because he skipped bail on a murder charge, and she needs the 50 grand for bringing him in. But Morelli claims he's innocent; he's a cop and claims it was self-defense. Stephanie doesn't care since all she wants is the money and a little revenge. But she ends up getting roped into the investigation anyway.
I'll never understand the appeal of Katherine Heigl. She has almost no range, and most of her characters are shrewish harpies. Stephanie Plum isn't so much because she's kept in check, but she's in a story that isn't particularly interesting and doesn't even make much sense. Surprisingly, she outacts almost everyone in the cast. Jason O'Mara may be hunky, but he's as wooden as a fence post, and Daniel Sunjata is terrible as Stephanie's CIA-wannabe mentor. The worst of the lot is Debra Monk, who takes over shrew duty from Heigl. Only Sherri Shepard is good as Lula, a quick-witted hooker.
Julie Ann Robinson is a TV director who was behind the Miley Cyrus/Nicholas Sparks vehicle, "The Last Song." That wasn't particularly good entertainment, but it was better than this. Her TV experience shows; lots of close-ups and undynamic shots. This is a TV movie with a theatrical release.
I'll admit, there are a few laughs in this movie, and if anything good can be said about Heigl, she is beautiful and she has a great smile. But much of the humor falls flat; for example, Leonardo Nam, who was the most annoying character in "The Perfect Score," one of the worst movies ever made, has a one scene cameo, in which he is exceedingly irritating instead of funny.
Lionsgate is clearly hoping for a new franchise (is there any mainstream movie that is made these days without goals of a franchise? Whatever happened to a self-contained story?), and with Heigl's fame, they'll probably get their wish. It's a pity that the movie isn't better.
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