Venganza de amor

The big, expensive "blockbuster" movies are like ordering an expensive steak or lobster - often worth the stiff price, but sometimes very disappointing. You have the "Casablancas," the "Titanics," but also the turkeys like "Heaven's Gate" and "Bonfire of the Vanities." Sometimes 9- or 10-star results, and other times barely worth one. But films like this one - the inexpensive, TV production can be like getting a hot dog or roast beef sandwich at the established neighborhood diner - nothing spectacular, but usually reliable.

William Moses, the male lead here is a good-looking, capable actor, who has played the "good-guy-next-door" to perfection. In this story, he does a workmanlike job of portraying a man who is a psychopath, a sociopath, and just about every other type of "_______-path" a person could be. His target is played by Alexandra Paul, an old hand in this genre, always having friends, neighbors or acquaintances determined to kill her, with her completely oblivious to this for the initial 75% or so of the film. The performances are credible, the performers attractive, and this is the kind of picture which will not go into anyone's hall of fame, but provides a couple of hours of good entertainment - and if your viewing should be interrupted during the show, the intricacies are not sufficient to spoil your understanding of what's going-on.

A radio psychologist Dr. Liz Manners who offers relationship advice, finds her own life is in crisis, when she learns that because of her career ambition, her husband is having an affair. This has suddenly all come up to the surface, as one of her caller's obsessive husband has sworn revenge against her. He believes Manners drove his wife away from him and when trying to flee his controlled loved, she's killed by a passing car. So, three months have past and he goes by the name of "Ken Malansky" to gain Manners' trust. He pretends to be interested in her business, but secretly he wants to destroy her life in the process.

Why do I put myself in these situations of watching these bland made-for-television Lifetime presentations? I guess I'm hoping for something special. "A Lover's Revenge" keeps one watching, but it just never pays off, as it moves onto one lifeless and very, very contrived scene after another. I can't knock that it's not competently made, but this cookie-cutter thriller just doesn't generate much suspense and becomes too predictable in its implausibly elaborated make-up and over-explained details. Routine dialogues motivated by a bloated script seems to be building up something that never takes off. One real nagging element was how clueless the central characters are about what's really going on. The conveniently twisty story is pure trash at heart, glossed up by slick and polished filming techniques. The distant direction is simply going through the motions and falling into forced patterns. Some absurd actions that do occur are eye-rolling stuff. The tenable performances are particularly good, however William R. Moses was something far less then dominating as the psychopath. There were two choices; having hammy fun or playing it with subtle sinisterness. He was somewhere in between, but never could manage to pull it of convincingly. Alexandra Paul is adorably strong and potent as Dr. Liz Manners. There is capable support in the likes of Gary Hudson and Gabrielle Carteris.

It'll pass the muster if your looking for something comfortable, but I wouldn't go to big lengths to see it. Passably watchable.

In Philadelphia, the psychologist Dr. Liz Manners (Alexandra Paul) is the host of the WLOR Talk Radio Show giving advices about relationships to her audience. When she suggests to her listener Sara Jane (Sophie Gendron) to leave her abusive and obsessive husband Kyle Lundstrom (William R. Moses), Sara runs away home chased by Kyle and is hit by a car, immediately dying. The psychopath Kyle decides to use his money to destroy Dr. Manners' life, and assuming the fake identity of the investor James, he meets her husband Rob (Gary Hudson) and poisons her marriage.

"A Lover's Revenge" is a predictable B-movie with a thriller that seems to be a soap-opera in some moments. The screenplay is flawed in many aspects; for example, Kyle Lundstrom called Dr. Liz many times in her cell phone; therefore, the police could trace his calls and easily reach his identity. Further, they never constructed an identikit picture of James to help the investigation. Last but not the least; the viewer knows the identity of the criminal since the very beginning of the story, breaking the tension. The edition uses too many cuts like in a soap-opera, but the gorgeous Alexandra Paul, William R. Moses and Peter Michael Dillon have great performances. In the end, "A Lover's Revenge" is an enjoyable entertainment. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Amor e Traição" ("Love and Betrayal")

If you like Alexandra Paul in these types of roles, I'd like to recommend you watch for a movie coming out sometime around November/December 2006 titled DEMONS FROM HER PAST. It marks my second film with Alexandra, and in my opinion, DEMONS is even better than A LOVER'S REVENGE. It will air on Lifetime when it is released. In DEMONS, Alexandra plays a woman who served time 25 years ago for a murder she didn't commit, and finally goes back to her hometown in Pennsylvania after her grandmother's death to confront the men who framed her. The film also stars Michael Woods. And if you liked Billy Moses, watch for another movie with him as the bad guy lead called LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER. It will probably premiere in spring 2007, and will be on Lifetime as well.

The movie was described as a "Sandwich" and not a "Steak.." No argument.. The review I read was "oversimplified.." It does use a lot of "used" themes.. I won't argue, even a little, that the psychopathic killer who "tells" his victims of his plot has been done 1,800 too many times! (NOTE TO MOVIE DIRECTORS AND WRITERS!!)

There are worse movies--

It'd be a better date movie than some of the syrupy stuff out there.. There's no sex or nudity (although Alexandra Paul is gorgeous, if she's reading this!).. It is nice to see a movie that isn't full of "twentysomethings.."

Anyway-- the point is, it wasn't 100% boilerplate.. It's not a nail-biter, for the most part-- but it does hold your interest..

AJ RN