As Good as Dead

So much of this film reminds me of a TV version of the Madonna/Roseanna Arquette movie: the shy conventional girl who swaps life and wardrobe with the sexy, messy hip party girl, the lanky young man who gets involved with her, etc. But it's actually more of a (mild) thriller and I thought the plot was pretty neat and well worked out. The lead character was sympathetic and the logic of why she didn't just go to the police (which so many movie heroines should) was good. I also liked how Crystal Bernard quite subtly kept hoisting down her very short skirts, just showing how uncomfortable her character felt in someone else's clothes. Unfortunately a lot of the reviews here and even the cast list give away a major plot twist; maybe I was just feeling dumb tonight, but I didn't guess it in advance and was glad I hadn't been spoiled - beware. Overall, a nice entertaining little movie to kill an hour or so with.

Crystal Bernard is mixed up in a self-induced identity crisis with Traci Lords and Judge Reinhold. She pulls off the part quite well with her Texas charm and manages to make this an entertaining cheesy made for TV movie. Judge Reinhold plays a decent psychopath, especially with his creepy "We were made for each other" voice. As Good as Dead is comparable to Heartless with Madchen Amick, and is about as equally entertaining. This movie rates high for predictability, and its plot outline has been done repeatedly. The movie is worth seeing just for Judge Reihnold's inimitable comical presence and to see what he's been up to.

If you are a cult addict like me, you'll love this film. This movie is from the same director who did the 70's cult film "Bone" (which i highly recommend). I love strange, cheesy, campy movies...And this is definitely one of them. If i wanted something serious or mainstream, I'd go rent a Julia Roberts film (that's if I could stand her). This movie is not to be taken seriously and it's pure enjoyment from beginning to end. Not a dull moment. Plus, Traci Lords is in it... how could you not expect it to be a campy movie? I'm waiting for this one to come out on DVD to add to my cult collection.

I got home from work and was about to go to bed until I turned on the television. After flipping through the channels I thought that I saw Traci Lords and that woman from "Wings" in a movie so I decided to watch it. The concept was really amazing, a woman who commits insurance fraud ends up paying for it by supposidly dying and has to remake her life into something that she wanted to be at the beginning of the movie. I know that it was a chick flick and I should've went past the Lifetime channel but this movie had Traci Lords who really knows how to act, and I was also on the edge of my seat to know what really happened. If you want to see hot girls in a suspenseful thriller, you should watch this movie.

I chased this movie in on-line auctions and finally got it. It is a must for fans of the beautiful Miss Bernard. As for entertainment value, I would give it a 7 out of 10; as for quality of content, well, the movie is kind of predictable and were it not for the beautiful miss Bernard and the interesting role of Mr. Reinhold it would be barely watchable. If you are a fan of Crystal Bernard, you really have to see it. If not, then approach with an open mind.