Hitched

Gorgeous Sheryl Lee needs to get a better agent. As the trade magazines for movie theater owners used to say in the 1950s: "For the lower half", meaning suitable only as the poorer half of a double-bill. It would have made a boring, standard half-hour TV show. But stretched out to 1.5 hours, it is painfully redundant and repeatedly-telegraphed (except for the ending, which is not telegraphed, but is totally unmotivated). To make things worse, Sheryl does not even get to do anything sexy in the film.

What a strange film. It's entirely watchable, and entertaining on a night when you've got nothing else to do. There were some pretty good performances by Sheryl Lee, but what really struck me was Anthony Michael Hall's role in this. Am I the only one who has Hall's loveable, scrawny dork image burned into my brain? His role as the cheating husband was certainly a different one and quite amusing, actually. But I'll always remember him as that hopeless nerd in all of his 80's movies. ("I've never bagged a babe...I'm not a stud...") I honestly wish he could have retained this image, because the heavyset, brawny abusive husband doesn't really suit him, so it made Hitched that much more fake. While watching, I felt myself searching this buffed-up version for signs of the dork we all know and love.

As for the plot, it was lukewarm and a bit unbelievable. Your typical TV movie. Certainly not the best, but then again, not bad.

This tv movie addressed a cheated wife's revenge in a rather fun way. I'm sure many viewers found a thousand reasons this was for entertainment only and not something that would have actually have panned out. A some what predictable ending that was slightly reeking a breath of Hitchcock. The biggest surprise was seeing Anthony Michael Hall as an adult. Especially after just recently seeing him as the geek in 16 Candles. Almost didn't recognize him.

The info button on my remote control described this movie as " A neat thriller with shades of Hitchcock " . I`ve got to really wonder if the person who writes the stuff for the info button ever watches the films in question because the only real connection with an Alfred Hitchcock film HITCHED has is that the female protagonist has blonde hair . I also can`t help but be aware that almost every single thriller with a twist in the tail is inevitabaly described as having " shades of Hitchcock " . Am I alone in thinking this phrase is painfully over used ?

To be fair to it HITCHED is a perfectly watchable TVM which owes more than a nod to Stephen King - Especially GERALD`S GAME and MISERY - more than it does to the master of suspense , and I guess for personal reasons the title could have been a lot worse , I mean the male protagonist is called Theodore and just think of all the titles this film could have used instead of " HITCHED "

This excellent drama had me engrossed from start to finish and deserves top marks. From the moment the concerned wife reported her husband missing at the police station, to the end of the movie I was riveted.

The film is really a tale about adultery, and the lead actress gives a terrific performance as do all the supporting cast.

There is an enormous amount of very funny scenes in the film, such as when a married couple go for a civil marriage but the person performing the ceremony is overjoyed as his divorce decree has just arrived; another scene where a husband seeking to justify his marital infidelity claims his "tool" has no conscience!

And there is a hilarious episode with one of the characters and his love of "Disc Golf".

Also there is a first rate, amusing and thoughtful script and the direction of the picture is professional and kept me watching throughout.