Liberate mio marito

Last night's Lifetime movie was "My Husband Is Missing," a surprisingly good neo-noir thriller even though it had an awful lot of the clichés typical of this network. The story begins, as so many Lifetime stories do, with a typical bucolic day in the life of a suburban family; Anne Bradshaw (Daphne Zuniga, whose best-known previous credit was in Mel Brooks' "Spaceballs") is sending her husband Dale (Robert Underwood) to work. She solemnly reminds him that he's supposed to pick their teenage daughter Casey (Nicole Muñoz — and kudos to the film's casting directors, Dean E. Fronk, Donald Paul Pemrick and Edward D. Rea, for finding a girl who looks enough like Daphne Zuniga they're believable as mother and daughter) up from school that night since she'll be working too late on her own job to do so herself. Then we see a mysterious black van with an unseen driver following Dale on his way to work, blocking his way and forcibly taking him out of his own car. Anne doesn't know anything untoward has happened to her husband until that night, when Casey calls to tell her she's been waiting for an hour for dad to pick her up and he hasn't shown. Anne calls Dale's company — he owns his own business with a partner named Mel Davidson (David Lewis) and it's not quite clear what business they're in; at one point we're told it's a software company but later we see a warehouse full of hard goods — and it turns out Dale hasn't shown up for work either. Then Anne gets a video purporting to show Dale in the hands of a gravelly-voiced kidnapper — obviously he's running his voice through a filter so it can't be recognized — and she calls the police.

The police arrive in the person of a sheriff's deputy (the setting is an unincorporated town in Washington state — a common location for Lifetime movies since it's just south of British Columbia, Canada, and so the one can easily "play" the other) named Barry Matthews (Aaron Pearl), and there's an understated but powerful sexual attraction between him and Anne that becomes important later on in the plot. Only another law enforcer shows up, Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs agent Sarah Pullman (played by Johannah Newmarch with a perfect I-don't-give-a-hoot-about-people-skills attitude that's by far the best piece of acting in the film), and she and Matthews end up in an all-out jurisdictional war because she's been on the trail of Dale's and Mel's company for over a year as a front laundering money for Mexican drug cartels. She's convinced not only that both partners are in on it but Anne is too. Barry also has an associate on the case named Mike Ferrit (Christopher De-Schuster, a tall, gangly but really cute blond "twink" type), whom he busted for computer hacking and, like the folks on "CSI: Cyber," was able to avoid punishment by coming over to the other side and doing his hacking on behalf of law enforcement.

Though not exactly the freshest or most original movie ever made, "My Husband Is Missing" — actually filmed in 2015 under the odd working title "Abducted Love" (for once Lifetime's title department actually came up with a better title than the one it replaced!) — is coherent, makes sense and has a number of appealing characters we want to see prevail (though I was sorry to lose Mike well before the end), and the conflicts within the Bradshaw family, especially between mom and daughter, add credibility and nuance to the characterizations. There are also some artful touches in Jennifer Studer's script, particularly the home movie of the Bradshaws Anne and Casey re-view twice during the action — showing a banal but happy suburban existence that will be revealed by the end of the film as a lie — and the media feeding frenzy Casey ends up on the receiving end of after Mel leaks his video of Anne and Barry smooching to the local media. My Husband Is Missing is quality entertainment with something of a film noir feel, and it's definitely several cuts above the usual Lifetime fare!

Great plot but that is about it. The actors are so bad, I have no idea where to start. They shout at each other without cause even when on the same side. They hate on one another just because they want to. The reactions to EVERYTHING is so wrong! Just doesn't make sense at all. The husband/father gets kidnapped and wife/daughter act as though he is lost in a theme park! The worst cops on the planet! Pullman needs a slap, what the heck is her problem?! Overreacting, over exaggeration!

Just one star for this 1 Didnt like the movie Irritating plot with some worst actings.

I really wanted to like this film, considering the cast , both leading male/female actors are usuallly strong , capable actors, but I think they both struggled with this movie.

There are so many problems with the whole production and writing.

I mean, what detective will allow the wife of a missing person to accompany him to work and participate in the investigation?followed by a sleepover! What ?

The background music , meant to create "tension" , added with silly "jump scare" moments left me completely unimpressed and unconvinced.

Yes , I am being very harsh here, but for what could have been a decent enough thriller, has been ruined by cliched characters and a predictable and boring anti climatic ending.

Sorry but only a 4 rating from me.

A seemingly successful Washington state businessman is abducted in a van, tied to a chair and squirms for videos posted to his wife Daphne Zuniga (as Anne), a busy mom and dentist. Lonely lead investigator Aaron Pearl (as Barry Matthews) comforts Ms. Zuniga and her pretty 15-year-old daughter Nicole Munoz (as Casey). They wait for the inevitable request from hostage-takers. We learn about past infidelities and some unfortunate business practices associated with victim Robert Underwood (as Dale Bradshaw). His "high tech manufacturing" business partner David Lewis (as Mel Davidson) joins the distraught family in waiting to see what will happen to the missing man...

It's best not to try to figure out how this story develops because, most of the time, you will be correct and kill the suspense...

Zuniga is a fine performer and capable of subtle characterization. She is "acting" almost constantly herein, but this is the genre and she is on task. As the loyal business partner, Mr. Lewis shows similar skills. Contrasting them, leading investigator Pearl is positively stoic. His red-haired rival Johannah Newmarch (as Sarah Pullman) arrives midway to take over the case, concerned about Pearl becoming too chummy with Zuniga. With her pointed delivery and swinging medallion, Ms. Newmarch leaves an impression. In one of her scenes, a man pulls a cart before Newmarch appears. Clever...

The best character is the amusingly adorned young computer geek and fast-food eater Christopher De-Schuster (as Mike Ferrit)...

Writer Jennifer Studer's story might have been improved by having young daughter Munoz made a few years older and, perhaps, in college or living on her own. The opening could include a scene with her leaving, after a visit. She could reappear for the ending. This would give Zuniga's character an added sense of abandon. Having her alone in the house would add suspense. Director Brenton Spencer and his crew do especially well when Zuniga hears noises in the middle of the night. She leaves her bedroom, checks on her daughter (this part is weak and Munoz shouldn't move when the door opens), frighteningly moves down her staircase into the kitchen and grabs a knife. The lighting, camera angles and soundtrack are very effective.

**** My Husband Is Missing (10/1/2016) Brenton Spencer ~ Daphne Zuniga, Aaron Pearl, David Lewis, Christopher De-Schuster