Living with the Enemy

Just wrote a worthy review only for to to disappear. I felt like i was watching an 1980s midday movie as an adaptation of a bad mills n boon novel. Every character predictable down to every word of dialogue. Nonsensical in that the wife had stable hand prep horse, almost got caught but created a distraction then ran off on foot?!??! Absolute garbage despite sort of ok acting, this movie is reserved for bored housewives while bub is taking their midday nap. I think after 5 minutes i could have written the remaining script myself. Yah it had a "twist" but that too was predictable and tedious. Sorry but if i marry a billionaire i am not interested in digging into his past who gives a flying.... enjoy the ride.

"Living With The Enemy" is a modern Cinderella story gone horribly wrong. When a pretty and decent journalist accompanies her boss to interview a reclusive Bill Gates type, she gets more than she could ever have dreamed out of the initial encounter. But billion dollar fortunes aren't made on hugs, and the more the main character gets involved with this world, the more confusing things become for her until she doesn't know who to trust. I'm a big fan of thrillers and the evocative and balanced storytelling by writer Alexandra Komisaruk and Phillipe Gagnon in this film kept me guessing. A nice twist on the theme of, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. Sarah Lancaster was a good choice for the lead - more depth than the usual heroine, with girl next door looks in some scenes and more sparkle in others. Overall, a good bet!

LIVING WITH THE ENEMY

A kid is using the computers at a library. He is then killed outside, in a hit-and-run. Who was he? What was he doing? Why was he using an anonymous computer to do it? And who would want to kill him for it?

At a technology conference, Allison Conner (played by Sarah Lancaster) is trying to get her boss, Bev Wallach, (played by Maxim Roy) a meeting with tech billionaire, Phillip Lauder (played by Mark Humphrey). Allison is having no luck, until she meets a mysterious, handsome man while jogging. He says his name is "Paul," but she soon discovers he is Phillip Lauder. He proceeds to sweep her off her feet, but is he to good to be true?

Philip wants to recruit a hacker named Carl Branch (played by Max Kubiak), but Branch thinks 'Cobalt', (Lauder's company) is evil, and wants to start his own company. He's then knifed to death in an alley. What's the connection?

AFTER they're married, Allison googles her now husband (yes, I said after), and finds out his previous wife was kidnapped, tortured and murdered, even after Philip paid a 50 million dollar ransom. She's also surprised by all the security and precautions. Why didn't he tell her? Shouldn't she now be suspicious?

She meets her irascible "sister-in-law" Tanya (played by Susan Glover), who supposedly used to work at Cobalt until she burned out, and now runs Philip's stables. She's less than friendly, and tells Allison, the staff is here to serve you, not be your friend. She's clearly trying to isolate Allison, but why?

The FBI "kidnaps" Allison, to tell her, Monique (Philip's first wife who was kidnapped and killed) was using info she'd obtained about Cobalt to get out of her pre-nup. Then she ended up dead. They want Allison to get dirt on her husband, and they threaten her with prosecution if she doesn't.

WHAT WORKS: *Sarah Lancaster as Allison Conner Lauder does a good job of playing the naive girl from Idaho. They take her naivete too far, but she embodies the character well.

WHAT DOESN'T WORK: *I get whirlwind romances, but it's very hard to believe that after 1 jogging date, 1 regular date, and a roll in the hay, that a billionaire would propose to basically a total stranger. He would need time to check her out, and get a prenup etc. It's also very hard to believe that she wouldn't think he's damaged in some way by moving this fast. I wouldn't be saying this if they had shown a montage of them together for a week or two. But proposing marriage after 48 hours is not believable on either side, no matter what his alternative motives are, or how naive she is.

*She waits to Google her husband until after they're married? She's surprised by all the security precautions, or the fact that the head of a billion dollar tech company would be gone a lot? This is supposed to be believable? This girl got a full ride scholarship, and was going to graduate Suma, but we're supposed to believe she's this air headed?

*The FBI "kidnaps" Allison. They throw her into a van, and drive her to a parking garage. I don't believe the FBI would do anything that stupid, they would approach her another way. What if she'd had survival training, or a gun? Things could have turned bad fast, and would be embarrassing for them, if not downright illegal. They threaten her with "criminal charges", but then remind her she's only known him a month?! What CRIMINAL CHARGES?! RIDICULOUS! Side note: In many states, martial privilege is as sacrosanct as ecclesiastical privilege. It CANNOT be superceded, so this whole plot point is acinine.

*There's A LOT of deus ex machina here. Keys being found too easily, websites written down, just where Allison can find it, etc. ATTENTION WRITERS: There's a game called "Can You?" Can you write a better, MORE believable plot point? Write 10, and pick the best one, the most believable, DON'T take the easy way out.

TO RECOMMEND OR NOT TO RECOMMEND, THAT IT THE QUESTION: As Made-For-TV movies go, this is one I'd suggest you give a pass to. There are so many quality Made-For-TV movies, and vintage Movies-of-the-Week out there, there's no need to waste your time on this one.

CLOSING NOTES: *This is a Made-For-TV movie, please keep that in mind before you watch\rate it. TV movies have a much lower budget, and so your expectations should be adjusted.

*I have no connection to the film, or production in ANY way. I am just an honest viewer, who wishes for more straight forward reviews. Hope I helped you out.

Allison Conner (Sarah Lancaster) attends a conference with her boss Bev. She meets a nice guy in Phillip Lauder (Mark Humphrey) who turns out to be the multi-billionaire that Bev is trying to land. He quickly proposes. It's a big transition as she lives under her new husband's security. His previous wife Monique was kidnapped for ransom and killed. There seems to be more to the story. The FBI blackmails her to co-operate in their investigation into Phillip. More people are getting killed and suspicions are raised on all sides.

Like a lot of these movies, the production is not rich enough to portray a billionaire's life. As for the story itself, there are lots of questionable turns. The first odd note struck is Bev. I don't understand her feeling towards the new relationship unless she already knew something from the start. For normal business, Allison would be a great way to get in the door. There are strange occurrences like the FBI pulling her off the street throwing her into a van. It's done for drama but it's overly done. There are many things happening that are unreal. If security is so tight, Phillip would insists on a constant bodyguard for Allison. There are characters that I'm not sure who they are supposed to be. I know they work for the company but I'm not sure as what. The acting is fine for a TV movie. There are worst. The 'mystery' is functional enough to keep a small amount of interest.

Loved the movie, however would like to know why there are 4 different versions. I personally liked the 3rd version where Allison in the end did not look so completely distrusting, especially as Philip owned up to never having killed anyone. Also would have liked to see a reconciliation scene where the two of them allow their feelings to show for one another. Riding off in the sunlight was nice, but come on, think about it! After all that has happened to both of them don't you think a little more should have been offered. I would also have liked seeing Tanya packing and leaving. I noticed that this movie is not yet so sale through the 'Lifetime" network. Is it because out of the 4 versions, one has not yet be confirmed?