Random Encounter

As thrillers go, "Random Encounter" is fairly routine overall. Numerous holes in the story harm this film the most. Some of the holes leave the viewer wondering what happened. A little better writing would have helped. A few original twists elevate it somewhat. Some decent photography and acting elevate the film even more. Joel Wyner is reasonably convincing as the treacherous Kyle Jones. His main problem is that compared to Elizabeth Berkley he is a shrimp. Elizabeth Berkley is as beautiful as ever and does a nice job as the PR exec Allie Keller. She does look a little young for the character she plays but she is never-the-less convincing. No one should have a problem with her performance. This is a nice film for Elizabeth Berkley fans and also for thriller & suspense enthusiasts but should be of interest to others as well. It is worth the watch and I'd say better than average.

You never know what you're going to get when you tune in a thriller late at night on a cable channel. This one turned out to be better than most. Elizabeth Berkley plays a fast-rising PR executive who meets a stranger at a party she's throwing for her company and goes home with him. This action has all sorts of unintended consequences that keep getting worse and worse as the film progresses.

This movie passes a couple of big tests for the thriller genre. One is that it stays suspenseful, almost engrossing, all the way through. Another is that you won't spend all your time second-guessing the script, saying "Would he or she really have done that?"--even when you could.

Count me out when it comes to Berkley-bashing. This isn't 'Showgirls;' she's very good in her part. It's unfortunate that some people have such a knee-jerk negative reaction to her since she appeared in that other movie and don't judge her on her own merits. It might also be noted here that she gives a convincing and competent performance in 'Random Encounter' without taking her clothes off.

I've read the other reviews of this film with some interest in their

diversity of opinions. Those who questioned Berkley's range as an

actress must not have seen "Showgirls (1995)." In that movie she

played Nomi Malone,a slutty, low-class-to-the-bone, dancing star

wannabe. I see a lot of contrast here, especially in her formal,

dress-up scenes. In "Any Given Sunday (1999)," she played a little

different role, Mandy Murphy, a sexy cocktail party seductress,

trying to hit on Al Pacino. "That's ok, I like older men,"...or

something like that. I must admit that I haven't seen her as a WWF

girl or a mud wrestling scene, for that matter. But I hope that kind of

stuff is not required to establish "range."

What kept my attention during "Random Encounter" was the

almost Hitchcockian plot, complete with surprise ending (surprise

to me, anyway). Although the clues were scattered throughout the

movie, it was late in the film when I figured out "who dunnit."

This film also reminded me of the Jag Mundhra film "Sexual Malice

(1994)," in which Diana Barton plays a role similar to Berlkey's in

"Random Encouner."

I think it is one of the best of its genre. (But since I'm the only

person on my block who refuses to watch "reality tv" and recent

Coors commercials, don't trust my taste.)

Since 1995 Elizabeth Berkley has graduated -- entering the group of actors & actresses who can deliver a dramatic message convincingly. In "Random Encounter" -- unfortunately made for cable only -- she shows the range of acting capacity that is the trademark of the professional mature actress. High marks for her performance here! -- let's hope that she gets her break with this film.

Oh sweet sweet Jesse Spano, how I love you. Elizabeth Berkley is one fine babe. If she were a president, she'd be Babe-raham Lincoln. This movie wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. The beginning is cool, when she's wearing that one hot dress hanging over her fine body when she meets the guy who frames her. The whole beginning of the film is fairly interesting, but then goes downhill after that and I stopped paying attention.