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Overall Rating : 3.5/10
Directed By : Douglas Jackson
Linda Purl (Happy Days (TV) )
Linden Ashby (Wild Things 2)
Shannon Sturges (S.W.A.T.)
Brent Donnelly
Supplied By : Lionsgate Films
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Jun. 22, 2006
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| PLOT She would kill to have a husband and children. Following a car crash that claims her sister's life, Laci is dead set on making this dream come true. Offering to help her handsome brother-in-law care for his kids, she moves into their home - with no intention of ever moving out. But when this twisted sister - in - law learns the man she loves is planning to marry another woman, she vows to stop the wedding - even if it ends in a funeral or two. |
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| THE REVIEW Following the death of her sister Carrie in a horrible accident, Laci moves in to aid her brother-in-law, with the care of his kids. Prior to this, Laci had been taking care of her mother and always admired the life of her sister, saying she couldn't have the glamorous life that Carrie has with a handsome husband and children - because she had given up her life to care for her sick mother. Moving in with Richard is her chance to have that life she had dreamed of all of these years - But when a new lady enters Richard's life Laci begins to lose all control and does anything to secure a future with Richard - utilizing lies and malicious actions. I didn't think i'd ever say this in a review, but, yes I am reviewing a Lifetime Channel movie! I often compare some movies I review to those that air on Lifetime, but this is the real deal. MAID OF HONOR plays out a bit like a soap opera, complete with over dramatized events and an outrageous story, that is somewhat exaggerated for shock and impact. The character of Laci is so out there at times, that you try to persuade yourself into thinking that people like this really don't exist, but in today's world, if you turn on a news store such as a Dateline NBC, you are bound to hear a story very similar. At the beginning of the film towards the middle, Linda Purl really pulls you into her character, you believe that she's really deranged. But as most of these Lifetime, or any TV films usually go, towards the end the character gets a little too over dramatic, and to me the character of Laci loses her edge in my opinion. In the film, Lacey stops at nothing to try and win the heart of Richard her brother in law, and the measures she takes to do so, often get cheesy - Nicole is allergic to peanuts, so what does Laci do? She switches bridal shower cakes, the one she serves up to the bride to be is made with peanuts....... that's the oldest trick in the book.... Throughout the entire film, it's just a see-saw battle, consisting mostly of Laci persuading the kids, teenaged Mollie and young Danny, that Nicole, their new Mommy hates them and wants their Aunt Laci to move out and blah blah, it gets repetitive and old. Towards the end, the film has a big set up where Mollie finds out the truth about Laci and tells her dad, as the catch Laci in the act of trying to smother Nicole at the hospital - this leaves crazy Laci to run from the building but not before declaring her love for Richard - in the end we believe Laci jumped off of a bridge. But as predicted, she shows up again and fights Nicole in one final showdown. The film takes a lot of in close shots of the actor's faces, I guess this is a standard for TV films that I just never really noticed, and it feels kind of awkward examining it. Overall, like I said, MAID OF HONOR plays just like a soap opera, and is definitely a "chick flick". |
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| GORE
METER 1.5/10 a bloody head, hand, and stab wound is all a remember, for a TV movie.....a Lifetime one at that, I wasn't expecting much anyway. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 2.5/10 The score is typical and generic, nothing unique or special. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM Overall, this film is very tame and sappy, and to be honest, I wouldn't see many guys liking this, eventhough Danni Kind, the daughter is kind of cute....... it's decent at times, but as i've said, way too dramatic. I would hardly recommend this one. |
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