Movie Review: One for the Money

One for the Money
Scheduled for release in the US on January 27, 2012
Directed by Julie Anne Robinson
Written by Stacy Sherman , Karen Ray and Liz Brixius (screenplay ) and Janet Evanovich (novel)



Presented by Lionsgate and Lakeshore Entertainment
A Lakeshore Entertainment - Lionsgate - Wendy Finerman production in association with  Sidney Kimmell Entertainment - Abishag Productions.

This film stars Katherine Heigl as a woman who has lost everything: her husband, her job, her apartment and her money. After getting laid off working at Macys as the lingerie department supervisor, she is finding it difficult to get a job. That is until she talks her cousin Vinny into letting her work for him - in the recovery department of his bail bonds business.

This movie was well acted. The characters of Stephanie Plum (Katherine Heigl) as a bounty hunter & Joe Morelli ( Jason O'Mara) as the police officer on the lamb she needs to turn in to get $50,000 were very believable and there was a lot of charisma between them. . Daniel Sunjata as Ranger created a very strong handsome mentor/guardian angel character that is very likable. John Leguizamo as Jimmy Alpha  is a little toned down from other characters he has portrayed, however he does shine throgh at the end. Sherri Shepherd did a terrific job as Lula, a prostitute who helps Plum unravel a mystery. Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur was an exceptional character both endearing and a bit annoying at the same time.

This movie is part romantic comedy, part action adventure, part murder mystery and part crime drama.
The characters are well developed and the movement steady. There is not mch that does not happen for a reason & no dead silence moments. Some of the lines & situations tend to seem a bit contrived, but there is also an air of fantasy over all so it all "works" for the movie. As the movie progresses and the story develops things become complex. There is a bit of  mis-direction in the character and story development. One minute you are watching a cute little comedy & the next people are being shot at. As a matter of fact, there is a lot of shooting, beating & killing in this movie. If you enjoy romantic comedy/action/adventure movies like Bird on a Wire or Jewell of the Nile you should like this one.