Jane Doe: The Harder They Fall (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Lea Thompson

Writers:

Dean Hargrove (creator)
Ethlie Ann Vare (written by)

Release Date:

4 March 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Family | Mystery

Plot:

Jane Doe investigates the murder of an international business mogul. |

Cast

Lea Thompson	...	Cathy Davis
Joe Penny	...	Frank Darnell
William R. Moses	...	Jack Davis
Jessy Schram	...	Susan Davis
Zack Shada	...	Nick Davis
Dorian Harewood	...	Jim Monroe
Helen Slater	...	Stella Andre
Randy Vasquez	...	Daniel Vasquez
Christopher Gartin	...	Doug Maynard
Jo Champa	...	Frances DeStefano
Stewart Finlay-McLennan	...	Tom Shaunessy
David Groh	...	Melville Horning
Muse Watson	...	Captain Barnes
Erica Gimpel	...	Margaret Monroe
Bob Clendenin	...	Dr. Edelstein (as Robert Clendenin)

Runtime:

USA:120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hallmark Entertainment

Movie Connections:

Follows Jane Doe: Yes, I Remember It Well (2006) (TV)

Tame film carries solid material to hold it through.

We can't expect something extreme from the Hallmark Channel, nor can we expect anything decent from modern Hollywood. That said, one can only agree that you must do well with what you're given, and this films case, it proves to be true. We don't have a real blockbuster when it comes to watching films produced by the Hallmark Channel. Most of their films are family friendly, and interest only the more soft of audiences. Still, I suppose some of those telefilms are decent enough to tolerate, if given the right production values and proper treatment in post-production. This film, certainly deserves a look.

Hallmark has a film series of "Jane Doe" films. I had not idea, or ever cared before, until the films premiere last night. I certainly adore some of Lea Thompsons work, so watching her is always interesting, if not curious. This latest installation of the mystery television films finds a woman, named Cathy, who has a secret life of solving crimes while away from the suburbs. She has no real desire to return to the field, until tricky crimes plague a group of associates in a stock company. Now, she must team up with her partner, Frank.

Lea Thompson is a real nice performer, and as a director she goes far enough, but her light subject material makes the film somewhat fluffy and tame. Nothing is wrong with that, but mysteries should be dark too. This film was dark, and appropriate. As I said, it was done well with what it had. The cinematography is done well enough, even for a family television movie. Lea Thompson shows how cutsie tootsie she still is, with a light, humorous comedy with little twists around every corner. The co-stars work quite well, however the matter of William R Moses as the husband character in films like this is all to predictable and familiar. The glue for the film, however, is as firm as the earth stands, when viewing another terrific performance by the always remarkable, absolutely exquisite Helen Slater.

Slaters' appearance in a full-length film is the first in 2 years, so having the opportunity to watch the first airing was good enough. Quite easily over-looked, this film is a nice piece of something simple for fans of the like.