Flirting with Danger

This is a TV movie; even the sequence transitions will tell you that. So you can't expect another "Basic Instinct" here: the erotic parts are tame, and the direction has little cinematic style. The movie clearly counts on its plot and its actors to maintain your interest; the plot does, but it's nothing brilliant (there are, after all, only two suspects for the killings), apart maybe from the killing method, which is indeed quite unique. The actors are clearly the best thing about "Flirting With Danger", and provide some eye-candy (for both sexes). Charisma Carpenter, one of the most uniquely beautiful actresses out there, with a smile that's at once sweet and naughty, plays the main suspect / love interest for the hero James Thomas, and Victoria Sanchez gives an appealing and believable performance as his childhood friend who may have deeper feelings for him. Despite his dilemma (or should that be trilemma - Karen Cliché is also around, as the other suspect), Thomas is a lucky man - but will he live long enough to enjoy his luck? You probably know the answer to that one, but "Flirting With Danger" is still an OK way to pass 90 minutes. (**)

Enjoyed this TV film and the great acting, romance and mystery involved with so many men getting bumped off. Chrisma Carpenter,(Laura Clifford),"Angel TV series,'99'-'03", took one look at James Thomas,(Rafe Marino) and fell madly in love and had some very torrid scenes together. This romance took James's mind off his recent loss, however, the police were starting to question James and his old friend from the past, Victoria Sanchez,(Gloria Moretti),"Noel",'04, who was a police officer, comes to his aid. You could almost see that Victoria was also very attracted to James, however, James just did not seem the gleam in her eyes or her attractive body. This film entertained and is worth your time to view it the next time it appears on TV. Enjoy

I had some outdoor activity delayed by a heavy rain, so flipped-on t.v. just as this movie was beginning.

In the first few minutes, when the main four characters (James Thomas (Rafe); Victoria Sanchez (Gloria); Charisma Carpenter (Laura); and Karen Cliché (Ellen) were all introduced on-screen, one thought immediately came to mind.

I remembered a funny scene in "Everybody Loves Raymond." Peter Boyle, as Ray's Dad is talking to Robert Culp, who played Ray's father-in-law. I think it was the show where Culp and wife had separated, but he appeared at a family gathering with an older, plain new girlfriend, rather than a younger "trophy" type which everybody was expecting.

Talking with him while the women elsewhere, Boyle's "Frank" character expressed to Culp his puzzlement and curiosity about the reason for this surprising choice. He noted Culp was a good-looking guy, and then said something like "You've got a full set of teeth, AND THEN SOME."

Robert Culp has always been one of these people with a pleasant appearance, along with a set of prodigious choppers, impossible to ignore.

Well, the four leads in this flick must have four of, say, the other 49 among the top 50 or so sets of teeth in the country, and perhaps the world. All of them are handsome specimens and there is more ivory flashing across the screen than you'll find in a documentary about elephant herds.

Among the mysterious Laura, his old friend (who'd like to be more), Gloria, as well as the equally-attractive Ellen (to provide to the mystery) - James Thomas/Rafe has one of the better gigs ever presented to a male lead.

As a "Lifetime" presentation, with personnel a bit down the chain from Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, Glenn Close, etc., as well as budget and production constraints, we wouldn't expect this to rival "Fatal Attraction," "Basic Instinct," and the like. It is, perhaps, the "poor man's version" of these.

But it does present a far more attractive cast and a bit better quality scenery than typical of the Lifetime genre, and there are worse ways to spend a couple of hours on a rainy day, awaiting the weather to clear.

After his handsome friend "Tommy" dies unexpectedly from heart failure, likewise handsome lawyer James Thomas (as Rafe Marino) suspects foul play. More otherwise healthy young men die in their hot tubs (but one victim who doesn't fit the mold). Often showing off his muscular chest for the camera, Mr. Thomas meets ultra-sexy Charisma Carpenter (as Laura Clifford). Her chest is the feminine match for his, and they are quickly smacking. Meanwhile, Mr. Thomas uncovers more facts about serial heart failures, with help from childhood lover Victoria Sanchez (as Gloria Moretti), now a police detective. Other beautiful women include aroused tennis club blonde Karen Cliché (as Ellen Antonelli). It figures.

The accent on Cliché isn't mine.

**** Flirting with Danger (2/13/06) Richard Roy ~ James Thomas, Charisma Carpenter, Victoria Sanchez, Karen Cliché

It's more than just a rainy day's fun. The plot's tight, the characters look good, the locales are excellent and there's more. Carpenter's 'talents' have been totally wasted however. Victoria Sanchez looks very credible in her role as a longtime friend. James Thomas as the male lead does a good job.

The key thing for me was that as a murder mystery, every other scene did not have blood and gore. That part was handled elegantly, I thought. As a relationship drama, the dialogs were well written and rather credible. The steamy scenes were probably designed to be a grade schooler's delight, I guess.

It's much better than a typical Lifetime flick.