A Truly Wonderful TV Movie of the week

Rating: 7/10 (30 April 2004)

John Wayne always played John Wayne, Cary Grant always played Cary Grant. When they had the right vehicle, there was magic. Well, Kevin Spacey almost always plays Kevin Spacey, and in this instance, his magic virtually carries the show.
Here Spacey appears as a disillusioned middle-aged middle class male who takes stock of his wasted life after developing an obsession for the sexy, if under-aged, best friend of his own fairly unpleasant and annoying daughter. Mena Suvari does a great job as Angela, the the flirty object of Spacey's lust, deftly placing layers of character on what is at first glance a one-dimensional slut.
Thora Birch is as resoundingly spoiled and hostile as teens with everything are supposed to be. She falls for Ricky, the new neighbor boy from a military family in which every member, including him, is insane. Wes Bentley does a chilling job as this repressed and measured psychopath.
The film is beautifully filmed and scored, and well written, if just a bit too slowly paced. Oddly, it seems to owe a great deal to "The Ref".
The major bring-down here is the hammy, off the wall, and embarrassing performance of Annette Bening, one of Hollywood's most over-rated actresses. It is almost painful when she is on the screen, despoiling this otherwise excellent production.
Remove a few seconds of nudity, sexual activity, and hard language, and you have a really wonderful TV Movie of the Week!