‘One For the Money’

1.5/5 Popcorns

Something must be said for Katherine Heigl’s determination to transition successfully from television to the big screen. Since appearing in Judd Apatow’s ‘Knocked Up’ in 2007, she worked tirelessly to transform into America’s next sweetheart.

She has mostly succeeded. Shouldering a substantial chunk of Hollywood’s romantic comedies, she played lead roles in movies such as ‘The Ugly Truth,’ ’27 Dresses’ and ‘Life As We Know It.’ Though not particularly iconic like ‘Pretty Woman’ or thoughtful like ‘Annie Hall,’ they efficiently established Heigl as an occasional box office drop in.

However, none of these movies have fully showcased Heigl’s moderate acting capability. No longer the dramatic actress who won an Emmy for her performance on television’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ she has opted for a career trajectory of one mediocre ‘comedy’ after another.

Maybe this explains why Heigl agreed to star in her most recent movie, ‘One for the Money.’ Based on the first book in Janet Evanovich’s popular 18-volume series, the project ought to have the potential to become a franchise. It should certainly have boosted her career. And by also taking on the role of executive producer, she seemed dedicated to making herself a bona fide movie star.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the movie to make that happen. After spending more than a decade in development hell, ‘One for the Money’ will likely fail to see a sequel, much less an entire franchise. You can’t deny the daringness in stepping out of her comfortable romantic comedy tropes. But Heigl makes an almost lateral movement into the action-comedy genre, one she already butchered with her Ashton Kutcher collaboration, ‘Killers.’

With a brown wig and a dowdy wardrobe, Heigl plays protagonist Stephanie Plum. Recently having lost her job selling lingerie at Macy’s, she turns to her bail bondsman cousin for a job as a bounty hunter. She is tasked with bringing in Joe Morelli (Jason O’Mara), a potentially murderous cop who incidentally relieved Plum of her virginity years ago — without the decency of calling her back, of course. Cue Heigl’s best sassy face.

This sets up the rest of the movie. Plum predictably lets her attraction to Morelli distract her from the task of getting him into custody. Even when she has him at gunpoint, she’s somehow seduced into backing down and — surprise — letting him get away. If only Plum were a smarter protagonist, this movie could have been more palpable at a shorter runtime.

Alas, we’re subjected to a nearly two-hour showcase of actors with fake Jersey accents who look like they’re dying on the inside. Heigl looks perpetually lost, devoid of the spunk and wit that makes Plum such a compelling, if not campy, literary heroine. Instead, there’s a sense that she would rather be anywhere else, even more so when she’s on-screen with O’Mara. For two ex-flames, Heigl and O’Mara lack the chemistry needed for their lusty game of cat-and-mouse.

For an action-comedy, ‘One for the Money’ comes up short on both ends. The movie fails in its attempt at straddling tension and laughter, resulting in a story that feels carelessly rushed and haphazard. The only suspense comes from wondering when the movie will end, and the only laughter comes from witnessing its deterioration until it reaches that point. It might even be a smarter move to watch Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler’s similarly plotted ‘The Bounty Hunter’ instead.

 Heigl recently expressed her interest in returning to ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ drawing skepticism from fans who denounced her eagerness to leave the show in the first place. But if it keeps her from releasing movies like ‘One for the Money,’ a return to television might be a smart choice after all.

dataroy@syr.edu

Published on February 1, 2012 at 12:00 pm