Well Deserved Praise

Am I Missing Something?

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

"Engaged to Kill" from 2006 is a Lifetime movie made in Canada, starring Joe Lando, Dominic Zamprogna, Maria Del Mar, and Katherine Isabelle.Based on a true story, the pediatrician wife, Abby (Del Mar) of a businessman Robert Lord (Lando) is kidnapped, and the ransom demand is a million dollars. Somehow overnight, Lord manages to get the money. He won't call in the police. Meanwhile, Abby Lord is assured by Sally (Daniella Evangelista), the girlfriend of her captor that all they want is the money; her boyfriend is taking her to Hawaii for their wedding. Abby realizes that she's going to be killed, even if Sally believes every word this guy tells her. When she sees a chance to escape, she takes it, but Sally is killed.The captor blames Abby for his girlfriend's death and moves in on the family, hurting their finances still more while he's seducing Abby's and Robert's daughter.All pretty obvious. I watched this because General Hospital's Dominic Zamprogna was in it, a few years before he joined the show. He does well as a real sleaze.I found this okay. I make fun of Lifetime movies, but they're a way to escape and relax. They're not hokey like Hallmark films, and though derivative and predictable, somehow you keep watching.

I probably should just desist from commenting on this flick. The few previous comments which commend it have high approval marks from those accessing them, except for the one from overseas, which was 0-for-11 previously.However, I caught this film on a Friday after a pretty hectic week, and with a busy weekend approaching, so just laid back for a couple of hours mid-day.I did miss the kidnapping portion, but not difficult to infer what had occurred there, and with other comments - and was understandable that family would be a bit spooked and on-edge following.Still, there wasn't a single character with whom I could empathize or sympathize, and the twerp who entered their lives as the obnoxious daughter's love interest (Nick) was too insipid for me believe him capable of his chicanery. The lead couple, including "Abby," who was commended elsewhere, were a weak pair.And the whole nonsense regarding the financial transactions, the compromising of the father's credit card via internet poker, the ease with which Abby's reputation as a physician was besmirched, was all presented on the level of the silliest of soap opera fare.The back-and-forth emotional exchanges among the family members, in every possible one-on-one combination, or en masse, were also on the level of those seen in the weakest "soap" episodes.The snail's pace with which the police finally got some hard information was unbelievable - even given the ineptitude of the cops on most Lifetime fare.By the time things got to the inevitable 10 minutes or so of climax and revelation, I don't see how anyone could possibly care.(If you wished to insert something illustrating an example of the word "schlep" in a time capsule for future generations, a DVD of this flick would suffice. These folks - without exception - schlepped around throughout this story, from beginning to end.)The only thing raising this presentation from 1* to 2 is that the quality of production was better than most.

I watched Engaged to Kill while I was traveling, and happened upon it while channel surfing in my hotel room. I quickly became engrossed in the plot, and enjoyed the suspense, and this movie was SUSPENSEFUL, beginning to end. The fact that it was based on a true story prompted me to do a bit of Googling about the real-life story.The cast was recognizable, which was what initially caught my eye. The storyline was well planned, and the end was very satisfying. It's on again on June 11, and since I watched on a crummy hotel T.V. I plan to watch it again. Engaged to Kill was better than most T.V. movies. I enjoyed it.

Though based on a true story according to the credits, this riveting thriller (not a mystery) contains a few fanciful elements. When Robert Lord's wife, Abby, is kidnapped, he quickly raises one million dollars for the abductors. He and his son, Corey, deliver the money to a specified location. The kidnappers consist of a pair of lovers, Crawford Blake and Sally. Obviously the entire ploy is Blake's idea. Naive Sally believes all the lies Blake has told her about using the money for a honeymoon in Hawaii after safely releasing Abby. Driving a van with Sally and a restrained Abby in back, Blake is on his way to find a convenient spot to kill Abby. Abby becomes sympathetic to Sally's plight, realizing that she is being used by Blake for his nefarious deeds. She is able to escape but in the process Sally is accidentally killed. Apparently, Blake really did love Sally for now, even with the million dollars, he plots Abby's demise getting close to her daughter, Maddy. Blake becomes engaged in order to kill.The story is well plotted, even becoming somewhat complicated at times. There is suspense and thrills aplenty provided by director Matthew Hastings that puts this made-for-TV film above the average. There is not much humor included that would have eased the tension somewhat which makes for intense viewing. Since it is TV, the commercials may actually assist in giving a break from the intensity of the drama.A major weakness concerns believability. Of modest means considering the life style presented, Robert Lord is able to raise one million dollars in just a few hours by putting his house, his cars, and his small business up for collateral. A close banking friend is able to swing the loan for him. When the friend disappears mysteriously, his character is virtually dropped from the story, almost as if his murder is not significant. There are also several other parts of the story that are difficult to accept as presented in the film.The movie closes with a clever line by Maddy. As Blake is being led away, she coldly looks him in the eye and exclaims, "Aloha!"