MOVIE REVIEW - One For The Money

Low expectations are many times a very good thing when going to a movie. Mine were low for this one, the new Katherine Heigl flick, One For The Money.

Heigl is lovely. Always has been. But my fear has been that she has done every charming, cutesy thing on screen she was ever gonna do. I always thought that was Meg Ryan's downfall. She, for the most part was doing the same thing over and over. We eventually quit yawning, and fell sound asleep, and never woke up. From my seat, Heigl has been on that same road. But this is a bit different, and that's a good thing.

Heigl plays Stephanie Plumb. She has just been fired from Macy's as a lingerie salesman, and somehow ends up being a bounty hunter. This all transpires in about 5 days. Then somehow she shuts down a huge crime ring, saves the day, and becomes somewhat of a local hero. It's all so tidy and nice. I didn't say that this story was anywhere near realistic, or good. But Heigl seems different somehow.

As charming as she can be, we get a whole lot less cute here. A whole lot less, "Oh gosh, gee whiz, I can be physically funny at times," and that's refreshing. Here Heigl is a bit more earthy, and real. Oh, there is still the obligatory, "I'm naked and watch me cover up awkwardly" moment. And there still is a bit of, "Gee willikers watch me bumble a bit." But far less. Heigl here is a brunette, she is costumed well, and someone has convinced her a bit of reinvention was in order.

One For The Money makes a few good decisions. It doesn't go for huge laughs from scene to scene. And it doesn't write its dialogue in punchlines. Heigl seems to be asked to be more real, and not more funny. And that's a good choice. She is blessed with being natually funny. Here it just comes to her without being asked to carry the day. To be fair, I was thinking this was maybe going to be the nail in the slowly closing coffin for her. But I was surprised.

No this is not great, but this is more of a real movie.as opposed to a Katherine Heigl gag real funny fest. For January, we can live with this. There are certainly worse flicks on the way.

One For The Money. Story is shakey, but that's not why one person is going to this movie. They want to see Heigl. And Heigl seems to have steadied a listing ship.