Escape Clause

"Escape Clause", with MacCarthy at the center, is a whodunit with the look and feel of a low budget made-for-tv soap. Everything in this flick is too pat to be real which takes some of the umph out of the big climax at the end. Nonetheless, may be worth a watch for those into mysteries with nothing better to do on a rainy night. Catch this very ordinary flick on tv.

I gave 'Escape Clause' a go based purely on good word of mouth, but still had doubts this made for tv movie starring Andrew McCarthy and Paul Sorvino would actually be good. The wheels hadn't fallen off in the first half which was a good sign yet scenes requiring suspension of disbelief became more and more common the longer it went on as did the list of red herrings. The ending surprised me, but that doesn't mean getting there was a fun time.

Richard Ramsay (McCarthy) a self made man and insurance bigwig feels strain in relationship with wife Sarah (Kate McNeil). It doesn't help matters when a mystery man who's been stalking him then reaches out to reveal he's been hired by Sarah to do a hit, but can be bought off for more. When this hitman himself and then the wife turn up murdered, Lt. Farrand (Sorvino) has to figure out if Richard is guilty as the man himself starts looking at those closest to him.

Firmly a murder mystery whodunit with a minor in psychology it somehow has the ability to supply three doses of T&A (two from McNeil). McCarthy comes off fine outside of a trip to the morgue that produces an unintentional laugh while Sorvino has a role he can do in his sleep. Both no stranger to appearing in drab b-movies for a paycheck. Toronto, Canada has the honor of subbing in for the US for budgetary reasons which means you'll see Canadian faces in the supporting cast.

'Escape Clause' ultimately wore me out with its labyrinth of a plot that finds joy in making each and everyone seem like a potential suspect. One minute the wife is painted to be setting him up. Next she's dead and Richard seems to be slowly unraveling before our eyes. Throw in co-workers and horrible in-laws with motives too. Situations that could be resolved instantly if people actual spoke proper. This can't get a recommendation from me.

I was cajoled into watching this TV movie by the wife, who has very positive nostalgic memories of Andrew McCarthy (Mannequin, Pretty in Pink, St Elmo's Fire) and found it to be actually rather good.

It may not have the budget of The Usual Suspects, but it's intriguing none the less as the nice plot gradually plays out. Some of the whodunnits are very obvious, as McCarthy tries to piece together who killed his wife and why, like the supposed friend and work colleague or the father in law, but overall this is one worth sticking with to the end.

Good performance by the guy of The Sopranos and also look out for the laughingly titled magazine 'Dungeon Bitch' - used to put the colleague in the frame.

As long as you don't expect too much, you'll enjoy.

R

Dull, tedious, with a ridiculous ending.

The Ramsey curve indeed!

"Escape Clause" from 1996 is a low-budget film starring Andrew McCarthy, Kate McNeil, and Paul Sorvino.

McCarthy is Richard Ramsey, an insurance adjuster and quite well-known in the industry for the "Ramsey Curve" used by insurance companies. He seems to have a great sex life with his wife (McNeil), but out of bed, they have a few problems.

One day he receives a phone call from someone who says that Richard's wife hired him to murder him for $10,000. For $20,000, he'll forget about him.

When Richard finally goes to meet him, someone shoots the hit-man. Shortly afterward, his wife is found dead.

Richard finds himself under suspicion by the lead detective (Paul Sorvino) and tries to find out who is responsible for his situation. There are a few suspects, including his wife's best friend, who has always had a crush on Richard.

There is also a Japanese partner who works in the firm and seems to be the new golden boy. Meanwhile, his wife's parents are trying to get custody of his children.

I actually thought Andrew McCarthy was pretty good. The character is very volatile and erratic. You could easily see him going off the rails and killing his wife.

I could have used a little more back story.

Paul Sorvino is good as well. Kate McNeil has a great figure and shows it off.

The denouement of this movie is ridiculous. Just know what you're getting into before you watch it.