Movie Review: Circle Of Friends (2006)

Genre: Crime Drama  

Director: Stefan Pleszczynski  

Starring: Julie Benz, Chris Kramer, Venus Terzo  
Running Time: 89 minutes  

Synopsis: In Connecticut, thirtysomething Celia's murder is staged as an apparent suicide, shocking her friends-since-high-school. Dress designer Maggie (Julie Benz) is the one group member who refuses to believe the official cause of death. She starts to investigate and links Celia's demise to several other recent suspicious deaths, including Maggie's own husband. Maggie also finds time to rekindle a romance with first love Harry (Chris Kramer). Meanwhile, Susan (Venus Terzo) is another member of the group, and she is busy helping her husband's election campaign.

What Works Well: The romance scenes between Maggie and Harry generate some heat, and the incompetent token police detective who refuses to investigate an epidemic of suspicious deaths in his small toney middle class community approaches so-awful-he's-almost-funny levels.

What Does Not Work As Well: This Lifetime production lives well within its budget, and never threatens to rise above the worst definitions of plastic mediocrity. The inane plot, witless writing, and cringey acting are strictly confined to first draft, one take standards, and the "mystery" is easily solvable because no other alternatives are even remotely hinted at. What remains is an excruciating journey through talent-free terrain to arrive at a foregone conclusion.

Key Quote:

Maggie: You know, it took Celia's death to make me realize how happy I am to have you all in my life.

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