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For many of her faithful fans, author Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels have become more obsession than casual interest. Each year, when the latest installment hits shelves, fans flock to their favorite store (that is, if they haven’t pre-ordered the book months in advance) to see where the best-selling author will take her bumbling bounty hunter next. For months, then, those same devoted fans have been eagerly anticipating the premiere of the film adaptation of the first book in the series, One for the Money—a film that generally lives up to the novels’ guilty pleasure status.
Katherine Heigl stars as Stephanie Plum, a down-and-out Jersey girl who’s struggling to pay the rent after losing her job selling lingerie at Macy’s. Desperate for work, she looks to her creepy cousin Vinnie (Patrick Fischler) for help. But while she shows up looking for a filing job at Vinnie’s bail bonds office, she ends up picking up a couple of skips instead.
Stephanie’s first big case involves tracking Joe Morelli (Jason O’Mara), a cop who failed to appear in court after being accused of murdering an unarmed man. Not only would Stephanie get $50,000 for bringing him in, but she’d also get the pleasure of taking down the guy who broke her heart in high school—so it seems like a no-brainer. But Joe’s busy trying to prove his innocence, and he has no intention of letting a rookie bounty hunter get in his way.
Fans of the kooky crime series know exactly what to expect from One for the Money: a madcap crime-fighting adventure, loaded with strange scenarios and over-the-top characters. And that’s exactly what they’ll get. Like the book on which it’s based, the film is anything but subtle. Instead, it’s shamelessly screwball—with elderly nudists, hungry hookers, wacky witnesses, and poultry-shooting grandmas—making it come off a bit like a goofy ‘70s sitcom. It definitely requires a silly sense of humor—so if you walk into the theater expecting a serious crime thriller, you’ll walk out seriously perplexed. But if you’re just expecting a brainless laugh or two, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Unfortunately, the film is plagued by questionable casting. Though he’s supposed to be an Italian Stallion through and through, O’Mara’s Morelli is a little too Irish Hunk. And Daniel Sunjata turns sexy, scary, and silent Ranger into a kind-hearted (and surprisingly talkative) pal. Others—like Sherri Shepherd as queen-sized hooker Lula or Debbie Reynolds as wild and crazy Grandma Mazur—seem like strange choices. Yet, for the most part, the characters—no matter how strangely cast—will eventually grow on you. Despite her often painfully forced New Jersey accent, Heigl is surprisingly lovable as Stephanie Plum. In fact, when you consider that she’s starred in movies like Life as We Know It and The Ugly Truth, it could very well be one of her most oddly endearing (or at least least obnoxious) roles yet.
Of course, One for the Money is far from perfect. The story is rather scattered and the overused narration is guaranteed to get on your nerves. But, then again, Evanovich’s novels aren’t exactly works of literary art, either. They’re simply brainless, silly adventures—just like the movie. So if you love the books, you’ll enjoy the movie, too.
