"One for the Money"
Fargo Theatre
Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual references and language, some drug material and partial nudity
89 minutes
1 star
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Stephanie (Katherine Heigl) lost her job selling lingerie at the Newark Macy's and just lost her car to the repo guys. She needs cash, or something, at least, to share with her dull, stereotypical blue-collar family. Loony granny (Debbie Reynolds) is the only one who understands.
So the hot lingerie saleswoman hits up a relative (Patrick Fischler) for a piece of his bail bond business, skiptracing folks who miss their court appearances and cost the bondsman money. She needs a big score, so she tackles killer cop Joe Morelli (Jason O'Mara), whose bond was pretty steep and whom she has history with.
Stephanie learns on the job, chasing Joe. Sometimes, he schools her. You're coming after a bad cop, you'd better bring cuffs and a gun. More often, she's taught by a commando-like bounty hunter who likes to be called "Ranger" (Daniel Sunjata), a potentially fun character who sets off no sparks in the story or with Stephanie.
The skiptracer movie based on the book by Janet Evanovich skips back and forth as Stephanie stumbles into asking questions about Joe's case, befriending hookers, calling in old favors from cops she grew up with and the like. There's a menacing mixed martial arts star, a best friend she only meets by phone and a lot of blander-than-bland narration.
