Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

I have great admiration for the Prime Suspect series. These highly acclaimed BBC series' do an admirable job of accurately portraying the police force, not just in the crimes they investigate and solve, but also in the backroom political maneuvering you never read about. The series' always avoided the cliches you generally see in Hollywood (eg. shootouts, dramatic showdowns etc.) in favour of gritty realism.

At least the first few did. After Lynda La Plante left the series after #3, it's been mostly downhill. Subsequent entries have their pluses and minuses, but are nowhere near as groundbreaking as the originals. Only #6 in my opinion comes anywhere close.

'Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act' is one of the worst entries in my opinion. Much of this entry revolves not around the case, which is moderately interesting, but around Jane Tennison's drunken self-pity. Furthermore, JT ends up making a lot of mistakes and behaving in ways that I thought were completely out of character.

Teetering on the brink of retirement, aging DSI Jane Tennison(Helen Mirren) finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation when a young high school girl, Sallie Sturdy goes missing. JT finds herself toying with various potential suspect, the girl's father (Gary Lewis), a young delinquent friend of hers, and the father of her best friend. However, JT finds her job performance threatened by her own personal demons, namely the death of her father and her own growing alcoholism. Amidst all this turmoil, JT develops a close personal friendship with Sally Phillips, Sallie Sturdy's best friend, in whom JT sees a bit of herself.

I have several problems with PS7, one of which is the way they treat Helen Mirren's character. Making JT into an alcoholic may not be totally out of character, it's no secret after all JT has a great love of drink. Still, JT is a consummate professional and I would think she would force herself to stay sober while on the case. JT has her demons to be sure, but she's a woman who leaves her demons at her doorstep, she does not bring them to work with her.

I also found the re-introduction of the Bill Otley (Tom Bell) character a huge letdown. In PS's 1 & 3, Otley was a great nemesis, always doing his best to sabotage JT's career behind her back, making sly remarks and putdowns. Here, Otley is transformed into a reformed alcoholic and (shudder) nice guy. What I always liked about Otley was that he was so loathsome and manipulative. You'd think the man had found religion or something.

Which brings me to my biggest pet peeve. I don't like the way they practically turn this whole entry into an advertising gimmick for Alcoholics Anonymous. Sorry to offend anyone who's been helped by this organization, but I've never much cared for AA. I once accompanied an acquaintance of mine to an AA meeting, and it didn't particularly impress me. I found AA to be strange, creepy, and cult-like, with its emphasis on spirituality and redemption. I even found myself questioning whether it really works. I understand AA has its fair share of critics, so I'm certainly not alone.

PS7 is moderately interesting whenever it stays focused on the case itself. It offers an interesting look into teenage subcultures in modern Britain. While the adults lead lives of respectability, moneyed teens go around doing drugs, committing petty theft, and having sex. Furthermore, we see those in positions of respectability that, when you look beneath the surface, are not quite so respectable as they first appear.

Ultimately, PS7 is not a bad series really, but its weighed down by a heavy-handed anti-drink message. Helen Mirren is again excellent as Jane Tennison, but this is hardly a fitting end to a great character.

Recommended: No

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening