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

A movie directed by, and starring Kiefer Sutherland... That's got to be awesome, right!?!? Unfortunately, No. Woman Wanted is not "24". It's not action-filled, suspenseful, or mysterious. What it is, is a slow, drawn-out tale that tries to convey deep, meaningful concepts, but it just doesn't ever get there.

Basic Plot and Characters

There are only three main characters. We first meet Emma (Holly Hunter). A recent divorcee, she's accepted a job as a nanny in a household consisting of Richard, a 50-something year old widower (Michael Moriarty) and his 20-something year old son Wendell (Sutherland). One wonders why two grown men need a nanny... Well, as Richard explains it, they need someone to get their "house in order" and help them "fix what's wrong". For father and son are the very picture of "dysfunction". The two men barely speak to each other, choosing to close themselves off into a world of solitude, rather than face the issues between them. The main issue being the grudge Wendell holds against his father, for institutionalizing his mother, shortly before her death.

So Emma tries to bring some joy into this dark, dreary household. In so doing, she captures both of their hearts, and, ultimately, changes all of their lives forever.

So What's Not To Like?

Undefined Character Sutherland's character Wendell is an enigma. At times he acts like a spoiled, bratty child exhibiting behavior you'd expect from a 12 year old, not a grown man. From the minute he meets her, he gives Emma a hard time, making her job extra difficult, and just being generally obnoxious to her. But, other times, he acts in a perfectly rational way, even showing some sweet innocence, and vulnerability, letting Emma help him in ways his father never could. We're not given any real reason for these opposing behaviors, we're just supposed to accept that he's a "mixed bag" when it comes to his personality. I would have preferred for the character to be better defined, and to be shown an explanation for the erratic behaviors.

Undefined Relationship The father's not so likable, either. He's certainly nobody's role model. He wasn't a very nice husband, and he wasn't there for his son, when he needed him most. There is absolutely no warmth shown between him and Emma, nothing at all that would hint at a budding relationship between them, yet all of a sudden, they look at each other and they're madly in love. I couldn't support their relationship, or root for it, because it made absolutely no sense to me.

Undefined Motivation Finally, we never get inside anybody's head, so when they do things that make very little sense, we're not given any reason why. Wendell is obsessive about keeping others out of his room, becoming violent if someone makes any attempt to enter. We're never told why he's like that.

Then, he shows up at the house one day with a new wife. The next day, he's screaming that he wants an annulment. Again, we're never given any explanation for that whole situation. I kept waiting for the flashback scenes, or some other method of explanation, but none ever came. Basically, it's a movie where people do weird things, for no reason whatsoever. As such, I had no sympathy for any of the characters.

Was There Anything Good About This Movie?

Not really.  Basically this is a long, slow, boring movie, with characters that make absolutely no sense. I expected a lot more from Sutherland. I think he should stick to playing Jack Bauer, and leave the directing to someone else.

Recommended: No