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

The Right Tempation: This film had a lot of potential. It could have been a fascinating noirish tale of betrayal and double-crosses.  Instead, it falls flat, and left me disappointed. 

Rebecca De Mornay plays Derian, an ex-cop, now private investigator.  She's hired by Anthea (Dana Delany), a woman who suspects her husband is cheating on her.  So Derian follows Michael (Keifer Sutherland) around for a while and discovers... nothing.  The man's not having an affair.  He's just a businessman working long hours.  When Derian reports this information back to Anthea, it's not enough.  Anthea is still suspicious about whether Michael ever would have an affair, even if he's not having one, now.  So she wants Derian to step it up a notch.  Seduce her husband, and see what happens.  In other words, would Michael commit adultery, if faced with The Right Temptation? 

Derian, who really should have known better, takes the challenge and arranges an "accidental meeting" Michael.  Of course she doesn't tell him she's a detective - she makes up some lie and the two of them grow close.  Very close.  What follows are a whole lot of plot twists and turns, some predictable, others definitely not.

As I said, there was a lot of potential here.  I figured, all along, that things were not what they seemed, but had trouble putting it all together until the very end.  Every time I suspected a zig, the movie took a zag.  To its credit, the twists kept me on edge, wondering what would happen next.

Sutherland and De Mornay played their parts extremely well.  Derian's troubled professional background (shown to us in flashbacks) is affecting her emotionally, even today, and that torment is obvious in her facial expressions and mannerisms.  And as for Sutherland, well he could sell ice to an Eskimo, just by looking into his eyes.  I can't say the same for Delany.  I actually did not like her at all in this role.  I found her completely unbelievable, to the point where everything she claimed was automatically suspect, in my mind. 

But what really brought this movie down was Derian's actions.  They seemed really dumb to me.  It's one thing to take on a task such as this, it's another to go through with "the deed" all the way to the end.  She should have put a stop to things long before she did.  She should have reported back to the wife that, yes, Michael showed interest in pursuing a relationship, then washed her hands of the whole thing.  But, no, she continues in a relationship with Michael, despite the many, many reasons why it was wrong.  Considering she's haunted by a mistake in her professional life in the past, you'd think she'd have learned a thing or two.  Apparently not.

Later in the movie she makes some other, incredibly dumb, moves.  If I'm told there's a situation ahead of me, that's gotten completely out of control, I think I would call 911 and let them enter the scene.  I don't think I'd go in myself, and assume I could handle whatever's going on, by myself.   Derian's an ex-cop.  She should know the phrase "call for backup".  But, no, she gets herself all tangled with the situation going on, and causes herself a whole lot of grief. 

So, what could have been an interesting movie was brought down by a character that made very little sense.  Rated R for violence and sexualty, this one isn't for the kiddies.  I'm not sure it's right for adults, either.   Sure, the story held my interest, as I did want to see how it would all end.  But I don't recommend it.

Recommended: No

Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age