Bail bondsmen are depicted in a newer and sexier way in the film "One for the Money," which was released in theaters on Jan. 27. Katherine Heigl stars as unemployed, Jersey-born divorcée Stephanie Plum. Alongside her stands the rugged and handsome accused murderer Joe Morelli, played by Jason O'Mara.
When Stephanie's options for jobs become slim, she goes to her cousin, Vinnie, for a filing position which soon turns in to a chance to become a recovery agent, a fancy term for a bounty hunter. Stephanie accepts excitedly, knowing the $50,000 recovery reward is exactly what she needs, especially after she finds out that Morelli is her first target. After a one-night stand in high school, Stephanie holds a grudge against Joe, and with him on the run, she is given the chance to act on her revenge.
After their first encounter, it is obvious that Stephanie will not give up, but it is even more apparent that Joe will not allow himself to get caught until he has the evidence to exonerate his name. Their chemistry is instant, however, and it is evident that past feelings do not always diminish after high school. From tricks to felonies to quirky commentary, the couple moves through the film in sync, bouncing their frustration off each other.
While the money means the most to Stephanie at first, when she decides to try to look in to Joe's story about his innocence, she is thrown into a world of murder, rape and assault. Her clues lead her to believe that boxer Benito Ramirez is really the one to blame — and also the one guilty of three rapes where the women disappeared.
Ramirez's manager Jimmy Alpha (John Leguizamo) soon becomes an ally to Stephanie, as does Ranger, the gun-wielding freelance agent who offers his help in catching Joe. No matter how much help she has, though, she is still in grave danger from Ramirez and his friends, who want the entire matter with Morelli to disappear along with its witnesses.
While fighting off boxers, befriending prostitutes and learning to shoot a gun, Stephanie warms to Joe, hoping to find the truth before she is actually able to capture him.
The movie also features Debbie Reynolds as Stephanie's grandmother, adding an extra laugh or two — or three — to the film.
Heigl, Sunjata and O'Mara reunited on the set after guest-starring on the show "Grey's Anatomy," which Heigl has become famous for in her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens.
"One for the Money" was originally written as a novel by Janet Evanovich; the series includes a total of eighteen books. Heigl depicted the bounty hunter of the books with her own style and somewhat forced New Jersey accent. More known for her conservative, uptight roles, Heigl took on the new role with ease (minus the fake accent), resulting in a romantically comedic action film. The comedy behind the movie is far from dry and keeps the audience waiting for the next encounter between Joe and Stephanie.
3.5 out of 5 stars
