Cleopatra's Second Husband

Writer-director Jon Reiss' film has a promising setup: when a married couple (Paul Hipp, Bitty Schram) go on vacation (the better to conceive the child she so desperately wants), they leave their house in the care of two virtual strangers (Boyd Kestner, Radha Mitchell) who not only refuse to leave upon their return, but essentially take over the pair's lives. The story plays itself out as first the wife and then the girlfriend depart, leaving the two dudes to fight it out amongst themselves. Problem is, they are all shallow, repellent people who like neither themselves nor each other; combined with a succession of forced, unnatural situations and bad acting, writing and production values, and the viewer is left with little or nothing to care about. The denouement is as excruciatingly laborious as the "Cask of Amontillado"-style revenge that the pathetic schlub of a husband finally takes on the evil, manipulative intruder. But at least it does end, which is cause enough for celebration. Not recommended. (S. Graham)