The Truth About Charlie

Since director Jonathan Demme has proudly trumpeted this romantic thriller as a re-imagining of 1963's Charade, let's compare. What the films do have in common is a plot centering on a beautiful, clever but ingenuous young woman (Audrey Hepburn then, Thandie Newton now) who returns to Paris from vacation to discover that her husband has not only disappeared with a fortune she didn't know he possessed but has also subsequently turned up dead. With the money still missing, dangerous strangers start coming out of the woodwork, convinced that the new widow knows the location of the cash. What the films don't have in common is their male lead. Charade co-starred Cary Grant as a cunning (perhaps a little too cunning) charmer who romances Hepburn while helping her solve the mystery. In The Truth About Charlie, Newton measures up, but is saddled with gym-buffed paramour Mark Wahlberg, who may look classy but as a character he's dry, dry, dry. The fact that Demme doesn't seem to realize this, imagining a witty repartee when only Newton shows much wit, is the elephant in the corner of what is otherwise a jaunty, mostly enjoyable thriller--up until its poorly realized climax, that is. Optional.[Note: DVD extras include the superior inspiration for The Truth About Charlie--1963's Charade, starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn; both widescreen and full screen versions of the remake; audio commentary by director Jonathan Demme; a 14-minute making-of featurette; 12 minutes of deleted scenes; cast and filmmaker bios; production notes; and a trailer. Bottom line: A great extras package--given the addition of the original film and the full screen/widescreen option--makes this well worth considering.] (R. Blackwelder)