White Hot

The answer to one of life's burning questions has just come in-and it's "no." The question, of course, is "Can Robby Benson direct?" Benson plays Scott-one half of a very '80s couple (Tawny Kitaen as Vanessa is the other half.) Financial troubles on the home front propels Scott into a temp job as a crack dealer. This unwise career move lands him smack dab between two warring drug dealers. One of the dealers is played by the marvelous character actor Danny Aiello (Moonstruck), who is completely out of place amongst the amateurs here. Anyway, Scott starts dipping into his own stash; and wife Vanessa also takes a rain check on reality whenever she gets the chance. Before long, these two miserable units are throwing each other daggered looks and falling into bed with anyone who happens along. Everybody (except the viewer) gets just what they deserve by the closing credits. Ho hum. Two items of interest: 1) Judy Tenuta, whose brief comic appearance with a gravel voice, accordion, and a decidedly insulting song, was an absolute breath of fresh air, and 2) For reasons unknown, White Hot is letterboxed, thereby preserving the original picture (a procedure we applaud). Normally, letterboxing is done at the request of the director for artistic reasons... Why they chose to do it here is indeed a mystery. Not recommended. (Available from most distributors.)