An unusually strong cast wasn't enough to keep this thinly plotted 2008 series from self-destructing after only nine episodes. My Own Worst Enemy stars Christian Slater as Edward Albright, a highly trained spy working for a secretive organization known as Janus. But Albright has a split personality—thanks to a computer chip implanted in his brain—enabling his handlers to switch him back into mild-mannered efficiency expert Henry Spivey, a hard-working family man who lives comfortably in suburbia with his beautiful wife (Mädchen Amick) and two kids (Taylor Lautner and Bella Thorne). Unfortunately, the chip malfunctions, causing the dual personalities to scramble, so a startled Henry occasionally shows up during Albright's dangerous missions, while the decidedly undomestic Edward is sometimes forced to assume the duties of father and husband. The resulting confusion sends Edward/Henry to a shrink (Saffron Burrows), while Edward's supervisor Mavis (Alfre Woodard) keeps him on the active-agent roster, but hides his condition from her boss, Alistair Trumbull (James Cromwell). While the premise is first-rate, it only takes a few episodes for the series to become repetitive, as the writers and directors never figure out a satisfactory way to extend the basic conflict in a dramatically compelling fashion. Some of the domestic squabbling comes right out of sitcom conventions (and Henry's frequent unexplained absences will remind viewers early on of Arnold Schwarzenegger's antics in True Lies), but the series' wide variances in tone become even more pronounced with the introduction of a subplot involving the mysterious deaths of Edward's parents—an event that is supposedly at the root of his willingness to submit to the brain-tampering experiments conducted by Janus scientists. Neither drama nor comedy, My Own Worst Enemy never really found its “voice,” ultimately squandering the talents of an excellent cast. Not recommended. (E. Hulse)
My Own Worst Enemy: Complete Series
Universal, 2 discs, 380 min., not rated, DVD: $29.99 Volume 24, Issue 4
My Own Worst Enemy: Complete Series
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: