Sleeping Dogs Lie

This film is © by Roadside Attractions, 2006

Starring:

Melinda Page Hamilton as Amy
Bryce Johnson as John
Geoff Pierson as Amy's Dad
Colby French as Ed
Jack Plotnick as Dougie

Directed by: Bobcat Goldhwait

RATING:

This movie delivers quite a surprise at the beginning of the film. It's safe to say certain elements of this story are not seen in most other movies. It revolves around something Amy did when she was young and in college. Amy is now several years older and about to get married toJohn. They seem so perfect but Amy feels guilty about not telling John her dark little secret. John begins to pick up on this guilt and he ends up asking Amy to tell him what it is. Eventually Amy does so but unknowingly to her they are not completely alone and her secret is heard by someone else besides John. He is immediately flabbergasted and Amy lives to regret telling him. If that is not enough, the eavesdropper ends up revealing this to Amy's family and things just go downhill from there.

If you are wondering why I am being so elusive I must say that describing it in greater detail would ruin the movie. The main point of this film involves the concept of the truth. Now I agree with the movie, there is the truth, and then there's the TRUTH. In life everyone makes mistakes or have unfortunate things happen beyond our control. There are things that should not be revealed to others, particularly if no good can come out of it. This is not saying that being secretive or deceptive is ok, rather that some things are better left unknown such as how many partners your current boyfriend or girlfriend had before you. (By the way, that is not the issue in this movie.) In the end Amy learns from her mistake and decides that this little secret of hers will never be revealed again and that is a good thing.

The actingin this movie is pretty good for the most part. Most noticeably is the delightful performance Melinda Page Hamilton as Amy. She does a good job showing Amy struggle with herself, her fiancé, and her parents. She displays a wide array of emotion rather well, whether it is pure agony or happiness. Amy is the central character in this story and both the character and story are carried very well by Hamilton. The other actors do a decent job but for the most part their roles are there as the backdrop of the story. This is fine and it works well as it is Amy and her relation to them that make up the plot. While the end is a bit rushed and neatly placed in it is not done so to give the story a happy ending but rather to show Amy making different decisions. In essence, she ends up lying to her boyfriend but it is for the best.

This movie is very enjoyable. It is very funny at times and still manages to have serious issues and situations. It does that rather well; unfortunately the story does not flow smoothly from beginning to end. I thought the editing of this movie was not so great and it is a distracting for a little while as you get into the plot. Fortunately it does not affect the crucial scenes and it does not ruin the flow of the plot, it just makes it a bit choppy for a while. Sleeping Dogs Lie is fun and a little deep as well as being different. I recommend this movie with a bit of a warning. If you are rather prude, puritanical or very easily disgusted you may have a problem with the subject matter involved. Otherwise, there should be no reason why not to enjoy it.