Criminal Minds by Robin Swicord

Criminal Minds
Reviews

Julio Martinez, Variety

Screenwriter Robin Swicord ("Practical Magic," "Little Women") has penned a short, quirky legiter that's akin to one of those ironic "Tales From the Crypt" episodes wherein a greed-driven evildoer is done in by the success of his own quest. The recently formed Company Rep (from the remains of venerable Actors Alley) has heaped a whole lot of talent and production values onto this flimsy tale. Director Hope Alexander wisely concentrates on the characterizations rather than the throwaway plot and is amply rewarded by the performances of Heather Simmons, Rob Arbogast and Ron Slanina.

Set in near-deserted off-season Panama City Beach, Fla., the production is nearly overwhelmed by the awe-inspiring miniature golf course environment created by noted film and TV designer Jackson De Govia ("Die Hard," "Bowfinger"), featuring a 14-foot-long brontosaurus and a slew of wonderfully tacky set-pieces. Hiding out in this seedy playground is small-minded petty criminal Eddie Ray (Arbogast), who has escaped from prison with the help of his longtime ex-porn star g.f. Billy Marie (Simmons).

Eddie Ray has brought along enigmatic fellow prisoner Renfroe (Slanina), an obviously well-educated man of culture who has lost his ability to remember anything beyond what is happening at the moment. Eddie Ray is convinced that Renfroe must have been a high-stakes operator, and if he can just get the man to remember what his nefarious skills were, they would all be able to make a lot of money. When thoroughly frustrated Eddie Ray eventually resorts to violence against his uncooperative cohort, the criminal mind of malleable, easygoing Renfroe is reawakened, much to Eddie Ray's regret.

Director Alexander never allows the energy of Eddie Ray's frantic machinations to ebb as this small-time hood wars against doubtful, long-suffering Billy Marie while attempting a series of comically inept schemes to jog the memory banks of Renfroe. Simmons is certainly up to the task, impressively communicating Eddie Ray's dimwitted ambivalence, including his intense need to accomplish something big in his chosen trade, his combative relationship with Billy Marie and his jealousy at his girlfriend's growing attraction to the courtly and adoring Renfroe.

Simmons is delightful as life-hardened Billy Marie, who is a lot more intelligent and resourceful than her lowlife b.f. suspects. She effectively evolves from her early disdain of Renfroe to a kind of motherly affection for this man who respects her so much.

The highlight of the production is Slanina's hilariously dead-on portrayal of a complete innocent who treats every situation as if he's encountering it for the first time.

This obtuse menage a trois is nicely underscored by the original music of Max Kinberg.