Looking for a film that you gals can get together for a laugh, unwind and be yourselves?  Try Seducing Charlie Barker, a sharp-witted movie involving a modern day romance-on-the-rocks story with fine performances by a very good cast.

The film centers on Charlie (Stephen Barker Turner), a talented actor who finds he’s struggling in a minimal work market.  He lives with his wife Stella (Daphne Zuniga), who has established her career and supports him and his dream of becoming a big movie star.  Living the big life off his wife has taken a toll on Charlie, however, and he feels down in the dumps. After a number of rejections at auditions he decides to kiss up to Nick (Steve Cell), a Director friend he resents because he has found the fame Charlie has always wanted.

Louis, Clea and Charlie at Nick's party

At one of Nick’s posh parties, Charlie meets Clea (Heather Gordon), a young promising star on the rise and becomes charmed by her.  Not wanting to cheat on his wife, he urges his best friend, Louis (David Wilson Barnes), to make a date with her. Completely down on himself one evening, Charlie goes to Louis’s apartment to talk to him.  When he gets there he finds that Louis and Clea are together.  When Charlie sends Lewis out for a bottle of wine, Charlie does the unspeakable.

Even though the lead is a male, the film really sets up an entertainment bonanza for the ladies.  As Charlie digs his hole deeper and deeper, his sweet life turns sour when the girls turn the tables.  It’s ‘guy has it all, girl offers him her apple, guy tastes the heavenly flavor of the fruit’ and gets thrown out of the Garden of Eden.

The acting here really makes the script work, especially Daphne Zuniga and Heather Gordon, who put on some delicious performances.  Gordon does a Woman in Red interpretation while taking Charlie for the ride of his life and Zuniga shows her vengeance in ways that make retribution a nice word.

The direction by Amy Glazer is right on point showing Charlie spiraling down to an abyss with no return.  She does a very good job of fleshing out the characters before setting her stage for her actors to deliver a memorable seduction. Glazer does a lot on her low budget, enough to make her film good enough to ‘run with the bulls’.

Seducing Charlie Barker has been rated R for sexual content, and language throughout.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A chick flick that a guy should watch and learn. (B)