One Hot Summer (2009)

I just saw this movie for about the fifteenth time. (dvr) I absolutely love the story line. Vanessa Marcil was so natural in her role. The three friends had a great chemistry. Strange, but Margarita had wonderful chemistry with both her husband and lover. The mother was a bit devious. But I can see where she is coming from, to use unorthodox measures to reach your children. The outcome was great for them all. I enjoyed Casper as Luther. His love for Margarita was so unconditional. But I was happy to see her wake up to realize what she had with Ariel. And I can appreciate her forgiveness to her mother. I watch OHS at least once a month. Very entertaining.

I loved this movie! The performances by Vanessa Marcil, Tessie Santiago and Jaqueline Pinol absolutely made this movie. I saw it on Lifetime Movie Network by accident and then watched it again for a second time. Lifetime is known for movies that show women in a victim role or running away from somebody or something. This movie was contrary to the normal Lifetime formula. For one, this movie was about 3 Latin women living their lives and the challenges they were facing day to day. But mostly it was about their friendship and support of one another in tough times. This movie was lighthearted and funny, but it also touched on immigration, relationships, feeling like something is missing from your life, betrayal, forgiveness, parenthood and sisterhood in friendship. The characters were real, imperfect and I identified with each one of them. Great movie!!

If this is the best that Vanessa Marcil can come up with, she'd be better off returning to the role of Brenda on General Hospital."One Hot Summer" is one non-hot mess. First of all, it was advertised as starring Casper van Diem. He was at best a supporting role. The story was about three Latina friends, focusing on Margarita (Marcil) and her husband. The three friends would have been a nice story, but it was too disjointed. It was always from Margarita's point of view instead of actually showing the women's lives.As far as the Margarita storyline, it defied logic. On the day that she is made partner at her law firm, she also celebrates her fifth anniversary with her husband. He chooses that night to start nagging her about having a baby. And I mean NAG - including calling her on her cell phone when she's on the highway. This is a sensitive man her friends envy her for marrying? To make things more heinous, he and his mother-in-law plot to exchange Margarita's birth control pills for placebo. I don't know about you, but if I ever found out two people I was close to and trusted did that to me, they'd be gone from my life immediately.Vanessa Marcil is a gorgeous woman, a cross between Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Lopez, and she was great on General Hospital. Here she doesn't show any range as an actress. I don't altogether blame her, because it's obvious the direction was bad.What could have been a warm story was wrecked by illogical situations, bad dialogue, bad direction, and some bad acting.

I love romantic comedies and a good lifetime movie as well. However, this had some SERIOUS potential, but I was disappointed in V.M.'s performance. I liked her in Las Vegas, but she was almost monotone in this movie and her expressions hardly ever changed. She looked and seemed like she felt the same, when happy, pensive, sad, upset, angry....she did raise her voice and have an argument at one point...but she was just monotone in a louder voice. And, not trying to be mean, but she is SO pretty, the man who played her husband just wasn't "it" as far as a match for her. The lover seemed more passionate and well, just plain better in acting and looks. The women who played her best friends were good and the actress playing her married friend with kids, did a great job with emotions and being believable. I just got the feeling that V.M. was reading and was stifling yawns while acting in this. Maybe she'll get her spunk back in the next one. Worth watching....sure, it is good it is a TV movie, it wouldn't have made it on the big screen. I would put the actors names in, but didn't have a chance to write everything down first. Sorry. Not trying to make every one mad.