Released in 2002, this lesser known movie about two people making new starts after losing someone important to them started so promising and finished as a high concept comedy complete with all the entertainment quality of fresh skid marks in a pair of boxers.

"Unconditional Love" is about Grace, who after her husband says he wants a divorce, morns the death of her favorite swoon-worth pop singer, Victor Fox, who was killed by a Chicago serial killer. Filled with a sense of need to be daring, she hops on a plane to attend the man's funeral in England.

While there, she finds the very bitter and morning valet, Dirk, who claims the singer's estate was left to HIM, is in a battle over the family house with Fox's family. As she finally begins to break through Dirk's pain, the two begin to bond and rebuild themselves emotionally, while Grace accepts a surprise about Fox. Fox was actually homosexual and Dirk was his companion. The picture became very warm and well written, with smart sensible dialogue, about these two people fniding reasons to love themselves.

However, that's about as the movie got, and that was half way through. From that point, Dirk and Grace decide to renew themselves by flying back to America and tracking and killing the serial murder who killed Fox. The picture then gets so outlandish, high concept and far away from the protentially great movie this was becoming.

The climax included Dirk, Grace and Grace's dwarf daughter in law flushing out the serial killer by singing "Close to You." This picture couldn't have been more far fetched if it included a socialpathic nun jacking a bus full of rabid penquins.

Writer/Director PJ Hogan usually pleases me with his efforts (Muriel's Wedding, My Best Friends Wedding). He has also written and directed the latest version of "Peter Pan," which I skipped on instinct. His need to throwing in these musical numbers where entire restaurants, churches and /or plane cabins begin singing some love song from the 70s is getting severely old. There are three in "Unconditional Love."

As for the acting, Rupert Evertt (My Best Friends Wedding) plays Dirk and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates (Misery, Primary Colors) plays Grace. The two were perfect together. Bates was award worthy in scenes which made the role and the movie worth seeing.

Dan Akroyd (Christmas with the Kranks) has a supporting role as Grace's husband Max. Otherwise, the only other quality performance was Meredith Eaton as Grace's daughter in law, maintaining this short-man (woman) syndrome, which has no character growth thanks to Hogan's lack of writing on this project.

So half the picture is pretty awesome, but the second have is complete and utter trash fodder. This one is wildly confusing its purpose and as a result its viewer. I watched the second half with my mouth open in disbelief. My may want to trust me and stay away from "Unconditional Love."

Benn - Where's the Humanity?