Claudio Carvalho
In Hollywood, the successful TV screenwriter and producer of the "Rock'n'Roll P.I." show Zane (Craig Sheffer) is an insecure and needy man, unhappy with his mediocre work for television with his partner David (Glenn Hirsch). His fiancée Amy (Annette Sinclair) has left him to live with another woman and he has hypnosis analysis with his psychiatrist Dr. Berlin (Orson Bean). Zane is also having problems with the star of his show, Reno (David Cassidy), who is arrogant, temperamental and drug addicted, and his partner in the show Pop (William Smith) is also upset with Reno. Meanwhile the IRS is auditing Zane's investments. When Zane meets the sexy and gorgeous extra Penelope (Chelsea Noble), he immediately becomes obsessed for her. Zane dates Penelope and soon they fall in love with each other. But his insecurity jeopardizes the relationship."Instant Karma" could be a great film. There is a criticism to the corny Hollywood productions and how a writer needs to change his work to be commercial to satisfy producers. However, the movie is lost between a romantic comedy and a drama. Zane's sessions with Dr. Berlin are pointless and boring. But the worst is Zane, a non- charismatic and even unlikable character. Penelope is totally out of his league and it is hard to believe how she could feel some sort of attraction for such boring man. The racy UK and Brazilian title is ridiculous and gives a wrong idea of the storyline. My vote is six.Title (Brazil): "Quase Uma Virgem" ("Almost a Virgin")
TedMichaelMor
The superb Roderick Taylor masterwork "Instant Karma" with grace and subtly explores the vicissitude of fame and fortune in a metaphoric tale about Hollywood. It stars the gifted actress Chelsea Noble, wife of Kirk Cameron, and intelligent actor Craig Sheffer. Bruce Taylor and Dale Rosenbloom provided a restrained script around which Dale's father forms the gentle and amusing film.This work exposes the drabness, mediocrity, and futility of output in much Hollywood production, but without bitterness or meanness. Location shooting in Hollywood itself gives the picture a sense of authenticity. Tom Jewet did the excellent cinematography and Frank Mazzola edited.This is an unfortunately underrated and forgotten work.
Amy Adler
Zane (Craig Sheffer) is an aspiring author who currently writes and produces a hit television show. Unhappy that the show has gone in a different direction than the one he originally created, Zane feels as though he has sold out to commercialism. However, he does like his Mercedes and his nice apartment. One day on the set of the show, Zane meets Penelope (Chelsea Noble), a guest star. Instantly taken with her looks and sweet personality, he pursues her unremittingly. She responds in his favor and a romance ensues. Yet, things go awry with the couple's happiness and with the television show. Will Zane be able to set things right again?This is a lukewarm effort in the realm of romantic comedies. Sheffer and Noble are attractive stars but the mediocre script offers them little help in making their characters memorable. David Cassidy, in a rare movie appearance, is appropriately obnoxious in his role as the star of the television show. The pace is somewhat slow yet the ending is overwhelmingly swift, leaving the viewer unsatisfied. Only the most die hard romantics (this viewer included) will be able to keep watching this film until the credits role. Better efforts in the same category include Fools Rush In and Playing by Heart; stick with those for an evening of enchantment.
Karate Cowboy
Okay. So the story didn't appeal to anybody who watched it. Personally, I liked it because, however lacking-in-everything that he hero may have seemed, EVERYBODY DESERVES A CHANCE AT HAPPINESS. This movie showed how this guy, who like everybody has his ups and downs, has things turn around for him, in the midst of all other forms of confusion. True, he nearly blows it with his insecurity, but who hasn't at one time or another. The end shows him face-to-face with his dream-girl; presumably, he's about to get another chance as the story ends. I guess it's how the viewer looks at the story.
AD
