The stage curtains open ...

"Til Death Do Us Part" is basically like the Lifetime or BET version of "Sleeping With The Enemy". It has a made-for-tv feel to it. And if it had been made-for-tv or straight to DVD, then it would have been okay. But it wasn't ... it had a theatrical release. As such, you expect much more than what this film gives you.

Michael and Madison Rowland have the seemingly perfect marriage -- but brewing under the surface are two completely different individuals and ideas on how their marriage should turn out to be. Finally, the calm is ruptured in a bad argument that shows Michael's true colors as he begins to abuse his wife, both mentally and physically. So, she and her best friend devise a plan to fake her death and get her out of the situation for good. Oh yeah, and she is 6 months pregnant too. The plan works ... or so they think. She starts a new life with a new love interest until Michael finds out the truth and begins to hunt her down.

Okay ... so forget that this is a blatant ripoff of "Sleeping With The Enemy" (which it obviously is) - writers would call this plagiarism. Even if this story had never been told before, this movie is still pretty ridiculous at its core. For starters, she and her friend come up with this elaborate plan for her to disappear for good - and she stays in the general area? She doesn't even leave the city. They do not cover their tracks at all. And only 2 months after all of this is happening, she is too uncomfortable to let her new love interest kiss her because she is still haunted by the fear of her husband and reminded of how he treated her. Well ... duh. It's only been a couple of months and she still hasn't even had their baby yet.

This movie was pretty bad. On the surface, it's all glossy and polished with what looks to be slick production values, but it fails on every other level. This is definitely not a recommend. If you want to enjoy a good movie, and you have yet to see it, watch "Sleeping With The Enemy" with Julia Roberts. "Till Death Do Us Part" pales in comparison.

Okay, so yes, this is beat for beat the same story as Sleeping With The Enemy. But damn it, it's a highly watchable remix. This is, by far, not the only redo of that story that has ever been put to celluloid. I'm not just talking about Safe Haven and Enough either, Bollywood has been remaking this movie for a couple decades now. This version of the plot has more in common with the Bollywood interpretations than it does with the original version, in that it shows the perspective of the abusive husband from the very beginning and it has less suspense and more melodrama. I did feel sorry for Madison and I did like Chelsea and find Alex to be an appealing love interest (and on that note, hello Taye Diggs!) I did find it strange when Madison went to so much trouble to disappear only to move less than an hour's drive away. I also simultaneously laughed my ass off and screeched in outrage when the husband's creepy 'towels and pantry' moment got turned into 'he peed while she was in the shower and then left the toilet seat up, that motherfu-'. If you have a soft spot in your heart for melodrama that occasionally gets unintentionally hilarious, check out this movie. If you don't like remakes as a general rule, you might not like this movie (I love them, though and I liked it).

This will only contain spoilers if you haven't seen Sleeping with the Enemy. Either way spoilers ahead... I gave this a 3 only because it made me laugh when it wasnt supposed to. The acting was so bad. 1. Crying with no tears, beatings with nothing to show but a busted lip. I'm sorry she did not act like someone who was afraid. 2. The escape... paying someone to pretend to be a doctor requires sun glasses, a hat, a hoodie, a discreet location, with money in a paper bag. So obviously take the money out and stare at it, so it's visible to anyone around. 3. Fake death, no record, followed by no investigation from the life insurance money being collected. 4. Alex survives on lemon meringue pie alone. 5. Water breaks, instant contractions. Don't worry, she will have the baby the same night and be released from the hospital the same night. 6. Baby's name is Peace probably not piece. 7. Worst fight scene ever. Which also leads to the best anticlimactic death scene. This movie will hold a special place in my heart.