Underrated action movie that cannot escape that late twentieth century style of combining violent thrills and hard-boiled criminals with a patina of aloof detachment and self consciousness. Sometimes it works well (Tarantino/Rodriguez/Rami) but it is a tricky conceit and you have to be a talent to pull it off. Often the style fails miserably, but not here.

While not in the same league as films directed by the above mentioned, this one has enough attraction to keep it from failing. It is an entertaining romp with a good story and is not brought down by some soggy script development and a couple of over the top, completely out there, characters (F.B.I. Agent and some assorted cartoon villains).

Overall this one is overlooked as one of the better of this type of thing, a viewer-friendly cross gender popcorn picture, and is worth a view.

Don't let his tanned and muscular good looks fool you; underneath that healthy exterior, Los Angeles doctor David Duchovny (as Eugene Sands) is a washed-up drug addict. Stripped of his medical license after operating while high, Mr. Duchovny makes a barroom dope deal at the same time someone is shot. Duchovny uses his medical knowledge to save the otherwise mortally wounded crook. This attracts attention from blond crime boss Timothy Hutton (as Raymond "Ray" Blossom),who rewards Duchovny and uses him as a personal physician. This way, Mr. Hutton can save lives while avoiding hospitals and police. Hutton comes with a strikingly beautiful girlfriend avec especially sensuous lips, painted bright red – yes, it's uber-attractive Angelina Jolie (as Claire)...

You don't have to be told, but things get complicated when Duchovny and Ms. Jolie become mutually attracted...

Leading the capable supporting players is steely-eyed FBI agent Michael Massee (as Gage). He also wants to deal with Duchovny. This production, directed by Andy Wilson from a Mark Haskell Smith script, moves along well. There are more than a couple problems, however. Duchovny, propelled to stardom on TV's "The X-Files", delivers some terminally ill narration; it should have declared inoperable and put of its misery. As far as looking like a drug addict, Duchovny's more cool than strung-out; that's okay, but we're never really sure why he's one of the least stoned-looking members of the cast. Anthony B. Richmond's cinematography is fine, but Mr. Wilson includes double-exposure and scene transition/dissolves effects that look more like mistakes than effects.

***** Playing God (10/17/97) Andy Wilson ~ David Duchovny, Timothy Hutton, Angelina Jolie, Michael Massee

What makes certain TV idols fail miserably at the movies? It's something that is hard to explain. While a lot of actors that start in television go to have great film careers, there are others like David Caruso, Matthew Perry, Gillian Armstrong, and as it is proven in this movie, David Duchovny, that will be better off to keep the day jobs in the small screen where they can excel.

A ridiculous screen play doesn't add anything new to the genre, as is the case with this film. Then, we hear the flat reading that Mr. Duchovny, as the narrator, gives in a voice over, that practically sinks the movie. He sounds pathetic. Just hearing the theme song is enough to turn any would be viewer away!

Most films are made with the best intentions. There must be a lot of things that can go wrong, as it appears to be the case with this one, and not because the film makers decided to sabotage the movie. I had not seen this film in its commercial run, and since there was nothing else going on, decided to take a look at it when it was shown on cable.

A caution: Watch it at your own risk!