In most films like "To Love, Honor and Deceive" (a.k.a., "The Protected Wife"),the opening scene includes a disclaimer about how the movie is based on a true story. But this one is so far-fetched that the filmmakers don't even bother trying to add this touch of realism.

The focus of the film is on a character who is clearly a force of nature: Mrs. Sydney Carpenter. Upon meeting her for the first time, the sleazy criminal named Bennett says, "this is a woman not to be underestimated." Indeed, Mrs. Carpenter will stop at nothing from learning the truth about her liar of husband and the whereabouts of her little boy Adam.

The husband, Matthew, who has some charm and genuine affection for his son, has led a double life of good family man versus smuggler and bigamist. Mrs. Carpenter is left holding the bag when Matthew and Adam appear to have drowned in a storm. But the quick-thinking Sydney realizes that something is amiss when she learns that the husband failed to take the radio along with him. Something is fishy, and it's not the sharks that are supposed to have consumed Matthew Carpenter and little Adam.

Mrs. Carpenter always has her radar antenna in working order. She detects lies in her best friend and realizes that the friend had an affair with Adam. She also smells a rat in the careerist FBI agent who is not coming clean with her. Of course, the police are incompetent, especially the pretty boy, Detective Jim Sanders, who becomes Sydney's lover in the course of the investigation.

All of these juicy plot details are not realized to the full because of the bargain basement dialogue and wooden performances. The most outlandish scene is in the courtroom where Mrs. Carpenter is miraculously able to get an instant trial alleging malfeasance by the FBI agent. But during the trial, her hotshot attorney does not even cross-examine the perp!

While this was, for the most part, an entertaining drama, it lacked tension and effective pacing to truly evoke interest and suspense.

Was a really good movie and I would watch it again because it was just that good I never got board and I always kept me guessing

The writer has no clue about courtrooms, or the FBI. It was so majorly disappointing. It is hard to follow along there is so little continuity.

Mrs Carpenter (Vanessa Marcil) is confusing. From the start we are to believe she is stupidly in love with her husband. After the accident she shows very little care for him. If she had no clue about his past why does she show so much apathy toward him? I understand wanting to save your son, but not a moments thought to rescuing him.

Matthew (Thomas Gibson) is the only thing good about this movie. Rosalind Chow is good as well. The detective is droll, the FBI agent is painful to watch, the plot holes are dangerous, and the end is predictable. With all of the stuff that is left undone it is just frustrating.

I left two stars for Gibson and Chow's sake.