The Girl He Met Online (2014)

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Never would I have chosen to watch this film. It was on TV, and I gave it a moment. I was intrigued and watched the (majority) remainder of the film. (I don't think I missed much in terms of outset.) This film centres around Gillian, a sexy, slender, young woman. She could get most men and takes full advantage of her assets. However, what lies within her character isn't this liberation of sexuality as a standalone but rather a psychotic individual who is incredibly narcissistic.Throughout the story we delve into Gillian's upbringing; how she uses this as an excuse to justify her evil actions. Yvonne Zima who plays Gillian is mesmerising in her performance of bipolarity. No one could see her evil other than her step-mother (played by Mary- Margaret Humes with aplomb) who puts up with an inordinate amount to her detriment, also eventually an ex who blackmails her. Sure, there'll be many negative verdicts and points made about this film. What grabbed me was the strength of the key performances, and given such a basis (TV movie) how they outshone moot issues of the film. I'm usually quite nit picky regarding lack of sensibilities in plot but in all honesty I didn't even care that denouement was predictable.

The film didn't pretend to be anything other than an entertaining "guilty pleasure" flic. The focus is on an extremely troubled young woman, prone to rage, violence, and murder. Her relationships begin well, but go sour when her "mean streak" begins to emerge.Actress Yvonne Zima is excellent as the lead, and she carries the film with a multi-dimensional performance. Her character Gillian Casey builds quite a resume of destructive acts against her partners, who are often sleazy characters like her boss, Dr. Harris Kohling, who has made Gillian his mistress.The main plot unfolds when Gillian meets a decent and successful young man on the internet. As the drama unfolds, the major question will be whether Gillian can navigate her way to success with a man who truly adores her.Beyond many cliché elements, such as a string of accidental encounters, the film's most memorable character is Gillian's mother, as performed by Mary-Margaret Humes. The mother was sensitive and caring, yet was constantly on the receiving end of the bitterness and anger of her adopted daughter. Due to Humes' performance, this was a character and a relationship that the audience could really care about. So, the major surprise of the film was a strong interest and development of a mother-daughter relationship.Originally titled "The Girl He Met Online," the film has been re-titled "MSF: Male Seeking Female" for release on DVD. For a low-budget, made-for-television drama, the film was above average. The characters were well developed, the cast was solid, and the dialogue was well-written. And, despite the two somewhat misleading titles, the most memorable part of the film was the inexplicable gulf that divided an extremely devoted mother and her daughter.A good entertainment bargain at a Redbox machine!

Seriously, this is one of- if not THE - most amateurish movies I've ever seen on the Hallmark Channel, which is not known for compelling drama or quality acting. The main character, Gillian is supposed to have bipolar disorder but her behavior is more symptomatic of schizophrenia. The acting is so poor, that regardless of the label put on the character's illness, the result is laughable. Yvonne Zima, who plays Gillian, has no business calling herself an actress. Her lines are all delivered in the same flat, wispy, little-girl voice and her face is expressionless. Her bipolar rants are amateurish and she is unconvincing as someone who would be so appealing to all the men in her life. Don't waste 90 minutes of your life on this one.

Acclaimed Director Curtis Crawford helms this suspenseful drama that serves as a fine thriller as well as an important cautionary tale. In a superb performance, Yvonne Zima plays a bipolar young woman who acts out her fury upon the rejection of love interests. Shawn Roberts, particularly effective, is the man who meets her online and comes to regret the challenges she presents. The film works on several levels and is an eye opener for the uninformed on all of them. As an exploration of the risks of internet dating it is a powerful statement indeed. The threats inherent in the medium are stunningly demonstrated in some detail. The issue of mental health is sensitively observed and beautifully portrayed. Bipolar Disorder does not necessarily lead to deadly violence and unspeakable rage in relationships but the potential is there. This motion picture serves as a cry for help from the mental health community for more funding for both research and care. However, the drama and suspense drives this film and on that level alone it is a superior production.