This was disappointing considering how good the first Jesse Stone telemovie was. Stone Cold was superb, and set up the Stone character as an old-school hard ass cop with, as one woman in this new film says, tons of baggage. It's baggage we're not entirely privy to, which adds to the allure of the character.Jesse Stone is compelling, he was in the first movie and he is here. But the story surrounding him this time around is so stale, it feels like Bo and Luke Duke could have figured it all out. Or, better yet, Magnum PI. It's small-time for the enigmatic and brilliant Jesse Stone.
In this film, a prequel to Stone Cold, we find Jesse heading out to Massachusettes to interview for police chief in a small bayside town. Stone shows up to his interview drunk and is hired regardless. Stone is on edge from here on in that something is awry. "I wouldn't have hired me," he says.
Add to the mix a violent ex-husband, a too-happy town councilman, and a dead former police chief and it doesn't take too much detective work to figure out who Stone needs to ask the hard questions. I was disappointed because Stone Cold was less about solving a mystery and more about watching Stone establish himself and his motives and actions. Here, we know Stone a bit better, and so, at least for me, I wanted this film to delve a bit deeper into Stone himself. Instead he just gets hit on a lot, and solves a basic crime.
Still, Stone is interesting to watch. Tom Selleck plays him with a repressed sort of rage that on the surface makes him appear quite calm and in control, but there are moments when you wonder if he's about to crack. He is direct, straight to the point, and honest to a fault -- with everyone. He's also logical and smart. He is not ashamed of his flaws or that the fact he is battling personal demons is written all over his face. He is fascinating, and I'd like to see his character with more to do than this.
And Tom Selleck is hot. :)
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