Abc Sunday Night Movie a Stranger in the Mirror
((Sun. (24), 9-11 p.m., ABC))
Cast: Perry King, Lori Loughlin, Geordie Johnson, Juliet Mills, Christopher Plummer, Paula Shaw, Janie Woods-Morris, George Touliatos, Robert Clothier, Terence Kelly, Phil Peters, Kymberly Sheppard, Tasha Simms, Suki Kaiser, Eli Gabay, Lochlyn Munro, Brent Stait, Rachel Hayward, Leslie Carlson, Walter Marsh and Sheelah Megill.
The storyline follows Toby from his early years as an aggressively confidant comic with lousy material through his mercurial rise to the top, under the guidance of superagent Clifton Lawrence (Christopher Plummer).
As Toby climbs the glittering ladder of success, would-be actress Jill, fleeing a failed romance in hometown Montana, finds herself battered about on the fringes of Hollywood, her career highlighted by a drug-induced starring role in a porno film.
Their lives finally intersect when the now-street-wise actress connives her way onto Toby's hit TV variety show. Jill eventually wins the lustful heart of Toby by denying her sexual favors until he begs her to become Mrs. Toby Temple.
Loughlin exudes an appealing vulnerability in the early scenes but has a harder time as the hard-as-nails vixen. King tends to sneer his way through Toby's life, without ever displaying the magical comic timing that is attributed to his character.
Rising above his surroundings is Plummer, deliciously haughty and malevolent. Also deserving high marks is the wonderful Juliet Mills as his assistant, who manages to maintain an air of propriety while giving her body and her advice to the ambitious Toby.
Camera, Hugh K. Gagnier; editor, Stephen Lawrence; production designer, Trevor Williams; art director, Randy Chodak; sound, Michael Williamson; music, Amin Bhatia.
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