It Was Him or Us

 ((Tue. (21), 9-11 p.m., CBS))

By JOHN P. MCCARTHY

Filmed in Salt Lake City by MDT Prods. in association with Warner Bros. Television. Executive producer, Daniel H. Blatt; producers, Lynn Raynor, Robert Iscove; director, Robert Iscove; writer, Richard Lawton; camera, John Beymer; editor, Martin Nicholson; production designer, Steven Nielsen; sound, Don Summer; music, John Frizzel. #Cast: Ann Jillian, Richard Grieco, Monique Lanier, Richard Masur, Wil Wheaton, Lorraine Toussaint, Star Herrmann, Brooke Ashley, Spencer Treat, David Gallagher , Thomasyn Harlow, Elizabeth Hansen, Leo Geter, M. Scott Wilkinson, Patrick McKinley, Kevin Halladay, Brett Palmer, Michael Flynn, Alexa Vega, Edgar J. Scherick, Craig Clyde, Timothy S. Shoemaker. There's something unseemly about how the plot of "It Was Him or Us" is rigged. Not that stacking the deck undermines the movie's entertainment value: A cut-and-dried case of domestic abuse is dramatized with such single-mindedness that the inevitability of the outcome is a lure. And the producers' willingness to exploit the issue probably will result in big ratings. Ann Jillian is Peggy Pomeroy, a victim of domestic violence turned crusader and counselor. Her 22-year-old daughter Carrie, portrayed by Darryl Hannah look-alike Monique Lanier, is an aimless single mother, weary of her mom's overzealousness. This is partly why Carrie falls so blindly for Gene, a construction worker played by Richard Grieco. Lust also has something to do with it.
 

Though able to charm, Gene has so many red flags attached to him, even the family pet could tell he was trouble. That he lives with his mother in a trailer park doesn't help. Peggy realizes the danger but ultimately has to let Carrie discover for herself.

The only thoughtful aspect of Richard Lawton's script is having Peggy's heightened sensitivity make everyone believe she's crying wolf. A semblance of an angle is found by offering two extremes: The mother so obsessed she keeps a loaded gun under her bed (it comes in handy); and the rebellious and clueless daughter who suppressed memories of her dad's violent behavior.

Plot trajectory never is in doubt. But despite the predictability, director Robert Iscove puts together a vivid fourth act -- a long and jittery hostage situation.

There's a ruthless lack of ornamentation to the script and the no-nonsense production. Gene and Carrie have sex in the ladies room at a pizza parlor, during which he asks: "Where've you been all my life?"

It's hard to relate to Jillian's fairly cold characterization; she almost wills Gene's abusiveness.

Grieco does well bringing out the spoiled child and Lanier makes you feel sorry for the naive Carrie. Richard Masur plays Peggy's second husband, an expendable voice of reason.

Maybe the viewing public is ahead of this made-for when it comes to the issue of domestic violence.

They'll know it's an all-too-blatant dramatic setup because it's all-too-common in real life.