Moon Over Miami Abc, Wed. Sept. 15, 9:30 p.m.

By TONY SCOTT

Read other reviews about this film

Powered By

Filmed in Miami by Columbia Pictures TV and ABC Prods. Exec producers, Harley Peyton, Allan Arkush; co-exec producer, Henry Bromell; producer, Gareth Davies; director, Arkush; writer-creator, Peyton.
 
Cast: Bill Campbell, Ally Walker, Agustin Rodriquez, Marlo Marron, Kristin Minter, Lysette Anthony, Chelcie Ross, George O. Petrie, Pat Geller, Marie Debrey, Thaao Penghlis.
 

Writer Harley Peyton has created a detective series with echoes of everything from "Spencer for Hire" to "Moonlighting," from "It Happened One Night" to "Roman Holiday"-- but without the class. This shot at a sophisticated, madcap pilot under Allan Arkush's uninspired direction misfires badly amid Miami's South Beach district's pastels; the fluff goes flooff.

Bill Campbell is p.i. Walter Tatum, who's investigating an international banking fraud. Ally Walker limns heiress and bride-to-be Gwen Cross, who leaps from a yacht in her bridal gown to escape her wedding.

Gwen's wealthy papa calls Tatum to locate her. One of Tatum's minions, Tito (Agustin Rodriquez), spots her all alone and offers to help her by inviting her to Tatum's office to be safe for the night.

Gwen, of course, doesn't know Tatum's a detective whom her father's hired to find her. The worn-out plot demands sparkling dialogue, an involving story line and a cast that delivers style, not flippancy; charm, not blatancy.

Campbell's eager Tatum lacks authority. Walker's Gwen comes off not so much innocent as thick. Rodriquez is acceptable as Tito, and Tatum's other helper, Billie, is played satisfactorily by Marlo Marron. Lysette Anthony is a pretty asset as Tatum's current crush, but best job of the thin program is that of Chelcie Ross as Gwen's uptight father.

After this airdate, series will play Wednesdays, 10-11 p.m. For a while.

Camera, Michael Gershman; editor, Tammis Chandler; art director, Richard Fojo; sound, Michael R. Tromer; music, Delfeao Marsalis. 60 MIN.