Drew Peterson: Untouchable

Handles the Case Fairly Well
It's always difficult to make a movie about a murder case that's still being adjudicated in the courts. You can't actually show the murder being committed. On the one hand, you must be positive enough to provide the film with some definite form and to give the viewer some sense of learning the facts of the case. But on the other hand, you must avoid libeling the accused.

Generally, this film negotiates that fine line satisfactorily. Drew Peterson isn't shown actually committing any murder. However it's plain that the producers are projecting him as the guilty party.

The acting is fairly good in this regard. Except - Bob Lowe uses the technique of squinting too much to signal evil intent. All that squinting is distracting and not the kind of obviously malevolent face that any actual sociopath would be likely to present to the world.

Also, most of the women in Drew's life are shown here as looking like virtual clones of each other. Drew's last two wives...

A Better-Than-Average Lifetime Endeavor: A Disturbing True Life Case Gets A "Ripped From The Headlines" Treatment
In the realm of Lifetime network's "ripped from the headlines" genre of movie making, let's just say that most leave a lot to be desired. The results are mostly sensationalized suppositions put together for entertainment purposes as opposed to a serious contemplation of real life events. But as long as you know that's what you're getting, some definitely fare better than others. "Drew Peterson: Untouchable" is one of their efforts that might actually surpass your expectations. Rob Lowe steps into Peterson's shoes and attempts valiantly to recreate his brashness and bravado. While his performance can border on the maniacal, this over-the-top caricature of evil may lack subtlety but it is eminently watchable. Despite the actual case being unresolved, the movie pulls no punches in its assertion about what happened. But again, it is a fictionalized account and not a literal retelling of the crimes (and alleged crimes) represented.

The movie introduces a Drew Peterson that is...

Rob Lowe's Best Performance
Rob Lowe is the last person you'd think of to play Drew Peterson, but he does an amazing job. In fact, he was even more creepier than the real Drew! This movie is based on the book "Fatal Vows: The Tragic Wives of Sgt. Drew Peterson" by Joe Hosey, but don't expect this film to be accurate. If you haven't been following the Drew Peterson saga, don't look to this film to fill you in. Anyway, great movie, most of the cast did well - the woman who played Stacey Peterson came off as very annoying to me....

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