A SISTER'S SECRET

Dany Boaz and Margaret Anne Florence

A SISTER'S SECRET (2018). A Lifetime telefilm. Director: D. J. Viola. 

Twin sisters Elizabeth and Callie (Margaret Anne Florence) have different lives, with Callie married with two children, and Elizabeth with a successful career, but neither of them feels fulfilled. On a lark they decide upon the really stupid idea of changing places for a week, but when one of them is murdered the other keeps her mouth shut -- even more stupid -- and tries to solve the crime. But Detective Tucker (Paula Abdul!) is on the case.

Florence with Paula Abdul

A Sister's Secret is a flaccid suspense item that only touches upon some provocative subjects -- at one point one sister even goes so far as to sleep with her dead sister's husband! If the movie gets points for anything it's that the whole identical twin business is handled so seamlessly that I actually thought that they had cast twins in the role. Which makes their choice of lead actress even stranger, as Margaret Anne Florence has such annoying and unfortunate vocal tics and mannerisms that it almost ruins her otherwise credible performance. Danny Boaz is a bit more on the mark as Callie's husband, Grady, and Catherine Dyer -- whom I kept thinking was Bonnie Bedelia --- scores as the twins' practical Aunt Rose. I'm not at all certain what Paula Abdul is doing in this -- the former vocalist and American Idol judge is fairly competent as an actress but I don't see producers signing her up for major projects any time soon. 

Verdict: Two irritating characters for the price of one! **.