I'm going tomorrow after work. Can't wait.

Hoping to go over the weekend. To be honest, NONE of the actors look at all as I picture them as I read the books--well, except for LuLu-she's spot on. Really cannot imagine Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur... But can't wait to see the movie, regardless.

I REALLY want to see this one. I have read all the books and thoroughly enjoyed them.

I just watched the trailer. I like Katerine Heigl but shes too tall for the role matched up with the actors they choose for Ranger and Morelli. They are supposed to be men who she feels protected by. Looks like she could kick their butts. Guess the producers decided to use "men" that would appeal more to teen aged girls than the readers of the books.

When I picture Grandma Mazur I picture some like Estelle Getty.RIP Debbie Reynolds Nope. A cosmetically aged Sally Fieids would maybe have worked better. She is a good character actress.

Stefanani is too girly and fashionista and the men too boyish. In the books she is hair,make-up and fashion challenged.

Lulu is the only one they got right and maybe the parents.

I've read all the books and love Stephanie. Plan to see the movie Saturday with my daughter,it should be great.

No question in my mind that Ranger should have been Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. I can't stand the thought of Katherine Heigel playing Stephanie, but when you consider that Katherine and her mother bought the rights, you know no one else is getting the part.

She and her mother formed a production company, so it's her show. Even Lula isn't my first choice. I love Sherri Shepard, but I think Mo'nique is better suited to the role.

Oh well. They didn't ask me what I thought and I'm pretty sure they don't care either.

Dwayne 'The Rock'! You are right about that casting, yarnlover!

And maybe I'll change my mind when I see them on the big screen, but the men are not the drop-dead gorgeous types I had "cast" when I was reading the books! The kind that make your eyeballs spring out and your tongue roll down onto the floor -- like in cartoons. Hahahahaha!

Lulu is always packing her size whatever into a size 6 or something waayy beyond God's intentions, and Sherri has lost a lot of weight since she started on "The View" -- we'll see if she can pull it off!

(Going Sunday with a neighbor who likes the books, too.)

I hope to see it soon. I have been a Janet fan from the beginning that won't change, but none of the actors are who I imagine when I read the books. They got Ranger so wrong, I had always considered Rock too but there were several good choices for both men that would have been better. I like Katherine but she is Not Stephanie!
I think Queen Latifa would be a good Lula.

Back a few years ago Janet had a contest for people to give their choices for the actors, there were some great ideas offered, I don't remember now who all I had picked but would sure have preferred them!

Just hope for Janets sake it does well and more will be movies.

"I think Queen Latifa would be a good Lula."

That's exactly my choice, too!

I have these great images in my mind of Ranger and Morelli, and I'm afraid it would be ruined if I saw the movie with the actors who were cast.

And I think Betty White has just the spunk that Gradma Mazur has!

I never read any of the books and am glad I didn'tt. now when I see it I wont have any preconceived ideas about the players.

WAKE UP Caroline, you've slept long enough. How was it?

Yes Betty White would have made a perfect Grandma Mazur. You are right on the mark there Lindsay.

LOL KIm! lol yeah, the guy they chose for Ranger sure isn't the right one! THE ROCK would have been awesome! The actor for Morelli? He looks pretty good. (I've only seen the trailer) Sherri seems too nice. LOL Monique would have been perfect! I hope it's pretty good though. I can't go to a movie theater yet, guess I'll have to wait until I can rent it!

I always picture Cloris Leachman as Grandma Mazur when I read the books. :) Must be from the Beverly Hillbillies movie...

Kim, you're too funny! I've been up since 8 a.m, but my brain is still foggy. It's an hour's drive to the theater so coming home was a bit challenging.

The movie!

How do I describe the movie?

I think I'd give it a firm A-. I'd give it a B+ but that's a bit low.

It was good; it was entertaining; it hit the mark, but not dead center in the bulls-eye. It followed the first book's story well. It was an acceptable accounting of an excellent story. It did not have the magic of the book though. Still, it was good.

They rushed the ending and the entire Jimmie Alpha chain of events. They did manage to portray most of the story.

My biggest disappointment was the casting. The actors' portrayals of the characters was good. "Ranger" surprised me most of all. Still, they seemed to be working too hard to "play" the character instead of simply "being" the character.

If they (actors, directors, script writers, prop masters, etc.) will read the books, and if they make another movie or two following the books' storylines, I think they may become smokin' hot (but hopefully before they reach the Smokin' Seventeen book, LOL!)

Grandma Mazur was insipid. They simply have to portray her properly. Mr. and Mrs. Mazur, in keeping with the movies' theme, were not cast correctly. Their house was not cast correctly. In the movie it was a brown brick detached house, "a narrow, two-story duplex with jalousied front porch and aluminum awnings."

In the books it's painted yellow. The other half of the duplex, home to Mrs. Markowitz, is painted lime green. Details; they over looked the details.

Keep in mind, I'm a reader. I don't know how many times I've read (hardcopy) these books and listened (unabridged audio CDs/digital downloads) to all 22 Plum books. I can almost quote them, chapter and verse, so I'm naturally critical when a beloved book is translated to film.

Stephanie's apartment was portrayed all wrong, too. Her apartment is another character in the books. It sets a mood. Morelli's apartment was all wrong, too.

I guess most people would say my "disappointments" are nit-picky. Details are important to me and the details they left out changed the story.

Characters as described in the book...

Stephanie is is 5'7" and weighs around 125-130, rawboned, dark curly hair.

Ranger...Ricard Carlos Manoso, second-generation Cuban American, former Special Forces. Straight black hair, worn in a pony tail for the first book. Biceps carved from granite, 5'10", late 20s.

Eddie Gazarra, her childhood friend, cousin-in-law, and cop was played well by Nate Mooney. In the books he is 5'10", stocky, Slavic. He was a patrolman, not a lieutenant. I liked the leaner, more professional look of Mooney.

John Kuzack, the man who hit Morelli in the head with a "six pack" (not a bottle of Jack Daniels as told in the movie) is described as a Vietnam vet/airborne, 6'4", 240 lbs., pony tail. The only resemblance to the "real" Kuzack and the movie's version was the rattlesnake tattooed on his forehead.

Other things that bothered me...

In the books, Stephanie kept bottles of beer in the fridge, if finances allowed. The movie showed cans.

Stephanie removed the distributor cap from Morelli's Cherokee, not the "master fuse." The vehicle was red, not black as in the movie.

Lula's attack and torture was glossed over for the movie. They did not portray the real terror and fear caused by Ramirez. It was the crux of the book.

Morelli broke into Steph's apartment, cleaned up all the blood and gore from Lula's torture, and had a steak dinner ready for Steph. He was not as out-of-control and desperate as the movie portrayed him.

In the book Morelli's bail was $100,000, making Stephanie's payoff $10,000; not the $500,000/$50,000 in the movie.

At the end of the book Morelli brought Steph a pizza; however the cupcake in the movie was very cute.

All that droning on, LOL, and I cut out the last paragraph...

So...

All-in-all, the movie was great. Still, if you haven't read the book(s) you will miss out on the real comedy, drama, and flavor of the story.

Swoon...I can't wait to hear Ranger say, "Baaaabe".

I got SO a Bvlgari product like Ranger uses. He said, ok whatever.

Thank you Caroline. You're probably ready for a nap.

oh but those that have not read the books you just MUST read the books to get the full on Plum experience no movie will cover that and make you feel and understand the characters and their interaction like the books do, that is Janet's forte.

thanks Caroline and that is really about what I would expect with the characters chosen.
I hope I can get to see it on the big screen I would prefer that to tv.

Caroline you hit the nail on the head the details make the story! I would have picked out those same details, the books should be required reading for any one playing the parts with out doubt, a script is not the same as a book.

I am still very excited to see it anyway though, we have been waiting long enough already!

Thanks for the review--it's disappointing to read, sad to think the movie was so off base--but from the commercials and casting, it sounded as if it might be. Will probably still go see it, but won't be expecting too much. And in my case.... I don't live too far from Trenton, so I'm going to assume I'll pick up a lot of non-Trenton details, too, since it was filmed in Western Pa, NOT Trenton.

Kim, don't get ready to swoon yet. Ranger calls her "Babe" once or twice in the movie, but I don't believe he started calling her that, with any feeling anyway, until later in the series.

I've got a lot of researching and earmarking to do! LOL

Folks, dust off your books, or hit up the library, eBay, iTunes, or Amazon and read these Evanovich books. You'll love them.

I wasn't too excited about seeing the film although I read all the books. I think I was afraid that it would be turned into another silly, predictable Katherine Heigl comedy.

But after hearing Caroline's report I think I will see it. Since I'm originally from Pittsburgh where most of the movie was shot (and Ambridge which is just outside of Pgh) and now I live south of Trenton I'll have to see how the filming locations fit the story.

I just read a review on IMDB and the reviewer was rather surprised and stated the movie was better than he expected. If you open the link you'll have to scroll down to User Reviews.

Here is a link that might be useful: One for the Money

Saw it today w/neighbor friend.

We thought it was cute. (But also, the movie seemed short!)

We hadn't read Book 1 in a long time, so our minds have forgotten some of the details.

[Caroline: As we were leaving the theater, a woman ahead of us said to her friend, "I thought Morelli's car was red!" Another filmgoer who really, really knows the book's details!]

So I did keep an open mind on casting: the Morelli actor was fine (in all of the meanings of "fine" -- he looked like Mel Gibson's much younger brother), and the Ranger actor was OK but just not as deep, dark, intriguing or as "protector"/tough looking as I thought he needed to be. Didn't really like Debbie Reynolds in the Grandma role, but as my neighbor said, we really needed a scene of her in the funeral home, where she always looks for the open casket, to do a full assessment of Reynolds in the role!

Caroline: Refresh my memory on 2 things, if you will:
--The emphasis on nice clothes and shoes (am I forgetting this from the books?)
--And how handy with a gun and how good a "shot" she became so quickly (I thought her skills with a gun was equal to her skill keeping cars running and not blown up!).

And you're right about the "Babe" vocalization in this movie -- guess he's "leaning" into it for the sequel?

If you haven't read these books, I highly recommend them. They are hilarious and you will be laughing at all of the characters and predicaments that happen. These books are just plain FUN!

Love the books - liked, very much, the movie.

Being the first one -- Lula and Grandma didn't have
the large parts they get over the years.

The movie makes Ranger too talky. LOL.

And, as far as rushing towards the end -- that is an
earmark of several of her books too. Probably the
ones when she uses other authors help. Several of
the books are running along with everything happening,
and tons of actions -- and within a page or two, they
end it all.

Morelli -- was absolutely perfect to me. :) It
has been so long since I read the first few books -- I
had completely forgotten about her friend MaryLou - who
was in the movie.

All in all -- I would have loved this movie. even more,
if I hadn't read the books. Just IMHO -- and I know
that I am a newbie, so it doesn't mean a hill of beans
to anyone.

Geez, Louise!! It was a movie, not a doctoral dissertation! It was for entertainment!! So what if some of the details didn't line up? Big deal!! I enjoyed it, would have chosen a different Ranger, but the color of the house? Really? Gosh. If you haven't seen it, go and enjoy it and laugh. The movies are never as good as the book, but what a waste of time to nit pick.

I saw it last night with some friends - all Evanovich fans. We enjoyed it. Yes there were some interesting "mistakes" that die hard Evanaovich fans will pick up on if you wanted to be really picky. I immediately laughed at a sentence about the town where everyone drives American cars as Stephanie pulls up in a red Miata! I drive a Miata so I noticed that but I think I was the only member of the audience that did.

Grandma could have "looked older". She did in my mind. Vinnie wasn't what I pictured him to be at all. However, those critiques are mainly made because the character development that Evanovich makes in her Stephanie Plum series are just so very good. The characters are also enriched as the series progresses so for the first book turned movie, we thought it was really great. A longer movie would have been able to highlight these characters more. There was so much to show in so little time. The four of us loved Stephanie.

The consensus of our group of four was that the reviews didn't do this movie justice. The 1 out of 4 stars reviews were just plain harsh and didn't reflect the opinion of those really familiar with the series.

Caran - glad you posted a review- I enjoyed your comments. I read all the books and really liked the first ones. But they became so formulaic and predictable that I started to become annoyed at myself for reading them. I think the only reason I did was to find out if Stephanie and Morelli ever became a real couple.

Vannie this is called a discussion I have not seen one ill word spoken in this DISCUSSION. What is wrong with any one telling what they like or dislike???? Everyone has said how much they like the books and in general the movie too.
I sure did not see any reason for that kind of response to this very nice calm discussion of a Movie. I am certainly able to decide what exactly I want to waste my own time on and I have very much enjoyed this tread so thank you all for your comments and thoughts!! Hope others jump in and tell us their thoughts as they see the movie. For those of us that have been reading Janet's books for many many years this is a very big deal that one of the books has become a movie, a Very big deal when that kind of success happens to an author you love.

and I know that I am a newbie, so it doesn't mean a hill of beans to anyone.

Oh, not at all, Caran. I think most of us will agree that we give newbies the benefit of the doubt and believe every word they say. As long as they're being nice. :-)

Thanks for weighing in with your opinion--seriously!

Caran, your thoughts and comments are just as important and valid as anyone else's. We were ALL (yeah, I shouted it, LOL) newbies at one time.

I agree, Ranger was talky, but I like his portrayal much better than Morelli's. Morelli, the 'real' one in the books, has black, curly hair that is always looking like it needs a haircut, even when he's just had one. His black 5 o'clock shadow shows up in the early afternoon.And more importantly, he has dark brown eyes that turn to "melted chocolate."

The 'rushing' that bothered me was they did not show the evil, vicious side of Ramirez. They glossed over many of the crimes and acts of violence he committed. They didn't follow through with Jimmie Alpha helping him break in to Steph's apartment and Alpha trying to kill both of them. It was the entire crux of the book.

Pammy Faye The books are set in the mid- to late-80s. Her fashions and hair in the books were appropriate to the time frame.

The script writers decided to move the styles to the 90s. A wrong move, IMHO. Still, she was fashionable for her decade in the book; and in the movie. She loved/loved shoes (heels, Keds,and boots). She did wear a black suit, with white blouse and pearl earrings, for her important appointments. I thought they carried her mode of dressing forward nicely.

In the books she always wears large, flashy hoop or dangle earrings (remember, it's the mid-80s) and in the movie she wore more conservative studs. Pretty much follows my earring history! LOL

As for her shooting skills, after Ranger was shot (and injured more than the movie showed) she got series and had her cop-friend, Eddie Gazarra, take her to the shooting gallery every night. She did learn to shoot, but when she killed Jimmy Alpha it was all reflex.

The book showed her shooting through her purse and nailing him with all five bullets in the heart. I'm a good shot, not great, but good. I couldn't do it.

Having been a victim of a terribly violent crime myself many years ago, I really and truly cheered for the girl here.

Marie Cate Isn't that the truth. I have several "series" by different authors that I follow. I love them all, and I get drawn in to on-going sub-stories. Still, nearly all of them reach that "nothing new can happen" stage. I usually stuck trying to decide to just let them go, or keep reading the series.

Thank goodness for libraries so at least they're not money and time wasters.

I'll have to thumb through the Plum books - yes; I have them all! - to be sure, but I think the first nine or ten were the very best.

Holly Several of my gal-pals are Evanovich die-hards, too. Like me, they loved the visual aspect of the movie, but were distressed about the mistakes and story lines that were left out.

People that haven't read, and enjoyed, the series won't be able to understand.

Vannie Dear, you need to have a cupcake, with sprinkles. Or a cupcake and a Tasty Cake. You need to have a cup of tea, or slug of whisky, with Grandma Mazur, and go for a run with Ranger.

Then, once you're feeling refreshed, take a deep breath. This is a discussion board. We can discuss a topic, any topic, for as long as anyone wants to post on it. When a topic reaches 150 posts, it closes. We can then start a Part II of the same topic, again, for as long as anyone wishes to post.

No one is obliged to read, post, or agree with the topic. People are free to not even open topic they don't think they'll enjoy.

So, we who think the color of a house is important to a storyline can, and just might do so, write an entire doctoral dissertation on it. It would be far more interesting than many dissertations I've read.

Once you've had your cupcakes, stop by and I'll give you a slice of pecan pie and you can play fetch with Harry. He, and my pecan pie, can relax even the most Barnhardt-minded thoughts.

While there are no rules, it's generally accepted that if a topic does not interest a person, they Scroll On By.

If we didn't like to nit-pick, most of us would not be posting on any topic. And, as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe said, "God is in the details."

Can't wait to see the movie, don't care what the reviews say.
And Caroline, can I stop by and have a piece of that pecan pie?
Kathy G in MI

I too am a fan of the books. The details "make" the movie. Someone just watching the movie wouldn't notice, but a fan is going to pick up on the little things.

I don't see Katherine Heigel as Stephanie, but I'm not sure who I would cast for her??? Maybe a younger Sandra Bullock? Someone tomboyish or not conventionally pretty, but cleans up well? You always picture the characters a certain way and they don't fit when you see them on screen. I agree that Grandma Mazur should be older and frail, more Cloris Leachman or Estelle Getty. Monique would be a good Lula just size wise and attitude alone, but I think Sherri Shepard could pull it off.

I haven't read the books in a while, so I might reread a few. Not sure if I'd bother with the movie, since Katherine will probably be bugging me the whole time. BUT if there is ever a Sue Grafton/ABC murders/Kinsey Milhone movie I will be all over it!!!! The wash and wear all purpose black dress; Henry her landlord/neighbor and her little house!!!

I went to see this movie yesterday.. been waitng years for this series to be made into a movie (or more) .
I agree that there were a lot of little things that just weren't right compared to the books. The morelli character was handsome, but just didn't seem as what I pictured in my mind..and the whole Ramerez thing was way glossed over. That was the whole story line of the book. It was good, but but did seem short.
Was it just me , or did big blue seem too new? ,,,And yes we need a Sue Grafton movie next !!

Stephanie Plum, Sue Grafton and JD Robb movies!!!!
Oh my gosh......Roarke..........swooooooon!!!

it's been a long time since I've read #ONE. Did they
have the Chicken fast food place? Cluck n... something? lol
I didn't keep any of my books.
Maybe I will have to buy a new flat screen TV
so this will look better, since I can't go to a movie
theater until mid August? lol
I just adore going to movies!

Caroline, what other series do you read? I need new
material and I don't want any "cerebral" stuff right now! ahahahhahahahah

thanks All. I just watched the "Nanny" @ 5am this morning.
HER Grandma would have been perfect! That actress played the neighbor, Millie, on the Dick VanDyke tv show!
I also always thought
that LAUREN GRAHAM would have been perfect for Stephanie. Oh so good, but I guess a little too old. the Lauren Graham from the Gilmore girls time! lol

Here is a link that might be useful: Ann Morgan Guilbert

Well, I'm thinking of seeing something tonight. It's $4.00 night in Frankfort. It's a toss up between "The Decendents" and "One for the Money". I kind of want to see "The Decendents" more only because it's filmed in Hawaii.

I haven't read any of the books you all are talking about so it wouldn't bother me that they've changed things. Although, now you have me interested in them. ( :

I had to do a search for this post cause I know there are lots of Plum fans here...I don't go to the theatre so will definitely be renting it from Red Box when it hits there...

I saw the trailer and think Katherine will do ok...I wasn't thrilled about her choices but the people I wanted to play the parts are too expensive now...yes "The ROCK" woulda been great as Ranger...but he's expensive...Monique probably got expensive after Precious...Queen Latifa is probably expensive so she had to go with some lesser priced actors...I don't have a clue who I envisioned as Morelli...but I woulda have loved to have seen Estelle Getty play grandma and Cloris LEachman a distant second!

Thanks for the reviews...I just finished Explosive 18 and can't wait for her next one...I was reading it on the Kindle going to Dubai and having to suppress my laughs so I didn't wake anyone...the books just crack me up!!

I too read all her books but I was dissapointed with the movie. I had all the books and sent them all out to friends. Now I wish I saved them to read again. JMHO

Kathleen, when you want to read something really fun, read these books....start with number one and keep them in order if you ca. They are great reads when you are stressed, and you will catch yourself laughing at many of the descriptions.

Liz - if you are through all of the Stephanie Plum books, some of her other books are equally entertaining.

Gemma Halliday is also a writer very similar in style and her High Heels series are a real laugh. Right now Amazon has books 1-5 in a boxed set for the Kindle on sale for the grand total of three bucks. Well worth it.

Janet just released a new book, not in the Plum series, called Love in a Nutshell. I am just starting to read it. I read all of her books she is one of my faves.