So what exactly is “Maneater?” Is it a biography of the rock band Hall & Oates? Is it perhaps a Discovery Channel documentary all about lions? Or, or could it be a cool sci fi flick about a giant crocodile that grew out of the sewers of New York? Nope on all three. This “Maneater” is a Lifetime mini-series about love and life amongst the rich and bored socialites of Los Angeles. But unlike the horrid reality shows about these vapid women… this is comedy that is anything but real. “Maneater” stars the wonderfully talented Sarah Chalke, whom most of us know from “Scrubs”, as Clarissa Alpert. Like her real-life counterparts she lives off of her parent’s money, doesn’t have a job, and doesn’t have a lick of responsibility. But she realizes that she is getting older and becomes determined to find and marry the ‘perfect guy’… and by perfect… we mean wealthy. She sets her claws on Aaron Mason (Philip Winchester), a Hollywood hopeful with a few weird eccentricities. But no sooner does she get the hooks in and her ex-boyfriend (Paul Leyden) shows up determined to win her back.

Like most Lifetime movies, “Maneater” caters to the women of the household. I realize this is a generalization, after all I’m a guy and I still enjoy a romantic comedy. But this one ramps up the fluff as we are introduced to Clarissa’s best friends (Marla Sokoloff, Judy Greer and Noureen DeWulf) and we learn each one’s desires… and weaknesses (aside from the obvious…). They suffer from various ‘ailments’ from pill popping to hypochondria. These are women with baggage… think of Paris Hilton… who in the world would want to get anywhere near her?

Still, being a romantic comedy things change to keep the story and the characters from continuing to be frivolous. An unplanned pregnancy rears its head to muck up the works, and both Clarissa and Aaron end up losing the financial security their rich parents offered. They soon have to get…shudder… jobs!!! Clarissa finally learns a bit of humility and we get a lot of laughs along the way. While the movie if filled with several really good actors, its Chalke’s show through and through. Having wasted a few years on “Roseanne”, she finally had the chance to shine on “Scrubs.” Here she takes the lead and runs with it. She is a terrific comedic actress and I hope she find more leading roles in films with a little more meat.

The DVD offers a decent transfer, considering it was made for TV. The colors are bright and clear, but you’ll never mistake it for a theatrical feature. The audio comes across very clean, just don’t expect an immersive experience… not that this type of film really calls for it. I was a little surprised to find that there were no extra features aside from some trailers. Granted, it was not a big theatrical movie, but a couple of interviews would have been nice.

“Maneater” admittedly isn’t just a light and frothy comedy. There are light touches of melodrama and social consciousness to keep it from being overly silly throughout. It was surprisingly funny and I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. It is pretty long, so make sure you like romantic comedies before you get into it. And be thankful you’re NOT dating Paris Hilton. “That’s NOT hot!”

Directed by: Timothy Busfield
Starring: Sarah Chalke, Judy Greer, Philip Winchester, Marla Sokoloff
Extras: None
Specification: Widescreen (1.78:1); 5.1 Dolby Digital
Studio: Sony
Release Date: 2/9/2010
MPAA Rating: NR
http://www.sonypictures.com

We'll give Maneater a B-.