Pretty Little Addict (2016 TV Movie) User Reviews

A drunk driving incident that sets a plan of revenge in motion.

[dttruman · 4/10 · 1 May 2016]

I am sorry, but this movie has a bad premise that side tracks the drunk driving issue and does not emphasize the consequences enough. This movie shows more sympathy to drunk driver's family because of the financial burden they may have to bear and the repercussions from the victim's family (even though it maybe somewhat justified).

Instead they choose to examine the retribution by victim's family, which is understandable up to a point. The believability of the financial arrangements is lacking because both parties want to leave the lawyers out of it.

What I really found disappointing was the end where she gives a sanctimonious speech, stressing that she would take over his rehab and he would learn to walk again. IMO, it was a poor attempt to make her feel redeemed.

The Power Of Forgiveness

[kupcr · 6/10 · 5 June 2020]

I liked this movie, but a little too far fetched, I mean I liked the actors performances, as they were quite genuine and believable. The scenery used in the creation of this film were well-done. If you like movies that deal with tragedy and the power of forgiveness and healing, then you will be disappointed for awhile in this one. Actress Andrea Bowen's character Jennifer Phillips is a little cry baby in this and shows no strength at all as she struggles to escape the clutches of the vengeful family member for what she did drinking and driving and as Jennifer's life takes a tailspin, well you know where this is going. The ending is dull and unimaginative. I don't rate this too high, but at least it's watchable.

Watchable ...

[soylentmagenta · 3/10 · 22 April 2018]

If you have nothing else to do on a rainy day, this is a watchable movie. Acting is so so. My only complaint is the lead actress is on the chubby side for being a pretty little addict.

Very moving

[gideonzack · 8/10 · 11 March 2019]

Anyone who's been thru tradegy will relate. This move may make u cry. I loved it. Another winner from lifetime. They could have closed out her roommates story but that's nitpicky. Good stuff.

Pretty Poison

[lavatch · 8/10 · 3 August 2020]

On one level, "Pretty Little Addict" is about the life-damaging effects of alcohol and drug use. On a deeper level, the film explores the theme of human resilience in the aftermath of a tragedy involving drinking, driving, debilitation, and vengeance.

Jennifer Phillips is a twenty-one-year-old woman in denial about her alcoholism. With tough times at home with a distant mother and the death of her beloved composer father, the young musician Jennifer nearly kills a young track star while she is driving in a state of intoxication. The narrative spins off of this tragic occurrence with Jennifer's stay in detox and the brother of the track star seeking revenge on the inebriated driver.

The filmmakers keep up a fast pace in a film with a well-rounded set of characters. The focal point is on the brother of the track star, Alex Brown, finding his way into the Shearwater rehab institute to try to lure Jennifer into drinking and leaving the facility, which would result in a jail sentence for her.

As unsympathetic as nearly all of the characters but the track star may seem, the actors pull off the feat of humanizing them all. The film features an extremely credible psychiatric "intervention" scene with the doctor facilitating an intense and entirely believable confrontation between Jennifer and her mother Donna.

Even the tough-guy brother Alex was brought to his knees by his own misconduct, and the filmmakers found a way to tie together all of the film strands in an effective dénouement. By the end, it was clear how the pretty poison of alcohol is recognized as a demon. But there are also the wise words of the composer father who once told his daughter that "the hardest part is getting started" on any challenge posed by life.