It's time to reboot this tale

By Mark Olsen

July 14, 2008 12 AM PT

Special to The Times

A successful Miami lawyer (Alexandra Paul) discovers that her recently murdered sister led a secret life back in their small hometown, meeting guys online for anonymous, kinky sex. So like any reasonable person, she sets out to find the killer by trolling her way through little sis’ old dates.

“Murder.com” plays like a soft-core cable movie in which somebody snipped out the steamy parts. Paul’s character doesn’t really enter some tawdry underworld. Rather, she places an online ad and talks to creepy dudes.

There would be no shame in being a (very) low-budget erotic thriller if the filmmakers really owned it. But the film simply has no follow-through.

In the role of the lawyer’s legal partner is Robyn Lively, older sister of “Gossip Girl” star Blake Lively. When a single episode of your sister’s TV show contains hotter action and more story structure than the movie you are in, it may be time to reboot. “Murder.com” is strictly CTRL+ALT+delete.

“Murder.com” No MPAA rating. Running Time: 1 hour, 26 minutes. Exclusively at the Regency Fairfax, 7907 Beverly Blvd., (323) 655-4010.