My Wife's Hidden Lover

"My Wife's Hidden Lover" (2023) delivers the typical Lifetime movie formula: drama, betrayal, and a twist you might see coming, but not in its entirety. While the movie is definitely watchable, it's plagued by inconsistencies and questionable character choices.

The leading lady is far from sympathetic. Her infidelity, and her audacity in moving her lover into the attic of the house her husband paid for, is frustrating to watch. The husband's insistence on her not working is equally perplexing. If she can manage a clandestine affair, why not a secret job? Her constant "I have to go..." pronouncements and confused facial expressions do little to evoke empathy or further the story.

The motivation for her supposed commitment to the husband - a promise to build a library using his influence - feels flimsy. The lavish lifestyle she enjoys is a more plausible reason for staying. And her willingness to cheat and so blatantly led me to believe she was looking out for herself and her own ambitions.

The plot itself is riddled with holes. The husband's supposed influence with the police was heavily emphasized, yet when the cops arrive, it's the cheating wife holding the gun - a situation that would likely have led to her arrest. The boyfriend's fate at the end is left unclear. And if building a library was so easily achievable, why didn't she just do it herself in the first place? Definitely not an empowering message in this movie.

Despite these shortcomings, the movie does manage to deliver a surprising twist--to me anyway. Other viewers said it was predictable, but I didn't see that one coming.

One thing tho is that the heroine's happy ending feels unearned, considering her actions, but overall, the movie provides a decent dose of entertainment.