JANE DOE: NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T

US, 2005, 90 minutes, Colour.
Lea Thompson, Joe Penny, William R. Moses, Jessy Schram, Zack Shada, Robin Thomas, Tamlyn Tomita, Timothy Bottoms, Pamela Reed.
Directed by Armand Mastroianni.

Now You See It, Now You Don't is a typical Jane Doe thriller, showing her as the devoted housewife, not yet revealing her Secret Service work to her husband and family. There are many domestic scenes as usual.

The focus is on the stealing of the Declaration of Independence while on a tour. Cathy is called in to solve the problems, working well with Frank, but having a clash with Helen Morriston, played by Tamlyn Tomita, who is jealous of her interventions. Cathy steps back – but finally succeeds in the one-upping of Helen Morriston at the end. Robin Thomas is the bank manager, suave – who, we guess rightly, is the criminal. Timothy Bottoms has a role as a bank security expert and a whiz with computers. Pamela Reed is the wife of the suspect, abducted.

The plot is not dissimilar from that of National Treasure with Nicolas Cage.

1. Cathy called from home, her making excuses, her ingenuity at getting away from home and visiting the supermarket and the agency headquarters? Her comments on the stealing of the Declaration, that it was stolen before it disappeared? The meeting with Helen Morriston – and the continued clashes, Helen and her wanting to be the boss, Cathy stepping back – but solving the mystery of Fran’s abduction and rescuing her, listening to her, and the finale with the bank manager?

2. Frank, his sturdy self, running the investigation, relying on Cathy, making the peace with Helen? His involvement, care about Cathy? Her going off by herself?

3. The family story, Jack and his believing his wife worked with games? Her discussions with Susan? Nick and his computer and helping her to solve the problem?

4. The disappearance of the Declaration? The literal disappearance? The security guard and his not seeing anybody? Clarence and his comments, security at the bank? William Joyner and his concern about security? His helping Cathy, going with her, being shot? The revelation that the wound was slight? The revelation that he was the criminal mind, that the stealing of the Declaration was a distraction, the money in the bank, his team, the work of Clarence, the stealing of the money? His threatening Cathy?

5. Fran, her dead husband, his being the computer whiz, the bank using him for the disappearance of the Declaration?

6. The build-up to the climax, Cathy’s involvement, Joyner holding her at the bank, her getting the message out, the police reinforcements, her taping Joyner and his explanation of what had happened? The arrests – and the satisfactory ending?