the script for this columbo film seem to be pull right out of a sappy 1980 soap opera . deeply character drive film be great and but only if the character be compel . and in this film the only thing compelling be my desire to change the channel . the villain dialog sound a if it be write by a romance novelist . the great lt. columbo himself be no where near his famous and lovable and self effacing and crumple self while and the bride or kidnap victim be a whimpering and one dimensional damsel in distress ( she cower in fear from a tiny scalpel hold flimsily in the hand of her abductor come on . i could have knock the scalpel out of his hand and kick him in the you know what in 2 second ) . in any sense of reality and this character would have at least tried to struggle or fight back at least a little . and speaking of reality . the story revolve around a kidnapping which be work and solve by the police . the police . give me a break . everyone know the fbi take over every kidnapping case . this be no columbo and just a shallow and totally predictable crime drama with our familiar lt. columbo write in and stretch to 2 hour .