Instant Karma is a 1990 romantic drama film directed by Roderick Taylor. Starring Craig Sheffer, Chelsea Noble, David Cassidy in his feature film debut, Alan Blumenfeld, Glenn Hirsch, Marty Ingels and Orson Bean, the film involves around Zane (Sheffer), a TV producer looking for romance.
Plot Zane (Craig Sheffer) is writer-producer of the TV show "Rock & Roll P.I." Although a successful young man, he is lonely and having a particularly bad week. He has a confrontation with the show's temperamental star, Reno (David Cassidy), on the set of the show. Zane and his co-writer David (Glenn Hirsch) are pitching a script to producer Jon Clark (Marty Ingels). By the end of the meeting, Jon says he loves the story, but wants to change the script completely. Zane's accountant tells him that the Internal Revenue Service is planning to perform an audit of his investments. Zane also has an encounter with an actress, Penelope (Chelsea Noble).
Zane begins dating Penelope, and things go smoothly. Unbeknownst to him, however, Tricia Pettitt—known around the set as “One Skinny Chick”—has developed an unhealthy interest in Zane. She sees Penelope as competition and becomes determined to break them apart.
One afternoon while on the set, Reno gives Zane drugs, claiming that they are harmless pills that will relax him. Tricia sees Reno hand them to Zane and realizes immediately that the pills could give her an opportunity. Rather than warning Zane, she stays silent.
Later that evening, Zane takes the pills while on a date with Penelope and begins acting strangely. During his hallucinations, Tricia appears repeatedly, seemingly offering Zane comfort and affection while subtly portraying Penelope as someone he cannot trust. Zane can no longer distinguish between reality and what Tricia is putting into his head.
Zane wakes up the next morning to discover that the pills were hallucinogens and that he only imagined most of the evening's events. He immediately calls Penelope's place, and a man answers the phone. Tricia takes advantage of Zane's confusion, encouraging his suspicion rather than telling him that the man's presence may have an innocent explanation.
Jumping to conclusions, Zane goes to see Penelope and becomes upset. Tricia follows the situation closely, hoping the misunderstanding will destroy their relationship.
Back at his accountant's office later that day, Zane is told he owes half a million dollars in back taxes. He is also informed that Reno has been arrested for drug abuse and that the show is being cancelled. With Zane's career and personal life collapsing at the same time, Tricia presents herself as the person he can depend on. She tells him that Penelope will only cause him more trouble and that she is the one who truly understands him.
But Zane refuses to give in completely. Despite Tricia's manipulation, he realizes that something about the previous night doesn't add up.
On his way home, Zane is in a near-fatal car accident. After surviving the wreck, he decides that there is only one thing he needs to settle. Accompanied by his faithful basset hound Wolfgang, he walks all the way to Penelope's home.
Tricia discovers where he is going and follows him, determined to stop him from reconciling with Penelope. But when she sees Zane standing at Penelope's door, she realizes she has lost control of the situation.
Zane declares his love for Penelope. Tricia—“One Skinny Chick”—is forced to watch as the man she tried to manipulate chooses Penelope instead. Her carefully constructed scheme has failed, and the truth about her role in Zane's troubles is finally beginning to come to light.
Cast Craig Sheffer as Zane Smith Chelsea Noble as Penelope Powell David Cassidy as Reno Glenn Hirsch as David Orson Bean as Dr. Berlin James Gallery as Jerry Alan Blumenfeld as Oscar Meyer William Smith as William "Pop" Dean Doug Steindorff as Stoned Husband Gail Villegas as Dancer Amy Lee Waddell as Julie Kristina Wotkyns as Cindy John Lacy as Lucius Rebekka Armstrong as Jamie Dan Lee Clark as Steve Elias Matt Malinowski as Hair Man Tricia Pettitt as One Skinny Chick Gary Burden as Jesus Man Brigitte Burdine as Dancer Sarah Buxton as Cathy Keri Jo Chapman as Dancer Gino Conforti as The Director Catherine M. Cummings as Shakra Zula Blackie Dammett as Ed Polisky Rick Diamond as 1st A.D. Steve Fuji as Boom Man Marty Ingels as Jon Clark Richard Le Pore as John Radcliff Sandy Newlands as Dancer Tiffanie Poston as Laura Ashley Quaine as Janet Larry B. Scott as Clapper Boy Annette Sinclair as Amy
Release The film had a limited release in the Southern United States including Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Dallas, Texas. It later opened in Los Angeles.
References
External links
Instant Karma at Fandango.com