This made-for-t.v. depiction of the Dorothy Stratten is well-intentioned but ends up being entertaining for all the wrong reasons. The script chronicles the same series of events later covered in the feature film Star 80 but does so in a clumsy, shallow manner that reduces a real-life tragedy to a particularly banal type of t.v. drama. Director Gabrielle Beaumont gives it a straightforward style and a solid pace but she can't overcome the floridly melodramatic tone of the material. Jamie Lee Curtis delivers a committed performance as Stratten but is a little too quirky in looks and style to be fully convincing as a tragic sex-kitten. However, the film's most memorable performance comes from Bruce Weitz as would-be svengali Paul Snider: he's even more miscast than Curtis and has an awfully-written role so he attempts to combat these problems by devouring the scenery every time he's on camera. As a result, his performance dominates the proceedings and pulls the film into camp-classic territory. In short, Death Of A Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story is a schlocky mess that is best left to bad-film devotees. Those who want a dramatically compelling version of this story should stick to Star 80.