February 11, 1991 -- ``Sleeping With the Enemy'' is a manipulative movie that works well enough so that the audience applauds when the heroine, Julia Roberts, murders her husband in cold blood near the end of the film.

Her husband, ably played by Patrick Bergin, is a sort of anal-retentive, possessive wife abuser-type that only a mother could love. Roberts plays the traditional abused wife who finally is pushed to the point where she strikes back.

The story goes by the numbers. There's nothing original or exceptional in it, but it is passably well acted, directed and produced. The script, however, suffers from ludicrous logical gaps. It is a little surprising that it is such a big hit. I thought this was the year for lighthearted escapism as in ``Home Alone.'' This isn't lighthearted, but it is escapism of a sort and Julia Roberts is very popular.

On a scale of one to 10 this film rates a five.

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