To Have and Have Not

Casablanca lite. It's hard not to make the comparison, given that this flick is nearly identical in plot to the ultimate classic, except for its Caribbean setting and the substitution of Lauren Bacall for Ingrid Bergman (a downgrade in my estimation). The side players aren't nearly as memorable here, nor does there seem to be quite as much on the line with this plot. Even Bogart, the ultimate reliable actor, seems a bit flat in his role. There is enough of interest in this outing to make the sum reasonably entertaining; it's just not the rarefied air that other similar films--not just Casablanca but Key Largo as well--were able to achieve.