Obsessed Movie Review

Beyonce and Ali Larter in a Cinematic Catfight. But is it Good?

May 7, 2009 Paul Counelis

Obsessed is a somewhat predictable, kind of mild foray into Fatal Attraction territory, It's also more entertaining than it probably should be, thanks mostly to the cast.

Yes, it's campy. It's kind of tame, it's obvious, even predictable. It's also kind of fun. The PG-13 thriller Obsessed is blessed with a cast that keeps things moving and even fairly entertaining, for what it is.

The Story of Obsessed

Idris Elba plays a man who seems to have it all. The perfect family, complete with wife Sharon (Beyonce Knowles) and son. A great job, good friends, a nice house. When a lovely temp (Ali Larter) is hired into his office as a secretary and begins dismantling his life, all those things are thrown into peril.

As the film moves to it's fairly obvious conclusion (and if you somehow missed the ad campaigns, you'll probably STILL be able to guess where it's all going), the talented cast (aided by the fat kid from Stand By Me, er, that is, Jerry O'Connell) stays game enough to just make it all work. In a way, anyway.

The Good Obsessed

Ali Larter is very convincing, almost irritatingly so, as the sexy temp. She slinks, winks, and slyly hits all the right notes on her way to a very creepy, even slimy character. You don't know if she really believes the things that she's saying, or if her obsession is really just that; an obsession. In the end, it doesn't really matter, because the threat is all too real for Elba and Knowles.

Speaking of which, Elba is dynamite in his part. The veteran actor (The Wire) is likable, engaging, and charismatic. For her part, Beyonce holds her own. She's alternately fragile and strong, sometimes within the same scene. Their relationship is believable and makes the film work more effectively.

The score is great. Tense and moody, and stays strong throughout.

The Bad Obsessed

In a nutshell, the script just isn't very original. That's a pretty big detraction. That's ok, because most will go in knowing what to expect, but it's probably a sticking point for those expecting a more "grown up" thriller. It's campy and all pretty silly, elevated only by the stirring performances. There's nothing here we haven't seen done (better) many times before.

You never really feel as if any of the protagonists are in any real danger, particularly even the child, which is surprising. It's a far cry from Rebecca DeMornay's harrowing turn in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, for instance.

Is Obsessed Any Good?

Depending on what you expect going in, Obsessed could be pretty entertaining. Then again, the criticisms of "toothless" and "mild" could definitely be applicable. It's all fairly non-threatening, despite the palpable tension and Larter's impressive theatrics.

For what it is, PG-13 exploitation fare, Obsessed is fairly absorbing. At the very least, harmlessly diverting.

The copyright of the article Obsessed Movie Review in Action Films/Thrillers is owned by Paul Counelis. Permission to republish Obsessed Movie Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

What do you think about this article?

---

NOTE: Because you are not a Suite101 member, your comment will be moderated before it is viewable.

post your comment

What is 10+6?

Comments

May 8, 2009 10:49 AM

Guest :

"The Hong Kong Connection" is a legal thriller about a gutsy female attorney who takes on high ranking International officials. It's a taut, rollercoaster of a ride from New York to Palm Beach to Washington D.C. to Hong Kong. The plot is expertly woven, the characters persuasive, and the dialogue snappy and spot on.
www.StrategicBookPublishing.com/TheHongKongConnection.html

Aug 31, 2009 5:54 PM

Guest :

OBSESSED sucks with a capital S*U*C*K!!!...in ALLLL catagories, including BK's "...acting..." - easily in the top 10 list of worst films ever.

Aug 31, 2009 8:19 PM

Paul Counelis :

LOL!

3 Comments