Obsessed

Good movie but Beyonce is The worst actress I've never seen

A friend had free movie passes to see this movie--and on my birthday, of all days.

That is two hours of my life that I will never get back.

The movie is a remix of Fatal Attraction, but the plot is nowhere near as edgy and suspenseful. As for the acting...I never expected much of Beyonce in the first place (because she can't act, nor can she speak very well), but I was so disappointed in Idris Elba's performance. A friend remarked that he was probably underacting in order not to overshadow Beyonce, and she was probably right. Still, his character was a caricature of a pseudo-thug from New York who moved up the corporate ranks and added a veneer of sophistication over that thug image. Stringer Bell, we hardly knew ye.

Even Ali Larter didn't come off as psychotic as she could have...perhaps because underneath her lines was the feeling that she was thinking, "What in the world is THIS crap?" Beyonce was a relative nonentity (albeit a well-dressed one), but I'm sure that she and her father bankrolled this movie in further misguided efforts to try and prove that she is a Serious Actress (not to mention a vehicle for further promotion of the House of Dead Wrong--excuse me, the House of Dereon). Too bad it didn't work. However, Beyonce fans and stans will faithfully flock to theaters and will loudly proclaim that she is the best actress since Madea, and should win an Oscar for her performance since she was "robbed" in Dreamgirls. I will give her this: she didn't completely suck as an actress in this movie, but she didn't really stretch herself as an actress either--but then again, she never has. At least she didn't play a singer of some sort in this one, so there is some progress being made.

My disbelief was hardly suspended in this movie. There were so many ways that the movie could have been beefed up to carry viewers on an emotional roller coaster ride, but the writers and directors chose to take the safe route. I'd strongly suggest that people wait for the movie to show up on regular cable programming, and not pay-per-view or view-on-demand.

Obsessed, while borrowing heavily from the classic eighties' Michael Douglas thriller Fatal Attraction, still manages to be its own film. How is that possible, you ask? Well, I'm not quite sure myself. It could be that the audience is too busy laughing and cheering to care or even notice. Let me explain. Obsessed is NOT a serious movie. It is a mindless, campy, fun thriller that you should take with a pinch of salt.

Derek Charles (The Wire's Idris Elba) is a successful executive vice president at Gage Bendix and happily married to Sharon (singer-turned-actress Beyonce Knowles). They're "the perfect family" as Lisa Sheridan, Derek's new temporary assistant put it. But when Lisa (Heroes' Ali Larter) becomes "obsessed" with Derek, everything he's worked so hard for is placed in jeopardy.

What follows is a crazy thrill-ride up until one of the most-talked about catfights in film history. Seriously, my audience cheered, laughed, whooped, etc. It was like being at a boxing match. That alone was worth the price of admission.

Lastly, I thought I'd comment on the acting since it seems most people have been put off this movie because of the fact that Beyonce is in it. You probably won't believe me when I say that this is probably her best acting to date. You really felt and believed her character. Idris Elba was brilliant as always, but Ali Larter completely steals the show as the psycho bitch from hell! Why do Blondes do bad so good? Obsessed isn't a film, it's an experience. It's one of those films you just simply MUST see on the big screen with a full audience. You couldn't possibly get the same effect at home with your family. It's most definitely a must-see in theatres, especially for someone looking for a good time.

With a rockin' soundtrack, great script and cast, Obsessed is a blast of stupid fun and, without a doubt, the sexiest – and most entertaining – thriller of 2009! I still think they should've gone with the original title, though: Oh No She Didn't! Also, I might add that, contrary to popular belief, this movie is not in the slightest bit racist.

Fellas, do yourself a favor - if you have to see this, see it with your "woman" (by that I mean wife or very close significant other, not a first date for the love of Pete), and make sure she pays. You all know she wants to see it, and by the end you'll maybe even thank her for it. Obsessed is one of those movies that women love to watch in their PJ's on a Sunday afternoon with a pint of ice-cream when nothing else is on *except* for the trashiest piece of trash on TV. And make no mistake, Obsessed is such trash that it is a 3rd rate ripoff of Fatal Attraction, which many forget was *already* a rip-off on Clint Eastwood's Play Misty for Me. Here's what you need to know: nice business guy with lots of cake and a fine mansion and a super-fine wife and young tot gets derailed off of living in banality by a foxy-but-trouble type of girl who's working part time in the office.

That's it. No more explanation. If you can guess everything that the characters will do, or wont due to incompetence, then you're doing well. Obsessed makes no bones about being original, and in fact could be the precise template needed if anyone ever wanted to do a full-blown ZAZ-style parody on pscyho-chick movies. It takes itself so seriously that it's hard not to knock on it in most of the scenes - and it becomes further frustrating since out of the three main characters, one actor (Idris Elba) is actually very good, almost too good, for the material, and another (Ali Larter) fits in in her completely 1 1/2 dimensional role without much struggle. Only one, Beyonce, seems to be actually trying too hard to "act" and again gets in trouble as she did in Dreamgirls.

The direction is very slack- considering it's a TV guy who did it, maybe only TV according to his creds- and the writing is slack-ier. The development of characterization and plot moves along like a expertly crafted diarrhea, meaning that it never really stops from its trajectory, and it may be a little smooth going, but it also hurts trying to see it accomplish anything aside from pain. And yet, as far as painful cinema goes, it could've been worse. It certainly has the grace to give us a gigantic cat-fight at the end that you'd expect samurai swords. It's not campy enough to recommend, and by no means if you are a heterosexual male will you get much satisfaction out of it. Girls will giggle and be fine with stuff that is run of the mill, with a few jolting twists along the way.

Now, if you're asking yourself... "What the H*LL kind of alternate Title is that!?!?" Then, how about this one: "My Guess is as Good as Yours!" Because if you're OBSESSED with well written, logical and solid story lines, the second title option fits the bill like an 80's style Madonna glove! (You know, the ones with holes for your fingers! OBSESSED has more plot holes than an Iraqi minefield!)

My motivation for Watching this? A Friend's Review...Go ahead and look for a second (or 3rd) opinion that differs notably from mine!

....And it's not like I didn't TRY to really enjoy this film! Convinced that if I put my Suspension of Disbelief into overdrive, I might reach the credits with a 7 or 8 Star rating. But my intentions were overwhelmed by a totally deficient storyline, and at times, anemic dialog, coupled with a good number of story thread loose ends!!!

Don't get me wrong, OBSESSED obviously had SOME positive qualities going for it, or it never would have received 5.5* from MY Id!!!.

Ali Larter turns in a fine performance as the delusional mistress wannabe. If the scripting had provided her with a more developed, fleshed-in character, I dare say her performance might have been Oscar nomination caliber!

People don't seem to be giving Idris Elba the credit he deserves. His performance as the responsible executive/unwaveringly loyal husband was utterly credible, absolutely spot on. Considering he's from London, his rendering of an American accent was flawless, and I can offer that up as an Expert, Professional opinion.

Beyonce, it should be noted, is making a supreme effort to improve as an actor. Maybe she's trying too hard, because in spite of her energy and focus, her performance barely registers an "OK". Well, at least she seems to be headed in the right direction!

OBSESSED seemingly has borrowed elements from a slew of different movies. Several films are mentioned repeatedly in other reviews. Here are other examples: The War of the Roses; specifics here would amount to a Spoiler, so sorry! And the foreboding music, which itself amounted to a Spoiler in some early scenes, seemed to be lifted directly from "Basic Instinct"!

5.5 *Stars*.... ENJOY! /DISFRUTELA! (As Much As Possible!)

Any comments, questions or observations, in English o en Español, are most welcome!