Movie review: Obsessed

Jun 3 2009 by Ian Bunting, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

‘OBSESSED’ is a modern-day ‘Fatal Attraction’ and stars Beyonce Knowles as Sharon, a wife and mother whose life is about to be turned upside down.

Her husband Derek (Idris Elba), after receiving a promotion at work, is targeted by temp Lisa (Ali Larter). It quickly becomes clear that Lisa is infatuated with Derek and will do anything to be with him, which puts Sharon’s life in danger.

I wasn’t expecting much from ‘Obsessed’, despite it being a big hit in the States, but it was slightly better than those initial fears... slightly better.

London-born Director Steve Shill has an impressive track record in TV (‘Law and Order’, ‘Dexter’) but this marks his big-screen debut and it is a decent way to start.

It does take a while to get going, barely anything happens in the first 40 minutes, and suffers from silliness late on but it is always watchable.

Knowles is probably best known for her singing and hasn’t exactly blown everyone away with her acting skills but she is OK here, more so in the early going. She does become quite unreal towards the end and looks too glamorous for a stay-at-home mum.

As psycho Susan, Larter (‘Final Destination’, ‘Heroes’) over-acts quite a bit and is no Glenn Close. Old school ‘bunny boiling’ gives way to her spiking drinks, sending e-mails and MP3 file sharing. Also, we see more of her legs than we do of her at times.

Elba (‘28 Weeks Later’, ‘The Wire’) is terrific and very likeable. You feel for him as he gets caught between these two women and it is his colleagues who would give men in the workplace a bad name.

Most of the film features him and Larter and her ‘courting techniques’ go on for too long. The old ‘dropping folders/hand touching’ scene comes into play and a stomach bug just happens to go around Derek’s office to allow Lisa to remain around the place.

Watching a film with a Christmas setting while the June sunshine beats down outside was also quite bizarre and ‘Obsessed’ suffers from the most unconvincing fake call scene, and worst babysitter, in movie history.

The climax sees a catfight between Knowles and Larter, which was the film’s main selling point in the US. The five minute long smackdown is ridiculously OTT but a more memorable scrap than anything in last week’s ‘Fighting.’ However, never has the line “I’m gonna have to call you back”, uttered by Knowles, felt more out of place.

Beyonce the musician has the final word as her song plays over the end credits and you can’t help feel she should stick to what she does best.

‘Obsessed’ isn’t ‘Bootylicious’ and won’t win any Oscars but, if you don’t mind leaving the brain at the door, its a decent way to spend an hour and 40 minutes.

Rating - 6 out of 10.