This movie is not what I expected when I first looked at the DVD cover. Make no mistake, Beyonce's presence in this one should not lead you to conclude its a romantic comedy or lighter fair. This is a dramatic story with some depth, and the three main characters all more than carry their weight in sustaining the suspense of the story, which doesn't exactly take you where you think it will.
Derek Charles ( Iris Elba American Gangster) is a financial analyst who is on the fast track and loving it at his firm. His wife, Sharon (Beyonce Knowles The Pink Panther) is his former secretary who is now a happy stay at home mother to their infant son. All seems well, even when Derek is introduced to a nice new "temp" worker at the firm, Lisa (Ali Larter Final Destination) Lisa seems friendly, more than efficient at her job, and its obvious that she is just a little smitten with her temporary boss, Derek. But, who wouldn't be? And, a little innocent inter-office banter and friendliness on Derek's part when Lisa gets dumped by her boyfriend isn't that big of a deal. Or, is it? I won't play spoiler on this one, but the situation between the two soon ecalates into one of pasion, a heated and intense love affair between the two.
There is just one thing.
None of that actually happens. But, Lisa thinks its happening. And, soon, we the results of someone living in their own reality and how it effects everyone around her. Now, I told you earlier the flick would not take you exactly where you expect it to, and right now you might be thinking this will be an updated version of Fatal Attraction. Its not, either in intent or or result. I think that is mostly because Larter makes her character empathetic, if not sympathetic, and it is easy for us to see why it takes Derek, and everyone else, to see just how combustible this situation will be.
For you Beyonce fans, as well as those of you who might be skeptical of her acting "chops", understand that her character-Sharon- is not one dimensional, nor is she there just as eye candy playing the wife in the backround. Oh, no. Sharon is, in many respects including the climax of the film, the hero. The final conflict is between her and Lisa, so forget the sterotypical man coming in at the last moment to save her.
I can see how some might view the hand to hand combat scene between Lisa and Sharon as a little bit cmpy, but I disagree. Its just very seldom we see movfie fight scenes between women in a realistic fashion. They are either set up as superheroines (Kill Bill Vol II), or the quintessential male fantasy of two chicks ripping each other's clothes off. Now, speaking for most of the males out there, it would be fun to see that with Ms. Knowles and Ms. Larter, bu it would be beneath a film of this caliber so, for those of you hoping to see a little of that, you'll be disappointed.
What isn't disappointing is the way the emotional arc of each character is built up and presented to us in a beleivable way, which makes Obssessed more than worth your while if you decide to take a look at it.
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