OBSESSED
RYAN: At last, pun intended, Beyoncé returns to the silver screen.
CAROLINE: [laughs’ ‘Cuz in her last movie she played Etta James.
RYAN: Correct! “Cadillac Records.” She’s certainly making movies and this one is the first in which she doesn’t sing. This film did not screen for critics; however, I did attend the studio’s courtesy screening Friday morning.
CAROLINE: So how was she in this?
RYAN: She’s a little wooden but actually had a few terrific scenes.
CAROLINE: Ok, moments are good.
RYAN: But she’s also one of those people who fall into the trap of being too famous for her own good; like, you never really forget you’re watching “Beyoncé.”
CAROLINE: I hate that, Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston.
RYAN: And what is up with these singers, Mariah, Madonna… who all want to act so badly? There was a time when Cher and Barbra could do it but it’s different now. Though Beyoncé might be the most promising of this generation. Or maybe Mandy Moore.
CAROLINE: [laughs’ How was Ali Larter from TV’s Heroes?
RYAN: I loved her as Brooke Windham in “Legally Blonde”!!
CAROLINE: Oh God, yes!
RYAN: She’s great. I really like her and hope we see more of her in movies. Some of her lines are really cheesy and that was sad, but she still pulls it off. She’s good.
CAROLINE: She plays the other woman, right? And what I like from the trailer is you don’t know whether she and Beyoncé’s husband have an affair or if she’s just a seductress/crazy bitch.
RYAN: I won’t give anything away. There is a level of suspense in the film though it takes a while to get going. There’s also a gay character who was cute. And Jerry O’Connell is in it too.
CAROLINE: How was he?
RYAN: It’s a stupid, cliché role. And he has awful Rod Blagojevich hair.
CAROLINE: Ooh that’s painful.
RYAN: There’s also a really bad montage about three- quarters of the way through that was so unnecessary. But I have to say Beyoncé must have had a hand in the soundtrack. The music is good, though sometimes unfitting. She is listed as a producer on the film.
CAROLINE: GTK, good to know. I really wanted to see this and was sad to miss the screening with you. I just thought it looked campy and fun.
— BOTTOM LINE —
RYAN: I’d say I enjoyed about forty percent of this film. It definitely has its moments: good and bad. Some are indeed campy as you predicted, and I enjoyed laughing at the film; then I was surprised when it was actually good. It’s a real toss-up, and by no means a recommendation.
— RATING —
