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| Idris Elba |
Not much good about silly, contrived "No Good Deed"
In a highly unusual move, Screen Gems, the studio distributing the new movie "No Good Deed," canceled advance screening nationwide for critics in a move according to them, to preserve some key plot twists, but a move that signaled the movie wasn't that good. The latter statement would prove to be true in the highly implausible, silly and mildly enjoyable thriller "No Good Deed." Terri (Taraji P. Henson), a devoted wife and mother of two, lives an ideal life that takes a dramatic turn when her home and children are threatened by Colin (Idris Elba), a charming stranger who smooth-talks his way into her house, claiming car trouble. The unexpected invitation leaves her and her family terrorized and fighting for survival. Directed by Sam Miller, who directed Elba in the acclaimed TV series "Luther," "No Good Deed" is a conventional, predictable thriller, though Elba is a good bad guy, and he is one of the few bright spots about this unoriginal thriller. For what it's worth, you can see any plot "twists" from a mile away (even in the trailers) as the criminal somehow is able to find a woman alone at home, at night, with her children, when its raining - all highly unlikely to happen in real life. There are some decent, tense moments, but if you think you know what happens, it does, not to mention a clunky ending. Note to Screen Gems, it's never a good thing to cancel your advance screenings at the last minute, it shows a genuine lack of faith in your product, and after seeing "No Good Deed," it only underscores what we already knew: that it's a dud. Elba and Henson are appealing, and it'd be nice to see Elba in particular in more bad-guy roles, but with a better script and direction. It's best to skip "No Good Deed" and see the much better thriller "The Drop" this weekend.
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