At first glance, Rick Barnes (Vince Vaughn) is the embodiment of the American dream. Secure, courteous with ladies, caring, courageous, etc. Of course, it is impossible to resist such a guy to an ordinary woman. Especially when behind the collapsed marriage and a teenage child who prefers to communicate with his father (Travolta) than with his mother. She wants attention and care. However, if a woman in love does not notice the danger posed by “the embodiment of the American dream”, this does not mean that her son and Travolta’s father will not notice her.
The latest film by middle-hand cinematographer Becker sins with repetitions of an already worn-out plot, sometimes resembling a poorly played scene in a school theater circle. But, perhaps, the main mistake was made in the distribution of artists to the main roles. Good Lyceum Travolta here for some reason plays a positive role, although his crazy charisma most disposed to negative performances, to the performance of ambiguous characters standing on the edge, balancing between good and evil. Therefore, as a father willing to do anything to protect his son from the threat of his stepfather, he looks unconvincing, unreliable and inappropriate. The antagonist of the picture in the picture itself was not at all. In place of Vince Vaughn, who, apparently, was taken into the film because of his tallness and not repulsive appearance, could be any two-meter man with minimal acting skills. He's not playing, he's uttering pre-learned text. So even against the backdrop of Travolta’s imposing six- or seven-figure fee, Vaughn has nothing to counter, making an already weak film almost helpless. Otherwise, the tape is designed quite in the spirit of the mainstream: unobtrusive, shallow psychological thriller, not too stupid, but also not shining with original moves. You can watch it without a hidden threat to fall asleep in the middle of the viewing, but the viewer may not hope for the aftertaste. But in the process of re-viewing, the threat to tame in front of the monitor is quite significant. Therefore, it is better not to tempt fate.
4 out of 10