"Deception": A DVD Movie Review

All movie critics, at times, make snap judgements. I am no different. In fact, I'm as guilty as the next guy is. I can get in a mindset and simply not let it go.

I made that mistake recently with "Speed Racer." I assumed that I wouldn't like the film because of its large amount of computer-generated graphics. I made the same mistake with "Deception"; this time because of the lead actor - - Ewan McGregor.

I'm not a fan of McGregor. I never have been. I didn't even like him in Star Wars. I didn't feel he was right for the role.

On the other hand, I do like Hugh Jackman. For that reason, I decided to give "Deception" a try. I am glad that I did.

Don't get me wrong. This movie is a bit predictable. It isn't likely to confound any movie buff for long. It raises enough red flags to make sure that everyone knows what is going to happen almost before it does.

Nonetheless, the movie was a good distraction for a boring Saturday afternoon. It kept me entertained. Since that is primarily what I look for in a film, I have to give it some credit.

"Deception" centers on a super geeky accountant named Jonathan McQuarry (McGregor). One night while working late, he meets a lawyer by the name of Wyatt Bose (Jackman). They get involved in a conversation and before long they strike up a friendship.

During one of their lunches, the two manage to get their cell phones mixed up. Neither realizes it at first. But when Jonathan gets a phone call that evening from a young woman (played by Natasha Henstridge), he suspects the switch.

Still, he agrees to meet the girl at a local hotel. Once there it is obvious that she doesn't exactly know Wyatt by sight because she assumes that Jonathan is the man she was there to meet. One thing leads to another and before long, the two end up spending the night together.

Of course when Wyatt realizes the switch has happened, he calls Jonathan and explains that he is a member of a sex club with no strings attached. He encourages Jonathan to go ahead and use his phone to hook with women as much as he wants while he is out of town.

Jonathan does just that, meeting next with an older woman (played by Charlotte Rampling) and finally with a beautiful young blond (played by Michelle Williams) that he had once admired on the subway. He and his latest conquest, whom he labels "Sunbeam," connect and develop a relationship on a much deeper level. So they agree to meet a second time.

It is during the second meeting that things go wrong. When Jonathan goes out for ice, Sunbeam is kidnapped. When he returns, he finds her blood all over the room. But before he can do anything, he is hit on the back of the head and rendered unconscious.

He reports her missing to the local police, trying to explain to Detective Russo (played by Lisa Gay Hamilton) about the sex club and why he doesn't know more information about the girl. He doesn't even know her real name. She, of course, dismisses him and the investigation goes no where at all.

Jonathan tries to track down Wyatt in hopes of finding out more about his ladylove. However, when he goes to the place where he thought Wyatt worked, he discovers that the man doesn't really exist.

Before he has time to let everything sink in, he receives a call from the so-called Wyatt. He tells him that it was he who kidnapped his girl and that he will kill her if Jonathan doesn't transfer large sums of money to him in Spain.

Does Jonathan commit the theft? Does Wyatt let his girlfriend go? Obviously, I'm not going to spill the answers to those questions or there would be no need to watch the film at all.

McGregor is good enough in the role of the hero, I suppose. I have to admit that I'm just not unbiased when it comes to this actor. He simply isn't my cup of tea.

Jackman is charming and utterly believable both as Jonathan's friend and as the evil villain. I find it a bit disturbing that he can move so easily between one extreme and the other. On the other hand, that is also the sign of an excellent actor.

Williams is haunting as Jonathan's ladylove. She comes across as naive, innocent, and sweet while also remaining sexy, alluring, and a tad dangerous.

The screenplay, written by Mark Bomback, is too predictable. It isn't poorly written by any stretch of the imagination but it could have been a bit more suspensful.

Marcel Langenegger's direction of the movie is also predictable. There just aren't any surprises.

Although "Deception" is predictable, that doesn't mean it doesn't have merit. I found it entertaining. It helped to pass a rainy Saturday afternoon pleasantly. That's good enough for me. The film gets two and one-half stars out of five.Rating scale used:
0 = Stinker. Don't waste the money!
1 = Bad. Rent it at your own risk.
2 = Below Average. See it only if you have time to kill.
2.5 = Average. A toss up.
3 = Good. Worth a looksee.
3.5 = Very Good. I recommend it.
4 = Excellent. Don't miss it!
4.5 = Outstanding. What are you waiting for?
5 = Destined to become a classic. You will be sorry if you don't see it.