What it’s about?: Derek Charles has a beautiful wife, beautiful new son, beautiful home and a promotion in a big job, but his life is turned inside out when he encounters his attractive temp – as in temptress – assistant, Lisa, who has designs on him and tries to get him to reciprocate. His resistance only increases her efforts as she becomes the stalker from hell, throwing his marriage and career into complete chaos … unless he can stop her fanatical “obsession.”

Who’s in it?: As Derek, the nice guy whose life spirals out of control after a temp stakes a claim on his affections, Idris Elba comes off as passive and confused – no match for either a defiant Beyonce Knowles as his wife or Ali Larter (Heroes) as the psychotic maneater who tries to rock his world with everything this side of boiling bunnies. Both stars get a chance to shine before meeting up in a memorable showdown right out of the Fatal Attraction playbook. Larter is sexy, seductive and disturbed all at once, perfectly capturing the fragile state of a delusional woman in heat. Knowles, who previously showed off her acting chops in musicals like Dreamgirls and Cadillac Records really gets to go for the dramatics in Obsessed – and delivers. She does contribute an end title song appropriately called ‘Smash Into You,’ aptly describing what she (and her stunt woman) pull off in style in the film’s big climactic scene. Also worth mentioning are Jerry O’Connell as Derek’s office buddy and Matthew Humphreys as his efficious gay assistant who likes to spread the office gossip. Christine Lahti however is saddled with a thankless role as a rather clueless detective – this fine actress deserves better.

What’s good?: Those who go in checking their brain at the box office might find this paint-by-numbers scenario crudely entertaining even in its utter predictability. It’s well-played if totally over the top, but hey, isn’t that what we want from this stuff?

What’s bad?: Start with credibility. There isn’t any. It takes a full 80 minutes before anyone utters the phrase “restraining order,” and the frustration builds while watching a nice, innocent guy become such a wuss at the hands of his sexually off-balance temp. Of course, if he came clean about the situation and called the police, the movie would be over in the first 20 minutes. So, suspending belief is a must here. It’s interesting to note that considering the casting of Beyonce and blonde goddess Larter as the women at the heart of this triangle, those expecting what has been buzzed as a “black Fatal Attraction” will find there is not even a single line referring to the racially mixed nature of the relationships.

How tough is Beyonce?: Beyonce gets the film’s best line in a take-no-prisoners moment when she leaves a message on the nutcase’s answering machine: “You think YOU’RE crazy? I’ll show you CRAZY. Just try me bitch!”

Favorite scene: A well-written hospital scene where Derek gets grilled by a detective and his wife at the same time. This will teach every guy to ‘fess up before it all goes bad.

Netflix or multiplex? Multiplex. The crowd reaction during the finale is part of the fun. But despite the surprisingly generous PG-13 rating, definitely leave the kids with the babysitter.

Bottom line: Hollywood.com rated this film 3 stars.

What it’s about?: A total knockout as a piece of well-made B-movie grit, Fighting focuses on two men living on separate edges of society who come together to make a killing in the forbidden world of bare-knuckle fighting. When con man Harvey Boarden spots raw street-fighting talent in the form of small-town dude Shawn MacArthur, the two team up by entering Shawn in the potentially lucrative underground circuit, a place where rich men bet on young brawlers who battle like pit bulls unleashed. With success comes complications, however, and Shawn ends up fighting not only for money but his whole future – which suddenly is very much at stake.

Who’s in it?: Rising young heartthrob Channing Tatum’s (Step Up) raw star power blasts through the screen as Shawn, a role that thankfully calls for more complexity than just acting with his fists. Opposite Oscar-nominated actor Terrence Howard’s (Hustle & Flow) Harvey, he steps up his game, and the two play off each other with ease, searching for ways to lift what is basically an action vehicle into something more emotionally involving and Rocky-esque. Certainly the highlights are still the intense and brutal fight sequences, but because Tatum invests more than just one note into his portrayal of a guy trying to work his way up from the streets into a better life, we are behind him all the way. In a case of a Zulay playing another Zulay, Zulay Henao is sweet and appealing as a girl Shawn starts dating between bouts, while Brian White is menacing and slippery as Evan Hailey, a key rival and protégé of Shawn’s own estranged father. Also of note is Altagracia Guzman, who has a couple of very funny scenes as Zulay’s disapproving grandmother.

What’s good?: The heart-stopping realism of the bare-knuckle fighting is refreshingly free of cinematic trickery and CGI assistance. It’s raw and packs real punch, particularly during a sequence in which Shawn faces a formidable martial arts opponent but also in the climactic bout with Hailey. And fortunately, there are some nice twists along the way that keep this flick from drifting into complete predictability. Director Dito Montiel, who previously made the Sundance award-winner A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (also with Tatum), knows the New York street scene well.

What’s bad?: Although richly entertaining, the film could have benefitted from a deeper look into this forbidden world of underground human fighting, which hasn’t been explored much on-screen beyond the very unique take of David Fincher’s acerbic Fight Club.

Favorite scene: Aside from the powerful fisticuffs on constant display, it has to be Shawn’s first encounter with Zulay’s grandmother when he arrives unannounced for dinner. It’s priceless stuff , serving to humanize him and ramp his score way up on the likeability meter.

Title bout?: Give credit to the filmmakers for the simplicity of the name. Fighting tells you everything you need to know.

Netflix or multiplex? Multiplex. Like any boxing match, it’s more fun to watch with a crowd.

Bottom line: Hollywood.com rated this film 3 stars.