Deprecated: mb_convert_encoding(): Handling HTML entities via mbstring is deprecated; use htmlspecialchars, htmlentities, or mb_encode_numericentity/mb_decode_numericentity instead in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/super-cool-ad-inserter/inc/scaip-shortcode-inserter.php on line 37
James Foley’s thriller seems a throwback to those heady days of Fatal Attraction, Jagged Edge, et al. We’ve got an ambitious reporter (Halle Berry) going “undercover” as sexual bait targeting an overly groomed alpha male/CEO (Bruce Willis). Toss in a way-too-weird buddy (Giovanni Ribisi); a dead slut; lots of sleek Manhattan sets; and some egregious product placements, and it should be guilty-pleasure fun, full-steam ahead. Sadly, the story is a mess — who needs logic when there’s Berry’s lush form for the camera to leer at? And don’t look for action — we’ve got a lot of very uncompelling instant-messaging to get through. The jarring conclusion is courtesy of Dial-A-Twist; you might as well make up your own. Stranger is a full platter of red herrings, with barely any tasty morsels for nourishment, even of the cheesy variety. (AH) 
This article appears in Apr 19-25, 2007.
