Derailed

Are you white? Middle-class with an impressive sounding job? Happily married to an attractive woman and father to an ill, but always cute, kid? Live in a really big house in a nice part of town? Then, for God's sake stay away from extra marital affairs. Even if they do involve famous sitcom actresses.

Derailed adds nothing new to what Michael Douglas has shown us before in the likes of Disclosure and Fatal Attraction. While, at the time, those films had a certain hot topic buzz around them, all Derailed seems to offer is the chance to see Rachel from Friends get a bit rude.

Clive Owen seems to have it pretty good, married to an attractive blonde and what I guess is a high paid job in advertising. A bit of banter on the commuter train with Jennifer Aniston soon leads to sneaky lunch dates, which in turn leads to checking out hotels to get all affaired up. Which is where the poop really hits the fan when Vincent Cassel bursts in with a gun and tells them they are being naughty and in turn starts to be naughty himself. With all that blackmailing and threatening, he reminds us that we are watching a thriller.

For a second it looks like things might get interesting, as Aniston and Owen attempt to deal with the after effects of the attack which has caused their affair to get derailed - hey, that's the name of the movie! - but all you are reminded of is a Monday night telemovie that vanishes from your mind minutes after the final credits.

At least, director Mikael Hafstrom points the camera in the right direction and puts all the scenes in the correct order. Aniston does not show anything here that suggests an interesting acting career post Friends. Owen speaks in that weird American accent that did not work in Sin City. Cassel seems to enjoy playing to the rafters and a tiny bit of fun can be had watching him put the screws on Owen. It is the least the audience deserves. It is them who will be asking why exactly Owen is having an affair when his life seems to be more than OK in the first place. No real answer, or reason, is given. Instead, all you will get when you watch Derailed is cheated.