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Idris Elba (Luther, Prometheus, The Wire) is a sinister, highly unlikable escaped convict who seems to have a sensational talent at abusing women.
Let us set the scene; Elba plays Colin who, at the onset of the film, is seeking parole after committing manslaughter and killing several women. After a pitiful service of five years, unsurprisingly Colin is denied. But the film almost wants us to believe that Colin is some kind of super human, a machine that cannot be stopped. So of course he over powers the prison security on his way back to prison in a van, escapes and so the rest of the movie ensues.
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We are then introduced to Terri (Taraji P. Henson: Think Like A Man, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) who is the stereotype of career-driven-woman-now-washed-up-with-unappreciative-husband-and-bratty-kids. It is clear from the exposition provided by Terri's slutty bestie Meg (Leslie Bibb: Iron Man, Law Abiding Citizen) that Terri is dreadfully unhappy with her life. Maybe all she needs its a psychotic hunk to shake things up for her? And also point a gun at her head, but hey whatever you need to get out of your rut right Terri?
Meanwhile we view more evidence that Colin is not a man to mess with, and definitely believes that he possesses the divine right to punish others for their sinful deeds. Somehow he winds up crashing his vehicle down the road from Terri's house. I mean what are the odds? We have just witnessed these two character's unraveling stories and they have ended up intercepting each other as Colin calls on Terri's house for help.
By this point I had figured out the events that would unfold, which leads me to my first point: No Good Deed is ridiculously predictable! During one scene, where the show down between Colin and Terri is in full flow, the jump scare of him grabbing her leg was actually boring. Before Terri realises that Colin has entered her home with a insidious agenda, she is telling him how she used to work for the DA in convicting women abusers, and comments that most of them were stupid. Well the film makes a mockery of a skillful actor like Elba, as Colin manages to lose Terri multiple times and also lead the police on a trail like Hansel and Gretel to his various crimes.
(Photo courtesy of LA Times)
No worries though, because Terri is a super-sassy, independent female who has got a handle on the whole situation. I was confused by Henson's performance to be honest. I felt as if the writers wanted to portray Terri as a feminist role-model but they themselves didn't really know what that entailed. When Meg puts it out there that Terri was wilder than her in college we are led to believe that Terri got to know the fellas pretty well during her time on campus. But does that define what a heroine fighting a power-hungry domestic abuser should be? No not really. Nor does that fact that on numerous occasions she puts her two young children in danger by bringing them along for the ride when she could have just, you know, tried to ring the police earlier? I think I needed Terri to be a bit more selfless to be the realist hero the film required. Terri somehow walked away from the whole experience with some sexy new heels, a new townhouse and apparent full custody of her kids. Where was the grittiness? We all love a happy ending, but a happy ending for me would have been seeing Terri acknowledge this horrendous incident and move forward, not seeing her fully kitted out in Prada.
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Nevertheless, No Good Deed was thoroughly entertaining though predictable and with artificial character development. I do not regret my viewing of it as it was exhilarating and action packed. I think that both actors are extremely talented, however, the screenplay and directing did not make the most of their potential. For a relaxed evening on a Saturday, this film cannot fail to excite you at least a little!
