A Good Marriage

I read the story before I saw the movie and although there were some changes to the script that I thought were not improvements, I was still surprised to see the film was enjoyable and was a great psychological exploration of what a woman in that horrible dilemma might go through. The story is not about the horrors of serial killers or the supernatural horrors one might expect from King but its about the emotional horror of choosing to live with a secret of unimaginable bearing. I think that the reason many people think this is boring is because that idea went right over their heads. Watch the film amd read the story. Both are great!

I was disappointed to read that the screenplay for this was actually written by Stephen King himself. I was entirely ready to chastise whoever had adapted his novella because, ironically, it felt nothing like a King movie whatsoever. Compared to another 2014 King adaption from the same collection of short stories 'Big Driver', which had King's signatures written all over it, this just came across flat, uninspired and lazy. The theme of both of those films is 'Girl Power' but only one truly encapsulated it for me and it certainly wasn't this one.

The main problem that comes to mind over this film is just how dull it is. The casting choices are about as uninspired as you'll ever get, the script just drags on and on and there are enough "it's all a dream" moments for a decades worth of movies let alone one. The character of Bob would have to be the most boring serial killer I've ever seen in a movie. There was absolutely no edge to the character and even the stalking scenes just don't feel the least bit threatening. All of this does unfortunately come back to the script written by King. The man can write a fine book but maybe he should leave the screenplays alone for the time being.

A Good Marriage is the latest Stephen King adaptation to hit the film realm and it does so with a splat. Bland direction, hollowed performances and a lazy script propel A Good Marriage from being apart from the rest and instead it sits happily between Sleeping with the Enemy and Cape Fear. The film stars Anthony Lapaglia and Joan Allen as a happily married couple that have their lives turned upside down when the husband is discovered to be a serial killer. This film isn't a terrible film in the least. It is cliché, cookie cutter cinema rehashing what other better films have done in the past. There is nothing new to the story and honestly, it doesn't even seem like King's work. It is lazily written as if it this were meant as a made for TV movie with a slightly bigger budget and a bit more violence and language. Despite some of these negative aspects, the film is still silly entertaining fun. This is a midnight movie type, it isn't good, it isn't bad. It is a film wallowing in mediocrity and it seems to be okay with that.

A wife's seemingly good marriage disintegrates after she uncovers her husbands dark secret.This is a glossy thriller not unlike the plethora of them produced in the 1980's and 1990's.

The casting is good with Anthony Lapaglia suitably charming and dangerous at the same time. Joan Allen has the more difficult role as the wife struggling to come to terms with her husbands deceptions. She really shines here showing just the right amount of vulnerability mixed with strength.

Despite the by the numbers plot this still manages to be a fairly entertaining for the first half at least at which point it goes downhill to reach a disappointing climax.

This is a distinctly average production and one that won't live long in the memory.

To me this movie just kind of existed. It wasn't terrible by any means but I kept waiting for some twist or shock (other than the obvious) and one never came. The acting was good, the dialogue was fine, but a lack of suspense is what kept me from giving this movie a higher rating. It's still worth a watch though.