Freeman stars in crummy movie

Criminals and psychopaths don’t just commit crimes anymore. Not in the
movies anyway.
No, villains always have to play a cat and mouse game with the police.
It has been a requirement in almost every suspense film that has come out since
1995’s “Se7en.” The plot always involves a serial killer, or
a serial bank robber, or a serial bomber, who insists on toying with the police.
The reason for this may be a personal vendetta or simply because the villain
admires the protagonist. Which is the case with the Morgan Freeman vehicle “Along
Came a Spider.”
In this case, the hero of the film is forensic psychologist Alex Cross, who
moviegoers previously encountered four years ago in the mediocre thriller “Kiss
the Girls.”
The film begins with Cross’s partner getting killed in a sting operation
that goes wrong. Consumed by guilt, Cross goes on a professional hiatus that
lasts about five minutes. Contacted by the kidnapper of a Senator’s daughter,
Cross becomes involved in the case.
Of course, there is more to this case than meets the eye.
Cross teams up with Secret Service agent Jezzie Flannigan (how’s that for
a name?) played by Monica Potter. Together, Cross and Flannigan go through the
many twists and turns the case takes. There is not a lot that can be said about
the plot of this film that would not ruin the so-called “surprises”
of the story. However, “Along Came a Spider” is a movie made up of
moments that audiences have seen ten times before.
Morgan Freeman is a exceptional actor that can make almost any film work.
One needs only to look back at 1998’s silly “Hard Rain” to witness
a movie that Freeman made passable simply because of his performance. When Freeman
and the material gel together, the end result can be as great as “Deep
Impact,” where he convincingly played the President, or last year’s
zany “Nurse Betty.”
“Along Came a Spider” belongs to the “Hard Rain” and “Chain
Reaction” category of Freeman’s filmography; films that aren’t
deserving of his performance.
Besides its severe unoriginality, the main problem of “Along Came a Spider”
is its storyline. Despite a few genuinely suspenseful moments, the film is pretty
bland as a whole. Not to mention so many plot holes (especially the preposterous
ending) that the film looks a lot like Swiss cheese.
This is one of those movies you’ll walk out afterward with great confusion
asking yourself “wait, what about…” and “if she…”
and “how come…” If there is anything great about this movie it
is that it will spark great conversation afterwards as you and whomever you
saw the film with try to figure out the plot.
Of course, trying to figure out all the plot inconsistencies in “Along
Came a Spider” is a waste of time. The film is a silly thriller meant to
entertain, however if fails even on that superficial level. Unless you’re
a Morgan Freeman junkie, skip this movie. Rent “Se7en” or “Copycat”
or even “Kiss the Girls.” All of those films are thrillers that actually
thrill.