Lifetime Review: 'Single Black Female'

Synopsis:

Monica Harris (Raven Goodwin) has had it rough lately, between losing her father and breaking up with her cheating boyfriend in such close succession. That's why she's dedicating her attention to landing a hosting position with the afternoon talk show she works for. It's also why she's growing so close to her new assistant Simone Hicks (Amber Riley). An enthusiastic woman who admires Monica's work, Simone seems like the perfect assistant as she goes above and beyond for Monica. But what Monica doesn't realize is that Simone's adoration isn't as pure as she thinks. Simone doesn't just want to be Monica's assistant or her friend--she wants to be Monica. The question is: how far is she willing to go to have everything she's always wanted?

Story:

Single Black Female could best be described as what you'd get if you put a Lifetime movie and a BET dramedy into a blender. While it's largely what you'd expect from an unofficial Single White Female reboot, some bits of comedy are squeezed in between the scenes of obsession and scheming. From the frequently snarky characters (Monica's unapologetic best friend Bebe is the best of the lot) to the moments where the drama gets cranked up to eleven, there's more comedy here than in your average Lifetime thriller. At the same time, though, a lot of familiar territory is explored in Single Black Female. And with Simone taking a while to start going crazy, your attention might start to drift. Thankfully, once Simone gets to work messing with Monica's life, the pacing picks up and leads into a surprisingly moving climax.

(Sidenote: I find it odd how, despite being a Single White Female-inspired movie starring a pair of lookalike actresses, Simone never fully channels her inner Hedy Carlson by impersonating Monica.)

Characters:

The characters and actors also do quite a bit to make Single Black Female entertaining, despite it sticking so closely to the obsession thriller playbook. Monica Harris is an easy protagonist to love and root for and her relationships with those around her are well-defined. Between her easygoing nature and vulnerability in the wake of two consecutive emotional blows, you can understand why Monica connects so quickly with the outwardly supportive Simone. You feel for Monica whenever she's dealing with her grief or her overbearing mother and smile whenever she's having fun with Simone or Bebe. Even when Simone starts putting a wedge between them, you don't get the sense that Monica and Bebe's friendship is truly falling apart. After all, it realistically takes more than a few minor disagreements to destroy a years-long camaraderie.

Simone, meanwhile, makes for an incredibly appealing antagonist. Not only does she keep her true nature hidden behind a believable guise of high-strung eagerness, but she's also the kind of villain you'll sympathize with when you're not cheering at her histrionic displays of insanity. While her actions victimize a handful of innocent people, her backstory is sure to have you feeling a little sorry for what Simone went through because of the selfishness of others. The fact that at least half of Simone's victims are revealed or implied to be awful people may even be enough to put you in Simone's corner. Out of the people whose lives are disrupted by Simone, Monica's mother Denise is the least sympathetic. She makes a bad first impression when she starts disparaging Monica's boyfriend at her own husband's funeral, and that's nothing compared to her cruelest moment of the film.

SPOILER ALERT Despite knowing nothing about Simone or her intentions, Denise still orders her to stay away from Monica. She also mocks Simone for wanting to be a part of her family, suggests that Simone is insane despite having not witnessed anything to support this belief, insinuates she did nothing wrong keeping Simone separated from her father and half-sister, and makes a disgusting comment about Simone's mother. So instead of the fiercely protective Mama Bear she's meant to be seen as, Denise just comes across as a vindictive woman blaming Simone and her mother for her husband's betrayal. It was enough to make me wish Denise would be the next woman whose head got cut off by Simone--and disappointed when she ended up surviving the movie instead. Even worse: in the end, Denise's cruelty is never addressed and her late husband is still regarded as a good man. Considering Marcus cheated on his wife and rejected Simone for the sake of reputation, the posthumous praise is thoroughly unearned. Spoilers Over

Thankfully, no other character in the movie even comes close to being as unlikable as Denise. The worst we get is co-worker Eric, if simply because his demeanor with Simone does come across as being flirtatious. As such, despite going way too far with it, Simone has some room to be angry with Eric when he asks Monica out instead. Outside of that slipup, Eric is an adorable charmer who is just what Monica needs to take her mind off her ex. Bebe is a laugh riot who's also a ride-or-die bestie, which makes her the complete opposite of Monica's colleague Elodie. While she seems sweet at first, Elodie later makes it clear she's as fake as fake friends come. Before she's unveiled, though, Elodie does just as good a job of keeping her true colors concealed as Simone.

Acting:

Everyone's acting is top-notch, with Raven Goodwin and Amber Riley proving they didn't just get cast because of their status as a famous pair of lookalikes. Goodwin is lovable as the bubbly and good-humored Monica and Riley is believable as an unstable woman capable of keeping her crazy side hidden when she needs to. Both actresses effortlessly sell their characters' more emotional moments, allowing you to sympathize with Monica's painful loss and Simone's bitterness over how much life has let her down. When the climax comes around, your heart is bound to ache for both women once all is revealed. K. Michelle is the queen of the supporting cast, providing most of the film's comedy as the tell-it-like-it-is Bebe. Erin Ownbey is perfectly hissable as the two-faced Elodie, as is Janet Hubert as Denise Harris--though I'm fairly certain that's not what the filmmakers or Hubert were going for in Denise's case. Of the male supporting actors, Devale Ellis makes the biggest impression with how much charisma he brings to the suave but slightly awkward Eric.

Overall:

What Single Black Female lacks in originality, it makes up for with its talented cast and strong direction. The film's occasionally cheeky mood and array of sassy characters give it a different atmosphere than most Lifetime obsession thrillers. Plus, for reasons intended and otherwise, you might find yourself rooting for Simone over the likable but comparatively less dynamic Monica. If a Root For the Bad Guy-type movie is up your alley or if you just love Lifetime movies that know how to cut loose and let the drama fly when the occasion calls for it, curl up with a bottle of your beverage of choice and give Single Black Female a watch.

Score: 7 out of 10 hangover essentials.