[{"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/img/bnr-hope200.png", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/img/bnr-hope200.png", "formatted_filename": "bnr hope", "alt_text": "Click here to watch THE HOPE on-line!"}, null, null, {"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-1.jpg", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-1.jpg", "formatted_filename": "roommate", "alt_text": "Copyright, Sony Pictures, Screen Gems"}, {"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/img/icn-zoom-in.png", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/img/icn-zoom-in.png", "formatted_filename": "icn zoom in", "alt_text": "click photos to ENLARGE"}, {"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-3.jpg", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-3.jpg", "formatted_filename": "roommate", "alt_text": "Copyright, Sony Pictures, Screen Gems"}, {"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-2.jpg", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-2.jpg", "formatted_filename": "roommate", "alt_text": "Copyright, Sony Pictures, Screen Gems"}, {"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-4.jpg", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-4.jpg", "formatted_filename": "roommate", "alt_text": "Copyright, Sony Pictures, Screen Gems"}, {"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-5.jpg", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-5.jpg", "formatted_filename": "roommate", "alt_text": "Copyright, Sony Pictures, Screen Gems"}, {"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-6.jpg", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-6.jpg", "formatted_filename": "roommate", "alt_text": "Copyright, Sony Pictures, Screen Gems"}, {"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-7.jpg", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-7.jpg", "formatted_filename": "roommate", "alt_text": "Copyright, Sony Pictures, Screen Gems"}, {"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-8.jpg", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-8.jpg", "formatted_filename": "roommate", "alt_text": "Copyright, Sony Pictures, Screen Gems"}, {"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-9.jpg", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-9.jpg", "formatted_filename": "roommate", "alt_text": "Copyright, Sony Pictures, Screen Gems"}, null, {"document_url": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011.html", "unformatted_src": "/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-150.jpg", "src": "https://christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2011/roommate2011-150.jpg", "formatted_filename": "roommate", "alt_text": "Copyright, Sony Pictures, Screen Gems", "rendered_height": 130}, null, null, null, null]
The Roommate
 for violence and menace, sexual content, some language and teen partying.


Crime Mystery Psychologial Thriller
February 4, 2011 (wide) Should I save sex for marriage?

What are the consequences of sexual immorality? 

â2,000 colleges. 8 million roommates. Which one will you get?â

âThou shalt not stealâ is one of the Big 10âcommandents, that is. Apparently the writers and directors of âThe Roommateâ (2011) skipped Sunday School when that lesson was being covered, because it appears to have been âborrowedâ from the pages of the âSingle White Femaleâ (1992) screenplay. (Editorâs note: Legally, Sony Pictures owns distribution rights to both films, one under their Screen Gems company and the earlier film under their Columbia Pictures company.) Columbia Picturesâ âSingle White Femaleâ (1992)

Sure, the actors are younger and âhotterâ and the location has been changed to a college campus rather than a big city apartment, but the rest is all there: two girls living together, one likes the other just a little bit too much and wants to remove any hint of human distraction from their idyllic life together through any means necessary [read: psychotic behavior, violence, murder].

Rather than Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, âThe Roommateâ centers around the first semester of Rebecca (Leighton Meester from âGossip Girlsâ TV series) and Sara (Minka Kelly from âParenthoodâ TV series) as they settle into their new lives as college freshmen. Rebecca, still reeling from the tragic loss of her older sister, has set her sights on becoming a star fashion designer, following in the footsteps of an old family friend. She quickly makes friends, especially the fast-and-loose Tracy (Alyson MichalkaââEasy Aâ) who wants little more than the âtraditionalâ college experience of drunkenness and sexual promiscuity. Sara, on the other hand, has only one desire, spending time with her new âsisterâ Rebecca. When she is rebuffed and her affections not returned, we quickly see a darker, scarier side of the young coed. She will stop at nothing to protect Rebecca from anything untoward; Sara prefers to keep Rebecca all to herself.

The action of the film was fairly predictable; no real surprises here. It is rated PG-13, but that does not mean safe for children. Although there is no nudity, and the bad language is minimal; there is plenty of mature subject matter here. The film is set on a college campus, and, continuing in true (disappointing) Hollywood fashion, there is plenty of alcohol, risquÃ© behavior, and simulated sex acts to go around. Billy Zane, the one veteran actor in this cast of newbies, plays a lethario professor who trades good grades for special, sexual favors.

âThe Roommateâ has high production values, so it is not a poorly made film, and viewers who have never seen SWF or films like it, may actually enjoy the cinematography, the acting and well-created suspense. Adult viewers may enjoy a night out watching this film, but this is definitely not a movie for impressionable teens. The viewer is likely to emerge from the film with more questions about the characters as much of the back story is underdeveloped.

In the end, âThe Roommateâ is a mediocre film of the âI donât have anything better to do, so I may as well go see a movieâ genre. NegativeâThis movie is a waste of time! From viewing the trailer, I was expecting a semi-decent horror/thriller. Man, was I wrong! For one thing, the actual storyline about the crazy roommate wasnât presented until a ways into the film. For the first 20 minutes or so, itâs all partying college students. Youâre sitting there, awkwardly, thinking âAlrighty, when does this story start?â When they finally do set up the âWow, my roommate is a psychoâ storyline, and it started getting A LITTLE more interesting, the theater was laughing out loud at the attempted âscary parts.â

In this movie, they donât even have a decent cast to dilute the lacking storyline. All the acting performances were poor, with the exception of Leighton Meester. Itâs too bad she didnât hold out her talent for being a villain for a more worthy film. All in all, this is an objectionable, poorly made film thatâs just plain stupid!

Itâs a colossal waste of time. I wouldnât even recommend renting it. Trust me. Youâre not missing much. Except maybe a good laugh.

Lydia P, age 17 (USA)