Alex Cross

There's not too many actors out there that can do it all-- comedy, intense drama and everywhere in between. But after viewing "Alex Cross", I realized that Tyler Perry could simply do it all, and do it with heart.

Detective and forensic psychologist Alex Cross (Tyler Perry) investigates a gruesome murder and while his partner, Tommy Kane (Edward Burns) thinks it's the work of more than one psycho, Cross believes it's an extremely well organized psychotic. Cross eventually discovers the killer has another target and Cross figures out who it is and stops the killer before he gets him. The killer, Picasso (Matthew Fox), feeling as though Cross slighted him, calls him while he's out with his wife, Maria (Carmen Ejogo) and taunts him. It's while talking to him that Cross figures out the crazed killer has a gun trained, and extremely aimed on his wife and tries to save her but fails. Picasso then calls Cross again and Cross vows to get him. So Cross decides to break all the rules to get him. Can Cross get this guy before he has a chance to achieve his next assassin?

Others to round out the cast are Rachel Nichols as Monica Ashe, Tommy and Cross' partner and Tommy's girlfriend, John C. McGinley as Richard Brookwell, Jean Reno as Leon Mercier, Giancarlo Esposito as Daramus Holiday, Cicely Tyson as Cross' mom, Chad Lindberg as Vincent Dardis, Stephanie Jacobsen as Fan Yau, Yara Shahidi as Janelle Cross, Cross' daughter, and Sayeed Shahidi as Damon Cross, Cross' son.

This was effectively directed by Rob Cohen ("DragonHeart" '96, Daylight" '96, "The Guardian"(TV movie) '97, "The Rat Pack" (TV movie) '98, "The Skulls" 2000, "The Fast and the Furious" '01, "xXx" '02, "Stealth" '05, "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" '08). It was adequately written by Marc Moss and Kerry Williamson based on the novel, "Cross" James Patterson. Usually Perry writes and directs his work, so it would be interesting to see Perry's script on this. The plot seemed a bit predictable at first, but then it did pick up and even had some twists in it, but I'm curious about how Perry would have handled this idea. Of course, we'll never know.

If you like Perry, and like him in the dramas he's done, you'll like this. After the film starts picking up, it will keep you biting your nails right through the end credits.

Out of 4 stars: 3                        Rated PG-13                           101mins.