The Roommate

Why is it that most movies made about psychological or mental disorders, invariably portray the person with the problem as a monster? I would have guessed it is common sensical that here is someone who has an illness which is meant to be looked at with empathy and needs to be helped - not in a "because s/he cannot help herself" way - but in a more "supportive / understanding / looked out for" kind of way. With a medium like the movies, one has an opportunity of really really going out there and making a difference to the perceptions that surround people who have to go through first hand experiences with the likes of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Yet, time after time and movie after movie, all we see is that they are subject to more and even more ridicule. As people who one should be wary of. Like animals who are unpredictable and may strike anytime. Like Jason or Freddy. Like ur mum would say, "Don't talk to them - they are schizophrenic". Sometimes I wonder if we have ever reached the 21st century. It used to be this way centuries back and continues to be looked upon as a stigma. We have learnt to deal with AIDS and Leprosy. But when it comes to mental disorders, I would not be wrong if I were to say that the human race is still in the stone age - probably even earlier.


Shockingly, the censor board, whose basic responsibility is to look at far more deep rooted social worries like these, prefers to court controversy over the extent of "mammaries" on display or the next kissing scene that needs to be cut. Isn't it time that they changed their approach, just that little bit? If they had, movies such as The Roommate would have never seen the light of day. The last time I remember that a movie was in the right direction with respect to schizophrenia - Karthik Calling Karthik. And before the tongues begin to wag, it has nothing to do with my name (which coincidentally is without the H). Personally, I thought that he movie was a disaster. But it ended on a positive note with an attempt made to cure and not to crucify or kill. Thank God for small mercies. I can only hope that more movies would address the topic with the sensitivity that it deserves. But then again, our intrinsic capability to digest gore and look down upon people with problems never ceases to surprise me. How else wud one explain the success of a lousy movie like "Scream 4'??? Sigh!!! :S

OK now - enough of the sermon. Coming to the movie under consideration, it revolves around a certain Rebecca (Leighton Meester) who comes into ULA - The University of Los Angeles I am assuming. She is surprisingly without a friend - not too many tweenagers who are friendless on facebook these days right? She is sharing her room with Sarah Matthews (Minka Kelly) who was also trying to get thru to Brown University with her boyfriend Jason but both couldn't make it. So they decided to take up ULA. At the last minute though Jason made it to Brown and being a prick, quickly dumps Sara and moves on. That doesn't stop him from calling her repeatedly to apologise and get her back though!!! Sara, is very clearly over him and doesn't take time to move on and hook up with new meat - Stephen (Cam Gigandet). She also makes friends with Tracy Morgan (Alyson Michalka) a flirtatious hot girl who is in the same frat as Sara and with Tracy's roommate Kim. They trio of girls seem to be getting along very well, much to the disgust of Rebecca who wants to keep Sara all to herself and continuously does things to ensure Sara spends more time with her than anyone else. Including threatening Tracy in the shower ala Psycho. She also gets a prof expelled for misbehaving with Sara and kills an innocent kitten which could have caused Sara to move out of her room. Rebecca is The Roommate.

For a long period, the movie seems to be drifting along without much happening. Christian E Christiansen, the director, was probably attempting to build up the tempo slowly but surely and then explode it onto your face. He kind of comes a cropper unfortunately. The attempt falls woefully short of creating any excitement. There are bits and pieces of scenes which are a bit shocking like when Rebecca decides to pierce her ears with the ear rings that Sara asks her to wear because she doesn't want to disappoint her. The Psycho type scene in the shower also borders on creating some fear but again goes bust like a "fuski bomb". The script is just too uninspiring to merit any mention. Yet another one like "I know what u did...." or "Urban Legend" only much less thrilling and boring to boot. The saving grace - some decent music in the background and some really good looking specimens of humanity as the cast. Otherwise imminently forgettable. Definitely missable even on DVD. OK here's the big insult - Dum Maro Dum is better. 3 on 10 from my side.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2783643929/