Rob Cohen‘s Alex Cross (2013) is a crime/suspense thriller feature starring Tyler Perry as an impressive Detroit detective and psychologist, Alex Cross. The film is based on author James Patterson famous Alex Cross book series is an adapted version of the “Cross” novel and it manages to entertain despite plot spoiling cliches, and I am actually impressed by Perry’s performance in the film.

Alex Cross (Perry) is a Detroit detective with excellent deduction and psychoanalytical skills. Mysterious deaths of wealthy peopl occur in the city, where Cross determines it is the work of a sole professional–a man known only as Picasso (Matthew Fox). But when Cross gets in the way of his chain of hits, everything becomes personal and the brilliant detective finds himself wanting revenge.

Click an image to enlarge

The characters in the film are extremely well-developed, especially Perry’s Dr. Cross character. The storyline comes off cliched and is a typical thriller that involves cops chasing serial killers. A diverse selection of Detroit is present in Alex Cross, and the DVD clarity and audio are crisp. Overall, this is a very good looking film. Variations of the film environment depend on the surreal brutal moments depicted in the neighborhood, to the warmth of the Cross household and the abandoned buildings where violence takes place. Fox portrays an impressive, cold and calculating villain.

When the action picks up later in the film, everything becomes rushed and just like every other revenge movie in circulation. The action scenes were good, but nothing to get too excited about. The conclusion of the film moves at a steady pace and all of the unanswered questions in the film are resolved in the last few moments, leaving an unexpected and mediocre surprise.

Alex Cross isn’t the best detective film suspense thriller, still it is good to see Perry in a more complex character role for a change.

Well done.

Special features for Alex Cross include:

• Audio commentary with director Rob Cohen
• The Psychologist and the Butcher: Adapting and Filming Alex Cross
• Deleted Scenes
• DVD Digital Copy, DVD Movie in an immaculate Ultraviolet presentation.

The making of featurette is the best among the special features as it gives insight into how the film was created and the approval of author James Patterson over the adaptation of his novel. Patterson states that Tyler Perry was the perfect fit for Dr. Cross, and is impressed by Perry’s performance. Perry tried his best to capture the personality and psychology of the Alex Cross character and never underestimating Matthew Fox performance as Picasso. The deleted scenes were appropriately deleted.

Images and synopsis courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment