The Perfect Assistant

2008
The Perfect Assistant
4.5| 1h35m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 02 January 2008 Released
Producted By: Lifetime
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Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Rachel Parsons is the perfect assistant, but she's completely in love with her boss. She's got a secret obsession: be his wife and have kids. The problem is that he already has a family.

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Stephen Abell Be aware you have to stay with this film for it to gell together correctly. At the start of the movie, my finger was hovering over the off button for at least the first twenty minutes. I was close to the pressing point. But something in my mind stopped me from depressing the button.The story starts out with David Prescott's (Potter) wife Carol (Marcil) being rushed to the hospital. David contacts his personal assistant, Rachel (Davis), to bring her up to speed and to cancel and rearrange meetings until his wife is better. However, Rachel isn't as stable as she appears. She sees David as one of the good men and is truly upset to hear about his wife. She asks how their daughter, Isabelle (Szalankiewicz) is coping. From here on in we get to see her slowly immerse herself into the Prescott's life and family as her delusion grows. It's this growth and the path it leads her down that makes this movie watchable. It gives the story twists and turns that show the workings of a broken mind. Her morals lose ground as her infatuation and obsession grow... how far will she go in what she believes to be true love?I believe that had this been given to a stronger cast and director it would have been a fantastic thought-provoking and chilling film. However, what we get is an entertaining and easily watchable afternoon TV movie.Though the direction is pretty standard for this style of flick more powerful atmosphere and tension were called for to add strength to the project. For me, the worst thing about the film was the acting. Especially from Josie Davis who is a little too over the top with her characterisation - less definitely would have been more. However, it's not a constant thing as there are times when she's spot on with her portrayal. Then there's Deborah Pollitt as Nora... okay, so I actually know people like this so she conveys a realistic character, however, with Josie Davis' performance it makes Pollitt's idiosyncrasies more than a little irritating. One annoying character per film is enough.Since this film surprised me I would recommend it to all psychological thriller fans, though you have to stay with it for the full effect - it's a potboiler.
Antoinette Y Josie Davis does a fantastic job in this as "Rachel", an assistant who is obsessed with her boss. Even though she is crazy as a loon, there are aspects about her character that are quite likable. She's got more than one side to her, unlike some of the nuttier one-dimensional lifetime villains I've seen. Sophie Gendron's character as the meddling, goody-goody aunt, Mary-Beth, was annoying. I thought she was a horrible snob and cannot figure out why she is praised as a good person in this movie. When she first meets Rachel, she snidely says "Oh yes, you're the Secretary.". Rachel corrects her and says, "Actually, I'm an Executive Assistant" and Mary Beth just smirks at her in a really condescending way. I thought, what a rude *#^%$! Sophie is much more likable in other lifetime movies IMO. Rachel Hunter's acting as Judith was boring and plastic. She has the personality of a doorknob. However, I thought the boss (Chris Potter) was perfectly cast and did a superb job in his role. His acting is real and very believable.
fredtwenty4 I chose an 8 rating out of ten even though I enjoyed the movie intensely because the lead male character did not do as I would have done and "go for it", the young and smoking sexy hot and very beautiful Executive Assistant. He chose instead to remain monogamous to his very deceased wife. Bearing in mind that no one knew Rachel assisted her boss's wife on her way "out the door" so to speak. I literally found myself rooting for her to "get her man". "Why?" you ask. Because there is nothing sexier than a woman who will do "whatever it takes" to get her man and will do "anything and everything" to please him and keep him pleased. Yes, she is a closet nut case. But that's okay because she's crazy about him/me. Which means I do not have to worry about her fidelity and loyalty to me because she's out of her mind crazy about me. She would never allow another man in her bed or betray my love to her nor let another woman move in on her territory because as she so aptly said in the movie "She can't live without me." And her actions backed up her words. Josie Davis executed her seductive role so well I could literally taste her sweet and succulent womanhood in my mouth. I wanted her sooooo bad. The way I saw it she was seducing me. Which is why through out the movie I could not fathom why David could not figure out she wanted him, and when he finally did realize it how on earth could he resist her charms, her beauty, her passionate desires. Rachel would surely give him a night he would not soon forget. And he would definitely know beyond doubt that she belonged to him, only him, and no other man could swoop in and take her away from him because she was crazy beyond reason about him. He has all the power, because she would do whatever he asked/directed/told her to do. She was already primed to succumb to his will at work, and would do anything to keep him once she got him. I would surely have maximized the benefits to that truth about Rachel both in and out of bed. Knowing I could never sleep with another woman again because Rachel would surely put her, and possibly me, in a permanent sleep (a by-product of insane obsession). I also rated the movie an 8 because I did not feel it perpetuated reality. If the events of this movie happened in real life he would give way to her advances and she would surely rock his world in ways he had never dreamed possible. Now who's hooked on who? I would have loved to see an R-rated version of this movie.
stashartist I actually really enjoyed this movie...and Sophie Gendron is a great actress! Check out DEMONS FROM HER PAST and A LOVER'S REVENGE. She is fantastic in both of these films. (Actually DEMONS FROM HER PAST is one of my favorite Lifetime films to date).I also thought Josie Davis's character in TPA was very believable. I haven't seen her on screen in awhile and thought she played a great psycho.I watch a lot of Lifetime movies...and this was actually one of the better ones.Check it out...see for yourself.