The Temp

Directed by Tom Holland, The Temp details the violence that ensues after the ambitious title character (Lara Flynn Boyle’s Kris Bolin) begins worming her way into the life and career of a struggling executive (Timothy Hutton’s Peter Derns). Filmmaker Holland, working from Kevin Falls and Tom Engleman’s screenplay, delivers an erratic thriller that ultimately fares best in its briskly-paced and engrossing first half, as the movie kicks off with a terrific opening stretch that boasts a smattering of standout sequences (eg a tense interlude involving a paper shredder) and strong, engaging performances – with, in terms of the latter, Hutton and Boyle’s solid work here matched by an agreeably eclectic supporting cast that includes Oliver Platt, Steven Weber, and Faye Dunaway. It’s disappointing to note, then, that The Temp begins to slowly-but-surely run out of steam as it progresses further into its bizarrely-plotted narrative, and there’s little doubt, ultimately, that the mostly unsatisfying third act, which is riddled with elements that just don’t add up (eg who cut those brakes?), ensures that the whole thing concludes on a distressingly underwhelming note – thus cementing the film’s place as a decent (albeit entirely hit-and-miss) endeavor that feels as though it should be much, much better.

**1/2 out of ****