Jennifer Lopez, Bill Campbell, Dan Futterman and Juliette Lewis star in this 2002 drama-thriller based on the novel. Lopez (Selena) plays Slim, a waitress who finds romance with stranger, Mitch (Campbell). Soon, they move in together, get married and have a daughter, Gracie (Tessa Allen). Slim learns that Mitch isn't the charming guy she thought, when he not only cheats on her, but physically abuses her. Slim finds herself in a nightmare of desperately trying to get away from him with Gracie. Futterman (The Birdcage) plays Slim's ex-boyfriend, Joe, Lewis (Natural Born Killers) plays Slim's best friend, Ginny and Fred Ward (The Right Stuff) briefly appears as Slim's father, Jupiter. This is a pretty good film similar to "Sleeping with the Enemy" with tense and dramatic moments and Lopez & Campbell are great in it. I recommend this.

The society nowadays is not ready to accept the fact that so many women and girls fall victims of Domestic Violence, and it is pivotal to have movies like this which show the pain and endurance of a victim. Children are victim of emotional abuse as well, and it has a long impact on their life. Unfortunately, women are trapped by the fact that they are not capable to make it on their own financially and emotionally. The reason is the prolong abuse which harms their ability to function which is the reason behind the domestic violence, is to take control over the victim. In the movie the woman is portrayed as a strong woman who had decided to faith back and be example for women who have doubt in their ability to cope and show the perpetrator how is on the other side. When women decide to take control over the situation is because the court system usually gives custody to the father because he knows how to present himself so no one can notice his sociopaths personality. Women are more emotional and this is the reason most of the time for losing the battle in court.

This One took a Whole Lot of Punishment from Critics. Jennifer Lopez Almost Always takes a Whole Lot of Punishment from Movie Fans. J-Lo Dishes out a Whole Lot of Punishment in this Film but Not Before being the Victim of a Whole Lot of Punishment from an Ultra-Rich Abusive Husband.Actually Lopez is an Underrated Actress. Despite Her Reputation as being a Bitchy Diva who Throws Tantrums when the Bottled Water in Her Dressing Room is not the Requested Name Brand. She can be Remarkably Good at Playing a Suffering "Everygirl" and Her Range is Acceptable. She can be at Times Better than the Highly Overrated Sandra Bullock who Looks Bitchy On Screen even when Her Character is Not.This is an OK Chick Flick Thriller that is Miles from High Art but Entertaining Nonetheless. It has some Time Compression Holes and Asks Much from the Audience in Terms of Suspension of Disbelief, but what Movie Doesn't.This can be Cathartic for Female Victims of Male Dominance and Physical Abuse. There are Clichés and Cumbersome Parts to the Story but Overall it is Worth a Watch for the Not Highly Discerning and those who can Go with the Flow. But J-Lo Bashers will no Doubt Pile On because that is what is Expected from Knee-Jerks.

Yesterday I watched this movie on TV. I was tired and I just wanted to relax. Even if I knew it had a bad reputation, I thought it could be fun. Unfortunately it was not. The script is awful and an insult to all battered women.In a nutshell, J.Lo plays Slim, a waitress who marries Mr. Right (and Rich) only to discover after several years of marriage that he is violent and a cheater. Some other character in the movie at a certain point states that Slim is just a dumb waitress, and he might have had a point, considering how long it took her to discover her hubby true nature… Anyway, Slim and abusive hubby have a daughter – described by other reviewers as one of the most insufferable child in the history of movies. Again, they are right. For reasons difficult to understand and even more to explain, both Slim and hubby want custody of the horrible child. Therefore, Slim has no other choice but to run away in the middle of the night, to avoid losing her precious offspring.From here, this bad plot takes a turn for the worse. Why Slim decides to run away in the middle of night, rather than by day when hubby is at work or with one of his mistresses? Again, one would say because she is dumb….After her getaway, she is surprised to find that hubby cut her bank account. Being used to a rich, pampered life, she decides to turn to her rich, estranged father, for further supply of cash.Some implausible hide and seek follows, then Slim understand that the only way to get rid of the abusive – but rich – husband is to kill him. So she goes ahead with what is nothing but a premeditated murder plan.The messages received from this movie are all negative and absurd: first, that women are kept property and always ready to sponge on someone for keeping; second, that it is OK to plan a murder if you have some good reasons (according to your point of view – of course); third, that it takes only one month of training to turn into a mix of Superwoman and a ninja killer..