These days, you can find Jennifer Lopez, a singer, dancer, and actress, appearing on television as a judge on the singing competition ‘American Idol’. However, she has returned to film with her latest psychological thriller, ‘The Boy Next Door’, directed by Rob Cohen. The movie revisits familiar territory in the “woman in peril” genre, but it’s a rehashed and uninspired effort that feels like a generic, throwaway melodrama. It's so predictable that comparisons to Lifetime movies are inevitable—and some of those Lifetime films actually offer more creativity. Lopez isn't new to playing troubled heroines; she has previously portrayed similar roles in ‘Angel Eyes’ and ‘Enough’, where unsettling men were drawn to her. The premise here is comparable, except the young man pursuing her is both attractive and unstable. He may be a bit crazy, but he’s still appealing, right? The problem is that we've seen this story countless times before, and ‘The Boy Next Door’ doesn’t bring anything fresh to the table. The suspense is weak, and even the steamy scenes lack enough trashiness to hold your attention. It borrows from every psycho-thriller imaginable but ends up feeling bland and uninspired. With so many better thrillers already out there (‘Fatal Attraction’, ‘The Crush’, ‘Fear’, ‘Swimfan’, ‘Disclosure’, ‘Obsessed’, etc.), this one just clogs up the landscape. Under Cohen’s unremarkable direction and Barbara Curry’s uneven script, the film tells the story of Claire Peterson (Lopez), a high school teacher going through a difficult time. She has an affair with Noah Sandborn (Ryan Guzman), a handsome 19-year-old neighbor. Before this, Claire was dealing with conflict: her unfaithful husband, Garrett (John Corbett), had been kicked out, and her teenage son, Kevin (Ian Nelson), was struggling. Feeling down about both her personal life and her job, she needed something positive to happen. When Noah arrives to help his sick uncle across the street, he makes a strong impression on Claire. He’s helpful and becomes a mentor figure for Kevin. However, Noah's background is suspicious, but his charm and companionship are too tempting to resist. Claire finds him appealing for both herself and her son. Guzman certainly seems like the teacher’s preferred companion in this predictable psycho-stalker thriller. After a disastrous blind date arranged by her friend and school vice principal Vicky Lansing (Kristin Chenoweth), Claire gives in to her attraction to Noah. She quickly regrets it and tries to end things, but Noah doesn't take rejection well. He then begins to display obsessive behavior that becomes overwhelming. The situation gets more complicated when Garrett returns, trying to win back Claire’s heart. Overall, ‘The Boy Next Door’ is a low-budget production with amateurish moments. Lopez’s portrayal of the distressed Claire feels forced, and the acting from both leads isn't compelling enough to engage you. Corbett’s character feels like an afterthought, and Chenoweth’s role as Vicky is merely a minor distraction. With this film added to her credits, it seems Jennifer Lopez has lost touch with what makes a good movie. The Boy Next Door (2015) Universal Pictures 1 hr. 31 mins. Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman, Ian Nelson, John Corbett, Kristin Chenoweth, Lexi Atkins and Hill Harper Directed by: Rob Cohen Rated: R Genre: Psychological thriller/Romance and Suspense Critic’s rating: ½ stars (out of four stars)

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