Obsession can be taken to the degree where it becomes the most powerful life force in a person. For Walter Sparrow in “The Number 23,” it manifests into extreme paranoia.The film “The Number 23” centers on a man whose life unravels after he comes into contact with an interesting book titled “The Number 23.” Reading the book makes him become increasingly convinced that it is based on his own life. The number 23 starts to consume him, and he begins to realize the book forecasts far graver consequences for his life than he could have ever imagined. The film stars a fairly well-known cast including Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen (“Sideways”) and Danny Huston (“Marie Antoinette”).

As far as thrillers go, it was a decent movie. Like most thrillers, it was highly entertaining and extremely engaging because of the need to know what happens and how it plays out. The plot was a good one – well-thought-out, unique and intricate.

Possibly the only thing hindering the film was the actors. Jim Carrey can play straight roles, but this is not one in which he excelled in. As the film’s frontman Walter Sparrow/Fingerling, Carrey lacks a lot of the character’s quality and leaves us with a man who was flat and extremely overplayed. Another, more capable actor could have easily played Sparrow/Fingerling and kept the film from being melodramatic.

As Carrey’s wife, Madsen floats in and out from being believable. Frequently, she adds to some of the films already corny scenes with her obvious inexperience in this genre, but she also delivers some of her lines in a way that she actually received laughter from people in the theater. Huston, on the other hand, is fantastic. As an actor who appears in tons of films but is little known by the general public, he gives a great performance and characterization of Isaac French/Dr. Phoenix.

With a little recasting of the major roles, the film could be a great deal better and less humorous, but it wasn’t a complete mess. The ending is marvelous and the twist will keep you planted to the edge of your seat for days.

However, the twist happens almost 30 minutes before the end of the film. It takes far too long to explain the ending, and leaves the audience sitting there waiting for the credits to roll.

“The Number 23” is no technical masterpiece, by any means, but definitely worth a try. It keeps its audience engaged, excited and scratching their heads.

3 out of 5 stars