Remember that movie where a woman sets her sights on a married man, convinces herself they’re meant to be together, then goes after the guy’s wife? Audiences have seen this story play out a million times — and not just on Lifetime. From “Fear” to “Fatal Attraction,” the “jealous-lover-goes-bananas” plot has been beaten to death in Hollywood. But with a few plot twists and a carefully constructed cast, the old premise can still prove entertaining, as evidenced by its latest incarnation, “Obsessed.”

In this version, the husband in question is Derek Charles (Idris Elba), a successful asset manager at a major firm. He’s the picture of professionalism, until he encounters Lisa Sheridan (Ali Larter). She’s a temp, though Derek’s friend Ben (Jerry O’Connell) suggests she’s “more like a temptress.” And he’s right.

Derek’s wife, Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles), is also suspicious of the new girl in the office. As his former secretary, she knows her husband has a history of picking up women in the workplace. What she doesn’t know is that Lisa sees their marriage as a minor obstacle and that she’s got a knack for making Derek forget all about the ring on his finger. But when Sharon does find out, well, let’s just say having to find a new job becomes the least of Lisa’s concerns.

It goes without saying that Larter can play a convincing seductress; anyone familiar with “Varsity Blues” need only think back to the infamous whipped cream bikini scene for a taste of what her character brings to “Obsessed.” Larter is like a light switch, constantly flipping from smooth and sultry to crazy and aggressive, all the while remaining realistic, or at least believable enough to carry herself through the film.

But the biggest surprise of all comes from the biggest name in the thriller: Beyoncé. She’s not the greatest actress on the planet, but after sitting through the

film it’s hard to imagine her character played by anyone else. She slips into the role of the scorned wife and loving mother with a decent level of conviction. Her devotion to Derek and their son, Kyle, remains consistent throughout the film, and by the time she finally goes all Sasha Fierce on

Lisa, her uncontrollable anger is more than justified. No one throws the word “bitch” around quite like Beyoncé.

Besides breathing new life into a clichéd genre, “Obsessed” also engages viewers by calling their own morality into question. As the sordid tale unfolds on screen, audience members are forced to put themselves in the characters’ shoes and judge them for their actions: Did Derek go too far with Lisa? Should Sharon be more trusting of her husband? Why is O’Connell such a freakin’ lame actor?

The film’s real ace in the hole, however, is its ridiculously quotable script. Thanks to the over-the-top trailer, audiences were privy to some of the best lines and shouted them out on opening day in the theater. Beyoncé’s most popular bit of dialogue, “You think you know crazy? I’ll show you crazy,” was met with a particularly loud applause.

One the few questionable aspects of the film was writer David Loughery’s decision to set it during the Christmas season. Besides making it awkward for a late-April release, the inclusion of holiday elements into the film did nothing to advance the plot. In fact, hearing “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls” and Ruben Studdard and Tamyra Gray’s rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was more of a distraction than anything else. It’s possible that Loughery couldn’t think of a better excuse to include an office party in the film — it’s a pivotal scene that sets some key events into motion — but it feels like a cop-out.

That minor lapse in creative judgment aside, “Obsessed” remains the quintessential romantic thriller. The characters are interesting, the acting is consistent, and the plot is at least slightly innovative. Plus, it climaxes with a vicious brawl between a fiery diva in tight business attire and a leggy blonde wearing nothing but a football jersey. Gold.

“Obsessed” was written by David Loughery and directed by Steve Shill.