January 31, 2009 -- In the tradition of “Death Wish,” “Dirty Harry,” “Die Hard,” “Under Siege” and the Bourne pictures, not to mention “Quantum of Solace,” comes “Taken” (not to be confused with the sci-fi TV series of the same name). It is a revenge/retribution film that starts out slow, but once it gets moving it is a highly effective action film. It isn't quite as good as the recent similar film, “Live Free or Die Hard,” but the idea is the same. Some bad guys kidnap the daughter of a very dangerous man and the angry father works his way up the ladder of bad guys until he gets to the one holding his daughter, killing bad guys and causing massive property destruction as he goes. The main thing this film has going for it is its star, Liam Neeson, who has a rare combination of physical presence and acting ability to make the film more believable than it ought to be.

Neeson plays former CIA operative, Bryan Mills, who has retired in order to spend more time with his estranged 17-year-old daughter after his divorce from his wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen of the “X-Men” movies). In the early scenes Lenore seems to hate Bryan, indicating his devotion to his former job made him a stranger to her and their daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace of “The Jane Austen Book Club”). Bryan attends his daughter's birthday party, which is only slightly more fancy than the Saudi royal family might stage. There he is treated much like one might treat dog poop that gets on one's shoe in a walk in the park. Kim embraces him and seems to like the present he got for her, but she drops it like a hot potato and runs to embrace the present her insanely rich stepfather, Stuart (Xander Berkeley of “North Country”) got for her, a horse, unveiled right in the middle of this ridiculous outdoor party!

Bryan's prospects of reconnecting with his very spoiled daughter don't seem very bright, so when his old ex-CIA buddies drop by and offer him a quick security job protecting a pop singer, Sheerah (Holly Valance) he decides to come out of retirement and take the job. Knowing that his daughter wants to be a singer, he asks Sheerah for her advice. She brushes him off by saying, “Tell her to get another profession.” That sounds like pretty good advice when a knife-wielding lunatic tries to kill Sheerah shortly after the concert. Bryan quickly knocks out the would be attacker, saving Sheerah's life. Sheerah, who is very grateful, offers to help Kim with her singing career.

The next day, Bryan gets a call from his daughter, who wants to have lunch with him. Bryan is overjoyed at the prospect of having time alone with his daughter, and can't wait to show her the card Sheerah gave him with the phone numbers of her voice coach and agent. Instead, when he shows up at lunch, Lenore is there with Kim. He's been set up. They need his signature on a document allowing Kim to go to Europe without being escorted by an adult. He resists signing, knowing how dangerous such a trip can be for an unescorted teenager. Kim throws a hissy fit, and he eventually gives in and signs the document, but makes several conditions, including that Kim phone him and let him know where she is staying at all times. Kim promptly forgets the conditions.

Kim and her friend, Amanda (Katie Cassidy of “Black Christmas”) are both very naive and irresponsible. Of course upon their arrival in Paris, they are promptly kidnapped by an unsavory group of Albanian flesh peddlers. Fortunately, Bryan had called Kim just before the kidnapping and he overhears the whole thing. He flies to Paris and uses his old CIA contacts to help him search for the missing girls. Along the way, he uncovers a whole rotten nest of organized crime, Albanian goons, and, of course some very nasty Arabs, too. From the time Bryan gets to Paris until near the end of the movie is one series of fights, shootings, electrocutions, strangulations, stabbings and other mayhem, along with explosions, car chases and all the usual action movie popcorn, appetizers, main course and dessert.

This film is best enjoyed with beer, or at least with the brain in neutral. It is even less believable than “Quantum of Solace” or “Live Free or Die Hard.” The plot has more holes in it than the Titanic. For instance, how come Amanda's parents didn't contact the police? There is an explanation of sorts about why Kim's parents don't contact the police, but that doesn't hold much water, either. How come Kim needs Bryan's signature to go to Paris unless he has some kind of joint custody of her? And if he has joint custody, why is it so difficult for him to arrange to spend time alone with Kim? Bryan must have the worst divorce lawyer in history. How come Bryan doesn't go after the accomplice of the man who helped abduct his daughter when he fights with him at the Paris airport? It is also not believable that one man could wipe out a whole organized crime operation single-handed, as well as a boatload of Arabs. The moral of the story is if you kill enough people your daughter and even your ex-wife will give you hugs and say they love you.

It is a pure popcorn movie. It works as a popcorn movie primarily because of Liam Neeson, who is a very fine actor. Neeson is no stranger to action movies. In fact, he's known for having been involved in one of the greatest sword fights in the history of movies in “Rob Roy.” He is also well-known for similar fight sequences in the “Star Wars” movies as the Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn. His physical presence, acting ability, and athletic ability (he was a champion boxer in his youth) give this film a big boost. This film rates a B.

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Copyright © 2009 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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