The surprise success of Taken, a slickly shot, but wholly ridiculous thriller, is a bit inexplicable, with close to a $150 million domestic take for this French film with all the intelligence of the most souped-up American blockbuster. Films like this shuffle through the multiplexes every month, but Taken excited audiences like most films of its ilk don’t. Too bad it doesn’t really work on any level – there’s potential here to backdrop the story against the rising global problem of sex trafficking, but that would’ve taken up too many of the brisk 93 minutes, and for an action-based film like this, it’s surprising that so many of the combat scenes are wildly incoherent.

The venerable Liam Neeson stars as Bryan Mills, an ex-government agent in an unnamed shadowy organization whose current mission is getting more involved in his daughter Kim’s (Maggie Grace) life. That proves difficult as his ex, Lenore (Famke Janssen), doesn’t want him around, and Kim seems perfectly happy with the luxurious lifestyle cultivated by her mom’s new wealthy husband.

When Kim needs Bryan’s consent to take a summer trip to Paris with her friend, he balks, insisting that it isn’t safe, but eventually acquiesces to try and get back in better graces with her and Lenore.

After arriving in Paris, it doesn’t take long for Kim and her friend to fall victim to a con run by a handsome French guy acting as bait in a vast sex trafficking ring. Kim’s on the phone with her dad when she’s abducted, and as he hears his daughter’s screams on the other line, he methodically plans how he will get her back.

Immediately, Neeson goes to badass mode, and it’s admittedly fun to watch him confidently execute every part of his unrelenting plan to get his daughter back – the normally mild-mannered Brit is perfect for the role. Unfortunately, everything that follows from here on out is utterly preposterous, from one of his buddies pinpointing the exact origin of a dialect from a brief recording to the utter incompetence of Bryan’s foes, who really shouldn’t have to work this hard to kill him.

Article Author: Dusty Somers

Dusty Somers hails from Seattle, and is a journalism student at the University of Oklahoma. He enjoys spending time and watching films with his wife, and looks forward to their imminent return to the great Northwest.

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