TAKEN 2

Reviewed by Patrick Gibbs

GRADE: B +

Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Rade Šerbedžija

Screenplay by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen
Directed Olivier Megaton

Liam Neeson, the Academy Award nominated star of Schindler's List, after flirting with attempted blockbuster leading man roles in film ranging from Rob Roy to Star Wars: Episode 1, seemed to be firmly settled into being a perennial prestige player in films like Kinsey, Gangs of New York or Kingdom of Heaven - the kinds of films that strive for Oscar gold but never reach the finish line. There was the occasional foray into more commercial projects like Chronicles of Narnia or Batman Begins, but there he was a supporting player, still included in order to add prestige and sense of Oscar cred. But his career took a dramatic change in direction when he showed off a “particular set of skills” in the surprise hit Taken in 2008. 

Suddenly he was the new Harrison Ford, and on the top of everyone's must have list for action blockbusters. Ten years ago if someone told Neeson would be starring in a big screen version of The A-Team you would have laughed in their face. But his commanding presence, imposing build, deep voice and sad intensity proved to the ideal mix for a more mature action hero. Unfortunately, these films failed to ignite the box office the way they were expected to, and the question of how much longer Neeson's action hero phase would last was becoming a major question . . . until now.

Bryan Mills and his family are adjusting to normal life, or at least as normal as it gets for them. Bryan daughter Kim is still traumatized by the experience of being kidnapped in Paris, and his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) is dealing with her second marriage falling apart. Bryan suggests that Kim and Lenore join him in Istanbul, where they can vacation together after Bryan gets done with some work.

Kim has plans to help her parents rekindle their relationship, and stays back at the hotel while they two of them spend time alone. While they are out, they are pursued by mysterious men and a chase ensues. But these men aren't random kidnappers: they are after Bryan specifically, and they want revenge. Despite Bryan's efforts, Lenore is captured, forcing Bryan to surrender, and the two are taken. Get it? Two taken? Taken 2? It works on so many levels!

This is a disposable popcorn film, another sequel to movie to a movie that should not have had a sequel, but much like Die Hard 2, it's so much fun that it doesn't matter. The swift pacing, well staged action and likable performances make for a film that is a bit lighter and more briskly entertaining than the original. Director Olivier Megaton and the writers are clearly using The Bourne Supremacy as their role role model, and it's a great choice. Unlike Die Hard 2, this isn't just a rehash of the first film; it follows a story of it's own that may be a bit far fetched but is hardly the same ludicrous “how can this happen to the same person twice?” kind of set up. What's more, where the first film was carried almost entirely by Neeson, this time around actress Maggie Grace, as Kim, is allowed to do more than just scream and cry, and becomes something of a sidekick to Bryan in what is by far the most entertaining section of the movie.

Unfortunately, the final section feels a bit rushed and some of the fights are a little choppy. The conscious choice to keep the film under two hours is mostly a good one, but there are few moments where it would have been nice to let things take their time to truly resolve, and the light, happy ending fees more than a little forced. Still, there is so much that does work about the film that the complaints are easily forgotten, and Taken 2 proves to be one of the most satisfying sequels of the year. Not to be confused with great art, this is still a wildly entertaining night at the movies. 
 
Taken 2 is rated PG-13 for violence and profanity.