MPAA Rating: PG-13
Original Review Date: September 27, 2005
Reviewed by: Erin, Movie Muse
In a Nutshell: Your typical B-movie. (Might have been better if
I hadn't *just* seen a much better B-movie. See above.) Not
great, not bad. Semi-tense, had some humor to it, but other
than that, it was just kind-of there.
Quick Plot: Jessica has been kidnapped. Her captors have locked
her in a room with a smashed phone. After clicking the wires
together, she is connected with Ryan's cell phone. She begs for
help, and tries to enlist his help to protect her family. If
the connection is lost, so is any chance of rescue.
In Detail: Like I said, it was okay. Not good, not bad; just
existing. Kim Basinger gives a much better performance than the
material calls for, and it did let me see some of the appeal of
Jason Statham (I'm certainly more interested in seeing The
Transporter after seeing this film). Chris Evans' performance,
on the other hand, was rather goofy. I realize this may have
been what the part called for, but interestingly enough, the
other parts were played too seriously for his performance to fit
in. Even William H. Macy, whose character was a little silly,
took his part seriously. Evans treated it like a joy ride.
Either everyone should have treated it like that, or Evans
should have been a little more serious. I realize it was not an
incredibly serious part or film, it was just glaringly out of
sync. Might have been better with a different lead, and perhaps
a slightly beefed up story line, including a somewhat slower
reveal.
