Taken 2

When watching the trailer for the Liam Neeson action sequel, Taken 2, it’s difficult not to laugh when he forcefully delivers the line, “Your mother is going to be taken.” Come on, that’s just a lazy way to allude to the similar moment in the original film and try to give the title some relevance. Unfortunately that’s the way some of the movie goes, unintentionally funny. The plot follows Neeson’s character, Bryan Mills, on vacation in Istanbul with his ex-wife (Famke Janssen) and daughter (Maggie Grace.) But while there, family members of the killed villains from the first movie track Bryan down to enact their revenge.

The plot is actually less cut and dry than Taken. The viewer sees Neeson’s character in a peaceful setting to start and witnesses the types of characteristics that make him so strong in life threatening situations. He is always perfectly on time and doesn’t trust car wash employees to hand dry his car. These are minor events, but in the grand scheme of this (unforeseen) franchise, it’s important to learn something about these characters.

The most unanticipated development that occurs is the lack of fisticuffs. The whole draw of Taken 2 is the guarantee of ridiculous violence. Plus, sequels are supposed to be bigger and badder than originals, right? But contrary to that scientific stance on sequels, this film opts for car chases, foot chases and massive property damage. There’s less shooting and even less hand to hand combat. Neeson is a bona fide star these days, so there’s no question his presence carries the movie. But everything from the script to the characters needs to be better in order for an unexpected sequel to live up to its overachieving counterpart. Unfortunately, if this were the first in the series it would also have been the last.

Each film earns either zero, a half or a full arrow in five categories. The categories are Acting, Writing/Directing, Emotion, Innovation and Overall Impression. The arrows are added up to equal the full score.