Quick Review: Taken 2 (2012)

TAKEN 2

BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
NOVEMBER 13, 2013

Just as decent an action film as the first installment, “Taken 2” finds an interesting way to follow-up the original plot and keep the story fresh and exciting. Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills, as he sets off for work in Istanbul. Reconnecting with his daughter (Maggie Grace) and ex-wife (Famke Janssen), they again find themselves in an exotic location only to end up in potential hostage situations. Instead of the daughter being taken, Bryan and ex-wife Lenore are taken, in a revenge plot from the original film, like the fathers, brothers, and other relatives of those that Bryan killed to get his daughter back return to repay the debt. With help from his daughter and his ever apparent knowledge of getting out of sticky situations, the film progresses in a quick and high octane way that steamrolls you through the 90 minute run-time in the most entertaining way. Although the ending comes off very anti-climactic, the film as a whole plays out so well that it’s hard to let this conclusion ruin the film. Were they to leave the story here, it would probably be best, but knowing how Hollywood works, this isn’t the last family member to be taken. The saddest part is we’re probably entering into the spin-off/straight-to-DVD portion of the sequels where Liam Neeson will be replaced by a nobody and quality of the films will fall dismally.

RELEASE DATE
October 5, 2012

DIRECTOR
Olivier Megaton

WRITTEN BY
Luc Besson
Robert Mark Kamen

BASED ON
Characters
by Luc Besson & Robert Mark Kamen

STUDIO
20th Century Fox

PG-13
(for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sensuality)

ACTION
THRILLER
92 minutes