Non-Stop is about as generic as they come, but don't let that stop you from enjoying this well-crafted thriller

Rating: 6/10 (14 March 2014)

Non-Stop brings nothing new to the action-thriller genre. It is about as standard as they come, but Liam Neeson commands the film with intensity and urgency that keeps it from ever getting boring.
Non-Stop has a simple premise, yet it keeps the audience guessing throughout. One look at the poster and you'll know what to expect. From the beginning, you're wondering who is sending air marshall Bill (Liam Neeson) these text messages threatening to kill someone every 20 minutes. This interesting premise gives the film the liberty to do what it wants with the plot. You won't guess what happens, because there are so many twists and turns. While at times very unbelievable, Non-Stop is still really enjoyable.
This is due in part to Liam Neeson, the recent king of action movies. Dubbed "Taken on a Plane," Non-Stop is better than his recent films, and he takes command of the role and keeps audiences invested. Supporting roles from Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery, Argo's Scoot McNairy, House of Cards's Corey Stoll, and 12 Years a Slave's Lupita Nyong'o only makes you miss them in their most well-known roles. None of them are really standouts, not even Lupita. But since Neeson is the star of the show, you won't mind.
Like I said, Non-Stop is nothing new. A decent thriller with some twists and turns that keeps it from getting boring. Some laughable emotional background gives at least some dimension to Neeson's character, but by the end it just feels like a cop-out, typical of recent thrillers. But the action and suspense is first-rate. The final act in particular is especially thrilling, with plane parts flying everywhere and suspense building until the end. A smart thriller that keeps you guessing, Non-Stop shouldn't be passed over, but just don't expect anything special.