Half decent action with no suspense, overrated

Rating: 5/10 (26 June 2020)

Surprisingly poor for a movie which got a lot of praise, and started a whole series.
I don't consider myself that hard to please when it comes to rating an action-movie. I am forgiving as long as the movie gives me the thrills I seek in that genre. But Taken just turned me of in stead of on, and I really dont get why its relatively highly rated. The consensus is that Taken 2 and 3 couldnt live up to the first and dont have its charm. But what is the charm?
Let me try to explain. First I look what the movie is trying to be. Taken goes for dead on serious. No comedy. The action is over the top in the sense that it is not realistic, but it tries to be grounded. Liam Neeson is no Jason Statham, so to speak.
Taken has very little depth and also doesnt seem to want to be a documentary on sex slavery. Yes it paints a rough picture on how this trafficking works, but very rough.
This all kind of leaves me clueless of what the movie wants to be. Its serious but not realistic.. A movie that creates a bassass new action-star? But the movie does spent a lot of time on its thin plot. The detective-work is without much imagination, and Neeson (an actor I do like) has a very one dimensional somewhat boring character. Then I believe the movie is mainly praised because of its fighting- action, but I mainly miss overview during the fight-scenes and when they repeat him shooting from floor-hight I really wonder if they already had run out of ideas. The action is entertaining enough but by no means outstanding.
Taken has very little suspense as our hero is a superdude and has no flaws or vulnerability as a hero. The villains all seem weak compared to him. Also they seem all the same.
Yes, as father he is flawed, but I see almost no point in that plotline, especially cause they dont work it out. It just creates a well earned hug in the end and thats about it.
He also barely seems flawed compared to the very unlikable mother and her husband.
Then on top of all I find the acting largely mediocre. Neeson is by far the best actor in it, but the script gives him so little to work with. The daughter had almost no personality at all. A young naive girl. Thats about it.
The charm must be a kinda cute father that saves his daughter by killing a countless amount of guys.
I give the movie a 5.5 out of 10. Some likable moments and half-decent action makes it almost an acceptable 6.