Liam Neeson is The Ultimate Dad

Rating: 7/10 (9 February 2012)

By Maurice Jones
When it comes down to it, I don't have any serious care for a film like this as it's just pure entertainment and Liam Neeson as an action hero is understandably laughable. But based on the enjoyed reaction it got from people around me and not being entirely opposed to mindless contrived mainstream entertainment, I checked out 'Taken'.
In 'Taken' Liam Neeson plays an ex government protector who decides to retired in order to get closer to his teenage daughter who's mother remarried do to the fact of his constant absence in the past do to his job. The ex protector soon finds out that his daughter wants to go away to Paris for the summer, asking his permission the ex protector immediately says no and warns her of the dangers of a teenage going out to Paris as a tourist on a whim, due to his experience being a government officer protecting the president. He eventually lets his daughter go and low and behold something happens and his daughter is taken, just as he predicted. At this point the movie goes straight into a movie sequence that seems set for Liam Neeson to be an action hero, a well narrating action hero which is immediately laughable. As things get into gear, out-right fight scene after out-right fight scene comes and comes as Liam Neeson's character is in search for his daughter in Paris. Although ridiculous, it is interesting and empowering seeing Liam Neeson plow through villain after villain and become this Jean Claude Van-Damme-esque ex protector reusing his past fight techniques. Liam Neeson's character is relentless in any way possible to get his daughter back which keeps the movie exciting but implausible and this lasts to the bitter end. By the end you can't believe he went through all that but are humbled by the quick acting-ness of a father who loves his daughter and will do anything for her.
I liked 'Taken' for the excitement and the ridiculousness of Liam Neeson being an action hero, but realizing in the end why Liam Neeson did this film; as he is soft enough to play a believable caring father but also smart enough and quick enough to be a lean mean unstoppable killing machine.