Solid, Entertaining, Reactionary B-Movie

Rating: 8/10 (20 February 2009)

I saw "Taken" last night and must admit it is highly entertaining and recommendable albeit one shouldn't expect much political correctness. It's interesting this movie came out post- Bush because it reminded me a lot about the "glourious" 80's where good was good and bad was bad. In fact the film takes up so many dusty clichés from 80s action flicks that it seems highly inspired by movies like "Missing in Action" or any "Death Wish" ... "Film".
America is the save haven in this film, where everything is alright but former CIA man Mills (Neeson) gets alert when his young daughter wants to travel to Europe, the most dangerous place on earth. If you think by comparing the US with the average mid-European crime rate this must be a joke you're easily wronged by the fact that Mills daughter is kidnapped quicker upon her Paris arrival than the can say "liberté".
After that you're hardly surprised by a Frenchman bringing home a baguette at night and unshaved Albanians always having a beer can and a cigarette handy.
But if you can live with these black and white stereotypes you will see a highly entertaining movie and will also accept that even after all the debates about secret CIA-Prisons it's OK if Mills tortures a bad guy to death.
Besides these reactionary spillovers "Taken" is fun to watch, with Neeson who might seem miscast in a B-Movie is once again proving that he is still at the height of his career, delivering a solid Steven Seagal variation - including acting skills.
The fact that it was directed and written by French filmmakers with an Irish lead makes this bearable otherwise the pro American message would be too offensive. But so it seems like a solid homage to the action films of the Reagan years with a wink.
If you just had a bad day this film is the right one to cheer you up!