Unknown Where The Movie Was Going

Rating: 6/10 (19 February 2011)

Liam Neeson strikes again in a movie that I swear was going to be Taken 2 in the trailers, only to be a completely different movie. However, by the end of the movie, they might as well call it Taken 2.
The movie follows Dr. John Martin (Liam Neeson) and his wife Liz (January Jones, who's just phoning it in for a paycheck this time around)on a plane to Berlin. Once they arrive to their hotel, Liz has a problem with the hotel reservations and Neeson forgot his luggage. So instead of telling his wife, "Hey honey, I forgot my luggage. I'll be right back." He just leaves. What a jerk.
But on his way back to the airport, a mishap happens on the road and they spin off course, over a bridge and into a river. The taxi driver, Gina (Diane Kruger)rescues the unconscious Neeson and he wakes up in a hospital after being in a coma for four days. During those four days, his wife never visited him once. Maybe if he told her that he was leaving, ah never mind.
So Neeson ignores doctor's orders and goes back to the hotel only to find that his wife doesn't remember him and she's with some guy who claims to be him. Soon Neeson goes nuts and is escorted out of the hotel and back to the hospital. Neeson thinks he might just be going crazy from the coma, but then the bad guys spoil that thought by trying to kill him.
Why are the bad guys trying to kill him? I was wondering that too. Why did the wife not remember him or, maybe, PRETENDING to not remember him? I didn't know and I waited for the movie's explanation. When it is revealed (and yes it is revealed), it was so contrived that I sat livid in my seat. The third act to this movie was such a mess and the explanations given to what was really going on made this almost a completely different movie. Why did they go this route? Were the writers stuck on where to go with this concept? It sure seemed like it. Writer's Block can sometimes be a hindrance to the overall writing process that it would effect the total outcome to your film. I'm surprised the actors went with it as there are some good performances to be had in this.
I'd rather see Taken again before seeing this one. It wasn't a horrible film as the action scenes were top notch. I didn't care for some of the jump cuts in the fighting scenes as I couldn't tell what was going on. But with some truly nasty villains and heart pumping chase scenes, it was at least entertaining. Now Liam, go make Taken 2!