After a half-hour of this it all starts becoming a little tiresome and increasingly far-fetched. It's all rush, rush, rush: withdraw their cash, find money for dinner, deliver an incriminating package, unravel cryptic riddles, keep the increasingly volatile Ryan placated, hunt for kidnapped daughter. The trouble with films like these and Nick of Time is the film that immediately springs to mind is that the main characters are under such relentless pressure throughout that at no point during the film do they or the viewer have a chance to sit back and consider what has happened. Brosnan's accent had me thinking Randall had somehow fallen foul of the IRA, but the truth is far more fantastical than that. Brosnan is actually quite good, even though his character's motives remain a mystery for most of the film and writer William Morrissey is unable to add any kind of dimension to his character. Ryan oozes menace with his weathered features and bog-Irish accent. Into the Randall's picture-perfect life steps the mysterious stubble-chinned Tom Ryan (Pierce Brosnan) who, with sinister ease, adeptly picks apart the threads of their cosy existence. He also drives a 4x4 in the city, a sure indicator that the guy is as bankrupt of values as it eventually turns out he is scruples. He goes through the motions of stepping aside to allow a colleague a stab at proving himself but, when his suggestion is turned down, chooses not to promote his colleague's talents to his boss. The thing is, Tom's a little too smug from the outset, which made me dislike him immediately. Gerard Butler plays Neil Randall a hot-shot advertising executive with a perfect family in the form of gorgeous Maria Bello and their young daughter. MAJOR SPOILERS As thrillers go, this one is pretty stupid. More hints about the ending would have made the ending more compelling. The twist ending is fine but it needed a few more breadcrumbs laid out along the way. I was interested in the mystery of the true nature of the story, but I didn't particularly care about the people.
This has the potential for a good 3-person morality play, but director Mike Barker works overtime to pump up the artificial thrills. He does menace well and she's the loving wife. Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello are a little better. Quiet anger would be so much more effective. His energy diffuses the tension rather than raise it. It's all intended to raise the tension, but it's too much of a movie thing. There is a lot of unnecessary breathlessness and yelling overacting. He tells them to do what they're told for 24 hours and they'll have their girl back. He starts telling them what to do like withdrawing all their cash but he throws it all into the river. On the drive to Diane, mysterious Tom Ryan (Pierce Brosnan) comes out of the backseat with a gun and news that Helen has already kidnapped their child. They hire Helen Schriver from the agency to babysit Sophie for the night. Neil is going to spend the weekend with his boss. Abby (Maria Bello) and Neil Randall (Gerard Butler) seems to be the perfect couple in Chicago with a lovely daughter.
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