ABDUCTION
BY JAKE MATHISON
September 30th, 2011
Starring: Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Alfred Molina, Sigourney Weaver, Michael Nyqvist, Maria Bello and Jason Isaacs
Directed by: John Singleton
Written by: Shawn Christensen
With a little craftmanship, less cheese and more conviction, Abduction might have been a solid thriller. As is, it's a fun, juvenile joyride that is cut and done before you're allowed to groan too loudly. Taylor Lautner (Twilight) stars as Nathan Harper, a teenager whose world unravels when he discovers his entire life has been a lie, and he's thrust into a plot usually reserved for cheap spy fiction.
Lautner struts his stuff, flexing his ab muscles and brooding throughout like an emo Steven Seagal at senior prom. Luckily for him, his date is the entrancing British up-and-comer Lily Collins (Priest). Together, they spend an hour and a half evading bad guys and looking sexy while breaking light sweats. Along for the ride are a mishmash of shady characters with questionable allegiances, highlighted by veteran scene-sniper Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2) as a dopey CIA agent. Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters), Michael Nyqvist (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), Maria Bello (Coyote Ugly), Jason Isaacs (The Patriot), and even an uncredited Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend's Wedding) also turn up briefly.
Director John Singleton (Shaft) refrains from stretching himself or exploring riskier stylistic choices, and as a result Abduction is an average, straight-forward teen thriller that does just enough to keep you interested without, at least initially, questioning its internal logic. Think North by Northwest for the Twilight crowd.
2/5
Abduction is Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense violence and action, brief language, some sexual content and teen partying
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