ABDUCTION DVD (2011)

SYNOPSIS: Taylor Lautner explodes on-screen as a young man whose secret past is set to collide with a dangerous reality. After uncovering a deadly lie, Nathan (Lautner) is propelled on a lethal, no-holds barred mission to learn the truth. Aided by a devoted family friend (Sigourney Weaver), Nathan’s hunt for the facts pits him against ruthless assassins and questionable allies.
 
MOVIE REVIEW:

“Abduction” is supposed to be Taylor Lautner’s star vehicle and the ultimate litmus test to see if he commands the box-office power given his tremendous popularity in the Twilight saga. Unfortunately, Team Jacob or Taylor never really helps in lighting up the box-office and many companies including Universal decide to drop out of Lautner’s many announced projects subsequently. Just how bad is “Abduction”? Let’s just say it’s a very average forgettable action movie.

Firstly, “Abduction” has a rather preposterous setup. Lautner plays Nathan, an ordinary teenager raised in a normal suburban neighbourhood by his parents, Kevin (Jason Issacs) and Mara (Maria Bello). They live in a nice big house and Nathan seems to have everything he wants but somehow something is not right and Nathan starts to suspects he might not be his parents’ biological son after browsing through a missing person’ website. What follows is some wham-bang chase involving CIA operatives and Serbian or Russia terrorists (led by Michael Nypqist from the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) with the plotting absolutely bogus that there is no point explaining further.

Who the hell in the world would disguise as a couple and raised somebody else’s son for decades? Maybe there is, a call of duty perhaps? Yet again, “Abduction” never bother to elaborate further and all it accomplish is to throw in a concept and let Lautner and his onscreen partner, Karen (Lily Collins) do all the running, walking and kissing of course. Sure you can call this teenage Bourne if you want however Taylor Lautner is a weak actor, incompetent to convey the right emotions except showing he has the potential to kick some ass and romance his neighbor.

Director John Singleton whose last big screen feature was the edgy “Four Brothers” did a decent job exploding and shooting everybody else in Nathan’s path. There is a pretty tough, painful fight inside a cramped train cabin between Nathan and a baddie which I must give credit to and some fancy nimble parkour moves in the finale. And that’s sadly is about all the measurable positive vibe about the movie. Even with a creditable supporting cast that includes Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Geraldine and Alfred Molina as a CIA agent is unable to salvage the movie from being a boring affair. Weaver popped in and out as if she is busy juggling many other minor roles in dozens other movies while Molina no longer has the surprise element being the ambiguous government agent.

Like Obi Wan Kenobi always say “Patient, my young Padawan”. Taylor Lautner has the look and agility being the next generation of Hollywood action stars, sure he has that much complained wooden expression but hey look at a certain Stallone and Schwarzenegger. Give that young man more time, for now “Abduction” is a no-go. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Abduction Chronicleis an 18 minutes production journal that has Taylor Lautner talkig about his filming experiences.

More interviews with the cast and crew follow inThe Flight For The Truth.

Initiation of an Action Hero takes a deeper look at the stunts performed by Lautner himself in the movie.

Pulled Punches is a fancy term for Gag Reel.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The video presentation here makes Taylor Lautner looks as good as he can get. Images are sharp and colours brimming, even the night shots look wondrous. Unfortunately with the constraint of the Dolby Digital 2.0 track, the sound design especially for the explosion sequence and crowd scene for example doesn’t deserve the whooomph factor it deserves.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee