FilmSnobReviews

Title: Non-Stop

MPAA Rating: PG-13 

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra

Starring: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, Michelle Dockery

Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins

What Is It?: Federal Air Marshall Bill Marks (Neeson) is having a terrible day. He’s on a flight he doesn’t want to be on…oh and someone just threaten to kill a person every twenty minutes until 150 million dollars is transferred into an account this mystery man opened in Bill’s name. As this terrorist continues to manipulate Bill via text message setting elaborate traps he also continues playing him the fool the entire time. Meanwhile his seatmate Jen (Moore) is trying to get to know the gruff stranger in the seat next to her. Can these passengers trust this man or is he the one responsible for putting them all at risk? 

What We Think: While highly formulaic throughout the plot twists that do occur seem there only as a change of pace. Neeson is serviceable in a familiar role of hero, while Moore’s character doesn’t add much in the way of actual story progression. Sure her characters moment of back story is there but it seems more forced and contrived. For an action film this movie didn’t have as many action set-pieces as I would’ve liked, and what we did get seemed to be terribly shot, and over rushed. Only one particular scene steals any merits and hint it’s pictured above.   

Our Grade: C+, While it suffers from a case of old hat mainly due to rehashing Neeson in a role he awhile plays well. The supporting cast, and weak development hurt and otherwise decent PG-13 action film. And while I haven’t been a fan of the Spaniard Collet-Serra, but this would be his best work yet. Hopefully more from this young man, and more of Liam Neeson kick the shit out of various terrorists from around the world.