Movie Review: Taken 3

Taken 3
Starring: Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker, Famke Janssen , Maggie Grace, Dougray Scott, Sam Spruell, Don Harvey, Dylan Bruno, Leland Orser, David Warshofsky, Jon Gries, Jonny Weston, Andrew Borba, Judi Beecher, Andrew Howard, Cedric Cirotteau, Catherine Oyer, Jimmy Palumbo 

Director: Olivier Megaton
Canal+, Ciné+, EuropaCorp, M6 Films
USA, 2014. 

Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is trying his daughter Kim's (Maggie Grace) birthday in his own a little bit clumsy but loving way. Kim is living with his boy friend Jimy (Jonny Weston). Apparently she ditched Jamie from previous movie Taken 2. Bryan is also warming his relations with his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen). Lenore is married to shady businessman Stuart (Dougray Scott) who owns big money to underpants wearing Russian mobster Oleg Malankov (Sam Spruell). No Albanian mobsters involved this time! 

The story takes a tragic turn when Lenore is murdered and Bryan is framed guilty. He escapes and begins to search for the real murderers while trying to protect Kim. A smart police detective Dotzler (Forest Whitaker) and half of the LA police department try to arrest Bryan. Luckily for Bryan the story happens in USA this time so now he gets some direct help from his agent buddies.

The movie is divided to three acts: first is romantic family drama when Mills socializes with his ex-wife and daughter. Second act puts on "The Fugitive" gear when Mills tries to solve the murder while trying to avoid being arrested by the cops. The third is the most action-filled act when Mills punishes the culprits. 

Of the three Taken movies in this Liam Neeson uses most versatile acting skills, ranging from loving daddy to action hero who mourns the death of his ex-wife. Forest Whitaker is also good to see as bagel-loving detective Dotzler. Whitaker adds some eccentric gestures to his character such as playing with rubber-bands. The movie itself is not very original or surprising but has good popcorn action, good car chases and charismatic heroes, so it should be fun for fans of old school action films. If Taken was like 24-series, and Taken 2 resembled the Charles Bronson vigilante movies of the 1980s, this movie is in the vein of Steven Seagal movies of the 1990s.

The action is not realistic, how does Mills survive all those explosions or get shrugged off after wrecking half the city? And yes there are plenty of plot holes also. But then again realism has never been the most important thing in Luc Besson produced films, *cough* Taxi and Transporter series. So it is completely proper in the Luc Besson universe. Also compared to humourless Taken 2 it is positive that they added some lighter moments also. So I would rank Taken movies:
1. Taken
2. Taken 3
3. Taken 2

And although the poster says "It Ends Here" I wouldn't be surprised if Bryan Mills returned someday!

Read also Taken 2 review here!

Rating: Good