LAW ABIDING CITIZEN
RYAN: “Law Abiding Citizen” is the new action thriller starring Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx.
CAROLINE: The trailer did look a little exciting but sadly, I had to miss this one. So how was it?
RYAN: It wasn’t brilliant but it was entertaining. Of course, I love Gerry B. and he looks terrif in the film. But alas, he struggles with the American accent.
CAROLINE: …in every movie! I swear he just can’t do one.
RYAN: I thought the bigger offense in the movie would be the casting of the very annoying yet intense Jamie Foxx.
CAROLINE: Seriously, there must be something the matter with him. He must have attended The Will Smith School of Modesty.
RYAN: [laughs’ I know! His ego is beyond. But thankfully he’s not completely repellent in this movie. And it’s helped by the casting of his wife – Regina Hall. I loved her on TV’s Ally McBeal.
CAROLINE: How nice for you. So let’s get to the meat – what’s the deal with this movie?
RYAN: It’s a bit bloody and violent at moments and definitely has some thrills and some intensity where I was drawing my legs up onto my seat and holding my breath, but there was also something lacking from making it great.
CAROLINE: What was that?
RYAN: I don’t know. I feel like it could have been as great as, like, “Silence of the Lambs” except for the script and direction.
CAROLINE: Ok. That’s absurd. You’re comparing this to a best picture winner?
RYAN: Well in theme at least. And Gerry’s character could give Hannibal a run for his money at one point.
CAROLINE: That’s still saying quite a bit.
RYAN: I’m torn. On the other hand, my pal Eric, who joined me at the screening really thought it was lame, comparing it to that random Michael Douglas/Brittany Murphy movie “Don’t Say a Word.”
CAROLINE: Oh God! That horrendous “I’ll never te-ell” flick? That’s not good. At all.
RYAN: No. But I definitely liked it more than he did. And in the last quarter, we get Oscar nominee Viola Davis as Mayor.
CAROLINE: Oh she’s fab.
RYAN: And she looks fab in this one.
— BOTTOM LINE —
RYAN: It’s a fairly straightforward revenge film that keeps you guessing but really lacks the brainpower to put it in that over-the-top, must see category. I definitely enjoyed it for the filler that it is and think if you’re in the mood for this genre, some excitement… you’ll dig it if you go in with lowered expectations.
— RATING —
