Reason Writers at the Movies: Peter Suderman Reviews Taken 2
Reason Senior Editor Peter Suderman checks out Liam Neeson's very special skills in his Washington Times review of Taken 2:
If I have learned anything from watching the two "Taken" films, it's this: Never go on an international vacation with Liam Neeson.
Sure, it's only his family who have been targeted so far: In the first film, his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), was kidnapped in Paris; in the second, the baddies nab his lovely ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen), in Istanbul. But let's face it: If this sequel does well, more sequels, more family members, and more overseas abductions will be required. Family reunions in Rome are obviously begging for trouble, but that's just the beginning. At a certain point, anyone located in Liam Neeson's general vicinity will be at risk.
Still, it's probably not worth worrying too much. The first "Taken" was something of a surprise: a satisfyingly brutal action showcase for Mr. Neeson, who used the film's unexpected success to establish himself as a B-movie action star.
"Taken 2" is more of a missed opportunity. For one thing, there's the title: Why not "ReTaken," or "Taken, Again," or, for those who prefer brevity, "Took"?
If one still insists on going the numbered-sequel route, there's still the matter of the subtitle. It's hard to justify making a movie about spousal kidnapping that's a sequel to a film called "Taken" and not calling it: "Taken 2: Take My Wife, Please."