MMT Quick Review of “Kidnap”

So, I went into the film “Kidnap” ignoring any reviews and dismissing any posts on social media that indicated anything negative. My biggest hope was that Academy award-winner Halle Berry would finally have another film that would be a box office win, and break the streak that has seemed to follow her for the past several years.

In this action/thriller, Berry portrays a mother whose six-year-old has been abducted and who decides to pursue the kidnappers by any means necessary. There’s edge of your seat action, albeit you will have to suspend disbelief often, interspersed with moments of “no she just didn’t do that!”

Unfortunately, it isn’t the tightest woven story, and several parts feel a bit stretched – especially the scenes where Berry, in pursuit of the abductors, makes questionable judgement calls. There were folks, in the theater where I viewed, laughing at parts that weren’t supposed to be funny.

And during other parts, I felt like I was being held hostage. But I was willingly there and prayerfully rooting for the film to be great. Unfortunately, I don’t believe my prayers worked, as this is not the grand action flick I’d wished for.

I overheard a viewer afterwards give the perfect summation stating, “This should have been on Lifetime!” Yes, ma’am. I believe that would have worked best story wise, small screen versus big. Yet, I can’t deny that there was something rewarding about watching it with a group, while enjoying the laughs and the collective “that’s some bull” energy in the theater.

So, I guess I’ll continue to wait for Ms. Berry to get that win again, because “Kidnap” ain’t it. I hope it does well, and that word of mouth reviewers are more influential than the critics, so it can at least bring in decent numbers. Yep, forever remaining hopeful for Ms. Halle!

Until next thought, Thomasena