Contraband

I'm back!


It's been a while, but I am now back to movie reviews on a weekly basis (assuming school doesnt eliminate my social life). I took the last couple weeks off for numerous reasons, such as school starting and the fact that there was really nothing worth seeing that I hadn't seen already.


Then Contraband came out and looked to hopefully start 2012 out with a decent action flick. It tells the story of Chris (Mark Wahlberg) who used to smuggle in contraband items through the port of New Orleans by way of freighter but who has now turned his thoughts to a family, his wife Kate (Kate Beckinsale), and starting his own security installation business. As the story goes with most of these types of action movies, something happens that gets him sucked back into the illegal actions he left behind, and as the movie progresses, the situation gets more and more complicated. The story has been done to death, and Contraband is no different. The plot is generic and I wasn't ever really shocked by what happened. With that being said, it does have an interesting aspect to it because of the world it deals with. At least to my memory, this is one of the only movies that give a look at the smuggling-by-freight business and I found that to be my favorite part of the movie. It was shocking to see how many hands have to be in the cookie jar, so to speak, in order for something to be smuggled past customs. Even more surprising is what actually gets smuggled and how much money is made off it.

"Do you think people will go see me in skintight leather next week in Underworld
Awakening?" Yes Kate, we will.

Chris "The Birdman" Anderson is in this movie.
Just kidding.

But back to my main point with regards to being generic. Unfortunately, that is the only word that was dancing around in my head during Contraband. Sure Mark Wahlberg kicks ass like always. Sure Kate Beckinsale looks hot. Sure there are some twists and intriguing villains. But ultimately, I dont think I will remember this movie a month from now. It has a pretty cool action scene about halfway through it that kept me on the edge of my seat, but if you have seen the trailer, you have seen the coolest part of it already. Everything else has been done before, and although Contraband doesnt do any of these cliched things poorly, it doesnt necessarily excel at any of them either. I think the movie's saving grace is its star power, which it has a surprising amount of, and as I said before, a look into a world that has not been visited in the movies extensively before.

"I'm sorry Mark, but your shoulders are just too distracting. Could you please
go outside?"

If you want to see Contraband, go for it. But dont be mad at me when you come out of the movie and forget it a day later. 


The studio tried to smuggle an average action movie in a smart action movie package and they just got busted by the Rath's Reviews Border Patrol.


Pros:

• An intriguing look inside the world of border smuggling by freight. While not 100% accurate, it is still amazing to see just how easy it all is, assuming you buy off 20+ people
• Despite being generic, the story keeps moving at a good pace and eventually you care for the characters a little bit
• Brutal at times and comes with a great action scene tucked in the middle
• Kate Beckinsale is gorgeous and Mark Wahlberg kicks ass; just what you would expect from the movies

Cons:

• Predictable and generic. Generic and predictable. Even the soundtrack is a yawn
• Over use of the F-word. I'm not one to shy away from potty mouth, but after a while it becomes repetitive and loses all effect

Rath's Review Score: 6/10