Little Action. Only that. 'Contraband'

Seems like the first part of the year for Kate Beckinsale isn't critically a good one. With the downhill road that the popular franchise: Underworld had taken; comes a new fall out via 'Contraband' alongside Mark Wahlberg, who in contrast did an energetic performance. However the two leads aren't enough to light the sparks.

In this suspense-slash-action, we follow the life of Chris, a fellow with a life of crime in the past, who is determined to help his brother who is also a drawn-criminal. Chris promises this be his last felony, getting cash on hand to pay the debts of his brother. Things quickly went down, and a series of dreadful events lead him desperate before his son and his wife Kate becomes the next target.

Contraband's fall out is mainly rooted from director Baltasar Kormakur's "all-too-hard" work: he manages to deliver a movie savory with all the spices that he actually seemed to ignore the most essential ingredient: ACTION. It is hard to vault from the focus of building the threat and dark vibe to a suspenseful-pace of action; that my friends is the happening in Contraband. However, admission is what Mark Wahlberg deserves for his good portrayal as a doting husband to Kate Beckinsale, a loving brother and a father to two petite young boys, disregarding the tendency of him looking less stiff and brute than how we are used to see him.

Contraband tries too hard in being a gripping story and a pounding drama, however critics believe that everything that is overdone, translates fail. And misfortune: Contraband experienced the 'fail'. 2.5 stars.