A collaboration between Oscar-nominated director John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood and 2 Fast 2 Furious) and writer Shawn Christensen, a former vocalist for New York rock band Stellastarr, Abduction has generated some buzz as a teenage version of Bourne Identity meets Hitchhock thriller. Of course, the debut of six-pack sporting Taylor Lautner (Twilight) as a leading man hasn’t hurt publicity either. But despite a lauded director, a hip writer and a heartthrob lead, Abduction comes across as a half-boiled cat and mouse movie that neither convinces nor thrills.
Nathan Harper (Taylor) is a daredevil high school kid with a crush on the girl next door, Karen Lowell (Lily Collins). While working on a school paper together, they come across Nathan’s photo on a missing kids website, which, as it turns out, is actually a phishing website run by an international terrorist Viktor Kozlow (Michael Nyqvist). When he calls the website to find out more, he unwittingly gives away his location. His adoptive parents end up dead, forcing Nathan to go on the run while frantically trying to find out the truth about who he is.
Sadly, while the film has a reasonably solid concept and jumping off point, it goes downhill from there. It tries hard to be clever, but fails to be convincing. There are some exciting elements, like a stolen phone with secret codes containing names of corrupt CIA operatives. But too many scenarios are hard to swallow. Why would a world-class terrorist run around a stadium trying to catch a kid, without a slick plan B or help from gun-toting henchmen? Why would a young girl run away with a kid who is being chased by a terrorist, even if he does have a six-pack? This unsophisticated film feels like a waste of time and talent for heavy-hitters like Alfred Molina, who plays a CIA agent, and Sigourney Weaver, who plays Nathan’s psychiatrist.
All in all, Abduction just goes to show that while teenage franchises are on fire, there are some things that should be left to the grown-ups.