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It’s been more than a decade since Taken transformed Liam Neeson into an unexpected action hero. But even as he closes in on his 70th year, he’s still on the run from bad guys and trying to make things right in his latest action movie, Honest Thief.
Honest Thief stars Neeson as Tom, a bank robber known as “The In-and-Out Bandit,” who’s robbed numerous small banks without leaving any clues behind. But everything changes for Tom when he meets Annie (Kate Walsh). Convinced that he’s found the love of his life, he decides to turn himself in—to hand over the $9 million he’s taken in exchange for a lighter sentence, so he can start a new chapter in his life. But when two FBI agents see the money as a chance to get rich, Tom’s plan backfires on him.
As Neeson once again finds himself racing through the streets, dodging bullets, and throwing (and taking) more punches, it’s hard to deny his nice-guy action-hero appeal. Neeson is old enough to be a doting grandpa—and perhaps that’s part of what just makes him seem like such a nice guy. Despite his height and the growl in his voice and his ability to fire a gun while simultaneously taking on all manner of other challenges, he’s the kind of guy that you can’t help but love. And Honest Thief is no exception. Even when he’s robbing banks, you can be confident that he’ll do it in the nicest, most responsible way possible. And you’ll root for him to come out on top—and you won’t doubt his ability to make it happen.
Kate Walsh, meanwhile, seems a little out of place in her role as the girlfriend who decides to stand up for her man. Fortunately, she doesn’t shriek and run—as is the traditional role of a female character in an action movie—but she pales in comparison to Neeson’s charm and action-hero resilience.
Luckily, though, Neeson doesn’t really need a lot of help. He can drive, run, shoot, and punch his way through any situation as he battles all sorts of blatantly, laughably evil characters.
When Liam Neeson stars in an action movie, you know what to expect: plenty of chases and shooting and a character that you’ll love, no matter his flaws. And while Honest Thief may not be new or original, the high-energy action sequences—along with the lovable hero—make it at least brainlessly enjoyable.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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