Coming off ever so slightly like a reverse Taken, if Liam Neeson was kidnapped and the daughter had to rescue him, The Cold Light Of Day stars Henry Cavill as Will Shaw, a young wall street trader whose family is kidnapped while on holiday in Spain. While he tries to uncover what happened to them, he discovers his dad, Martin (Bruce Willis), is a C.I.A. agent who is in possession of a brief case a lot of people want. Teaming up with Lucia (Veronica Echegui), Will sets out to find both his family and the briefcase before it's too late.
Now, I find it hard to call this an out and out bad film, but there is something 'meh' about the whole affair. It starts off well enough, a leisurely pace introduces us to Will and his family, easing us into the story nicely. There is also an interesting antagonistic relationship between Will and Martin, but that is all forgotten once the plot kicks in. The initial slow pace never really picks up, making the whole movie come off as boring. Especially when it comes to the action scenes, which are also rendered un-followable by the hyperactive camera. The camera work is actually the biggest crime, night scenes are a chore to make sense of, and save for one or two nice tricks, it just makes it harder to enjoy the movie. Surprising since this comes from director Mabrouk El Mechri, who brought us the wonderful JCVD.
The acting doesn't fare much better, with Bruce Willis pretty much playing Bruce Willis, and Sigourney Weaver feeling wasted as Carrack, a C.I.A agent whose allegiance is only a mystery to those not paying attention. This movie falls on Cavill to carry it, and god bless him, he tries his best with what is given him, but those going to this to see what he will be like as Superman in Man Of Steel will have to wait till that movie is released next year.
While not terrible, I have to hand it to them for a twist that gives Lucia and Will's relationship something above the usual love on the run cliches, and a climactic car chase livens up proceedings somewhat, The Cold Light Of Day just doesn't do enough to hold your attention and suffers because of it.
Now, I find it hard to call this an out and out bad film, but there is something 'meh' about the whole affair. It starts off well enough, a leisurely pace introduces us to Will and his family, easing us into the story nicely. There is also an interesting antagonistic relationship between Will and Martin, but that is all forgotten once the plot kicks in. The initial slow pace never really picks up, making the whole movie come off as boring. Especially when it comes to the action scenes, which are also rendered un-followable by the hyperactive camera. The camera work is actually the biggest crime, night scenes are a chore to make sense of, and save for one or two nice tricks, it just makes it harder to enjoy the movie. Surprising since this comes from director Mabrouk El Mechri, who brought us the wonderful JCVD.
The acting doesn't fare much better, with Bruce Willis pretty much playing Bruce Willis, and Sigourney Weaver feeling wasted as Carrack, a C.I.A agent whose allegiance is only a mystery to those not paying attention. This movie falls on Cavill to carry it, and god bless him, he tries his best with what is given him, but those going to this to see what he will be like as Superman in Man Of Steel will have to wait till that movie is released next year.
While not terrible, I have to hand it to them for a twist that gives Lucia and Will's relationship something above the usual love on the run cliches, and a climactic car chase livens up proceedings somewhat, The Cold Light Of Day just doesn't do enough to hold your attention and suffers because of it.
