andrewrye-06535

I did quite enjoy this movie, although the script was a bit weak.

The amount of talent that was thrown at it was incredible. I suspect that may have been part of it's downfall. I found myself playing 'who's that celebrity?' as there were so many.

To the point of distraction in my case. Which is a shame as I couldn't grasp the plot in it's entirety.

The sets and period setting was very well done. I found the editing a bit choppy and the jump around of the time frame was a bit off putting. But overall it was ok.

I was surprised at Taylor Swift and she did ok. Watching her when others were talking she sold her character quite well. I'm not a Swifty by any stretch of the imagination, so a surprise to me. The actors looked like they enjoyed themselves and it shows.

On the whole it is ok, and worth at least one watch, just for Christian Bale.

It's a 6 for fun.

If you don't take this as seriously as the movie took itself, it's an enjoyable ride and won't tax the brain.

Everything is laid out for you so no need to work out who's who or if there is a complex plot. There isn't.

I found I could walk away, make a coffee and come back and didn't feel the need to retrace where I was up to. There was no heavy plot scenes you couldn't afford to miss. I see everyone comparing this to Die Hard which it really shouldn't be. Other than the Christmas theme (and I suspect it's aiming at being a Christmas staple) it doesn't have the easy wit and flowing dialog and likability of the Die Hard franchise. In fact there were no witty one-liners at all. Something sorely missing in my opinion. With a comical bad guy sniper (an under used Theo Rossi) it certainly had the fodder for a quick one liner here and there. Jason Bateman did a good job at playing the villain and, regardless of other reviews, I'd like to see him do it more often. Something about that lived in dad look that just would make for a delicious bad guy begging to get out.

I wasn't really sold on the relationship of Ethan Kopek and Nora Parisi (a very capable and under used Sofia Carson), there just wasn't any chemistry. Again it made the cops and FBI look foolish as these types of action movies do with no one at all in baggage makeup (and bags going everywhere?). So, a little reality suspension was needed.

Its a 6 because it moved with good pace and the acting was decent if a little too serious. A good addition to an afternoon watch.