I do like whenever we get a home invasion/survival type film so I was kind of looking forward to Breaking In. The trailer didn't really look that great but I was hoping for an enjoyable time. Add the fact that this film was directed by the same guy who made V For Vendetta and you would expect something good. Unfortunately, this film is actually quite bad on a few levels. There was certainly a better way to go about this film and although the film's premise is simple the writer and director involved missed the opportunity with their execution.
The film is about a mother and her two children who drive up to her recently deceased father's house. His house is in a fairly remote area and once there they realize that they are in the way of four criminals who want to rob the fortune in the house. The mother's kids are locked in with the men, while she is outside and must find her way in to save her children from danger. The men definitely underestimate her ability to go the distance to save her family.
Gabrielle Union is an often reliable actress who gives a solid performance in this film. She has no real fault in this and is believable as a mother who has to save her kids. Everything else is bad. We don't really know anything about the strained relationship between Union's character and her father. What went on with them? What was his connection the the robbers? Nothing is explained well and things are left badly vague. The film is short (88 minutes) yet some scenes move at a complete snails pace. We see characters just walk around and look at things for minutes on end.
The film could have even used thrilling moments but doesn't utilize that either. The villains are cookie cutter and despite the premise of the film there seems to be nothing at stake. Its a really disappointing effort all around. I wasn't expecting a masterpiece but the stale and underwritten plot really dampens a film that should have been much better. This film is a bummer that wasn't really worth the time. I do want to see Union at the center of better projects though.
5/10
