No Escape

In their new overseas home, an American family soon finds themselves caught in the middle of a coup, and they frantically look for a safe escape in an environment where foreigners are being immediately executed.

Director: John Erick Dowdle

Writers: John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle

Stars: Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Owen Wilson

Storyline

When Jack (Owen Wilson) finds an opportunity to move to Southeast Asia to head his water manufacturing company's new plant there, he immediately jumps at the opportunity and moves his family there. When they get there; they seem to be having problems, the electronics don't work and rarely any cars are seen in the streets. When he goes to the market the next morning, he finds himself caught in the middle of a violent rebellion headed by armed rebels executing foreigners. Jack must get back to the hotel and with the help of a mysterious British "tourist" (Pierce Brosnan), must get his family to the American Embassy in the midst of the chaos. But is there any escape?

Reviews

I went to this movie because I was curious -- Owen Wilson NOT in a comedy?? I was pleasantly surprised. Owen Wilson nailed it -- a loving father trying *desperately* to save his family. Yes, this situation has been done a zillion times before (for example, THREE "Taken" movies) -- but I've never seen it done with this much intensity. The movie's focus was not on the "action." Rather, the focus was on the interplay between the parents/kids, how they dealt with each other and the various situations, providing a deeply human touch against a horrifically inhuman background (a massacre). And it was this extreme contrast, of the human vs the inhuman, that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the movie.

Pierce Brosnan was also amazing. No plastic Kennie doll here -- Pierce Brosnan played an imperfect man trying to do the right thing. I've never seen Pierce Brosnan play such a wide range within a single role -- from off-key karaoke to ____. (I won't say it as it would be a spoiler). 

I also enjoyed Pierce Brosnan's sidekick, "Kenny Rogers." 

And I must say, it was refreshing to see an action movie where the only "car chase scene" involved a moped going five miles per hour.