Lisa uses her “skills” track down her daughter’s kidnappers through the Moroccan streets. She can steal cars. Incapacitate a kidnapper or two and escape the authorities, while dodging a bullet or two. Here one is lead to wonder, how a person with these skills can allow themselves to be so easily distracted in the first place.
“Our hero, Lisa, is a cunning killer with maternal instincts…”
At the end of the first act, Lisa is surrounded by the local police, who have questions about the trail of bodies she’s left behind. The authorities are insistent that Lisa goes with them to explain her side of the story and “fill out paperwork.” Yes, that’s actually said by the lead investigator. We soon discover this is more than just a simple kidnapping.
Never Let Go is essentially an action-thriller. Our hero, Lisa, is a cunning killer with maternal instincts. For the most part, the film delivers good story and entertaining action sequences. The film fails in trying to be something bigger–a feminist’s tale. Every single female character does whatever she can to help Lisa get her daughter back, while every male character is a hindrance, whether intentional or not. In today’s PC-culture, I get it, and I don’t necessarily have a problem with it. Women good; Men bad. I just wish it was a little less obvious.
"…every single female character does whatever she can to help...every male character is a hindrance..."
Ok, I admit I enjoyed this movie for the bone crunching, vigilante thrill of watching the bad guys get what they had coming. As for any shred of credibility, forget it. For one thing, who in this day and age would go to, let alone take a child to, the middle east inhabited by 1st century Muslim types? Top take an infant half way around the world to an inhospitable place shown in this movie to unwind?? What’s wrong with the Catskills? Ok, want to get far away? What’s so bad about Hawaii? Ok, it’s less likely you’ll find Eastern European child traffickers there, but still a more likely place to take a 6 month old infant. Once I got past that ridiculous premise, and it was difficult, I settled in for some good action watching a one woman special forces tac team team take down any and all takers. Two or three at a time! It was fun and went fast. I will recommend it for the thrill ride it is.
Yes, agree the location didn’t have to be so obscure. In the 1990’s, child abductions in central Florida were a real issue, especially at theme parks like Disney World. She could have gone anywhere supposedly “safer” and had this happen, with the same red-tape issues; it didn’t have to be Morocco. Perhaps the misogyny was more believable or easier to script in a country like Morocco, rather than in a first-world country? location?