Mark Wahlberg is thrust back into the world of smuggling in order to save a family member in the thriller CONTRABAND.
Wahlberg is Chris Farraday, a former smuggler who is now on the straight and narrow, a small business owner, a husband and a father of two. It isn’t until his wife’s younger brother Andy botches a cocaine deal that Chris is called back into service.
In order to recoup the losses for smuggling kingpin Tim Briggs, played by Giovanni Ribisi, and more importantly, spare Andy’s life, Chris feels forced to set up one last job involving counterfeit currency. The operation is fairly elaborate, a cross seas one, so Chris gathers up many of his old cohorts for the job.
Wahlberg is Chris Farraday, a former smuggler who is now on the straight and narrow, a small business owner, a husband and a father of two. It isn’t until his wife’s younger brother Andy botches a cocaine deal that Chris is called back into service.
In order to recoup the losses for smuggling kingpin Tim Briggs, played by Giovanni Ribisi, and more importantly, spare Andy’s life, Chris feels forced to set up one last job involving counterfeit currency. The operation is fairly elaborate, a cross seas one, so Chris gathers up many of his old cohorts for the job.
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to throw together a major smuggling operation in a matter of minutes, CONTRABAND is the film for you. This highly energized, highly ludicrous and thoroughly passable, not plausible thriller is a fairly entertaining distraction as long as you check your suspension of disbelief at the door.CONTRABAND moves at steady pace, introducing characters, motives, obstacles and issues in an orderly fashion, while strategically withholding some information for a few late surprises. This works well in spots, and must, considering that much of what is being presented seems ridiculous. Chris’s crew, and the opposition for that matter, are young, dumb and by watching their actions, very inexperienced. Although I enjoy watching intelligent, seasoned criminals work in the movies, there’s something refreshing about viewing more authentic, if less creative corruption operate.
This group clicks thanks to Wahlberg’s leadership. He shows an ability to carry a film with CONTRABAND, despite all of the silly plot developments he and his crew must jump through. Through Wahlberg's screen presence and his straightforward approach, director Baltasar Komakur and a collection of screenwriters were almost able to smuggle a half-baked film under my nose.
CONTRABAND isn’t damaged goods, but could’ve used a little re-packaging.
Grade: C
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