REEL REVIEWS

           CONTRABAND

  Contraband, an action film set in New Orleans, introduces Mark Wahlberg as an ex-smuggler named Chris Farraday determined to leave his old ways in the past.

            The film introduces interesting elements by taking the main characters to the country of Panama, where Wahlberg is in a race against time to pick up illegal merchandise to keep his family safe back home.

            Farraday's brother-in-law, Andy (Caleb Landry) fails to complete a drug run which ultimately forces Farraday to revert back to his old ways. The villain in this storyline, Tim Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi) demands millions of dollars in counterfeit bills from Panama in order to mend the damage Andy has done. Briggs threatens to kill his wife and sons if he does not deliver.

            Since Farraday was once the best international smuggler in the business, he quickly assembles a crew to obtain the counterfeit money demanded by Briggs. When the crew is in Panama, some unexpected obstacles arise minutes from their departure time, creating high energy and suspense among audiences.

            In the middle of the action in Panama, Farraday's family is being threatened back home. Frantic phone calls from his wife convince him to notify a friend in New Orleans to take his family in for protection. Although this seems like the right decision a first, it quickly unravels to be a nightmare later in the plot.

            The money, drugs, and violence in this movie is enough to make any viewers' heart race. Even though this movie presents obvious moral dilemmas, viewers find themselves rooting for the ex-smuggler in hopes of saving his family.

            Although the film is very fast paced, and is definitely action packed, the overall plot is somewhat similar to the film "Gone in 60 Seconds" starring Nicholas Cage.

            The two movies are similar in plot considering the main character is trying to move on from a less than admirable past, and then a younger family member makes a poor decision and forces the main character to come to their rescue. With this being stated, the overall plot was somewhat predictable.

            The movie is not bad, but could have been more original in comparison to others playing currently.