BREAKING IN

BREAKING IN

MAY 11, 2018 -- In 2017, Halle Berry starred in an amusing thriller in which her son was kidnapped titled "Kidnap". She spent most of the film chasing the guys who grabbed up her son. The movie was predictable, but Halle did her best to give it some sort of credibility. As a reward, it earned $30 million at the box office on a $21 million budget.

James McTeigue is releasing a slightly different version of the story only with Gabrielle Union as a mother battling to get her two children out of a fortified home held by three bad guys. In this case, it is merely a case of bad timing.

The home was owned by Shaun Russell's (Gabrielle) estranged father (Damien Leake) who is killed in the opening scene. We don't know what he did, but apparently he was under investigation for something illegal as he is loaded. We aren't clear on why he was killed, assuming because he had all that money. All we know is Shaun is liquidating her fathers estate and the home is a key part of it.

When she and her two children - Glover (Seth Carr) and Jasmine (Ajiona Alexus) - arrive at the huge property, they have no idea that the house has been broken into by three thugs - Eddie (Billy Burk), Sam (Levi Meaden) and the viscous Duncan (Richard Cabral). While Shaun is outside, the kids are grabbed up by the crooks and the home's security lockdown turned on.

But because the system is properly set (electricity is out) the crooks only have 90-minutes before the security company sends the police. You first thought might be: "Wow, 90-minutes before the security company acts? That is an awful long time!" You second reaction might be how porous the security system really is.

But as with Berry's "Kidnap" you pretty much know the outcome. So the only thing left is the journey to the end; which in this case is mediocre at best. Gabrielle is fine and gives a heartfelt performance. She is one tough cookie as she takes a couple of beatings without hardly a bruise or even a loose tooth. Not even her hair gets too much out of place! The film could have used a bit more realism, much like in Revenge, also opening this week.

Cabral does seem to get into his character as the homicidal maniac Duncan who looks forward slicing and dicing his victims. However, his first murder should have been more torturing and gruesome and not so PG; it would have added some umph to the film.

The kids are okay, but way too movie stereotyped. Why can't the kids be dumber than doo-doo instead of adorably clever? And why is the films timeline seem much longer than 90-minutes?

"Breaking In" is a so-so predictable thriller with enough noticeable flaws that might make you groan. More gore would have helped but Gabrielle Union is still fun to look at! -- GRADE C- -- GEOFF BURTON

GEOFF BURTON