'Retribution' review: An uninspiring version of all Liam Neeson films

I’m beginning to think that Liam Neeson shouldn’t play dads.

Ever since he started playing avenging fathers in 2008’s smash hit “Taken,” in which villains kidnap his daughter and he has to find her, if you’re cast as Neeson’s child in a movie, you can best believe that something bad will happen to you. His newest film “Retribution” is no exception.

While his children don’t go missing in this one, the kids of “Retribution” are made susceptible to a day of chaos because of their father’s misdoings. The action-thriller is formulaic and obvious. In other words, it's just another Neeson movie, nothing more, nothing less.

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Financier Matt Turner (Liam Neeson) putzes around the house one morning, distracted by an important business meeting later in the day. His wife (Embeth Davidtz), clearly upset by the trend of her husband’s disconnection, asks him to drive the children to school for her.

Upon buckling up, Turner notices that the high-tech security system in his car is failing on all fronts. His daughter Emily (Lilly Aspell) easily jumps in the backseat while his teen son Zac (Jack Champion) sulks off to walk to school. After demanding he get in the car, Zac folds and joins his sister in the back.

So far, it seems like a pretty routine morning for the Turner family, but as with any Neeson movie, things go haywire fast.

A phone starts ringing in the car. Dad’s? No. Daughter’s? No. Son’s? No. … The call is coming from inside the glovebox, where a mysterious drop phone has been placed.

On the other line, a voice tells him that bombs have been planted in the car and they’re hooked up to pressure plates. If anyone in the car tries to get out, the bombs will explode.

Nervously sweating to keep his kids calm, Turner drives around Berlin, where the movie takes place, following instructions to appease the bomber. He’s forced to watch colleagues, like a character played by Arian Moayed — who is in the movie for maybe a minute and a half — get blown up.

It’s not all explosions, though. When Turner's partner (Matthew Modine) is used as a pawn, Turner must decide whether to shoot him. That scene does end in another explosion.

The movie’s mysterious, voice-altered villain is challenging Turner as an act of retribution — thus the title — for his financial greed.

Hungarian director Nimród E. Antal’s film is a remake of a 2015 Spanish film “El Desconocido.” For transparency purposes, I haven’t seen that film. But its remake status puts it on the list of summer movies based on previous content.

While “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” were based on toys and historical events, it felt like there was at least an originality to them. “Retribution” feels predictable and uninspiring. There is a turn at the end that I wasn’t expecting, but by the time it happens, I was already bored.

A sinister voice on the other line demanding mayhem as an act of punishment for greedy actions while Neeson races around Berlin makes it feel like a tame version of “Saw” mixed with a BMW commercial.

Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★

Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★

Director: Nimród Antal.

Cast: Liam Neeson, Matthew Modine, Noma Dumezweni.

Rating: R for some language and violence.

How to watch: In theaters Friday, Aug. 25

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Reach the reporter Amanda Luberto at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @amandaluberto.