“Contraband” is a mediocre action movie that rises above mediocre because Mark Wahlberg is so darn compelling. I’ve been a Mark Wahlberg fan for years; despite his having starred in “The Happening.” Wahlberg has that intangible star quality that makes you want to follow him on whatever film journey he’s taking. “Contraband” could not survive with a lesser star.
The Houdini of Smuggling
Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) was once known as the Houdini of the smuggling world. With his sidekick Sebastian (Ben Foster), Farraday could smuggle anything without ever getting caught. Now, Farraday is a civilian, running his own security company, happily married to Kate (Kate Beckinsale) and raising two sons.
Farraday is dragged back into the smuggling underworld when his boneheaded brother in law Andy (Caleb Landry Jones) pulls a drug smuggling job and ends up dumping the drugs in the river when Customs boards his boat. Not surprisingly, Andy’s employer, Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi), is none too happy and he wants Chris to pay Andy’s debt or else.
There are no surprises in this set up; it’s not very original or unexpected. What works is the businesslike, conservative approach of director Baltasar Kormakur who gets down to the business of smuggling with only the most necessary bits of exposition. When Mark Wahlberg and his crew finally get on a ship ready to smuggle the pace is methodical and to the point.
Kate Beckinsale Would Destroy Giovanni Ribisi
Giovanni Ribisi is not exactly the most intimidating bad guy and this does undermine a few scenes where he’s supposed to be playing tough. One scene that will test an audience’s ability to suspend belief finds the wiry Ribisi pushing around Kate Beckinsale. Anyone who’s seen and enjoyed the ‘Underworld’ movies knows Kate Beckinsale could snap Ribisi like a twig if she wanted.
(Yes, I’m aware that movie magic makes Beckinsale a badass vampire in “Underworld;” I was being cute.)
Mark Wahlberg is a Star
The key to raising “Contraband” above other, similar action thrillers is Mark Wahlberg. Since his bold and ballsy Oscar nominated work in “The Departed” Wahlberg has really come into his own as a movie star and that movie star quality is the one thing working in favor of “Contraband.” Without Mark Wahlberg “Contraband” is an exceptionally average movie.
See “Contraband” for Mark Wahlberg or maybe to chuckle at Giovanni Ribisi’s tattooed tough guy; both are strong reasons to see “Contraband.”