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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 11 May 2018

Gabrielle Union fights for her family ‘Breaking In’

By LINDSEY BAHR or not to kill them.
AP Film Writer Shaun is put through the
There is one perfect mo- ringer as she attempts to
ment in “Breaking In “ that break back into the house
one goes to see a movie to get her kids and take
like “Breaking In” for and control of the situation,
it comes relatively early which quickly starts to feel
on. Gabrielle Union’s char- repetitive. If only the script
acter, Shaun, has found were a little better. Burke
herself under attack in seems unwilling to go full
the driveway where she’d campy villain, instead play-
been attempting to order ing it straight even though
pizza for her two kids. She’s every other line of dialogue
unaware that her son and is him psychoanalyzing
daughter have already Shaun’s mom drive. (“Fear
been grabbed by the I can manage, desperation
home invaders. She’s shoe- is a whole other thing” and
less, surprised and on inter- “Moms don’t run, not when
minable hold with the pizza their babies are trapped in
place when the attack the nest” are just a few of
happens. But, she also has the gems). He also often
just accidentally broken goes back to the refrain
her wine glass and, so, as that he’s pretty impressed
resourceful ladies are wont with her determination and
to do, stabs the guy in the how he “knows” that ev-
chest with the stem. eryone underestimates her.
Thankfully she’d had the I suppose it’s the sort of line
chance to gulp down the that women are supposed
contents first considering to relate to in general,
what comes next, which, maybe, but you also start
might actually not be a to realize that you know
bad idea for the audience nothing about Shaun — oc-
either. Happy Mother’s cupation, interests, life, ex-
Day, folks, your house is un- ercise regimen. Do people
der attack and your kids This image released by Universal Pictures shows Ajiona Alexus, left and Gabrielle Union in underestimate her? Did
are being held hostage. “Breaking In.” he? Were we supposed to?
Are your “mama bear” in- Associated Press It’s telling about the level
stincts up to the task? In “Breaking In,” Union, as opening scene in an inten- escalating hostage crisis of thought put into this sto-
It’s not a bad idea and Shaun and her son Glover tional hit-and-run, amid a isn’t something the movie ry and script, but, again,
Union proves more than (Seth Carr) and teenage barely explained DA inves- is interested in exploring, ei- “Breaking In” is not neces-
capable of nailing her Liam daughter Jasmine (Ajiona tigation. But no one seems ther. They’d already gone sarily even trying to live up
Neeson/Bruce Willis mo- Alexus) are on a little week- to care or be too curious through all the trouble of those standards, and de-
ment of save-your-family end trip to her late father’s about that, plus Shaun’s getting there and cutting spite all odds and every-
action stardom, but the Wisconsin mansion to col- been estranged from her the phone lines I guess. thing going on around her,
movie has trouble sustain- lect some belongings and father for years. So the leader, Eddie (Billy Union sells it. Maybe we did
ing interest even over its meet the real estate agent. It’s why the four burglars as- Burke), the frosted-tipped underestimate her after all.
brisk 88 minutes. Directed “This place is a fortress,” sumed that there won’t be and morally conflicted “Breaking In,” a Universal
by James McTeigue (“V for someone actually says as anyone in the house when Sam (Levi Meaden), the Pictures film, is rated PG-13
Vendetta”) and written by they explore the intense se- they pick this night to find psychotic Duncan (Richard by the Motion Picture Asso-
Ryan Engle (“Non-Stop”), curity system that her tech a safe that they’ve been Cabral) and the ex-military ciation of America for “vio-
“Breaking In” is basically savvy son explains is so told contains $4 million in Peter (Mark Furze) decide lence, menace, bloody
“Panic Room” in reverse, easy to use that even mom cash. Why they couldn’t that the best course of ac- images, sexual references,
but less clever and thrilling could do it (hey, perhaps just come back another tion is to kidnap the kids, and brief strong language.”
than that Jodie Foster and that’ll come in handy later). night instead of getting hunt down the mom and Running time: 88 minutes.
Kristen Stewart yarn. Shaun’s father dies in the themselves involved in an play it by ear as to whether Two stars out of four.q