Movie Review: “Breaking In” lifelessly suggests that payback is a mother!

Movie Review: “Breaking In” (PG-13)

“Breaking In” is a new home-invasion thriller that finds a mother doing whatever it takes to protect her children from a handful of really unsavory types. It seems only fitting, then, that this film was released during Mother’s Day weekend. That said, if you really want to treat your mom right, take her to dinner instead, because while there have certainly been far worse movies, “Breaking In” isn’t really worth your time or money.

In “Breaking In,” Gabrielle Union is Shaun Russell, a mother of two (Ajiona Alexus and Seth Carr) left to pick up the pieces at her father’s estate after he passes away. Shortly after arrival, the mama bear claws come out when Shaun’s kids are taken hostage by a team of thieves (Billy Burke, Levi Meaden, Richard Cabral, and Mark Furze) who are out to retrieve a large sum of money they believe the deceased has hidden somewhere on the property. Ultimately, this badass mom must outwit these baddies in the name of both her own survival and the protection of her children.

If you’re thinking this plot sounds familiar, that may be because you’ve seen this movie hundreds of times under various alternative titles (see “Panic Room,” “Hush,” “When a Stranger Calls,” and “Trespass,” just to name a few). Not that there’s anything wrong with familiarity. We all crave comfort food on occasion. But with movies like “Breaking In,” it’s all about the execution, and there simply isn’t anything particularly noteworthy about the craft here. That’s a shame, too, when you take into consideration that this film was directed by James McTeigue, the visual stylist behind “V For Vendetta.” You’d never guess that both movies were made by the same filmmaker, though. Visually speaking, “Breaking In” is pretty uninspired. Furthermore, to call this routine flick cliched, generic, and void of any real tension would be a gross understatement.

In terms of performances, Union is a formidable lead, and it’s refreshing that she’s an everywoman here as opposed to a superhero. That said, this talented actress has displayed charisma and strength to much stronger affect in the past with memorable turns in everything from “Bring It On” to “The Birth of a Nation” to “Love and Basketball.” In “Breaking In,” her talent is virtually squandered. And in fact, with the exception of a crazy-eyed, over-the-top Richard Cabral, no one really brings a whole lot of energy to the table. At the very least, Cabral attempts to inject a little menace into the proceedings.

In addition to a handful of “I could see that coming from a mile away!” moments, the blatant attempt at watering down what was once clearly an R-rated movie so that it might be a more suitably accessible PG-13 is glaringly apparent. Look no further than the film’s poor ADR work. Burke’s yelling of the word “frickin'” doesn’t exactly smack of authenticity. But then, an R rating does not necessarily a good movie make, and it would have taken quite a bit more to make this picture worthy of a hearty recommendation. Even the shelved Halle Berry-headlined actioneer “Kidnap” was more engaging, but perhaps that’s because it had the camp factor on its side. Unfortunately, “Breaking In” doesn’t even really have that going for it.

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