'The Next Three Days' gets tone wrong

Director: Paul Haggis

Cast: Liam Neeson, Russell Crowe, Olivia Wilde, Elizabeth Banks

Cert: 12

Originally a French thriller – 2008's 'Anything for Her' –this Hollywood version, while doing its best to deliver, falls short because it can’t quite decide if it’s a serious consideration of a man – Crowe – under stress or a romp about a potential prison break.

At times it takes itself so seriously you wish the makers had gone for the simpler mindless-action version.

Crowe plays John Brennan who decides to spring wife Lara (Banks) from jail where she’s languishing for the murder of her boss. John researches the possible methods and turns to jail-breaker turned writer Pennington – Neeson in a brief appearance – for advice.

Brennan is utterly convinced his wife is innocent in spite of overwhelming evidence against and he has the additional problem of running out of time since she’s about to be moved.

The performances are universally strong, the pity is that Haggis turns the film into a story that thinks too highly of itself – how far would you go for a loved one? - when it should have been more tongue-in-cheek.

Star Rating: 3/5