Contraband intrigues viewers

Typically January isn't a good month for movies. At the end of the year studios are trying to rush out their A-list films for Academy Awards consideration. Anything you run into through this first month of the year usually isn't going to be the best the world of film has to offer. "Contraband" does its best to break this trend, but somehow falls short.

Mark Wahlberg leads "Contraband" as an ex-smuggler by the name of Chris Farraday. He's found a way to turn his life around and started his own alarm company to safely support his wife Kate (Kate Beckinsale) and two boys.

It's obvious where the narrative is going to end up when Kate's brother has a smuggling job go wrong and is in debt a lot of drug money to his ruthless on-edge boss Briggs (Giovanni Ribisi). Briggs threatens him with death and in turn having Farraday's family inherit the debt. He continues to threaten him and his family until he agrees to find a way to help pay back the $700,000 within two weeks.

Without seeing the movie you can make your own deductions on how this movie plays. That's  the main problem with "Contraband." You almost know everything that's going to happen, but the way that Wahlberg and company play their characters keeps you interested enough to keep watching.

There isn't much of anything special for the former Marky Mark to do here other than to be the protective family man that's expected and thankfully he does it well. Note that usually when I see that in a film I find it to be corny and a bit annoying.

Somehow, without  his character going on a killing spree to protect his loved ones, Wahlberg plays his part flawlessly.

Ribisi's character of this insane mob boss will find its way under your skin as his stalks and threatens this family throughout the film. This guy just has a way about him that you don't see too many actors possess these days. You know that he's going to go after the family in order to get what he wants, but everything he does is a constant surprise.

It takes the predictability of the film and throws it in the trash for the time being. He makes you forget that good will inevitably triumph over evil and keeps you highly entertained, even during his time off screen.

 So, is "Contraband" worth your time? If you know not to expect too terribly much, then of course it is. The only thing going against it is the film's predictability.  It's safe to say that's a pretty big deal.

The trailer for the film is a great guide for what you're getting into and isn't misleading. This is just one of those slightly mediocre films that you'd rather pay a matinee price for, but wouldn't be upset paying the normal ticket fare.