You see Breaking In for two reasons. You want to see a woman kick ass, and you like Gabrielle Union. If you’re coming for those two reasons, then definitely see it. I am particularly joyful at this marketing approach to women on Mother’s Day weekend. They’re not giving us some schmaltzy, rose-colored nonsense, but an every day, normal, black chick, Liam Neeson movie. Thank you!
Why do I like Union? I certainly don’t get to see her enough (side eye at Hollywood). I first remember seeing her in Bring It On when the big plot twist is that Kristen Dunst is actually the villain, and Union is the aggrieved hero. According to imdb, she actually made appearances in shows that I watched, but I do not remember her in them: Family Matters, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, ER, Ugly Betty and Flashforward. I was probably one of the very few who watched the remake of Night Stalker, but I have since learned that vaguely supernatural shows on ABC should be avoided at all costs because the writers are clueless about the narrative trajectory. I saw Top Five. Doesn’t seem like enough to make a fan, but quality (performances), not quantity. It also doesn’t hurt that Union seems to be a great person in her media appearances and her memoir, We’re Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True, which I read in record time. The intersection of Union and a favored genre means take my money!
Breaking In has a simple premise. Bad guys are holding her kids hostage until they can get what they want, and she has to save her kids and outwit the bad guys. I could quibble and say that I wanted to know more about her dad’s shenanigans or about her, but less is more and may detract from the real purpose of the movie: who will win in this battle of wills? (It did feel as if there was more footage, but it ended up on the cutting room floor. What is shown is well executed and actually sets the perfect tone for the movie. This isn’t Meet Joe Black.)
I actually arrived at the theater with a back story, which I am happy to provide for those in need of one. I also watch Scandal, which I am not recommending (shhh, I still haven’t seen the last episode because life), and I initially decided that she was Papa Pope’s older, estranged daughter from another mother who had enough common sense to peace out, get therapy and be normal so she wouldn’t get sucked into DC drama and could have healthy, functional relationships. The cover identity that he used with her dies (he is not actually dead, but no one in this movie knows that) so cue movie! Somewhere along the lines, I decided to make him a relative of Papa Pope. Breaking In was more determined to make Union’s character an average person, but the average person couldn’t do what she did so whatever. Hint: her superpower is wine.
If I have any criticism of Breaking In, it was only that I didn’t get more Union wrecking troublemakers’ lives, but the movie wanted to be rooted in realism. The audience that I sat with wanted to erupt in applause and cheers, but the movie did not give us enough catharsis moments. I love Union’s face. She projects so much emotion on to it, and every time she went from worried mom to hell no, I wanted to scream with joy. An unexpected bonus was that her children were not stupid, and Ajiona Alexus actually looks like she sprung fully formed from Union. The movie never insults us by giving one kid some debilitating condition that increases the pressure (I’m looking at you, Panic Room). If it wasn’t for the emotional context, everyone in the family and their real estate agent figure out fairly quickly that something is up. So they’re easy to cheer on and get invested in as characters. I could quibble about one unrealistic moment with mom and child or one dumb kid moment, but I could rationalize how it also made sense so I’ll sign a waiver.
Breaking In isn’t graphic so if you only like Union, but hate the genre, you won’t have to cover your eyes. I would make a horrible movie criminal. I would have peaced out after the first clash with mom. I’m not about that life. You can go, and here are your kids. I packed a meal for the road. Also for a group that wants the thing, they didn’t do a great job of holding on to it. At some point, it becomes more about ego at getting bested by a chick, though that is never explicitly said. I did appreciate a slight twist that the guy who seemed like the nicest one was actually a bit psycho. I had a “is this racist” moment with the depiction of one of the criminals, but he has a mortgage to pay so I’m going to defer to Latino movie critics to say yea or nay.
If the mom in your life likes action thrillers, take her to see Breaking In. If you just like the genre of parents facing off against incredible odds against bad guys to save their kids, Gabrielle Union or black women kicking ass, then see Breaking In. It is pure entertainment, popcorn fun.