High school science teacher Jessica Martin (Kim Basinger) walks her son to the school bus and tells him that she’ll pick him up at 1:45 for soccer. Shortly after the return to her house, five thugs break in, kill her maid and take her to a remote building where she is to be held until her husband comes up with what they are demanding. She doesn’t have a clue what that is.

The phone in her makeshift prison, which seems to be an attic, is smashed with a sledgehammer, so all contact to the outside world is cut off. An eyewitness to murder, Jessica sees the faces of the killers and her kidnappers, as the lives of her husband and her child are threatened. It’s clear that she must escape or she’ll be killed.

Jessica manages to piece together the remnants of the smashed telephone (how convenient that it’s been established early on that she’s a scientist) and makes a random call that is received on the cell phone of an immature man-child by the name of Ryan (Chris Evans). He’s on his way to run some errands to get back into the good graces of his soon to be ex-girlfriend Chloe (Jessica Biel). At first he thinks Jessica is pulling his chain, but eventually he’s convinced to at least stop by a police station and make a report.

After giving the information to Sergeant Mooney (William H. Macy), Ryan thinks he’s done his civic duty and proceeds on his way. Mooney is distracted by a domestic disturbance at the station and he forgets to follow up on the alleged kidnapping. Like a dim bulb gradually getting brighter, Mooney starts to piece together the fact that a real crime has taken place and that it’s ongoing. All he really wants to do is punch the clock, retire and open a day spa. He’s your clichéd cop with a donut.

What makes this movie work best is that you come to care about the characters. The audience cheered when the likable ones triumphed and when the bad guys got their comeuppance. Revenge not only can be sweet, but at times it’s the only way.

George’s take: Predictable? Sure…but sometimes that’s okay.

Pam’s take: Kim Basinger and William H. Macy are worth the price of admission.