Ryan (Chris Evans) is your typical carefree young man who doesn’t take anything seriously. In fact he was dumped by his girlfriend Chloe (Jessica Biel) because of it.
Jessica Martin (Kim Basinger) is a science teacher married to a realtor and the mother of pre-teen. Her comfortable world is disrupted when she is kidnapped by a group of men, led by Ethan (Jason Statham). The men are ruthless, and she doesn’t even know what they could ever want from her. Luckily she manages to put the wires together of a shattered phone and reach a random number – Ryan’s.
Ryan doesn’t take Jessica seriously at first, but Jessica persuades him to at least take the call to a police officer. Veteran cop Bob (William H. Macy) does take her seriously, but his attention is divided by a gang, and he sends Ryan to another floor. This gives Ryan enough time to overhear Jessica being terrorized and he realizes that he really is the only hope of a kidnapped woman.
The problem is he can’t get upstairs without breaking the line, and Jessica asks him to go pick up her kid from school before the kidnappers get to him.
From then on Ryan fights, often creatively, against time, dying batteries, armed and dangerous men, and lack of resources to help Jessica and her family, as the guys seem to be after something her husband has (Richard Burgi)…
*
Cellular is one fun, exciting, and outside-the-box thriller where the victim and the hero are connected only randomly.
The hero, though he occasionally manages (or forces) to get help from others. He is not a cop, convict or someone even remotely trained to save anyone. So seeing Ryan change from the selfish beach bum to the hero of the day is fun.
The story has some twists and turns, and even though none of them really shock you, it manages to keep the movie interesting and fun throughout.
If you like entertaining action without gore, too many clichés and with unconventional heroes and actors you like, Cellular won’t disappoint you.
Rated at 6.5 on IMDB. I’d give it at least a 7. 9 for the entertainment value.
Fun Cast Facts
* William H. Macy is the real life husband of actress Felicity Huffman, who has starred as Lynette in the hit TV show Desperate Housewives in all of its 8 seasons.
* Richard Burgi, who plays Kim Basinger’s on-screen husband, played the on-screen ex-husband of Teri Hatcher’s Susan on Desperate Housewives. Susan and Lynette are best friends and neighbors.
* Chris Evans worked with Jason Statham twice. They also starred in London, a drama romance co-starring Jessica Biel. Jessica Biel also has a small part in Cellular as Chris Evans’ girlfriend. The duo also dated in real life.
* Chris Evans’ best friend is played by NCIS Los Angeles’ Marty Eric Christian Olsen.
Recommended Chris Evans Reading:
The Perfect Score starring Chris Evans, Bryan Greenberg & Scarlett Johansson
What’s Your Number starring Anna Faris & Chris Evans: Raunchy, Funny, Annoying, Honest