Review: A flat, formulaic and annoying comedy. Oh, and predictable, too.

Story: Looking like something that might have been made 50 years ago, there is nothing even remotely “new” about New in Town. Lucy (Renee Zellweger) is a big-city Miami career woman sent by her company to check out a small town Minnesota plant and devise a plan to downsize it. Almost immediately she locks heads with the local Union rep, Ted (Harry Connick Jr,) and further alienates the folksy employees who “all tawk like theeese doncha know” by instituting firings and a new streamlined work ethic. Things get dicey when initial conflict turns into romance (surprise!) between Ted and Lucy, and her bosses inform her she must shut down the entire plant, putting everyone out of work.

Acting: In the right role, Zellweger can be compellingly offbeat. Not here. She’s not miscast but woefully lacking any kind of chemistry with Connick Jr., who played the same kind of role on Broadway in The Pajama Game and seems to be going through the motions this time, and without the songs. Particularly painful are moments when Zellweger tries way too hard to be funny, giving us the “ick” factor instead. The banter between the pair could have come out of any ’30s screwball comedy updated with all the comic panache of a low-rent sitcom.

Direction: Considering the film represents Danish director Jonas Elmer’s American debut, and because we think of ourselves as a kind and understanding critic we can chalk up its shortcomings to translation problems. Oh … plus a total and complete lack of invention and originality. What is supposed to be a light, fluffy comedy is shot in such a dark and dreary style that it’s downright depressing. Minnesota’s tourism office should sue.

Bottom Line: Hollywood.com rated this film 2 stars.

Review: With a fierce and determined Liam Neeson in command, get ready to be taken yourself … for the ride of your life.

Story: Move over Jason, Taken is the best action movie since The Bourne Ultimatum and, in fact, seems to be inspired by the frenetic nonstop pacing of that huge international franchise. Neeson plays a tough-as-nails former government operative who now helps out doing special security gigs, such as protecting a Madonna-like rock star (Holly Valance). His whole life now revolves around his teenage daughter (Maggie Grace), who enlists her mother and Dad’s ex-wife (Famke Janssen) to get his permission to let her go on an unsupervised European holiday with her best friend (Katie Cassidy). All hell breaks loose when the two are kidnapped in Paris and sold into a sexual slavery ring, and Dad flies off to get her back.

Acting: Although great action stars are few and far between these days, Neeson proves he’s got what it takes to put both Daniel Craig and Matt Damon to shame. If anything his character here is too good. He’s a kick-ass guy who uses the latest technologies and good old fashioned smarts to track down anyone who gets in his way. Like the Bourne movies, it’s essentially a two-hour chase through Europe – and it works because Neeson not only can dispatch bad guys in style, there’s also a Death Wish-like emotional underpinning to the role of a father who works desperately against the clock to save his daughter from unspeakable terror. And while it’s Neeson’s show, the ladies in his life – including Grace and Janssen – are fine, too. The villains are mainly stock characters but fun to watch as they meet their match – and then some.

Direction: From a script co-written by producer Luc Besson, an action director in his own right, French director Pierre Morel more than meets the promise he showed in the widely acclaimed thriller, District B13. After a brief set-up, he never lets the action wane for even a minute. If someone is looking for a director for the next Bond or Bourne films, this is your guy.

Bottom Line: Hollywood.com rated this film 3 1/2 stars.

Review: Avoid this Mall Cop and just go shopping instead.

Story: Blart (Kevin James) is a bumbling single dad with a precocious daughter (Raini Rodriguez) who is constantly urging him to get into internet dating and meet a woman. Instead, he takes his job as a security officer at the local mall much too seriously to have time for romance. His routine is interrupted when a well-organized robbery empties the mall and among those taken hostage in the bank is a girl he has a secret crush on (Jayma Mays). With the SWAT team unable to take action, Blart must use all his wiles to thwart the crooks, free the hostages and save the day.

Acting: James is a talented comic actor, especially good in supporting roles like Hitch or his own sitcom, “The King of Queens.” Here, he just overdoes it. The pratfalls and cop imitations are funny, but generally he’s just straining to make us laugh. And we don’t – much. Mays, as the would-be love interest has little to do other than look frightened most of the time, but Rodriguez is quite winning. Also turning up in one-note roles are Stephen Rannazzisi as his rival for Amy’s affections, Bobby Cannavale as the SWAT leader and the great Shirley Knight completely wasted as Paul’s mom.

Direction: Director Steve Carr (Dr. Dolittle, Daddy Day Care) has guided comic actors like Eddie Murphy, Ice Cube, Martin Lawrence and now James with varying degrees of success – but subtlety is not his strong suit. Basically he turns Blart into an action comedy with the emphasis on over-the-top stunts. Somewhere buried in the non-stop mayhem is a sweet comic performance by James crying to get out but never really does. Ten year olds should eat it all up, but parents will be looking at their watches.

Bottom Line: Hollywood.com rated this film 2 stars.