FARGONE - My Review of COLD PURSUIT (3 Stars) Every New Year, we can always count on two things - resolutions and the fact that Liam Neeson will kill somebody. Both tend to have success early on, but eventually peter out. Still, Neeson has developed a cottage industry out of avenging the tragic circumstances surrounding kidnapped or murdered offspring. COLD PURSUIT, a remake of the 2014 Norwegian feature, IN ORDER OF DISAPPEARANCE, and directed by the same person, Hans Petter Moland, seems at first glance like the trope-riddled output of so many TAKENS and NON-STOPS, but itï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)s refreshingly different in tone. This doesnï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)t necessarily make it good, but at least it tried. Neeson stars as Nels Coxman, an ordinary snowplow driver in Kehoe, Colorado, who seeks to avenge the murder of his son in what appears to be a drug-related crime. Unhappily married to Grace (Laura Dern), who writes my favorite ï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2Dear Johnï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2ï¿ 1/2 1/2ï¿ 1/2? letter of all time in this film, Nels abandons all reason and family to kill his way through a huge roster of bad folks in order to confront the ultimate Big Bad. Its snowy surroundings, fur-lined jackets and small town whimsy makes for more than a passing resemblance to FARGO, but without the layered wit or memorable characterizations. Still, the high body count (complete with a fun tittle card popping up every time someone meets their make), quirky structure and a handful of oddball performances make this an improvement in what has become Neesonï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)s tired genre of choice. Unfortunately, Neeson himself goes the Bruce Willis route here and barely puts any effort into his own role. Early on, when his character puts a gun in his own mouth, you donï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)t feel even a hint of anguish. Further, Neeson practically disappears in the second half of the film, handing it over to Tom Bateman, who chews the scenery and then some as ï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2Vikingï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2ï¿ 1/2 1/2ï¿ 1/2?, the aforementioned big bad guy. I enjoyed him, but next to Neesonï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)s nearly somnambulant efforts, heï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)s tonally at oddsï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2but still fun. Most of the film involves Neeson finding a bad guy, getting the name of his superior, and then killing themï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2.and so on and so on. Most of the kills arenï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)t all that interesting, with the exception of one involving a blow-up couch and the final one, which is the closest this movie has to FARGOï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)s wood chipper. The second half introduces a counterplot to at least complicate matters, but it mainly serves to allow for a bigger pileup of bodies. Thereï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)s really not much more to the story than that, but thereï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)s also something goofily endearing about the whole thing. I found myself laughing a lot, appreciating how invested the filmmakers had become in giving characters a quick introduction before killing themï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2lather, rinse, repeat. I also loved the cinematography by Philip ï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2~gaard which fills the frame with snowy mountains, a giant waterfall, and awesome shots of the plow clearing roads with giant walls of snow left in its wake. Itï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)s a shame you donï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)t care about any of the characters or that they barely care about themselves. Something like this should only be 90 minutes long, but at 118 minutes, it wears out its welcome and its audience. It makes you appreciate the Coen Brothers even more for being able to make genre films with real bite and real specificity. All told, I applaud Neeson for trying to make a film which stretches the confines of what heï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)s been doing of late. Heï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)s a fantastic actor who rarely gets to show off his sense of humor. With COLD PURSUIT, it feels as if heï¿ 1/2 1/2 1/2(TM)s lending his name to something fairly funny without actually getting to BE funny himself. You can do it Liam! Kill us with comedy next January! I know you have a little Marge Gunderson in you!