Taken at a Basketball Game

This film suffers from a combination of weak performances and a highly derivative storyline, making it unlikely to leave a lasting impression on viewers. It clearly aspires to capture the gritty intensity of films like Taken, but it stumbles right out of the gate-starting with its awkward and unconvincing title. D. B. Woodside, unfortunately, brings very little charisma or depth to his character. His performance feels disinterested, lacking the emotional range needed to engage the audience or make us care about his journey. While the film is passable as background entertainment and doesn't compel you to turn it off, it's ultimately forgettable. By the time the credits roll, you'll struggle to recall much of what you just watched.

Initially, when I sat down to watch this 2025 movie, I was a bit skeptical given the movie's somewhat cringeworthy title. But of course I opted to check out the movie, as it was a movie that I had never seen before, nor actually heard about. So I opted to give director Ruba Nadda's 2025 movie the benefit of the doubt.

Writers Richard Blaney and Gregory Small put together a fair enough script. However, I have to say that it was a very generic storyline. If you've seen one abduction movie with a theme of human trafficking, then you've essentially already also seen "Taken at a Basketball Game", because the writers played it safe and rode it on every generic trope in the genre. But hey, if you are unfamiliar with this genre of movies, then you're in for a thrilling movie.

I was not familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie, which was a plus for the movie. Yeah, I enjoy watching new and unfamiliar talents on the screen when I watch a movie. And I will say that the acting performances in the movie were good.

Watchable, for sure, but I found "Taken at a Basketball Game" to be a tad too generic and formulaic.

My rating of "Taken at a Basketball Game" lands on a five out of ten stars.