Today’s quick review: Colombiana. As a child, Cataleya (Zoe Saldana) witnesses her parents’ murder at the hands of Marco (Jordi Molla), an enforcer for Colombian crime boss Don Luis (Beto Benites). Fleeing to America to live with her uncle Emilio (Cliff Curtis), she vows to get her revenge. Fifteen years later, Cataleya finally has the skills she needs. Now working as an assassin, every job she completes brings her one step closer to Marco and Luis.
Colombiana is an action movie about one woman’s quest for revenge. Colombiana pits its hero against a variety of criminal targets as she works her way up the ladder to Luis, now in hiding with the help of the CIA. The action is fast-paced and exciting, a mixture of stealthy assassinations, rooftop chases, and the occasional firefight. There are no stunts that are truly jaw-dropping, but there’s enough solid action to make Colombiana a viable popcorn watch.
However, Colombiana has a few weaknesses when it comes to its story. The basic plot isn’t too shabby, but the film takes its time getting set up. Cataleya remains a child for the first half-hour, and while the time is well-spent, the movie invests heavily in background details that aren’t all that important. The main plot does accomplish what it needs to, hitting the necessary beats and serving as a vehicle for the action, but it holds few surprises.
Cataleya also isn’t as sympathetic a protagonist as she’s meant to be. Her actions paint her as bloodthirsty, driven, and more than a little reckless, but the story treats her like an innocent. Zoe Saldana handles both sides of the character well, but the inconsistency is still noticeable. The same goes for Cataleya’s family. Her father and uncle are both unrepentant criminals, and only Cataleya’s targetting of other criminals puts her in the right.
Watch Colombiana when you’re in the mood for a decent action flick with a serious tone. The story doesn’t come together as well as it should, but for quick entertainment, Colombiana has all it needs. For a more violent, more stylized tale of revenge, check out Kill Bill. For the transformation of an ordinary woman into an assassin, check out La Femme Nikita. For a more interesting action movie about a hitman, check out The Mechanic.
6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for decent action, with effort put into the story and characters that doesn’t quite pay off.