Holmes gives mediocre performance

By Nicole Rodriguez

It seems to be the curse of many TV stars that, while their shows may top the Nielson ratings, they are never able to make the successful transition to film. Take, for example, "Dawson's Creek's" Katie Holmes, who took on leading roles in box office flops like "Teaching Mrs. Tingle" and "Disturbing Behavior." Holmes has yet to spearhead a successful project and her latest effort, Paramount Pictures' "Abandon," does little to help her in her task.

Holmes stars as Katie Burke - an intelligent college senior who has for two years been dealing with the sudden disappearance of her boyfriend, Embry Langan ("Undeclared"'s Charlie Hunnam). Weeks overdue on her thesis and preparing for the most important job interview of her life, Katie finds herself continuously haunted by memories of her first love.

Enter Benjamin Bratt ("Miss Congeniality") as police detective Wade Handler. Just returning back to the job following probation for "severe substance abuse, " Handler's first assignment back on duty is to determine Embry's fate.

After winning an Oscar for penning 2000's "Traffic," one would have expected more from Steven Gaghan's directorial debut. Ironically, it is "Abandon's" script that leads to the film's ultimate downfall. While the beginning is adequately suspenseful and interesting, the film soon turns out to be cliched and predictable. By the film's halfway point, the audience has solved the mystery and soon becomes bored. Even the film's attempt at a twist ending is seen coming from a mile away.

In addition to its plot, it seems as though Gaghan used up all of his clever lines on "Traffic" - not a single one exists in this screenplay. The characters' conversations are mundane and uninspired, and dramatic moments become so laughable that one would think the audience was sitting through a new "Austin Powers" movie.

Katie Holmes does little in her role. In fact, it's safe to say that she is, as usual, Joey Potter set against a new backdrop. Her mannerisms and tone of voice are the same as the ones she uses when playing the girl across the creek. The only thing about Holmes that fits her character is the wide-eyed, innocent beauty she possesses.

Equally uninspired are the performances by Bratt and Hunnam, although neither performance can be blamed entirely on the actors. As he is written, Wade Handler is a walking troubled cop stereotype, complete with alcoholic tendencies and a dark past. It's easy to understand why he is attracted to a smart, together girl like Katie, but it' s equally impossible to understand why she is attracted to him. As played, Handler isn't charismatic in the least. To be honest, he's downright pathetic and even slightly annoying.

Even more difficult to understand is why everyone is looking for Embry in the first place. In Katie's first few flashbacks, he seems charming and intelligent (as, we have already noted, Wade Handler is not). However, as the story and the flashbacks progress, it becomes increasingly obvious that Embry is nothing more than a conceited, pompous spoiled rich kid who treats the death of his parents as casually as he treats shopping for groceries. As Katie herself comments, Embry considers himself far too good for suicide, "he'd have himself bronzed first." Who cares where he went? All that matters is that the audience doesn't want him to come back.

As awful as the majority of this movie is, Gaghan must be given credit for his directorial debut. Although his writing attempt is pathetic, his scenes are tastefully choreographed and beautifully composed. He experiments with many different kinds of filters to show the different elements of Katie's emotional and mental states - a choice that is both interesting and successful.

Although Gaghan does show promise as a director, it is obvious from the opening credits that "Abandon" is nowhere near the work of art " Traffic" proved to be. Don't waste your time or your money on this one. You'll be severely disappointed.