Review: Tracers

Not all B-movies are created equal. Take, for instance, Tracers, a generic action picture made watchable by its use of the propulsive and visually dynamic discipline of parkour. The film swipes large chunks of plot from both Point Break and Premium Rush, yet fails to capture their charismatic and visceral power.

Taylor Lautner plays Cam, a New York City bike messenger in deep debt to a Chinese gang, who keep threatening dire consequences if he does not pay up but seem to keep granting him extensions. Cam is barely scraping by when his bike gets damaged during a run-in with Nikki (Marie Avgeropoulos), who piques his interest with her fetching good looks and parkour moves. Out to impress her, Cam starts learning to run, leap, tumble, twist, and bounce off walls and is soon skilled enough to be welcomed by Nikki's gang of fellow parkour enthusiasts and their leader Miller (Adam Rayner).

Miller expounds on the group's unconventional way of life, tossing off proclamations like, "We do whatever we can not to get caught" and "No limits, only plateaus." It's clear that Miller and the gang are involved in some shady business, but Cam's attraction to Nikki and his financial situation trump whatever fleeting moral struggle he has. Of course, Miller is not quite the father figure he pretends to be. Nor is he quite the organised leader - his assurances that their capers are well-researched and meticulously planned are lip service given how quickly things fall apart once the jobs are in progress.

The Twilight Saga producers Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey have obvious confidence in Lautner, and are on the right track by casting him in an actioner. Lautner is best when he is in motion. Uninterrupted takes clearly demonstrate Lautner doing many of his own stunts, and one feels the giddy relish emanating from the young star as he dashes, flings, and vaults himself all over the sidewalks and rooftops of New York. The problems amass when he's called upon to emote the admittedly insipid dialogue. Lautner is not necessarily a bad actor - he knows enough not to punch above his weight - but he needs a smart director to assess the extent of his potential.

Daniel Benmayor is obviously not that director - none of the cast flourish under his supervision - but he knows how to showcase Lautner's physical skills and stage some solid action sequences. More impressive are the camera crew, who deserve much applause for the clean and immersive handheld work.

Tracers

Directed by: Daniel Benmayor

Written by: Leslie Bohem, Matt Johnson, Kevin Lund, T.J. Scott

Starring: Taylor Lautner, Marie Avgeropoulos, Adam Rayner, Rafi Gavron, Johnny M. Wu, Amirah Venn