Non-Stop (2014), PG-13, 3 stars

The passengers think Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) is a terrorist.

Airports and airplanes. The lines. The crowds. The delays. Everything that Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) hates about flying. When it comes to airports, I have to go through the procedure with taking your carry-on baggage and luggage on the flight. Then, I go through security which I have to admit is not as bad, just follow the rules and guidelines. After security, what do you do? If you are two or three hours early, you have time to kill: Have something to eat, watch something on your IPad, shop, etc. As you board and get on the plane, anything can happen from turbulence to maybe something unexpected like this movie's situation. This movie is silly and preposterous, but it is a fun movie to watch.

The movie opens with Bill Marks tired drinking alcohol and arguing with a supervisor on his cellphone glancing at a photo of his daughter. But, he is trying to get his act together by lighting a cigarette while he is being pushed around and being in a heated argument with a person while trying to get out of security. After waiting for his flight, Bill sits next to a passenger named Zach White (Nate Parker) and witnesses Jen (Julianne Moore) gratifyingly agreeing with Zach to switch seats sitting next to Bill. After that exchange, Jen asks the flight attendant, Nancy (Michelle Dockery), for a gin and tonic with Bill asking for one too.

Everything is ready to go as the plane takes off. Jen and Bill enter in a conversation as Jen notices his discomfort and he relaxes more as he put a blue ribbon around his finger. He explains that the ribbon is his daughter's. Jen goes to sleep. After leaving the bathroom and returning to his seat, Bill gets an anonymous text asking him if he is ready to do his duty and if he has his attention. The mystery texter demands $150 million or someone will die every 20 minutes. The hunt is on as to who is the mystery texter and if everyone on the flight will believe Bill Marks.

Jen (Julianne Moore) asks Bill what is going on.

Obviously, if I type any more of the plot summary, I will go into minor and major spoilers. But, the first hour of the movie got me hooked because when you see character-actors all over the plane. I have to confess that I guessed who might have been the culprit behind his or her feisty plan, but I was wrong. You will definitely not figure it out from the first minute when Neeson's character sits in the plane. However, the thriller gets a bit upstaged with cheesy elements of the texts being thrown in front of the screen. It reminded me of how Baz Luhrmann's style in The Great Gatsby where he puts the words that Nick Carraway was writing in his journal across the screen. I hate that trick.

Liam Neeson, 61, is no less than convincing in the main thrilling and familiar role which suits his territory quite well like a glove. He really convinces us to get into the action, even though, at times, the formulaic dialogue where he has to explain everything gets a bit laughable. But, it is entirely the script's fault. Julianne Moore has a bit of a thankless role as the female co-star who is basically there next to him on the plane being one of the people who trusts him. Michelle Dockery, Lupita N'yongo (in a small role), Scoot McNairy, Nate Parker, and Linus Roache as the pilot who supports the main cast. They are all just fine in their roles.

Again, the first hour is mysterious and the marketing did a good job as to getting the audience look at a different angle of the passengers treating Bill Marks as the hijacker. Bill is really trying to save the plane. The threats feel like they were from another movie, actually Air Force One, when the great Gary Oldman's character said that he will kill a passenger every 30 minutes when the general gets released from prison. So, yeah, the threats are familiar, but the demand is entirely consequential and ginormous.

The movie is a hell-of-a-thrill ride in the first hour as to handpicking who is the culprit. You will be a bit surprised. However, the surprising reason is utterly silly and stupid. My jaw dropped and I was so stupefied that the writers did not come up with a better reason why the villains were sending in the texts or why they want $150 million. It is ludicrous. But, the movie maintains the time quite enough that the filmmakers said, "Forget logic. Let's throw in everything out the window to make an entertaining movie.

In comparison to Neeson's previous efforts: Taken, Unknown, Taken 2, and The Grey. I would rank Non-Stop third behind The Grey and Taken. The movie is thrillingly entertaining, but kind of stupidly preposterous in the climactic scenes. But, I enjoyed the whole ride. My advice to airlines: Don't show this movie as an in-flight movie. There is a perilous situation regarding the plane.

***