CONTRABAND

Poor Mark Wahlberg has a pretty spotty track record when it comes to picking his projects. Despite wowing audiences with his performance in The Fighter, his latest effort, Contraband, is an entertaining, albeit incredibly average heist thriller.

Not too dissimilar from The Italian Job-but-with-drugs, this story of a retired contraband runner forced back into the game to settle a family debt revels in the law that everything and anything must go awry. Unfortunately, all this leaves is a predictable shell, filled with implausible scenes that, luckily, still manage to elicit some genuine thrills.

Contraband isn’t the movie to turn to for originality, but if you’re after quick entertainment, you’ll be more than satisfied. Just remember to switch off your brain. (AG) ***