Amber Alert

This was entertaining and a quick hour and a half movie. Starts out with a little girl being kidnapped and Uber driver and passenger spot the car.. The story goes from there. I couldn't understand why there weren't more police or FBI involved so it was a little frustrating And unrealistic . It's not like the movie "kidnap" with Halle Berry. That was much more fast-paced With a lot of action throughout. Definitely check that one out. I'm not saying the movie wasn't watchable because I did enjoy it, but it was very exaggerated. None of this would've been handled the way the movie portrays so that was kind of annoying and frustrating.

Wait till it comes on rental for free and give it a shot Acting was pretty good and it was nice to see Hayden Pannettere . I always enjoyed her movies.

Amber Alert (2024) delivers a tense and suspenseful thriller that keeps you on edge for most of its runtime, but ultimately falls short of being a standout in the genre. The movie revolves around a child abduction case, using the titular "Amber Alert" as its central plot device, and blends elements of crime drama with psychological tension.

The film's greatest strength lies in its atmosphere. The pacing is relentless, with enough twists and turns to maintain engagement, especially in the first two acts. The direction does a commendable job of creating a sense of urgency and dread, with handheld camera work and dark, claustrophobic settings that enhance the mood.

Performances are solid across the board, especially from the lead detective, whose emotional conflict adds a human layer to the otherwise procedural narrative. The abductor is portrayed with chilling ambiguity, keeping the audience guessing about motives and identity until the final act.

However, where Amber Alert stumbles is in its third act. The resolution, while satisfying, feels rushed and a little predictable. Some of the emotional beats don't land as effectively as they could, and the supporting characters often feel underdeveloped, leaving you wanting more depth. Additionally, the film occasionally leans too heavily on familiar thriller tropes, making parts of the story feel formulaic.

Overall, Amber Alert is a well-crafted thriller that delivers enough tension and drama to be worth watching. It may not break new ground in the genre, but for its strong performances and atmospheric direction, this film should be on your watchlist, though it may not leave a lasting impression.

Just to further add the statement at the end of the movie, AMBER stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. The acronym was created as a legacy to 9- year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas, and then brutally murdered.

Now I quite disagree with one reviewer who said the idea was great but the execution is awful. I thought the story line and the acting was quite well done. I have seen Hayden in a number of movies, but in this one she did very well playing the leading heroine role.

The story was a bit similar to.the 2017 Halle Berry movie Kidnap, where her son is kdinapped in broad daylight and quick thinking Berry jumps in her car and starts a hot pursuit of the kidnappers. That was also a pretty decent movie.

Anyway to cut a long story short I quite enjoyed this movie.

The child is kidnapped in less than 20 seconds. A mom is partial witness too late. Two strangers on the cusp of being late for an important appointment separately. The guilt and pressure, a choice is made. An Amber Alert hits all phones. What would YOU do if there was a strong chance the kidnappers vehicle was near you?!?!

From this point on it gets intense. Is it the kidnapper? What is the driver's intentions?!? You find out more about the car in question and driver. Do you trust instinct? Do you risk your important appointment. Do you risk your safety and your life quite literally?

The two main characters Jaq & Shane are relatable and you learn a little more about them. Some aspects of the movie are obvious. Yet some things have you trying to figure out until the near end.

Although the movie is good. I'd say Halle Berry's 2017 Kidnap was more intense and somehow better.

The last 30 minutes of Amber Alert is disturbing. As you can piece together what has/will happened/happen and it's pretty unimaginable horrific.

While somewhat predictable, this movie provides viewers with the familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Jaq and Shane don't know each other, but share a light chemistry early on, and while it doesn't necessarily lean into romance, their bond proves strong and necessary for what the film becomes. I think I enjoyed them bonding together more than the progression of the film. Shane's character needed more development. And I feel like they just threw Jaq's backstory at us when it was convenient, but I'm fine with how it played out. The plot is fairly predictable, but in a way I didn't mind. Watch if you want a safe (pun intended), solid movie with actors you know and love (if you haven't grown to love Tyler James Williams from Everybody Hates Chris or Abbott Elementary, what are you doing?!!). Or if you don't know them at all, even better!