A disappointingly routine Hollywood thriller in which genuine thrills are few and far between, the script is hackneyed and there's a general tired feeling to the proceedings. Harrison Ford, looking way too old to be playing a family man with two young kids, stars as a software security expert coerced into carrying out a virtual bank robbery with the aid of a villainous gang. There are a few moments of interest here and there along the way as Ford attempts to extricate himself from the situation, but by the end it's turned into a virtual reprise of AIR FORCE ONE with the star taking on various machine-gun wielding thugs and somehow coming off the better.

Much of the blame can be laid on the script, which displays a real paucity of imagination when it comes to detailing suspenseful and/or original situations. Supposedly sympathetic characters – such as the peanut-allergic kid – come across as nothing more than whiny brats and Ford is so unenthused that he barely bothers giving a proper performance, instead sleepwalking through his part.

While it's fun to see Virginia Madsen (ALIEN) back on screen again, her character is left on the sidelines and the only actor who comes away giving anything like a half decent performance is Paul Bettany, whose British villain is far too much of a nice guy to be imposing in any case. The kid-friendly rating means that much of the violence and impact are sanitised and safe and aside from the novel use of a pickaxe in one scene there's hardly anything to remember this by.

Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) is the head of cyber security for Seattle's Landrock Pacific Bank. Janet Stone (Mary Lynn Rajskub) is his secretary. A debt collector shows up for a gambling debt. Somebody has stolen his identity. Harry Romano (Robert Forster) is a supportive co-worker. Gary Mitchell (Robert Patrick) is taking over in a merger and Arlin Forester (Alan Arkin) is the nominal head of the bank. Bill Cox (Paul Bettany) is the face of a group led by Liam (Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau) who kidnaps Jack's wife Beth (Virginia Madsen) and his kids Sarah (Carly Schroeder) and Andy. They are out to steal $100 million.

This is a passable thriller. It adds the new technology to the old kidnap-the-family-of-the-banker story. The new technology is interesting but it is a bit convoluted to follow. The movie eventually drowns in it. I think this could be even more intense if the family is ever truly threatened. The movie should probably keep the family off screen. Also it's questionable why he couldn't call the police sooner. Ford tries to amp up the intensity with his manic everyman. Bettany is being a cool villain. There is some good tension and it's not a bad thriller.

Jack Stanfield (Harrison Ford) is an executive responsible for the security of the computer system of a small bank. He is very connected to his family, composed of the architect Beth (Virginia Madsen),a teenager daughter and a young son. When the gang leaded by the criminal Bill Cox (Paul Bettany) invades his house, they force Jack to transfer a hundred million dollars to a bank account in Cayman Islands as ransom for his family. When Bill does not release his family, Jack tries to save them by his own.

"Firewall" is an average thriller, with a screenplay full of inconsistencies mostly due to commercial reasons. The first one, of course, is the name of Harrison Ford, too old for the lead role of Jack Stanfield. He could be the grandfather of Andy, and unfortunately he is awful in the action and dramatic scenes. Paul Bettany is excellent, as usual, but his mean and cold character is restrained and could be more evil, for example breaking the legs of the boy, as promised to Jack, or killing Jack's family in the end. But this is a Hollywood movie, it must be a pleasant and profitable entertainment, therefore the conclusion is always predictable, with the good guy killing the bad guy and saving his family. When Jack leaves the bank after hitting Gary Mitchell, he goes home and the police never arrives there. When Jack transfers the funds from the Bill's account, the bank clerk calls the police, but nothing happens later. There are so many "holes" in this forgettable story that it is impossible to like it. Harrison Ford must retire from action movies, or at least select better screenplays more suitable for his age. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Firewall"