By all appearances a quick and cheaply-made thriller made to cash in on a couple of star actors. The Contract is a film about a team of hit-man sent to carry out a double assassination who find themselves in hot water when their boss (Morgan Freeman) is captured by a random passing stranger (John Cusack) who just happens to be hiking out in the wilderness with his son.

What follows will surprise nobody, with plenty of the type of low-rent gun-friendly heroics of many a Steven Seagal-starring DTV actioner. The movie has a general rushed feeling to it in terms of the writing, throwing in the same old clichés (the father/son bonding and both missing the deceased mother) yet benefiting from Freeman's star performance. Although he's playing a bad guy this time around, Freeman is impossible to dislike and the film makers realise this, playing on his best qualities throughout.

The less said about John Cusack, the better. I've never liked this guy and he sleepwalks through the movie, delivering the kind of performance that could have been bettered by a zombie. The supporting cast are nothing to write home about either, with Alice Krige (STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT) wasted as a government agent and only Corey Johnson registering as one of the assassin team. The action is disappointing, mostly dark and murky (although one bit with a helicopter is rather good) and I was left looking at my watch rather than enjoying the on-screen story.

The widower teacher and baseball and basketball coach Ray Keene (John Cusack) lost his wife that died of cancer two years ago. When his teenage son Chris Keene (Jamie Anderson) is caught by the police smoking pot, Ray invites him to hike and camp in the woods to increase their bonds. Meanwhile, the mercenary assassin Frank Cordell (Morgan Freeman) is arrested by FBI after a car accident in the middle of a contract to kill an important target. While Frank is traveling on the road escorted by three FBI agents, his men try to rescue him, but his car falls into a river and is carried by the drift. Ray helps the wounded agent and the cuffed Frank to leave the river, and feels responsible to deliver Frank to justice. The former policeman and stubborn Ray does not listen to Frank's proposal to leave him alone and travel through the woods with Chris, trying to find a safe place. But the men of the Frank and an undercover agent in the team are chasing the group with different lethal intentions.

"The Contract" is a shallow and flawed thriller that has the intention of being dramatic and serious, but actually is laughable. The silly plot is full of coincidences and stupid actions taken by most of the characters. For example, in the beginning, the FBI agent leaves the car to help the truck driver on the road; the attitude of the crew of the helicopter is simply ridiculous when they land, specially the pilot; the way a suburban coach defeats trained mercenaries is shameful; and the coincidences when the bad guys shoot and miss the target are awful; the hiker Sandra loses her boyfriend and never grieves; and the corny romance of Sandra and Ray, and the incredible sentimental attitude of Frank Cordell in the end make this film a great deception. The motives why the reclusive billionaire apparently could not criticize the stem cell research program in a democratic and free country are never clarified, only tagged as "an obstacle to the progress". Is this a reason to kill and important man? My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "O Contrato" ("The Contract")

Major Frank Carden (Morgan Freeman) is the leader of a group of well paid hitmen. His job takes his to Washington state. Through a series of events, his trip is interrupted and rescue attempt is botched.

Ray Keene (John Cusack) is going camping with his son (Jamie Anderson) for a much needed bonding trip. Playing the good Samaritan, Ray gets caught in the middle of the events, finding himself on the run with a handcuffed Morgan being followed by heavily armed bad guys who are being tracked by the good guys...but the bad guys have never seen a John Cusack film and don't know what a school teacher, wanting to bond with his son, is capable of doing.

The acting was good, even if the plot was weak. The film has a twist, but nothing to write home about. Might work for an action flick rental. Not on my keeper shelf.

Parental Guide: Couple of rare F-bombs, no sex, rear nudity (Megan "cute tush" Dodds)