By NEIL HARVEY
THE ROANOKE TIMES

Archives Reprint

   "Abandon," the directorial debut of Stephen Gaghan, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Traffic," is a thriller that's surprising in just one way: It's surprisingly unthrilling.

    Katie Holmes plays a college student who's haunted by the disappearance of her boyfriend, Embry (Charlie Hunnam). Embry was an arrogant jerk who majored in drama and minored in trying to act like Val Kilmer.

    "I am the infantile center of the ... universe," he proudly shouts just before he vanishes.

    Did he leave on his own? Was he murdered? Should a movie ask its audience to care about a twerp after he's gone?

    Detective Wade Handler (Benjamin Bratt) shows up to investigate, and the fact that he's working a 2-year-old crime doesn't seem to bother him. He shadows Holmes like Klute with chronic fatigue syndrome.

    This movie is way too crowded with stock characters, all of whom may know more than they let on. Who's the bad guy? Could it be Holmes' Sassy-But-Irresponsible-And-Slightly-Less-Attractive Sidekick (Zooey Deschanel)? Or the Clingy-Guy-Pal (Gabriel Mann)? Maybe it's the Creepy-Psychologist (Tony Goldwyn)? Or the Scheming Rival (Melanie Lynskey), or the Smarmy Corporate Recruiter, or ...

    "Abandon" very slowly peruses each suspect, but most viewers will identify the wrongdoer long before the closing scenes.

    Neil Harvey can be reached

   at 981-3341 or neil.harvey@roanoke.com.

    Abandon

    At Valley View Grande 16, Carmike 10 at Tanglewood Mall and The New Salem Valley 8.

   Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sexuality. One hour and 33 minutes.

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