SPECIAL DELIVERY: DVD

SYNOPSIS:
Divorced from Nate (Robert Gant), ex-lawyer Maxine "Max" Carter (Lisa Edelstein) is these days the best courier working in the Pacific Rim, constantly on the move, ever since she watched her young daughter die in a terrible accident. Her latest delivery is 14-year-old Alice Cantwell (Brenda Song), the spoiled daughter of one of China's richest businessmen. After a bitter custody battle, Alice is headed from Macau to Maui to live with her mother. But, almost as soon as they land on U.S. soil, Max senses things are not right. She soon figures out that Alice's father is in trouble with the Chinese government, and his daughter may not be the only thing he is trying to smuggle into America.

Review by Andrew L. Urban:
Engaging from the start, Special Delivery introduces us to Max (Lisa Edelstein) as the resourceful courier, who was once a high flying lawyer ... and married ... and a mother ... We start picking up the pieces that make up the bigger picture of Max and our interest is piqued. When she takes on the job of escorting a spoilt 14 year old (Brenda Song) from Macau to Hawaii, the generation gap conflict provides plenty of sparks, but a sense of danger is also introduced, making it an edgy trip. Brenda Song is terrific as the spoilt brat on a journey that will sober her up and Edelstein is feisty and likeable (and reminiscent of Jennifer Connelly) as the no-nonsense Max - with demons to keep at bay.

The screenplay has a sense of fun, which director Michael Scott translates well onto the screen, so the action and tension is spiced with hip humour, based on character as well as situation. Max does her job, delivering Alice to her mother - in more ways than she anticipated.

Other than one logic-defying scene, the film offers great escapist entertainment and interesting characters for whom we come to care. The locations are great, too.

Published May 28, 2009