Next of Kin

Erratic yet entertaining, Next of Kin follows Chicago cop Truman Gates (Patrick Swayze) as he sets out to solve the murder of his younger brother (Bill Paxton’s Gerald) at the hands of Adam Baldwin’s nefarious Joey Rosselini – with complications ensuing after Truman’s other brother (Liam Neeson’s Briar) arrives in the city bent on violent retribution. Filmmaker John Irvin has infused Next of Kin with an overly patient and palpably padded-out sensibility that remains a problem from beginning to end, as the movie, which boasts the an admittedly irresistible premise, is generally unable to wholeheartedly become the electrifying, engrossing thriller one might’ve anticipated. It’s worth noting, then, that the picture benefits substantially from its assortment of top-notch performances, with Swayze’s typically solid turn as the conflicted hero matched by an impressively eclectic supporting cast that includes Helen Hunt, Ben Stiller, and Michael J. Pollard. There’s little doubt, as well, that Next of Kin‘s mild success is cemented by a sporadic inclusion of electrifying action sequences, including a mid-movie set-piece in which Neeson’s hotheaded character singlehandedly shoots up the villain’s pinball-machine-adorned lair. The end result is a less-than-memorable actioner that nevertheless manages to hold one’s interest throughout, with the picture itself ultimately (and for the most part) rarely able to make an impact equal to the actors’ uniformly stirring efforts.

**1/2 out of ****