‘3 Days to Kill’ is at best worthy of a watch when it arrives on television and for fans of Amber Heard who probably is easily the best thing about this dull, prodding movie.

…is a typical action film produced in the factory of Luc Besson. Like the Transporter, Taken & Taxi series there is very little in terms of plot and it tries to rely on the action mostly. Since the story is written by Besson, don’t expect much character development or a story; on that count, it is all flimsy. Plus if you think only Bollywood has clichés then you ought to watch this film. It is more clichéd than a Sajid Khan film.

A spy flick with a bunch of cool action scenes thrown in to raise the tempo, 3 Days to Kill is strictly average.

…sometimes cheesy, sometimes quirky and occasionally stylish. It does not quite hit the balanced note, bouncing haphazardly from family drama to action thriller to black comedy.

The film tries to ape several different genres: a family drama, a love story and an action spy thriller. However, many of these aspects fail to come together into something concrete. Unfortunately, the plot is so cliched that it quickly becomes a bore.

as Costner suffers though a lot else, including witnessing childbirth by a woman who is no more than a stranger, it’s Heard who may get the best career bump. If this is a celebration of absurdities, she is the one dressed for the party.

If you like older action stars, then go back and revisit Liam Neeson in Taken or even better, Clint Eastwood in In the Line of Fire. This one is a dud.

It’s not all bad, there are a handful of inspired moments. But there’s no excuse why it isn’t more fun.

If, for some reason, you like action movies that aren’t too violent, you might enjoy 3 Days to Kill. Additionally, the dynamics between Steinfeld and Costner makes parts of the movie sweet and amusing. If you’re a fan of either, you might want to check out the movie – if only for their performances.

Lighthearted while managing to mix a torture scene with a recipe for spaghetti sauce, the film’s myriad elements come together with a deft touch, without losing the plot.