Xeque Mate

No pun intended - obviously referring to one of the best known songs by Kool and the Gang (not the only one they are know for of course). That said the movie is I reckon ok or decent - but you really have to suspend your disbelief. This may or may not work for you - it is not a great movie either way.

The actors do their best to convey the story. Not sure if you are fed up with kidnapping stories - but the action has to be warranted somehow. There have been worse reasons to go after people then trying to rescue a loved one. The action itself is well done overall, though nothing special - I think I do reflect that with my voting too. I've seen worse movies, but I have seen way better ones too ... if you have the time and that floats your boat ... go for it.

Not to be taken seriously, its just grounded enough in the espionage genre to maintain engagement throughout all the ridiculosity. Appropriate soundtracking ends with Kool & the Gang's party classic Celebrate, reveled in at a bar mitzvah in Tel Aviv. An unusual combination of intrigue and slapstick makes it watchable in spite of the awkward multi-language patois being spoken, dubbed and subtitled in a convoluted manner that actually goes with the zany characterizations and circumstances. All in all, with respectable cinematography, adequate effects, tongue-in-cheek humor and plenty of action this flick winds up being likeable.