Tooken: A Comedy that Mocked Expectations

You know, when my neighbor’s cat went missing last summer, I couldn’t help but think of Liam Neeson in “Taken.” But here we are with “Tooken,” a movie that spins that intense narrative on its head with a hefty dose of humor and sheer madness. Listen, I went in thinking, “Okay, a parody of ‘Taken.’ Let’s see if it can tickle my funny bone.” And, well… it did, kinda.

The film stars Lee Tergesen, who plays Bryan Mills’ lookalike like a champ, or should I say a chump. It was a riot watching him try to channel his inner Neeson, failing spectacularly but in the best way possible. In the director’s chair, we’ve got John Asher. He tried to take the whole revenge motif and give it a twist befitting a well-cooked kräftskiva— with a bunch of weirdos and an accordion.

So there’s this scene where instead of someone being kidnapped, the character’s pants are stolen! I kid you not, the absurdity reached a level that reminded me more of a danish comedy than a serious thriller. It’s like they took the original “Taken,” ran it through a Mölnlycke meat grinder, and what popped out was something equally bizarre and entertaining.

But, to be real, some jokes did ‘swim like a stone.’ There were moments I thought, “Eh? Was that really necessary?” Not every gag hit the mark, and sometimes the pacing was as wobbly as a drunken wander home after Midsummer’s night.

Yet, it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s a certain charm in how it doesn’t take itself too seriously. You won’t cry or feel any real tension, but you *will* smile at its ridiculousness. If nothing else, “Tooken” knows exactly what it is—a cheeky, low-budget nudge at an action classic. So, if you need some background laughter while assembling IKEA furniture, this might just be your cup of Swedish coffee. Just don’t expect miracles.

And remember, sometimes it’s okay to just let the movie be silly, like a summer rain in Gothenburg—unexpected, refreshing, and over before you know it.

Check the trailer below