Okay, so it seems like the aftermath of ‘Twilight’ hasn't been particularly kind to Taylor Lautner, especially given the intense adoration from young female fans during the film series. The good news is that those same devoted viewers might just show up to see Lautner reading passages from your Aunt Mabel’s phonebook. In the derivative and disjointed street thriller ‘Tracers’, Lautner will undoubtedly draw a crowd of hormonally driven moviegoers seeking an excuse to shout at the top of their lungs. It feels more like a vanity project for the former ‘Twilight’ star, and it's possible that watching him recite a phonebook would be more entertaining than actually seeing ‘Tracers’. The main appeal of ‘Tracers’ lies in Lautner’s physical abilities as he performs acrobatic stunts throughout this synthetic, somewhat lifeless urban suspense film. There's no denying that Lautner is an impressive specimen, and he certainly puts forth a great effort to showcase his fitness and agility, lending a sense of urgency to the proceedings. Unfortunately, director Daniel Benmayor delivers a fast-paced but ultimately shallow actioner with a thin story wedged between Lautner’s character’s athletic feats. The film's gimmick revolves around parkour, those acrobatic movements. It feels like ‘Tracers’ is bringing back an outdated trend! While parkour did add distinction to the acclaimed French import ‘District B13,’ in this case, the stunts feel repetitive and don’t contribute much flavor to the action or narrative. New York bike messenger Cam (Lautner) zips through the city streets like a projectile from a shaky gun. Despite the chaos of New York, he expertly navigates on his bicycle, delivering packages as needed. However, things get complicated when he owes money to tough Chinese gangsters. These impatient thugs demand repayment, threatening Cam and his loved ones if he fails to pay up. Things improve for Cam when an accident leads him to meet Nikki (Maria Avgeropoulos), a captivating bad girl evading the police. Nikki sparks Cam’s interest and quickly provides him with a new bike, plus introduces him to her parkour crew – a group of high-flying, graffiti-loving renegades who spend their time leaping and flipping across the city's concrete landscape. This group seems to hop and bounce more like twitchy kangaroos than athletes. Cam quickly adapts to the physical demands of parkour, excelling without much difficulty. Even the group’s leader Miller (Adam Raynor) is impressed by Cam’s aerial abilities, turning the urban streets into his personal playground. ‘Tracers’ attempts to celebrate parkour in a style reminiscent of 1980s break-dancing movies. There are some well-shot scenes showcasing New York's edgy atmosphere as a backdrop for action and mischief. It’s essentially ‘Taylor-made’ for Lautner to display his athleticism, much to the delight of female viewers. However, it never manages to be innovative or creative, despite its eagerness to promote parkour awareness. The flimsy story, patched-together montages of acrobatic displays, a predictable love triangle involving Cam, Nikki, and Miller, and Cam’s reluctance to embrace trouble all contribute to ‘Tracers’ feeling like a weak crime caper that ironically lacks any genuine energy. While the film is designed to highlight Lautner's physical abilities, the lackluster script fails to capitalize on his charisma or potential to enrich the plot. Avgeropoulos is visually appealing but her character never develops any real mystery or cunning despite being presented as a “dangerous diva.” Ultimately, Benmayor’s impish but incomplete story lacks any memorable moments. Tracers (2015) Saban Films 1 hr 34 mins. cast: Taylor Lautner, Maria Avgeropoulos, Adam Raynor, Rafi Gavron, Sam Medina, Luciano Acuna Jr., Josh Yadon and Johnny M. Wu Directed by: Daniel Benmayor MPAA Rating: PG-13 Genre: Action and Adventure, Crime Caper, Intrigue and Suspense Critic’s rating: * 1/2 stars (out of 4 stars)

Source on TMDB