I’ve never really thought about the profession of 911 operator. Boy, there’s a job I don’t want. Geez, what’s the suicide rate for those guys? Right up there with Finnish dentists in the dead of winter. Imagine a job where routine involves people telling you the worst things you’ve ever heard and they need your help right now. And no matter what you do, you never get closure.
Therapist? ER Physician? Both beat that easily. I am suddenly filled with sympathy for all 911 workers, even the ones with egregious perms. Hmmm, perms, perms. Now where was I? Oh yes, Halle Berry. 911 Operator Jordan Turner (Berry) has a day she can’t live down. A girl hiding from a home intruder cuts off her call … at which point Jordan calls back, alerting the intruder the girl is still in the house. She pleads with the soon-to-be murderer not to follow through and we get his catchphrase, “it’s already done.” It’s important we learn this so that we can get closure later on and remind 
ourselves it really is just a film.
FF six months and Jordan is now trainer, not operator. I’d have a joke here, but I can’t think of anything that would haunt me more than making a mistake that cost a life. I’m surprised she hasn’t transferred offices. Turns out this is a movie, so naturally, Jordan gets back in the saddle to help out a noob when a more notable teen actress (in this case, Abigail Breslin) has been abducted. And, check it out, it’s the same abducthole. Luckily, Abigail has her phone, which abducthole fails to relieve her of on several occasions. This is where acting actually comes into play — Abigail from the trunk of a car v. Halle from the home base. Each has a task, but with a common goal. It’s harder than it looks; the audience has to believe the kidnapee is panic-stricken, interested in staying alive, but short on ideas. Similarly, the operator has to look worried, but convey hope. Neither is quite as good as Ryan Reynolds‘ solo performance Buried in a box, but there’s no need to quibble with the acting.
The quibbling comes with the plot. Given plenty of real-time clues and diversions, the LAPD and CHumPs don’t come anywhere close to catching the real-time perp. It was nice of said perp to stop a few times to help the cops out. That way, Jordan can actually get directly involved in the action, like most 911 operators. The producers budgeted for several cars in The Call. Hence, Abigail Breslin actually got to compare trunks along the way. Obviously, I just don’t understand abduction. As for this review? Like Ms. Berry’s hair, it’s already done.
A thriller about 9-1-1
Doesn’t promise to be mucho fun
Whatever you do
Avoid cliché fu
Sorry. “It’s already done.”
Rated R, 98 Minutes
D: Brad Anderson
W: Richard D’Ovidio, Nicole D’Pvidio & Jon Bokenkamp
Genre: Give the LAPD a chance, will ya?
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: 911 Operators
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Aspiring serial murderers
