Common Sense Media Review
By Danny Brogan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Action-packed but far-fetched cop thriller; violence galore.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Line of Duty
What's the Story?
In LINE OF DUTY, police officer Frank Penny (Aaron Eckhart) is forced to shoot a suspect dead. What he doesn't know is that the suspect was the only lead to the whereabouts of a kidnapped girl -- the daughter of Penny's boss/former partner, Chief Volk (Giancarlo Esposito). Determined to make amends, Penny goes rogue in a bid to save Volk's daughter. But Penny has caught the attention of online reporter Ava Brooks (Courtney Eaton), who joins him on his rescue mission, livestreaming his every move to an ever-growing audience.
Is It Any Good?
Full of action but far too unbelievable to be taken seriously, this fast-paced thriller barely stops for breath. Explosions, epic gun battles, and car chases are all present, with Eckhart's damaged Frank Penny in nearly every scene. He proves a likable lead, showing a vulnerability alongside his heroic persona. But, just like the action, the dialogue is far from subtle. Penny and Brooks' unlikely pairing has the odd comedic moment, but largely their relationship is less believable than the action happening around them. Not to mention the fact that Penny allows Brooks to tag along in the first place.
The social media aspect adds a novel dimension -- Brooks livestreams the action to a growing number of followers, and the movie is intercut with her own footage -- but it stops shy of exploring the idea in any great detail, instead using it as a plot device for the movie's sillier moments, most notably the finale. The villain, Dean Keller (Gotham's Ben McKenzie), is cartoonish, and Breaking Bad's Esposito feels wasted as the sidelined Chief Volk. Line of Duty may be big on action, but it's lacking anything more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Line of Duty's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it thrilling or shocking? Are there any consequences? Why is that important?
What role does social media play in the movie? Discuss the pros and cons of social media use.
What were Dean Keller's motivations to act the way he did? Did this help explain his actions? Did you feel empathy toward him?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 15, 2019
- On DVD or streaming : January 14, 2020
- Cast : Aaron Eckhart , Courtney Eaton , Giancarlo Esposito
- Director : Steven C. Miller
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Indigenous Movie Actor(s) , Polynesian/Pacific Islander Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Saban Films
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 98 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate