It's been four years since Mel Gibson starred in a film - the entertaining How I Spent My Summer Vacation. He's reached a point in his career when he can pretty much pick any project he wants, that's not to say it will get made, but you know, he's Mel Gibson.

It's surprising then - and a little disappointing - that he chose this father-looks-out-for-his-troubled-daughter story for his latest acting role.

John Link (Gibson) knows a thing or two about being in trouble. He's spent a number of years in prison (for not grassing up someone else and taking the wrap for them) and even more years addicted to drink and drugs. He's turned his life around though, with the help of his good friend and sponsor Kirby (William H. Macy), living in the middle of nowhere and working as a tattooist. His daughter Lydia (Erin Moriarty) however, is another story.

She ran away some time ago and neither John or his ex-wife have had contact with her in some time. Lydia is in love with Jonah (Diego Luna) but sadly for her, he's a wrong 'un. Jonah's a gang leader and up to no good. When he visits a family who have allegedly stolen money from him, he takes Lydia with him, and to prove that she truly loves him, he demands she shoots a woman in her home. It doesn't quite go to plan and she ends up shooting him. This, understandably, riles his gang who aren't best pleased with her. Sensing that she might be in a bit of trouble, Lydia legs it and tries to seek safety.

Not knowing quite what to do next, she calls her dad. John of course comes to the aid of his daughter, but he's unaware of exactly how much trouble she's actually in. Despite being on parole, he soon finds himself up to his neck in it, but is willing to do anything to protect his baby girl, whatever the cost.

The main reason Gibson probably chose this role is the affinity he has with the main character. John has many demons but still tries to do right by his family. That's all very well, but this father doing anything to save his daughter tale is woefully clichéd; Liam Neeson has done it three times himself in recent years in the Taken franchise, and better (with the first one, at least).

French director Jean-François Richet, who helmed the impressive Mesrine films, knows how to shoot action, but he stumbles with all the emotional stuff between Gibson and the young Moriarty; there just doesn't feel like a feasible connection between the pair, and certainly isn't helped by some dreadful over-acting by Moriarty who clearly hasn't looked up the world subtle recently in any dictionary.

Gibson looks good though, and there are times when he is in the desert when he looks almost Max-like; if he wanted an action flick to star in, perhaps he should have turned back to that franchise, as checking back on Max, and seeing if he was still mad now, could have been an interesting premise.

Clearly Gibson can still pull the action genre off, but quite frankly, he's better than this.