Kevin Costner plays a dying CIA hit man who quits the agency to get closer to his estranged wife and daughter in Paris but takes on one last job when he’s offered an experimental drug that could save his life. The catch: He has to hunt down and kill the world’s most ruthless terrorist while looking after his angry teenage daughter for the first time in 10 years while his wife is out of town. While it’s a distinct pleasure to see the 59-year-old Costner take on the bad guys (and even some teen bad guys who mess with his daughter), the film is much too uneven to make it a totally enjoyable viewing experience; the story bounces back and forth between super-violent CIA killing sprees and domestic housekeeping. But Costner, a grizzled veteran of the Hollywood wars, redeems the film as he moves seamlessly from confident killer to worried dad. Writer Luc Besson loves strong women, and throws in a tarted-up Amber Heard as Costner’s CIA handler, putting a new spin on “La Femme Nikita” for director McG. Extras: “Covert Operation” featurette, theatrical trailer. Blu-ray adds extended cut, “The Making of 3 Days to Kill,” “McG’s Method.” Vitals: Director: McG. Stars: Kevin Costner, Hailee Steinfeld, Amber Heard, Connie Nielsen, Tomas Lemarquis, Richard Sammel. 2014, CC, MPAA rating: PG-13, 117 min., Thriller, Box office gross: $28.462 million, Fox.
