Steer Clear Of ‘Abduction’

NBC’s series of “Moment of Truth” movies has varied from first-class tales of tremendous human courage to ordinary movie-of-the-week fare.

“Abduction of Innocence: A ‘Moment of Truth’ Movie” at 9 falls squarely in the latter category.

Katie Wright (last seen in a “Moment of Truth” movie about a teen murder) plays Clare Steves, the reticent teen daughter of a wealthy businessman (Dirk Benedict of “The A-Team”) who is abducted and held for ransom.

Clare’s kidnappers are a former boyfriend (Lochlyn Munro) and his accomplice (Dean Paras). She is returned unharmed after her father pays a $250,000 ransom.

She identifies the abductors, who are quickly arrested. But when $100,000 of the ransom is unaccounted for, police suspect that the abduction was a scam Clare masterminded herself.

Unfortunately for Clare, her father believes she’s capable.

But stale performances by both Wright and Paras deplete the story of any emotional punch.