When most people hit their sixties, they tend to slow down as far as their careers are concerned. For actor Liam Neeson, it's quite the opposite.

Since his extraordinary re-invention as an action hero in 2008's action hit Taken, Neeson has been in demand more than ever. For his latest action- based turn, Neeson takes to the skies as an Air Marshal aboard a commercial flight in quite a bit of peril.

You don't need to be a genius to work out that Bill Marks (Neeson) is a mess. For starters, he's drinking just before he starts work, which isn't great news considering he works on a plane. Luckily for the passengers, he's not flying the thing. The bad news for them though is that he's their designated Air Marshal for the flight. But let's face it, the chances of something actually occurring on a flight are pretty damn slim, right?

Despite not being in the best frame of mind for work, it could be a lot worse; he's lucky enough to be sitting in business class which has to be better than schlepping it in economy for a long haul flight, so, every cloud.

The flight does not get off to a good start for him though. Not long after takeoff, and just settling into his surroundings, he starts getting these weird texts on his phone. They claim to be from one of the passengers on board; after some light banter they demand $150 million dollars or every twenty minutes someone will die on the plane.

Sobering up fast, he takes the threat seriously. Just as well really, as after the deadline passes, the first dead body turns up. With a plane packed with plenty of potentially villainous targets, it looks like it's going to be a very long flight indeed.

OK, I'm a little confused now. Just hands up for those who want chicken.

Knowing how hot Neeson is right now in the action genre, there must be rooms bustling with creative types pitching ideas of all the various perilous scenarios that the Irish actor could fight it out in:

"Neeson's family gets kidnapped?"
"Done it".
"Neeson as a Greek God?!"
"Done it".
"Neeson in the A-Team?!!"
"Done it".
"Neeson... wait for it... as a lion!!!"
"Done it".
"Got it – LEGO Neeson!!!"
"It’s been done."
"Are you shitting me?!!"
"Nope, really, done it."
"Oh, fuck it, what about Neeson on a plane?"
"Done - hold on now, did you say on a plane?..."

The notion of Neeson on a plane is about as high concept as you could possibly get, but you know what? It works.

Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra, who has already worked with Neeson on Unknown - and is already working with him again on next year's action thriller Run All Night - is more than happy to buy into Neeson as Hollywood's number one OAP action hero, as he has him running up and down the aisles at 35,000 feet.

The slight twist to events however, is the whodunit element. Instead of Neeson just shooting one passenger after another willy nilly, the film has a sheen of Cluedo on a plane about it. Is it the passenger in seat 56 in the toilet? No? Then is it the British air hostess in the business class lounge?

During the duration of the flight, the director offers up a number of possible targets that will have you shouting "it was them!" at the screen, with you only changing your mind for someone else five minutes later. With this in mind then, it should be understood that this film shouldn't be taken that seriously, although it seems to take itself too seriously a fair amount throughout.

Neeson does what's expected of him to perfection, combining a world-weary look with a slightly strained face as he tries to work out exactly who the killer is. He's supported admirably along the way, particularly from Julianne Moore and Michelle Dockery (her from upstairs in Downton Abbey). One surprise is how small and insignificant Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o's role is, but in fairness, it was probably filmed before she picked up her golden statue for her stunning performance in 12 Years a Slave.

Non-Stop is the type of film that is not only best enjoyed with your brain turned to flight mode throughout, it encourages it. Its insular setting promotes a growing air of tension, and although it takes numerous liberties with common sense, Neeson's take as a kind of Poirot-on-a-plane makes for enjoyably breezy in-flight entertainment.