AllMovie

This inert Jamie Foxx vehicle definitely has the right title. Held Up is how the viewer will feel after suffering through 90 minutes in a convenience store that's been needlessly paralyzed by a wishy-washy gunman, who could have been disarmed in the first act if any of the characters had cojones. It's not without amusing moments, but the gags get flogged mercilessly; the hick cops punch shotgun holes in the side of the building at any sign of movement, Foxx whimpers and schemes at high speed, and everyone else acts as bored and blasé as if robberies occurred every day. The script and characters are agreeable enough to go along with for awhile, but the lack of real laughter should eventually turn the most willing viewers rather grumpy. It's good to see familiar face Barry Corbin pop up after an absence from prominent films; unfortunately, calling this one prominent would be a bit generous. With his effective dramatic roles in Any Given Sunday (1999) and Ali (2001), Foxx has shown he's much better than these one-joke comedies that require him to act "outrageous." Here's hoping his career won't be "held up" on vehicles this beneath him for much longer.