Con Air (1997)

"Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer"... If ever there was a phrase to scare Mensa (or even the remotely smart) that is it.

There will be no script, no depth in characters and no originality. There will be gas bombs (and later CGI) in abundance though.

Yupp! That applies here as well. Fortunately for Con Air, it's not without it's perks either.

The opening scene has Nic Cage imprisoned for defending himself in a manner done so exceptionally much better by David Lynch in Wild at Heart. Then there is some tedious (thankfully short) legal malpractice and some overly sentimental build-up with letters between father and daughter before Simon West decides it's time to get to the part we're all waiting for.

And here we see where they actually went right. The casting is eminent! Malkovich is fantastic when evil just for the sake of being evil, Colm Meaney brings a little life to a nothing of a part whereas Ving Rhames brings a huge presence and M.C. Gainey a wild and most entertaining cameo meant to bring a grin to your face as he seems utterly unable to grasp the enormity of any situation the cons are under. A late introduction of Steve Buscemi proves the most brilliant move of all as his quiet demeanor and hideous crimes bring stark contrast. Along with Malkovich he also has the few good lines written here. Oh? I forgot Cusack and Cage in the leads? Not really. They're not particularly well cast. Though none of them are bad, they just barely make good on their pay-check's. Cage needs to get a bit of credit for his building of torso though, as well as his brawls. I do so enjoy a brawl without spin-kicks and climbing on walls. I'll take the massive punches to kidneys and jaws anytime.

Then there's the action. There's plenty. And though some of it is just plain stupid, a lot of it is fun. Particularly the break-out scene and the claustrophobic fight in a 4 feet tall compartment between two big guys stand out. And Bruckheimer practically invented the intervals of action-sequences so you are very rarely bored.

But it does lack all that a Bruckheimer-flick is supposed to lack. Most of the lines are horrible, the interaction of a more serene and dramatic kind is beyond redemption and the surprises are nowhere to be found.

So if you're looking for a few smirks and a lot of action, this will do. Otherwise. Look for something without Bruckheimer's name on it. As for as he goes, this is actually one of his very best.

6/10