Goofy charm

Rating: 7/10 (29 July 2019)

I had no idea what to expect from this film, although seeing it listed as a comedy certainly gave me misgivings. I needn't have worried as this is a fast-paced and highly entertaining thriller that tells a story so incredible that it couldn't be fiction. Tom Cruise plays a wide-eyed novice and pilot who finds himself in an increasingly bizarre situation thanks to his skills in the cockpit. The megastar contributes surprisingly goofy charm here which works well compared to his other mainstream roles. The complex storyline leads to weirder and weirder events before he takes a central part in America's drug war in South America under Reagan. Excellent special effects and flying scenes contribute to a lively narrative with style to spare; it's reminiscent of the glory days of GOODFELLAS in that respect. Plenty of twists keep you watching and the ending is both inevitable and satisfying. Doug Liman's best film since THE BOURNE IDENTITY? I think so.