action is good but the script doesn't quite measure up

Rating: Null/10 (13 February 2002)

Having served eight years in a federal prison for a drunken brawl that got out of control, retired U.S. Army Ranger-turned-convict and parolee Cage boards a federal marshal's plane to catch a ride home to freedom. Unfortunately for him, the plane is populated with some of the world's most heinous criminals—led by devious mastermind Malkovich—who take over the plane and make plans of their own. The cast is first-rate, and with Bruckheimer at the helm you know that the action scenes are sure to provide lots of fun, but they're thrown into the mix with a corny script that's ridden with silly characters and stupid wisecracks. From an action standpoint it works, but the film's attempt at a sense of humor is awfully puerile. **½