Cheesy action fun

Rating: 8/10 (14 May 2016)

This rip-roaring, bombastic action adventure is a must for adrenaline-hungry fans: yet be warned, as just because a film is flashy and full of expensive-looking special effects, this doesn't make it an instant classic. While CON AIR will only ever be remembered as an exciting DIE HARD on a plane variant, it's certainly enjoyable enough with a lot of good performances from a nice cast. Taking the lead is Nicolas Cage in a departure from his usual self - here, he's long-haired, sporting muscles and a Bruce Willis vest. Sadly irritating is Cage's southern drawl which grates on the nerves every time he opens his mouth.
John Malkovich plays the hissably evil Cyrus 'the Virus' who singlehandedly plans the airborne escape attempt. Malkovich has some amusing lines to himself and is fun in a comic book way, threatening without ever being frightening or disturbing. A lot of lesser yet still distinguished actors fill out those orange-and-blue uniforms, including PULP FICTION's Ving Rhames as a black writer, the ever-reliable Steve Buscemi (FARGO) on particularly creepy form as a mass murderer who enjoys a sing-song along to "He's Got the Whole World in his Hands" - a hilarious scene it has to be said. Also popping up is the evil Danny Trejo (FROM DUSK TILL DAWN) as a convict rapist. For the guys on the ground, there's a quiet, intelligent John Cusack running about and being heroic, while Colm Meaney (UNDER SIEGE) puts in a hilarious over the top performance as a pompous DEA officer who spends most of his time ranting, raving and repeatedly swearing.
While most of the action is centred on the plane itself and is expectedly taught, there are precisely two smashing set pieces full of explosions and action galore. The first comes in a firefight between the convicts and the army, set in a deserted scrapyard and is an incredible scene of chaos. The second is the exciting finale which sees the grounded plane forced to land on the Las Vegas strip - and causing all manner of havoc. After this there's another extended chase between two bikes and a fire engine, before all of the main bad guys get their poetic justice.
The running time of this film seems quite long as they manage to pack loads into the running time. In the style of Armageddon, there's enough quick editing to make your eyes water. The music is suitably stirring, while the non-seriousness of the film makes way for some snappy one-liners. CON AIR is generally fun viewing for an uncritical crowd, which does its job and never outstays its welcome. Fun but not very intelligent.