Classic over-the-top ridiculous fun

Rating: 7/10 (13 June 2015)

*WARNING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS* Okay, so imagine a movie starring two of the biggest over-actors ever, and directed by the director of Mission Impossible 2, where said over-actors play each other. Yes, that is the plot of Face/Off, and the movie is one of the most entertaining movies ever. I'm not sure if this was supposed to be funny (I think it was), but it was hilarious. Watching Nic Cage play an exaggerated version of himself, and John Travolta do the same, was one of the funniest movie concepts ever. John Woo (the director) should also not go uncredited, as he adds his own blend of cheesy fun to the mix by playing the entire thing with a straight face. Well, sort of, if you've seen the movie, you know what I mean, if you haven't, let me explain. There are a few action scenes where the characters are doing the most ridiculous stunts you can imagine, and then we get some slo-mo and cheesy, melodramatic music to accompany it. This movie doesn't sound like it would be so great, but it is. This movie is long, but it was an absolute blast from beginning to end. But, we've covered the humor already, let's talk about the cast a little more thoroughly. I am a big Nicolas Cage fan, and think the guy is very funny, and his mere presence makes almost any movie worth watching. John Travolta I haven't seen in much besides this, but his acting skills don't seem as impressive. In this movie he's very funny, but I think that might be the script more than anything else, because basically we get to see two people playing Nicolas Cage. Yeah, if you can imagine that, you'll know you're in for a big treat with this movie. There are a few co-stars, who are hardly noticeable next to Cage and Travolta who chew up screen time, but they are there. Castor Troy has a machine gun toting girl-friend who guns down dozens of cops who attack their base, but she's still treated as a hero, and Archer (in Troy's body) is okay with it. The implausibility of the movie is part of what makes it so good. Troy has some other buddies, none of whom do much, and then there's Archer's family and friends. Literally every other FBI agent hunting Troy is faceless, none of them have any personality and I don't remember any of their names, but that's okay. Travolta and Cage provide enough personality for a whole trilogy. Archer's wife is a decent actress, but again, it's a pretty thankless role. Archer's daughter is pretty generic, but she gets a bit more personality, and brings it a very funny moment when Troy (in Archer's body) attacks her boyfriend. It's funnier than it sounds. The action is insanely over-the-top, kind of like Mission Impossible 2 action, but slightly toned down. However, it is over-the-top in a funny way. In the end Face/Off is a hilarious movie filled with great dialogue, very funny acting, over-the-top action, and a crazy story. If you want to see the quintessential crazy Nicolas Cage movie, watch Face/Off. You won't be disappointed.