Could have been good but wasn't

Rating: 2/10 (29 December 2017)

A key function of a film based in the real world is 'plausibility'. If the characters you are watching do things that don't make sense, it compromises and spoils your enjoyment of the film as you can't really believe it any more. 'Flight' falls firmly into this category. Here are some examples:

Whip's toxicology report is successfully rescinded by his lawyer on the basis that the hospital blood and hair test process used out of date and unchecked processes. All the other crew members had their samples tested at the same time, so why were they not rescinded too? Why did no-one in that huge conference room full of intelligent people question that?

John Goodman's drug dealer character is (somehow) brought in to rescue Whip from his drunken stupor on the morning of the inquest, and the two people looking after Whip just stand by and watch as large quantities of drugs are consumed without even questioning what this will do to their client. Any normal person would go 'Hey! Won't this make him even worse?' Not only that but they then unquestioningly give him the $500 he demands, just happening to have that much cash on them of course.

Whip shows absolutely no ill effects from all that drinking and drug taking. Every morning he looks fit and healthy again without the enormous hangover you would expect. He swigs vodka as he drives yet his driving seems fine. He is the epitomy of prefessionalism as he crash-lands the plane. Not only does this not seem that plausible but it is also not a good message to be sending out.

People like his attorney are trying to help Whip ensure he is not prosecuted. Yet he keeps turning on them, shouting and swearing at them even though all they are doing is assisting him. Why on earth would he do that? He is not even drunk at the time. Just doesn't make sense, why bite the hand that is feeding you? It's just stupid.

Whip is asked the question: 'in your opinion, did the stewardess drink the vodka?'. Simple question. The subsequent not answering, mumbling, looking away, asking for the question to be repeated etc charade was just ridiculous, no-one would do that as it so obviously implies some form of guilt. Then, instead of just saying "I don't know" (simple!) he suddenly confesses for no reason. Completely implausible. You could also question why the question was asked in the first place as it wasn't going to prove anything but that got subsumed by the ridiculous response that had me screaming at the screen at how daft it all was. It completely ruined what for me was already not a good film. And just to get the usual saccharine Hollywood ending where he serves his time, goes dry, re-unites with his family, and no doubt lives happily ever after.

The film started well, but after the plane crashed it went down almost as fast and for me ended up as a bit of a smouldering wreckage. Frustrating.