Loses its pace second time round

Rating: Null/10 (28 May 2001)

Like most people, I thought this was a great action movie when it was first released; but 6 or 7 years on, seeing it for a second time on TV, I am not so sure. I found myself questioning all the flaws and absurdities in the plot - not because there were more of these than in any other action film, but because at times, despite the surface activity, there was little to grip my attention.
To me, one of the major mistakes in the film was to keep Annie Porter (Sandra Bullock) driving the bus for so long. Not only was this ridiculous in terms of the plot as it stands - surely hero Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves) or another man should have taken over the wheel at least for a spell - but it also prevented Bullock from doing any real acting or providing much love interest.
I think the underlying problem is a common one - the director, Jan de Bont, relied on action and plot to carry his movie, and forgot almost entirely about character. We learn next to nothing about Traven's or Porter's personal histories, and almost everyone else is a cardboard cut-out; except of course for the one character we get to know (and perhaps even care) about most - the villain, Howard Payne, played in typical OTT manner by Dennis Hopper.
All in all, I would have preferred to trade in a little speed for a some depth.