Turbulence
2/4
Starring: Lauren Holly, Ray Liotta, Hector Elizondo, Rachel Ticotin, Ben Cross, Brendan Gleeson
Rated R for Terror, Strong Violence and Language
Teri Halloran (Holly) is flight attendant whose engagement was just called off. Naturally, she's a little depressed about this, but that's going to be the least of her problems. She's flying from New York City to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, and along for the ride are two captured criminals: bank robber Stubbs (Gleeson) and "suspected" serial killer Ryan Weaver (Liotta). Trouble starts when Stubbs gets free and starts killing people, and the ever helpful Ryan tries to get everything under control. Of course, Teri eventually realizes that Ryan is in fact a psychotic killer, and he wants to crash the plane into a densely populated area.
How dumb is this movie? Oh lord, where to begin. Let's start with the set up. Who in the right mind would transfer two violent felons on board a passenger jet, even if they are surrounded by cops? Wouldn't the airline have a problem with that because of the bad publicity? Or what about the Christmas decorations on the plane. Isn't that a fire hazard? Can a passenger jet fly upside down? Would a sane person really trust a suspected serial killer that easily, no matter how kind and helpful he tries to be?
The script is so loaded with contrivances it's impossible to list them all. There isn't a single character on board that has any brain power. For instance, instead of killing Teri once she knows he's a killer, he babbles about books and movies with her (I know, I know, killers in movies always talk and toy with their victims before they inevitably get killed). Or, how instead of flying the plane, Teri insists on going to help her injured friend (not knowing that she's already dead), even though she has (finally) grown suspicious that Ryan is actually a killer. Or that she spend time making small talk with scary Ryan when the plane is heading into a Category 6 storm.
The premise is interesting, but writer Jonathan Brett takes the most roundabout and unbelievable routes to set it up. And, the plot ideas are so ridiculous that you almost have to see it to believe it. Director Robert Butler, a long time TV vet, doesn't help matters. The film always looks stale; in fact, it looks like a TV movie (despite having a $55 million budget). There are very few dynamic shots in this movie.
The acting isn't the best either. Lauren Holly is miscast. She doesn't have the presence or the talent to play an action movie heroine. Ray Liotta chews on the scenery a lot, but he doesn't seem to be enjoying himself; the role is beneath him and he seems to know it. Of the cast, the only ones who give good performances are Rachel Ticotin as the helpful crisis worker on the ground, and Ben Cross, as the helpful pilot who guides Teri in flying the plane.
I'll admit that I had fun watching this movie. It's funny in an unintentional sort of way, but there is some legitimate suspense too. I'm not going to recommend it because it looks so bad, but it could be a fun movie to watch when you're drunk.
Starring: Lauren Holly, Ray Liotta, Hector Elizondo, Rachel Ticotin, Ben Cross, Brendan Gleeson
Rated R for Terror, Strong Violence and Language
"We seem to have a surplus of idiots on board."--Ryan Weaver"Turbulence" is hilarious. I was splitting a gut the whole way through. From its cheesy look to its absurd plot contortions to the characters who have absolutely zero brain cells, this is a must see for bad movie connoisseurs.
Teri Halloran (Holly) is flight attendant whose engagement was just called off. Naturally, she's a little depressed about this, but that's going to be the least of her problems. She's flying from New York City to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, and along for the ride are two captured criminals: bank robber Stubbs (Gleeson) and "suspected" serial killer Ryan Weaver (Liotta). Trouble starts when Stubbs gets free and starts killing people, and the ever helpful Ryan tries to get everything under control. Of course, Teri eventually realizes that Ryan is in fact a psychotic killer, and he wants to crash the plane into a densely populated area.
How dumb is this movie? Oh lord, where to begin. Let's start with the set up. Who in the right mind would transfer two violent felons on board a passenger jet, even if they are surrounded by cops? Wouldn't the airline have a problem with that because of the bad publicity? Or what about the Christmas decorations on the plane. Isn't that a fire hazard? Can a passenger jet fly upside down? Would a sane person really trust a suspected serial killer that easily, no matter how kind and helpful he tries to be?
The script is so loaded with contrivances it's impossible to list them all. There isn't a single character on board that has any brain power. For instance, instead of killing Teri once she knows he's a killer, he babbles about books and movies with her (I know, I know, killers in movies always talk and toy with their victims before they inevitably get killed). Or, how instead of flying the plane, Teri insists on going to help her injured friend (not knowing that she's already dead), even though she has (finally) grown suspicious that Ryan is actually a killer. Or that she spend time making small talk with scary Ryan when the plane is heading into a Category 6 storm.
The premise is interesting, but writer Jonathan Brett takes the most roundabout and unbelievable routes to set it up. And, the plot ideas are so ridiculous that you almost have to see it to believe it. Director Robert Butler, a long time TV vet, doesn't help matters. The film always looks stale; in fact, it looks like a TV movie (despite having a $55 million budget). There are very few dynamic shots in this movie.
The acting isn't the best either. Lauren Holly is miscast. She doesn't have the presence or the talent to play an action movie heroine. Ray Liotta chews on the scenery a lot, but he doesn't seem to be enjoying himself; the role is beneath him and he seems to know it. Of the cast, the only ones who give good performances are Rachel Ticotin as the helpful crisis worker on the ground, and Ben Cross, as the helpful pilot who guides Teri in flying the plane.
I'll admit that I had fun watching this movie. It's funny in an unintentional sort of way, but there is some legitimate suspense too. I'm not going to recommend it because it looks so bad, but it could be a fun movie to watch when you're drunk.
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