The most surprising thing about “Redemption Day” (2021) is it has the audacity to hint at a sequel. Otherwise, this extract-the-hostage flick is a replating of the same baloney sandwich first served 30-plus years ago by Chuck Norris and his action-hero brethren. There’s classic implausibility – an expert archaeologist gets abducted because she can’t figure out the border between Algeria and Morocco (I guess that’s why she’s not a geographist) but just so happens to be married to a Medal of Honor security operator with severe PTSD. There’s also an obligatoraly sleazy CIA handler, enabling heroic yet cynical hijinks to ensue.
Archives for posts with tag: Ernie Hudson
When you come across a movie you’ve never heard of starring a bunch of people you have heard of, it’s usually artsy fartsy (think “Gosford Park” or “Magnolia”). But sometimes, it’s just fartsy. The methane delivery system known as “Airheads” (1994) features Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi and Adam Sandler, along with Michael McKean, Joe Mantegna, David Arquette, Ernie Hudson, Chris Farley, Judd Nelson and Michael Richards. Loser L.A. rockers with toy guns and underdeveloped career plans hijack a radio station. Hijinks ensue. Thin plot. Physical comedy. Ninety-two minutes of your life you’ll never get back. Are you ready to rock?
I first saw “Ghostbusters” (1984) at a theater in Waikiki. Needless to say, I enjoyed it. Even though Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis wrote it and Bill Murray and Aykroyd star, it isn’t considered a classic “Saturday Night Live movie.” It doesn’t have as many belly laughs as “Animal House,” “Caddyshack” or “Stripes,” but from a plot construction standpoint, it might be better written than those three. It makes sense, is fast paced, there’s Annie Potts and Sigourney Weaver – what’s not to like? And there are some classic one-liners, like when dickless gets blamed for shutting off the power grid.
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