Flight of the Phoenix

Mayday! Mayday! Hollywood has lost control of its directors. I repeat: John Moore has taken over and re-made Robert Aldrich’s 1965 action flick of the same name. Plus, sweaty and chisel-chested actors are forced to deliver laughable and utterly corny dialogue that surpasses even the syrupy tongue of Mr. Rogers. Dennis Quaid’s goofball appeal attempts to assume the role of classic character actor Jimmy Stewart. Also, on-screen nomads must suffer with the uncertainty of their cinematic purpose as a last-minute contrived subplot. However, there is a small bit of hope of survival. State-of-the-art special effects offer intense sandstorms, gripping lightning strikes and a heart-racing plane crash, all of which the 1965 original couldn’t. Plus, Giovanni Ribisi’s quirky and oddly entertaining role as a Steve Urkel and HAL 9000 hybrid give more hope to a continued existence. Fasten your safety belts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.