You Were Expecting Noah's Ark?
Hard Rain is Just Wet Mayhem

I think the most surprising thing in Hard Rain is how little background story is told before the reign (pun intended) of terror begins. In a movie which is only 96 minutes long, I'd estimate that less than five minutes had been devoted to character development before all hell broke loose. Not that I'm complaining; I love action movies. Nevertheless, I found myself a little disappointed and eager to know more about the individuals involved in the story.

The story of Hard Rain is simple. (Of course it is, it's an action movie.) A small town named Huntingburg is flooding because of a torrential rainstorm. The town is situated near a dam which -- by the time the movie begins -- is already 3/4 open. While the town evacuates, the sheriff (Randy Quaid) performs his thankless job of throwing people out of their homes and keeping the town safe from looters.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, an armored car has just picked up a large sum of cash from the local bank. Before you can say, "I see where this is going" the armored car gets stuck and some conveniently placed bad guys (led by Morgan Freeman) attempt to rob it. (Actually, the robbers' presences are explained later.)

Of the two security guards in the armored car, it is Tom (played by Christian Slater) who escapes with the money, hoping that hiding it will keep him alive. Jim (Freeman) and his gang do not give up easily. The armed quartet break into the local boat shop and steal a fishing boat and two Jet Skis to search for the errant security guard.

The resulting action-packed storyline is short on human drama but filled with gunfire, explosions, and a great deal of near-drowning experiences. The flood special effects are outstanding at times, but obvious miniaturization at others. There are a few significant plot twists (which I will not reveal), and they add to the excitement of the movie. As a robbery movie, Hard Rain doesn't offer anything we haven't seen a dozen times before. This time, however, it's all happening in the middle of a flood.

The excellent cast also includes Minnie Driver as Karen, an artist restoring the local church; Betty White as Doreen, a nagging wife who -- along with her husband Henry (Richard Dysart) -- refuses to leave their home; and Ed Asner as Tom's Uncle Charlie.

Unfortunately, the bad guys are little more than two-dimensional caricatures, although I feel that they didn't begin that way. One of Jim's gang, Mr. Muhler, made repeated references to his past life as a science teacher, which struck me as very intriguing. With his homemade bombs, he looked like an evil version of Mr. Wizard.

The best performance in the movie is given by Quaid, who really comes to life on the screen. Although he doesn't say much, the temperament of his character is clear. The sheriff is obviously at the end of his rope, with this flood being the straw that breaks the camel's back. On the whole, I think I would rather have met up with Jim's gang than have to deal with the sheriff alone.

Hard Rain is a typical action movie. There are many violent scenes, including an attempted rape. It also includes some language which is inappropriate for kids. I would definitely suggest you leave your kids at home with a babysitter. The flood itself could prove too frightening for some children. Still, it is mindless fun for adults. There are worse ways to spend a Saturday night.

MY RATING: 5 out of 10.

RATED: R
RUN TIME: 96 min.