Jackson Defines Cool
Snakes Defies Explanation
If you haven't heard of Snakes on a Plane by now, you've probably been living in a cave in Tibet -- without an Internet connection. The film has gained a weird cult status ever since the story broke that Samuel L. Jackson had agreed to make the movie based on the title alone. With a title like Snakes on a Plane, a movie brings with it certain expectations (not all of them good). The truth is that this serpentine thriller is a B-movie plot with an A-list budget. It's the ultimate popcorn movie, and a surefire summer blockbuster.
Written by: John Heffernan and Sebastian Gutierrez (screenplay), based on a story by David Dalessandro and
John Heffernan
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Nathan Phillips, Rachel Blanchard, Flex Alexander, and Kenan Thompson
Rated
(for
language, a scene of sexuality and drug use, and intense sequences of terror
and violence)Running time: 105 min.
FilmGuru's Rating : 9 out of 10.
As silly as the title may seem, it's a pretty accurate description of the plot. After Sean Jones (Nathan Phillips) witnesses a mob hit on a vacationing district attorney in Hawaii, FBI agent Nelville Flynn (Jackson) is assigned the task of escorting Jones to the mainland so he can testify. Mobster Eddie Kim (Byron Lawson) doesn't want the plane to reach Los Angeles, so he arranges for a little surprise: hundreds of venomous snakes are secretly loaded on the plane.
As passengers board the plane, each is given a shallow, defining characteristic. The roll call proceeds like the opening sequence of any good disaster flick. David Koechner is Rick, the sexist co-pilot. Julianna Margulies is Claire, the flight attendant on her final run. Rachel Blanchard is Mercedes, the rich girl with her dog in a purse. Elsa Pataky is Maria, the mother of a baby. Gerard Plunkett is Paul, the arrogant man stuck between the baby and the dog. Flex Alexander is 3 Gs, a famous musician. Kenan Thompson is Troy, one of his entourage. These are the fleshed-out characters. The remaining ones are so paper thin, they don't even get names.
When the snakes are released, the slithering creatures go crazy and are soon disrupting the avionics in the plane. Shortly thereafter, they are dropping into the passenger cabin, attracted by pheromones sprayed on the passengers' flowered leis. That's when things really go up a notch.
People die, including Flynn's partner John Sanders (Mark Houghton). Throughout it all, Jackson is the epitome of cool. Agent Flynn handles the snake crisis while also dealing with the emotional, panic-stricken passengers. However, he always keeps his one goal in mind: protecting Jones at all cost.
This is not a film to see on DVD, however. The shared experience of seeing it in the theater is crucial to its enjoyment. I went to see this film at the 10:00 p.m. preview the night before it was released. I live in a college town, and the fall semester is about to begin. This means that the theater was filled with exuberant college kids with nothing better to do. Before the film, the audience chanted "Snakes! Snakes! Snakes!" They hissed when snakes came on the screen. They even cheered when Jackson's name appeared on the opening credits. This was the audience for whom Snakes on a Plane was created.
As if made with a secret formula that would appeal to the 18-26 year old male demographic, the film hits every mark. It has action, violence, terror, humor, nudity, sex, and Samuel L. Jackson. Really, entertainment doesn't get much better than this. Snakes on a Plane is a popcorn movie that is certain to retain its cult status for years to come.
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