Early on in “Air Force One,” U.S. President James Marshall bludgeons a bad guy with a stool. Do we wonder if the bad guy lives? Do we wonder why the President is killing people? Of course not.
Why not? The line between good and evil in “AFO” is more clearly drawn than in the most blatant Disney movie ever made. And, in the same way that “Independence Day” became a megahit, “AFO” was made better by it.
Just like “ID4,” “Air Force One” is hopelessly formulaic. There’s the dedicated, exceedingly moral hero, the several brushes with death, the psychopathic bad guys, and the endangered family of the hero.
Even so, this formula usually makes for the best films. And, “Air Force One” was no exception.
Harrison Ford stars as President Marshall, who gets on his plane leaving Moscow just after making a landmark speech condemning terrorism. So, it’s no surprise when a complement of Russian journalists along for the ride turn out to be hijackers.
Their goal is to hold the president hostage until Russia releases General Raddock, the leader of their violent political faction. Will it work? Of course not. This is Hollywood, remember?
Early on, though, two quick-thinking secret service agents foil their plans by rushing Marshall off to the aircraft’s escape pod. After that disaster, the only leverage the terrorists have is the president’s family and part of his cabinet. Or so it seems.
A few minutes later, after the escape pod is found grounded in Germany, empty, Marshall reappears on the baggage deck, ready to take matters into his own hands. He quickly corners one of the terrorists, attacks him and steals his weapon.
All the while, though, the clock is running out. Vice President Bennett (Glenn Close) is faced with the decision whether to release Raddock (which, it is established, could lead to the fall of Russia and nuclear war) or to allow the bad guys to systematically kill several of the members on board the plane.
I won’t give away the ending, but the last half hour of the movie certainly doesn’t disappoint.
From beginning to end, “AFO” is truly compelling. It’s one of those movies that you spend sitting on the edge of your seat and brutally attacking your fingernails. The suspense really never stops. The rare moments of levity are almost worse than the suspense itself, because it makes you realize how wrapped up in the movie you are.
Besides a little bit of excess violence, there isn’t anything in “Air Force One” not to like. It isn’t nearly as intelligent as “Face/Off” or as sarcasticly funny as “Men in Black,” but when it comes down to good, old-fashioned entertainment value, it doesn’t come any better.
Grade: A-