A review by Brooks Rich
One of my favorite romantic action films. I miss fun action films like this one. I could be forgetting one but any romantic action film I think of from the 00s is garbage. This film is just charming and the leads have great chemistry. John Badham brings some great direction for some very fun action scene, especially the last showdown at the zoo.
Mel Gibson and Goldie Hahn star as a formerly engaged couple who reunite by accident. Gibson is being set up by a corrupt FBI agent after turning state witness on the mob and now must go on the run with Hahn to avoid the bad guys. Meanwhile old sparks are reunited and the two fall for each other again.
We've seen this before but it's not the content, it's how you interpret that content. Badham makes sure the action scenes feel like action scenes. Sometimes in these romantic action films the action takes a backseat and is pretty poorly constructed. Not so in Bird on a Wire. Like I mentioned before, the showdown at the zoo is a legitimately tense action scene and the way the bad guys are dispatched are pretty brutal.
Mel Gibson is a problematic figure anytime he's covered on this blog. His outbursts and personal beliefs leave a lot to be desired sure. Some words we shouldn't say out loud, Mel. But he is a true movie star and he is damn good in some films. That's no different here. He is fantastic as the ex-con trying to start over the best he can. Gibson always plays the lovable screw up who often can kick ass as well. Hahn is a perfect foil for him and this is maybe my favorite role of hers.
If you haven't seen it, check it out. It's on cable all the time. It's nothing new but it'll be a fun way to kill a couple of hours.
One of my favorite romantic action films. I miss fun action films like this one. I could be forgetting one but any romantic action film I think of from the 00s is garbage. This film is just charming and the leads have great chemistry. John Badham brings some great direction for some very fun action scene, especially the last showdown at the zoo.
Mel Gibson and Goldie Hahn star as a formerly engaged couple who reunite by accident. Gibson is being set up by a corrupt FBI agent after turning state witness on the mob and now must go on the run with Hahn to avoid the bad guys. Meanwhile old sparks are reunited and the two fall for each other again.
We've seen this before but it's not the content, it's how you interpret that content. Badham makes sure the action scenes feel like action scenes. Sometimes in these romantic action films the action takes a backseat and is pretty poorly constructed. Not so in Bird on a Wire. Like I mentioned before, the showdown at the zoo is a legitimately tense action scene and the way the bad guys are dispatched are pretty brutal.
Mel Gibson is a problematic figure anytime he's covered on this blog. His outbursts and personal beliefs leave a lot to be desired sure. Some words we shouldn't say out loud, Mel. But he is a true movie star and he is damn good in some films. That's no different here. He is fantastic as the ex-con trying to start over the best he can. Gibson always plays the lovable screw up who often can kick ass as well. Hahn is a perfect foil for him and this is maybe my favorite role of hers.
If you haven't seen it, check it out. It's on cable all the time. It's nothing new but it'll be a fun way to kill a couple of hours.
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