vincentlynch-moonoi
To be honest with you, the main reason I like this film is that parts of it were filmed in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, a Thai town in far northern Thailand where I have spent some time. But it's a fun film if you don't take it too seriously.What I find ironic about this film is that its 2 key stars -- Mel Gibson and Robert Downey -- both later fell from grace. Downey made his comeback. It's not clear if Gibson ever really will. Another irony is that Downey crusades against drugs in the film at the very time he was heavily involved in drugs. Ah well.Yes, these were the days when Mel Gibson was relatively young, handsome, and respected. He's good here, although this is not a particularly strong role. It's just a variation on a buddy pic.This was made right after my favorite Robert Downey film -- "Chances Are". He's good here, but he's been better.It was interesting to see Nancy Travis here, whom we later got to know from "Last Man Standing" on television. And Ken Jenkins, whom we later got to know as a character in "Scrubs". And I've always enjoyed character actor, the late Lane Smith. They all do pretty well here.I don't find a lot to complain about in this film. Nor do I find a lot to applaud. I don't think this film is as far from the truth as some of our reviewers do. The drug lord here is clearly based on the infamous Khun Sa (the actor who plays the drug lord here even resembles Khun Sa).A bit of fun with a sort of buddy picture. That's what you have here.
Anssi Vartiainen
Air America fails as a movie because you don't connect with its story, nor with its characters. It's a movie avoid of meaning, or soul.Our story follows the life of Billy (Robert Downey Jr.), who's forced to take up a job as a pilot in Vietnam War Era Laos since his license in the States gets cancelled after one dangerous stunt too many. There he meets up with Gene (Mel Gibson), who becomes something of a mentor for him. The rest of the film is your average clichéd corruption story. The army bad, family good, lovable rogues great. You know the drill.You'd think that movie with both Gibson and Downey in it would be at least mildly entertaining, but the thing is, this came out at exactly the wrong moment in both of their careers. Downey was still just a kid, nowhere near his later star power, whereas Gibson had just begun his long downward spiral from fame. Though, to be fair, I can't imagine how bad this film would have been without the two of them, because it's really the script which is to blame here. The characters have no depth, the villains are hilariously one-dimensional, and the story fails to raise any stages worth caring about.On the positive side of things, the technical aspects work just fine, some of the flying stunts and action scenes are fun to watch and even the story is merely incompetent and boring, not insultingly stupid. Those few things are not enough to save the film, but at least they kept me from hitting the bottle.So yeah, not really worth seeing, unless you're a die-hard fan of either of the two main leads. And even then I wouldn't bother.
The Grand Master
Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr, two mighty box office draw cards which gave Air America a lot of appeal. What could have gone wrong?! The script just did not work and the jokes are too corny. Ultimately it couldn't decide whether it is an action/adventure or a comedy or even a drama. Very disappointing.Set in 1969, Billy Covington (Robert Downey Jr.) has recently been fired from his job as a helicopter traffic reporter for a radio station following a confrontation with a driver in the middle of the streets of Los Angeles. Billy is later recruited by a secret government agency to work for a company named "Air America" in Laos. Billy is mentored by fellow pilot Gene Ryack (Mel Gibson) who is an arms dealer who is working on a big sale in order to fund his retirement. Billy and Gene find themselves involved in a drug smuggling scheme run by corrupt CIA officials Major Lemond (Ken Jenkins) and Rob Diehl (David Marshall Grant). Billy and Gene work to avoid being framed as drug smugglers following an investigation spearheaded by the hard nosed Senator Davenport (Lane Smith).This movie could have been a hit comedy however the end result was a disappointment. Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. had the star power to make it work however it just wasn't enough. Director Roger Spottiswoode (Tomorrow Never Dies, Deadly Pursuit) has endured a hit and miss career, and Air America didn't do him any favours.It was no surprise that this was a box office flop in 1990. 25 years later Air America barely rates a mention for disgraced actor Mel Gibson following several controversial incidents which has seen his career come crashing down, and Robert Downey Jr. who has enjoyed a career resurrection following the success of Iron Man (2008).Air America was a disappointing experience which is a total shame because this certainly could have been a lot better.4/10.
rzajac
Yeah, it's an "action flick"--lots of explosions, tough-guy posturing, bombast--but it also has depth.If you like good writing, good scenario work, fine acting (including "minor" roles), and realpolitik, you could spend a far worse 90-odd minutes of an evening.And seeing it reminds me of an amazing fact: Behind the macho action swagger of Gibson beats the heart of a truly great actor. And, I guess, the same has to be said for Downey; I watched this, in part, as a sort of "catch up" on his career after seeing Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Nice to see him in his nubile years, and realize that he has accomplished more *with* his personal issues in tow than some of us accomplish while living within conventional bounds of correctness.And... Why does Downey always get these parts where he's the voice of down-home morality in a sea of squalor? Anyway: Check it out.
AD
