One
should always accentuate the positive. So let's say that "Drop Zone," the
new action picture starring Wesley Snipes, will appeal to sky divers the
world over. Director John Badham's latest contains exciting -- not to mention
extensive -- aerial footage of men and women free falling, swooping, somersaulting
and all those gravity-taunting things they feel compelled to do.
Actually,
let's not accentuate the positive because, unfortunately, there's a story
that tags along -- or drags along -- with all this footage. It's the kind
of third-rate movie (are there more than three rates?) that you've seen
so many times you could emcee your way through the whole thing, at least
30 minutes ahead of the action. The predictability begins immediately when
Snipes, a U.S. marshal, joshes and jibes with brother and fellow agent
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, whom he obviously cares for. You know Snipes's Main
Man is dead meat. Action heroes need something to get them really motivated,
and there's nothing like a lost friend, relative or innocent to do the
trick.
The
tragedy occurs at 28,000 feet, when Snipes and Warner, accompanying convicted
computer hacker (and government witness) Michael Jeter to a federal penitentiary,
run into hijackers. No, Snipes is not having a "Passenger 57" flashback.
But he does have to play hero in the skies again. Gary Busey, leading a
crack team of stunt sky divers, organizes a spectacular jailbreak in which
the bad guys blow a hole in the side of the 747 plane and escape by parachute
with Jeter in tow. The ensuing depressurization gives Warner an early opportunity
to start his next, hopefully better, movie.
Absurdly
-- even for an action picture -- Snipes and his late brother are suspected
by the feds of causing the on-board accident. (Presumably, the gaping hole
in the side of the plane and the many surviving witnesses couldn't clue
these idiots in.) Pending the outcome of the investigation, Snipes must
give up his badge and gun. This time, as they always say in these films,
it's personal.
Let's
take a moment to appreciate the fine work of scriptwriters Peter Barsocchini
and John Bishop, who imaginatively took "Point Break" (an action flick
about surfers), strapped a parachute to its back and hurled it from a plane.
Oh, the clichés that tumble from the heavens, like Snipes's convenient
pal at the Justice Department, who runs a quick test on an incriminating
parachute buckle; or the "wacky" training sequence as Snipes takes a crash
course in sky diving; or Snipes's cute buddy-buddying with sky diver ally
Yancy Butler. "Drop Zone" is also a highly educational picture. You learn
that, if you're an untrained sky diver and you jump out of an airborne
747, you'll turn into sky chow. You'll also discover this did-you-know?
gem: On July 4, when this movie's finale takes place, Washington, D.C.'s
normally restricted air space is opened to anyone with a parachute -- or
a bad movie idea.
The
Washington Post
