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After all the hype, Snakes on a Plane opened to something of a whimper at global box offices. It seems the internet really doesn't have that much influence on casual filmgoers. I still think, however, that Snakes will find its audience on DVD - it's perfectly suited to a home viewing session with some mates round. SoaP definitely knows that it's a B-movie and deliberately ticks all the cliche boxes: stereotyped, paper-thin characters, some questionable acting, a ridiculous plot, but most importantly some inventive and hilarious deaths. It's pretty obvious which bits were redone to bump the film up to an R-rating (watch how few times you see the f-word being uttered rather than just hearing it - some re-dubbing was involved, methinks) but most of the time these bits work excellently and improve the film. And of course, the film just would not be the same without Sam Jackson uttering that line. I thought the set-up and early portions of the film were fairly average and highlighted the film's inherent flaws, but once the snakes emerged it got really entertaining. SoaP is great in a cheesy crap sort of way - just how it should be.
The summary
If you want a laugh, Snakes on a Plane shouldn't let you down. If you're after a flick that is actually good, though, you're probably advised to look elsewhere. But come on, it's called Snakes on a Plane!
