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"SNAKES ON A PLANE"
(2006) (Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies) (R)

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QUICK TAKE:
Suspense/Horror: As an FBI agent tries to transport a witness from Hawaii to Los Angeles, they, their fellow passengers and the crew must contend with hordes of smuggled snakes that get loose on their plane.
PLOT:
Sean Jones (NATHAN PHILLIPS) is an unassuming surfer and off-road biker who -- while biking through inland Hawaii -- accidentally stumbles upon mobster Eddie Kim (BYRON LAWSON) killing a government prosecutor. A marked man, Sean is nearly killed by some of the crime lord's thugs, but just then FBI agent Neville Flynn (SAMUEL L. JACKSON) swings into action and saves him.

With no other alternative, Sean reluctantly agrees to be flown to California to testify against Kim, but rather than take the government plane as expected, Flynn and fellow FBI agent John Saunders (MARK HOUGHTON) sneak him onto commercial airliner South Pacific Air 121.

Needing the secure space, Flynn orders that everyone be kept out of first class, meaning flight attendant Claire Miller (JULIANNA MARGULIES) has to inform the passengers -- such as the snobby Mercedes (CHEL BLANCHARD) and her pet dog, as well as germ phobic recording artist Three G's (FLEX ALEXANDER) and his small entourage including Troy (KENAN THOMPSON) - that they have to sit back in coach with everyone else, including young brothers Curtis (CASEY DUBOIS) and Tommy (DANIEL HOGARTH) who are traveling by themselves, and single mother Maria (ELSA PATAKY).

But little do they -- or copilot Rick (DAVID KOECHNER) and flight attendants Tiffany (SUNNY MABREY), Ken (BRUCE JAMES) and Grace (LIN SHAYE) -- realize that Kim has managed to smuggle a crate of deadly snakes onto the plane, designed to open when a certain altitude is reached. Enraged by the pheromone-laced leis onboard, the snakes go crazy, quickly killing the pilot and various passengers, while also inadvertently shorting out some of the plane's electronics.

As FBI agent Hank Harris (BOBBY CANNAVALE) tries to round up herpetologist Steven Price (TODD LUISO) and all of the necessary antivenom back in Los Angeles, Flynn and the remaining crew and passengers do what they can to avoid the snakes and try to land the plane.

OUR TAKE: 4 out of 10
Let's face it, Hollywood knows how to push buttons. I'm not talking about the kind used to operate film equipment, although that's a given or else theatergoers and viewers at home would otherwise be watching blank screens. What I'm really referring to is filmmakers' abilities to manipulate viewers, and the most effective way of doing so often involves playing up or off human fears.

That's why most horror films take place in the dark, and the more fears one can pile on in a given film, the "scarier" it should be, at least in theory. All of which leads us to "Snakes on a Plane." Recipient of this year's award for most hyped flick before its release -- and probably the best example of an easy to pitch, high concept idea to hit screens in years -- the film really needs no explanation beyond its title.

Okay, to be honest, a little extra description does clarify the plot as, after all, serpents usually aren't found on heavier than air, winged craft, especially in the cockpit. In the film, Samuel L. Jackson plays an FBI agent who must transport a government witness from Honolulu to Los Angeles to testify for the prosecution in a gangland murder. Rather than take the government plane as expected, they board a commercial airliner, but the crime lord nevertheless manages to smuggle the snakes into the cargo hold in a crate with an altitude-activated release.

We're obviously not talking Shakespeare here, and it's certainly not the first film to feature snakes (think of "Anaconda") or even such critters on planes (including the opening sequence of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," a film that didn't stop there with the serpent mayhem). Yet, given the right touch by those in front of and behind the camera, the film could push the aforementioned buttons, play off the dual fear factor (snakes and things going wrong on a plane in flight), and become something of a guilty pleasure, the kind of which doesn't grace the silver screen often enough.

After all, a film with a title like this and the unlikely and presumably unintentional acronym of SOAP had better have tongue firmly planted in cheek (or snake fangs in the tush as does occur, along with plenty of other body parts). If the film knows it's high camp, and plays that up without getting too goofy or carried away with itself, it can create a palpable sense of infectious fun.

Most everyone associated with the effort does seem to recognize that fact, but the film only works on that level (as noted by the gratuitous violence, language, jump scenes moments, and the predictable "mile high club" moment that includes the obligatory T&A material). Unless one is afraid of those snakes or flying, there's little true suspense

Working from a script by John Heffernan and Sebastian Gutierrez, director David R. Ellis starts things off in a rather slow and plodding fashion. Sure there's some action, but a lot of time is spent establishing the throwaway plot and, to a much lesser extent, the characters who will find themselves in the main situation that, to be brutally honest, is the only reason most viewers are desirous of seeing this flick.

And by sticking to their guns of delivering a full R-rating's worth of material (rather than going for the more "family friendly" PG-13), the filmmakers have given themselves the option of delivering some giddy fun, particularly for those who don't like either of the titular subjects.

Accordingly, the film is filled with scene after scene of those snakes on the plane as they slither, strike out and otherwise wreak havoc on the airliner, its crew and their passengers, none of which are expecting their sudden serpentine presence.

Of course, as most viewers probably wonder once accepting the simple premise, the question is whether the cast and crew can sustain a feature-length film based in such a confined space without getting repetitive or, worse yet, boring. The answer is yes and no.

Not surprisingly, there really isn't anywhere to go with the plot (aside from slightly spoofing the old "Airport" disaster films -- though obviously nowhere to the extent of "Airplane!" -- where a bevy of characters are introduced with single characteristics that ensure either their survival or demise). Yet, things move at such a fast clip that it's somewhat easier to overlook that deficiency as well as all of the lapses in logic and credibility problems.

Aside from the unlikely behavior the snakes exhibit -- their homicidal mania is attested to pheromones laced on the Hawaiian leis, but is more sentient alien monster movie than Animal Planet -- there are the questions of how the gangsters find the witness when only seeing the back of him fleeing the crime scene on a motorbike.

One will likely also ponder why they don't just smuggle a bomb into the plane's cargo hold (the planting of the snake crate is done by an insider, so it would seem anything could be put in there). Of course, while "Bombs on a Plane" does inspire some fear, particularly in today's world, it's not as catchy as the current moniker.

Then there's why they include a large constrictor on the plane when poisonous serpents are much more effective and speedy at the task at hand, and why the crew or someone on the ground (including a snake expert called in to help) doesn't figure out cold air equals lethargic behavior among snakes and that there's plenty of that tens of thousands of feet up.

They and a host of other problems possibly could have been fixed with some script tweaks, but it almost seems like the filmmakers purposefully made everything illogical just to add to the camp level. Some of the dialogue certainly fits that bill -- including the now slightly famous exclamation by Samuel L. Jackson's character that details exactly how he feels about the reptiles and the aircraft -- but there isn't enough of that and it certainly isn't as infectiously profane as what the actor was spouting in "Pulp Fiction."

He's okay in the role, but certainly pales in comparison to the character from that film, but then again, no one -- including Julianna Margulies and a bunch of people you've probably never heard of -- is given much to do (beyond screaming, running and dying) and certainly no room to grow. It's all about snakes...on a plane.

While it doesn't quite reach the level of the best guilty pleasure, as long as you don't mind the fake looking snakes, lack of true suspense, purposefully exploitative moments, and complete lapses of logic and/or believability (meaning you essentially have to turn off any part of your brain's higher levels of cognitive processing and simply react in an instinctual fashion), you might enjoy - to some degree - what's offered. "Snakes on a Plane" rates as a 4 out of 10.




Reviewed August 17, 2006 / Posted August 18, 2006


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