Drive Angry (Summit Entertainment)
Out of Gas
Alas poor Nicolas Cage, we knew him well. We even knew him in his prime when he actually made watchable movies. But lately, what has happened to the man and his career Since National Treasure it seems he has said yes to anything and everything no matter how horrific it was.
His latest film is titled Drive Angry and it has the perfect title. It is driving audiences out of theaters and they are angry about it. These are the ones who think Cages name on a marquee means the film will have some substance or worth. This new one doesnt.
Cage plays a man named Milton (as in Paradise Lost). He has come from Hell seeking to rescue his baby granddaughter from an evil preacher named Jonah King (Billy Burke). King has killed Miltons daughter but Milton is determined to save his granddaughter. King intends to sacrifice the baby under the next full moon.
Along the way Milton meets up with a waitress named Piper (Amber Heard). He manages to talk her into taking him from Oklahoma to Louisiana. She does this even though they are being pursued by Satans henchman called the Accountant (William Fichtner).
There are all kinds of perils along the way but Milton will not stop. He wants that baby safe and sound and he is going to re-die trying. Piper is loyal to his cause and will fight alongside him.
The movie is all about fistfights and car chases. Oh yes there are gun battles too. The excitement level is high but the caliber of the story is low. Cage brings nothing new to this role and just drives through it. Fichtner does seem to see the humor in it all.
Heard is the best thing in the movie. She can slug it out with the best of them, plus she is drop dead gorgeous. If she werent in the movie it would be a total waste. Maybe she will get a chance to throw her talents into a better project next time.
Charlotte Ross from NYPD Blue is on hand as a wild woman Milton picks up. She and Cage have a fairly graphic sex sequence which is a surprise in the movie. Ross is nude while Cage keeps all his clothes on.
The film is rated R for profanity, violence and nudity.
Drive Angry is a fast paced, slow witted film that just wastes the viewers time. If Amber Heard werent in it, it would be a total loss. She makes it bearable.
I scored Drive Angry an irate 4 out of 10.
