Movies / Movie Reviews

Snakes on a Plane

By Tony Farinella
August 25, 2006 - 08:23

How do you describe a film like 'Snakes on a Plane?' The film came to a close no less then an hour ago and I'm still stumped. I have been sitting here pondering, and thinking of adjectives to do it justice. Does a simple word like "fun" give the film its due? This is the kind of film that must be seen with an audience to truly get the full impact of it. Quentin Tarantino once said he feels sorry for film fans of today since they can't experience low-budget, b-grade, and campy films at their local theater.

The days of the down and dirty movie theaters are long gone. The ones playing exploitation horror films, campy thrillers, and the cult classics. You have to pick between all the major studio films. If those are not up your alley, you are out of luck. You can take the trek downtown to see films, but those are mostly arty films. Which are fine and dandy, don't get me wrong, but where is the market for campy, over the top, goofy films?

SNAKES ON A PLANE might just be the film to bring that genre back.

I guess I should describe the plot. Yes, there is a plot. But it is mostly window dressing to the snakes and the fun they bring.

The film opens up in Hawaii, while a cheesy song plays in the background that states "it's going to be a lovely day." Which as you know, that means it is never a lovely day. Far from it. Nathan Phillips stars as Sean Jones, who is just cruising along when he witnesses a murder. The murderer wants Sean dead, so he can't testify in court. Nelville Flynn (Samuel L. Jackson) comes to his defense. Their plan is to fly from Hawaii to L.A. to testify and send the killer to jail.

Okay. Got that out of the way. Let's let the real fun begin.

In an attempt to stop the witness for testifying, the killer unleashes a crate of 450 snakes on board of this flight.

The key to success for this film is never, ever taking itself seriously. Everything that you expect to happen, happens. The reason you cheer for it is because you have seen it before and know it. So do the filmmakers. Everyone is in on the joke. All the characters you expect to show up, show up. All the cheesy lines you have heard before are said.

You have your stereotypical black guys. Played by Kenan Thompson (Remember 'Fat Albert'?), Flex Alexander, and Keith Dallas. They all have their bling-bling, they say dawg, and one of them really loves video games. You have your guy who is scared out of his mind of flying, but does it for his wife. You know he's never going to get that vacation don't ya? The prissy Paris Hilton character with her Paris Hilton dog. She's very interested in flirting with the token black guys.

You have your newlywed couple who just can't keep their hands off each other. You know once they end up doing the deed in the airplane stall, it won't end up pretty. I'll just say these snakes love their hooters more then a newborn baby. Also, the man with the insanely large penis will end up with an insanely large snake bite on his penis. Don't forget about your nose-in-the-air, cocky, and rich foreigner. Did I mention the horny pilot? The wise and experienced flight attendant who should have taken her retirement won't end up retiring.

The sexy and saucy Latino lady with her baby will be admired. Children will be on board and used for sympathy. I think we got everyone!

You also have a nice range of lines you have heard before and lines you have never heard before used:

"Everyone remain calm"

"I need you to be strong for your brother, can you do that for me?"

"We have to work together if we want to get out of here alive"

"Let's not panic"

As far as the lines so bad, they are good, and also fresh include:

"Time is Tissue"

" Great. Snacks on Crack"

I mentioned some of the lines, and the characters, but how the hell could I forget about the snakes?

That is what the movie is about after all.

David R. Ellis uses what I'd like to call snake-vision. You see parts of the film from the eyes of the snakes. When they are slithering, oozing, and creeping their way towards their next victim you see it through their eyes. As they lock their eyes on their next unsuspecting victim. It was a neat movie gimmick. These snakes can get around too. They come out of oxygen masks. They crawl through dresses. Urinals. Be careful when you pee. They hiss a lot. They are angry and attack often.

It's hard to kill them too. One person puts the snake in a microwave. What a way to go.

They also look really, really cheesy and CGIed, which is the point of the film. If they looked real, what fun is that?  How bad they look is part of the campy value. The snakes interacting with the humans is always a good laugh. As the humans are sure to over act, yell, and scream as the snakes take a bite out of crime. My only question is: When will CGI Garfield meet up with the CGI Snakes? It would be an epic battle.

They both are in a human world, while they are relegated to being CGI.

The film is also a really well-made film. Believe it or not. David R. Ellis, who was the director of 2004's 'Cellular' knows how to shoot action scenes. He is able to mix a brand of well-shot, well-photographed, and action packed scenes while having a comedic side to it. 'Cellular' had a lot of side jokes going on with the cell phone. At one point, a character in 'Cellular' yells at someone to get off their cell phone, while he is on his cell phone. He has a problem with the battery dying. All common cell phone problems.

He does the same with 'Snakes on a Plane.' Despite all the comedy going around, and snakes, there is a certain style to it. He is able to make them merge effortlessly.

Time to discuss the acting of this film. I know, I know. Discussing not only the plot, but the acting too!

Samuel L. Jackson has a lot of fun with this role. I loved his opening line of the movie, which is stated through-ought the film of "Do exactly as I say, or you'll die." This is pure b-grade movie line fun. Samuel L. Jackson also has a lot of fun killing the snakes. He punches them, zaps them, takes axes to them. He does it all with that Samuel L. Jacksoness ('You, Me, and Dupree' anyone?) that we have all come to know and love.

The rest of the cast does what they are supposed to do as well. Which is over-act, get killed by snakes, and play your stereotypes.

Kenan Thompson is perfect for this kind of movie. He was the second best character besides Jackson. He is known for his corny films. Hell, he has done 'Fat Albert' and 'Good Burger', you know he has a solid sense of humor. Not to mention, not taking himself too seriously. Him and Jackson going back and forth is highly entertaining. Kenan calls him "his brother from another mother", "his pimp daddy", and "his homie", while rattling off his video game stats. Thompson just really lets loose and shows a side of him not usually seen. Being cheesy and knowing it. Instead of being cheesy and playing it straight.

The film also has lines of references to past airplane movies. At one point they ask if anyone can fly the plane because the pilot is sick. ('Airplane' anyone?) I love self-referential films. Films that make you think of in terms outside of the movie. It shows a love, appreciation, and knowledge for earlier films.

Imagine how boring this film would have been if they played it straight? But instead they are having fun and we are having fun watching them. Took a look at a film that came out earlier this year in 'Poseidon.' We have seen the campy original, and we know this story is bogus, boring, and uninteresting. Imagine how much more fun the movie would have been if they played it as over the top camp and they knew it?

If they just had fun with the total silliness of the film, didn't commit to it, and just let loose with it. Nobody likes someone who takes himself too seriously. In high-school all the cocky jocks who thought they were god's gift were hated. So are the movies with that same attitude.

You know the phrase laughing with you, instead of laughing at you?

We are all laughing with 'Snakes on a Plane.'

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12