From Deseret News archives:
Flightplan
Film review
"Flightplan" is the second movie within a month to try to exploit the prevalent fear irrational or not of air travel. And like "Red Eye," this ludicrous suspense-thriller moves at a brisk clip. However, this time around it's not brisk enough to cover up the holes in the plotting.
"Flightplan" completely falls apart in the final third, as the film jettisons reason and logic like spare parts hurled from a rapidly plummeting aircraft. But it might not seem quite so awful, even reprehensible, if it didn't waste a pretty good cast, or if it didn't trot out that ultimate poor-taste cliche, a child in peril.
Jodie Foster stars as Kyle Pratt, a recently widowed propulsion engineer who, along with her young daughter Julia (Marlene Lawston), is returning to the United States to bury her husband. However, during the long Atlantic flight, Kyle falls asleep for a few hours and when she awakens, Julia is missing. And Kyle panics when she isn't able to find the girl.
The plotting (courtesy of screenwriters Peter A. Dowling and Billy Ray) is so incredibly contrived and convenient that it's almost laughable, particularly the resolution. Stress the word "almost," because this cast definitely deserves better.
Foster has already played this type of role, and "Flightplan" even has an apparently inadvertent homage of sorts to "Panic Room." Even earnest turns by Sarsgaard and Bean can't salvage the film. And while newcomer Lawston is a natural, Erika Christensen can't help but look bored in a go-nowhere role as a flight attendant.
"Flightplan" is rated PG-13 for violence (violence against women and some explosive mayhem), scattered use of strong profanity, some brief drug content (use and references to tranquilizer use), a brief, vulgar gag about bodily functions, and use of some racial slurs. Running time: 93 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
Comments
Cast: Jodie Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Sean Bean
Find a Movie Theater
- Brazil: World should engage Iran 12:00 p.m.
- Atom smasher sends beams 2 ways 11:56 a.m.
- U.K. begins inquiry on Iraq war 11:48 a.m.
- Apostle and Seventy's Africa visit 11:46 a.m.
- Winfrey to interview Kennedy widow 11:41 a.m.
- Analyst: Small auto sales to recover 11:33 a.m.
- Y.'s Hall, U.'s Dale earn accolades 11:28 a.m.
- Notre Dame not an option for Meyer 11:28 a.m.
- Marijuana grow found in Ogden apt. 11:23 a.m.
- Inmate dead following prison fight 11:22 a.m.
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
211 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
202 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
173 - BYU records with win
130 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
129 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
102 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
99 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93
Stricter laws do not equal less drunken drivers. Better public transportation...
Why does Timpview need to play 5A schools? Aren't they a 4A school? That's...
you know its funny my freind that happens to be gay expressed to me many...
Seriously anonymous? OF COURSE $1,000 doesn't have the same value for a rich...
I have just returned from the Oracle. Tomic seems to be making...
What a team and what a post season! Right on!!! Hey maybe the jazz can take a...
Agreed Boozer is an absolute beast on the defensive boards. The Jazz are...
Northern Lights wrote: "If seer stones were that important, wouldn't we...
That is not accurate. There are 5 BCS games so 10 teams get in. Two more at...
glendenb | 11:01 a.m. I've been to gay pride parades and I've been to art...





You can be the first to comment on this story.