Con-Air

Nicholas Cage stars in the action-packed “Con-Air” as Cameron Poe, an Army Ranger with a deep-South hillbilly accent. Poe is unjustly sent to prison for seven years for killing a man with his bare hands while defending his pregnant wife (played by Monica Potter) from three drunks in a bar parking lot, one welding a knife (which was never found).

The real action of the movie begins when Poe is placed on a C-130 airplane nicknamed “The Jailbird” with a “passenger list” of the meanest, most vicious criminals in the prison system. Before the plane is even off the ground, the bad guys get control of it and begin to implement their plans to escape to South America. “Con-Air” is rated “R” for good reason.

A superb cast is assembled for “Con-Air”, with John Malkovich as the lead bad guy, Cyrus “the Virus” Grissom, and his right hand man Nathan “Diamond Dogg” Jones played by Ving Rhames. Also featured are the likes of Steve Buscemi, David Chapelle, Daniel Trejo, Nick Chinlund, and MC Gainey. John Cusack brings some comic relief as US Marshall Vince Larkin, who believes Poe is innocent so works with him in resolving the situation.

“Con-Air” is directed by Simon West (who directed “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”) and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (who has produced movies such as “Armageddon”, as well as the TV series “CSI”). Logic needs to be left at the door when this film delves into its non-stop action and dead pan humor. “Con-Air” definitely goes over the top, but is a lot of fun for action movie lovers.

So what does all this violence and “blew them up” action have to do with rabbits? Plenty, and this is why “Con-Air” is one of Linda’s favorite movies. You see, Cameron Poe is being released from prison on his daughter’s seventh birthday, and they have never seen each other because he did not want her to see him in prison. They have exchanged letters (which are read out loud at the first part of the movie to help develop their tender love for each other). Poe has gotten his daughter a stuffed bunny rabbit for her birthday present which plays a significant part in the movie.

When one of the bad guys, Billy Bedlam, suspects Poe of being a “punk” (I.e. not a bad guy), and goes through Poe’s stuff in the cargo hole. Poe catches Billy in the act just as he pulls out the stuffed rabbit. Poe tells Billy “Put the bunny back in the box”. Billy and Poe have it out and Billy is killed, after which Poe says “I told you to put the bunny back in the box”.

Then at the end of the movie, after The Jailbird had crash-landed on the Las Vegas Strip, and Poe and Larkin have chased down Cyrus and seen his demise, Poe catches the stuffed bunny floating in water along a street curb right before it will disappear down a drainage opening. Poe’s wife and daughter come into view, so Poe approaches them and offers the bunny to his little girl. His daughter backs off at first because the bunny is all wet and looks a fright, but then she collects herself, reaches out, and accepts the gift. They all embrace as a united family as the hit song “How Do I Live” is sung in the background by Trish Yearwood.

Yes, “Con-Air” is mindless and improbable, and definitely not to be viewed by children (or for adults who avoid scenes of violence). And although it has too many climax’s at the end, it is entertaining for those of us who like high velocity action.