Reel Critics

Jim Erwin

Who needs a credible story when you’ve got great action sequences?

That’s the gist of “Behind Enemy Lines.”

When you see the commercials on TV, and you hear Gene Hackman say

things like, “Gentleman, I intend to put you in harm’s way,” and “lets go

get our boy back,” you already know the entire story. It doesn’t matter

if you love action movies for the adrenaline pumping excitement or the

half-witted unintentional comedy. “Behind Enemy Lines” has plenty of

both. Think of “Saving Private Ryan,” done as an MTV music video, without

the emotionally burdensome realism, and with a lot more explosions. What

could be more fun?

On a routine reconnaissance mission, Burnett (Owen Wilson) and

Stackhouse (Gabriel Macht) see activity in an area where they are

forbidden to fly. With that damn-the-rules American spirit, they fly into

the area to investigate. The enemy spots them and fires surface-to-air

missiles. The chase sequence between the F/A-18 Superhornett and the

missiles is almost as much fun as riding a roller coaster. It’s heart

pounding and intense.

“Behind Enemy Lines” isn’t worth eight bucks unless you really love

action movies. However, it’s pretty entertaining and well worth renting

or seeing at the budget theater. Wilson is likable as Burnett, but

Hackman provides the testosterone needed to make the formula work. This

is guaranteed to become a hit on the TBS Movies for Guys Who Like Movies.

No one is going to confuse “Behind Enemy Lines” for an art-house flick.

This is about guys with guns, and there are no sissy love stories to slow

down the action.

* JIM ERWIN, 39, is a technical writer and computer trainer.