Baseshment
I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.
Portia Hilton
Blistering performances.
Roxie
The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
jimbo700
Air America is over 25 years old and it's still on my list of movies I watch regularly. It's not that I disagree with those who acknowledge its faults, because I knowledge them too. The things that make me want to watch this film over and over are: The music, which is fabulous... The soundtrack is filled with great tunes, some of which are a little out of the period but it doesn't matter. It's great to hear Rick Derringer and Edgar Winter cover their own hit "Free Ride" and Bonnie Raitt & BB King do a great cover of Dr John's "Right Place, Wrong Time". And Charles Gross's score is a perfect fit for this film. The second thing that makes film so great is the cinematography. The flying stunts still hold up to today's CGI effects and they were all pulled off by real pilots. But cinematographer Roger Deakins makes it all so much better with some of the most beautiful shots I've seen. The way this film was photographed reminds me of the beautiful cinematography from David Lean and Jack Hildyard in "The Bridge on the River Kwai". Air American was filmed mostly on location in Thailand and the lush vegetation and rolling hills and mountains are stunning. Air America is the story of a couple of pilots who fly cargo (and heroin) for Air America, the CIA's wartime civilian airline during the war in Vietnam. Mel Gibson plays a seasoned veteran pilot and Robert Downy Jr. is the young, idealistic newcomer who stirs it all up. When it was released it drew harsh reviews from the big publications, mostly because (according to the reviews) it tried to poke fun at, and perhaps dishonor the real life pilots of Air America. Putting politics aside I never thought this film dishonored the Air America pilots. The film's main weakness is the thin plot (based on real events). The acting is great. Downey and Gibson have great chemistry, and the supporting actors/actresses are also spot on. It cost over $35 million to make this film and every penny is seen on the screen. Unfortunately it never caught on at the box office and only grossed $32 million (worldwide). The acting, stunt flying, music and cinematography make it worth multiple viewings, even if you don't understand the plot or find it hard to relate to the characters. If you can watch it in this context, you might love it too.
SnoopyStyle
American military is operating a private airline in Laos during the Vietnam War. Billy Covington (Robert Downey Jr.) is a traffic copter pilot for a Los Angeles radio station. His pilot license gets suspended after he flew low to confront a driver and he gets recruited to join Air America. Veteran pilots Gene Ryack (Mel Gibson) and others show him the ropes. Major Donald Lemond and Rob Diehl from military intelligence run the operation which secretly transports drugs for corrupt General Soong. Idoit Senator Davenport arrives on a tour of the mission.This tries to be MASH but it doesn't have the humor. It tries to look into the ridiculousness of this world. I don't find many laughs. Ryack is a smuggler but it's not some fun wacky schemes. It makes him less lovable. Covington is the irreverent earnest young man. The duo sorta works sometimes. The movie doesn't quite work as a satire and it doesn't work as realism.
skeptic skeptical
Air America has a pretty interesting soundtrack of period music (during the Vietnam war era), which will keep most viewers watching. I hasten to add that the final Fred Astaire track really comes out of nowhere.I wanted to like this movie. It treats the CIA's drug and gun-running in Laos during the vexed Vietnam conflict. President Nixon is shown on television insisting that there are no combat troops in Laos ("No boots on the ground!" Sound familiar?). The plot focuses on the role played by the CIA in supporting the production of heroin in exchange for cooperation of the Laotian military. Some attention is given to the nature of covert activities and the types of people (losers and mercenaries) who sign up for such missions.The primary problem is that there is a real cacophony of tones and messages. Air America tries to be smart, but it comes off as rather lame. Not really incisive enough to count as a serious critique of the war or US policy, nor really funny enough to constitute comedy. Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. are both pretty mediocre in this production, and they are the best of the cast, which abounds in stereotypical caricatures of the usual suspects: CIA agents, senators, prostitutes, Asian military figures, among others.It would be great for people to learn about the involvement of the Caustic Incompetence Agency in the drug trade during the US military engagement in Vietnam--especially since many veterans came home addicted to heroin and ended up social outcasts. But it would probably be better to read some books than to watch this middling effort.
The Grand Master
Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr, two mighty box office draw cards which gave Air America a lot of appeal. What could have gone wrong?! The script just did not work and the jokes are too corny. Ultimately it couldn't decide whether it is an action/adventure or a comedy or even a drama. Very disappointing.Set in 1969, Billy Covington (Robert Downey Jr.) has recently been fired from his job as a helicopter traffic reporter for a radio station following a confrontation with a driver in the middle of the streets of Los Angeles. Billy is later recruited by a secret government agency to work for a company named "Air America" in Laos. Billy is mentored by fellow pilot Gene Ryack (Mel Gibson) who is an arms dealer who is working on a big sale in order to fund his retirement. Billy and Gene find themselves involved in a drug smuggling scheme run by corrupt CIA officials Major Lemond (Ken Jenkins) and Rob Diehl (David Marshall Grant). Billy and Gene work to avoid being framed as drug smugglers following an investigation spearheaded by the hard nosed Senator Davenport (Lane Smith).This movie could have been a hit comedy however the end result was a disappointment. Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. had the star power to make it work however it just wasn't enough. Director Roger Spottiswoode (Tomorrow Never Dies, Deadly Pursuit) has endured a hit and miss career, and Air America didn't do him any favours.It was no surprise that this was a box office flop in 1990. 25 years later Air America barely rates a mention for disgraced actor Mel Gibson following several controversial incidents which has seen his career come crashing down, and Robert Downey Jr. who has enjoyed a career resurrection following the success of Iron Man (2008).Air America was a disappointing experience which is a total shame because this certainly could have been a lot better.4/10.
