Flyboys Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)September 20th, 2006
FLYBOYS
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2006 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): **
Like too many "actors" of his generation, James Franco doesn't appear to possess many noticeable acting skills. What he does have and what probably gets him consistent work from the studios are his dashing good looks. Casting him as the star of FLYBOYS is particularly appropriate since the film is as visually appealing as it is narratively bland.
Like the recent HOLLYWOODLAND, which starred Ben Affleck, another mediocre actor, FLYBOYS clearly invested large amounts of time and money in order to get the period setting and clothing just right. Both films were also inspired by true stories. But being based on something genuine is no guarantee that the movie itself will be real or interesting. The completely predictable FLYBOYS is filled with clichés. As soon as a character says, "I'm alright," you know that he'll soon be toast.
Based on the adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, the movie, set in 1916 just before America entered World War I, tells the story of the young Americans who went to fly French planes in order to fight the war for them. Early on we are told that the average lifespan of a new pilot is just three to six weeks. As Blaine Rawlings, Franco plays a cocksure cowboy from Texas who is part of a fresh batch of pilots.
Dressed in bright blue woolen suits and snappy leather belts and boots, the guys appear ready to appear in a GQ fashion shoot. Housed in a large palace, they observe that "The Frenchies sure know how to put on a nice war."
The only parts of the pictures that work are the aerial sequences. As the French biplanes engage the German triplanes over rolling green pastures, the images are breathtaking. But these visual treats are soured by silly looking close-ups of the pilots grimacing and gritting their teeth as they shoot at each other.
This dumbed-down Masterpiece Theater version of the events suffers from some very clunky dialog. When the new recruits first meet Reed Cassidy (Martin Henderson), the squadron's eccentric ace, one of them remarks sarcastically about him, "That guy sure knows how to make friends." Their captain quickly replies, "All his friends are dead." Jean Reno plays their always understanding captain. Although he attempts to contain it, Reno's lips keep threatening to break into a little smile. He knows just how bad the movie is, but he tries his best to keep a straight face.
And please don't get me started on the film's music. It is loud, obtrusive and ever-present. Every incident, large and small, in the story is filled with music so over-the-top that it's like hitting every member of the audience over the head with a 2x4. And in a movie that's over half an hour too long, you get constantly bombarded by these audio assaults.
FLYBOYS runs way too long at 2:20. It is rated PG-13 for "war action violence and some sexual content" and would be acceptable for kids around 11 and up.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, September 22, 2006. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
