Plane

Directed by Jean-François Richet, Plane follows a pilot (Gerard Butler’s Brodie Torrance) as he and his passengers find themselves caught in a warzone after his airliner is forced to make an emergency landing. It’s a decidedly larger-than-life premise that’s employed to progressively thrilling effect by Richet, although it’s worth noting that Plane, written by Charles Cumming and J. P. Davis, kicks off with a less-than-enthralling opening stretch that’s compounded by Brendan Galvin’s almost astonishingly low-rent visuals – which ensures that certain high-octane moments, including the first act’s dimly-lit plane crash, are hardly able to pack the exciting, visceral punch for which Richet is obviously striving. There’s little doubt, then, that Plane improves considerably as it progresses into its familiar yet entertaining midsection, as Richet does an effective job of peppering the narrative with a whole host of appealing attributes – with the watchable atmosphere heightened by a smattering of brutal action sequences and a commanding, charismatic performance by Butler. (Mike Colter’s tough-as-nails turn as a mysterious passenger is just as effective, ultimately, and his buddy-movie chemistry with Butler’s character remains a highlight.) By the time the gleefully over-the-top and thoroughly violent climax rolls around, Plane has cemented its place as a better-than-expected actioner that feels like a throwback to the similar-themed fare of the 1980s.

*** out of ****