By Zack Gill
Staff Writer
Nicholas Cage is a tremendously talented actor, taking on roles in projects as diverse as superhero film “Kickass” and psychodrama “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.”
However, Cage has perhaps the worst taste in roles of anyone currently working in the film industry, illustrated by his leading performance in the terrible “Drive Angry.”
A 3D film from director Patrick Lussier, “Drive Angry” attempts to provide laughs and cheap thrills typical of grindhouse cinema but continuously fails to do so. Boring performances, a terrible screenplay, and woefully uninventive action scenes destroy the film.
Nicholas Cage portrays John Milton, the titular angry driver, who escapes from Hell in order to stop cult leader Jonah King (Billy Burke) from sacrificing an infant granddaughter. He joins forces with disgruntled waitress Piper (Amber Heard) in his cross-country pursuit of the cult.
Things get increasingly complicated when the demonic Accountant (William Fichtner), an agent of Satan, begins to pursue Milton in order to bring him back to hell.
Action films like “Drive Angry” are meant to give audiences the ability to recount various action sequences, but they will be unable to do so immediately after the ending of “Drive Angry.” The generic explosions and violence will bore viewers.
Bland action is topped off with bland performances from every member of the cast and an incredibly poor script. “Drive Angry” sputters out exposition slowly and without grace; there are supposedly plot twists in the film, but any viewer over the age of five has figured them out long before they occur.
The film’s only saving grace is Fichtner’s performance as the hellish Accountant. While the rest of the cast seems somewhat subdued, Fichtner is bouncing off the walls. Fichtner steals every scene with hilarious line-readings and an ability to frighten the audience.
Considering the exorbitant prices of a 3D film, “Drive Angry” is a waste of money and time. The film is rated R and is playing in theatres nationwide in 2D and 3D.
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