BIRD ON A WIRE

US, 1990, 105 minutes, Colour.
Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, David Carradine, Bill Duke.
Directed by John Badham.

Bird on a Wire is a comic thriller directed by John Badham (Saturday Night Fever, Blue Thunder, War Games). He showed his abilities with this kind of action adventure in the enjoyable Stakeout. However, while this film is glossy and full of chases and special effects, the story is quite slight.

It is a film for the fans of Mel Gibson (in his Lethal Weapon style) and Goldie Hawn (in her old-style giggling comedy). David Carradine is a nasty villain.

The film focuses on a man caught up in the witness protection scheme who is exposed by corrupt FBI agents and is pursued for his life - with his former girlfriend whom he has met by accident. The film has many colourful American locations - and a touch of nostalgia for the 60s with the title song and echoes from musicals like Hair.

1. Entertaining comedy thriller? The tradition of the chase, comic thriller? The duo on the run?

2. The range of American locations, Panavision photography? A colourful film? The zoo and the spectacular finale? Special effects and stunt work cars, aerial photography? The musical score and songs?

3. The title, its references, the original song? The 60s and Hair? The hopes for the Age of Aquarius - dashed? Memories of the 60s, nostalgia, youthfulness, the Vietnam War, drugs, police corruption? The 70s and the 80s?

4. The introduction to Sorenson, his emerging from prison during the credits, dirty feet, long hair, criminal? The irony that he was a policeman? Diggs meeting him? Tough, the experience of prison, revenge? The link with the FBI agents? Drug lords? The information, the request to kill Rick? The chase, the threat at the service station, the killing, the burning? Their appearing at the hotel, the pursuit, their agents in helicopters? At the zoo? The style of the flashbacks, the drug activity, the plane, the shooting? Callous?

5. The introduction to Marianne; Goldie Hawn's glamour and comic style? The lunch meeting, her behaviour, erratic, bringing Paul? The business meeting? Detroit, getting the gas, seeing Rick, questioning him, going back, the binoculars, the attempt on his life? Her becoming involved, questioning him, the car pursuit? In the hotel? The danger in the hotel, the pursuit, up above the buildings? Listening to his story? The car and the pursuit, the police, driving, screaming, in the tunnel, the train? On the boat and relaxed? The hundred dollars to the beggar? Sparring with Rick, learning his story? Her memories of their relationship, hopes? Meeting the hairdressers and her laughter, the bank and the pursuit, going on the bike? Going to see Rachel, the animals, her jealousy? The helicopter and the pursuit? Landing, Rick carrying her, weary, the motel and the cockroach, the reconciliation in the motel? The truck, going to the old FBI agent, the zoo, the pursuit, the lights flashing, the action adventure and the dangers, the proposal and the happy ending?

6. Rick and his background, the practical joker, the encounter with Marianne, calling the FBI, his file being destroyed, the shootout, the escape, reconciliation with Marianne, the hotel, his being shot? His story of the past, friendship, the drugs, the plane, Mexico, the encounter with Sorenson and Diggs? The arrest, prison, her marriage? The scheme and his being concealed, the range of identities? The car chase, the tunnel, the boat, thinking that she was spoilt, giving a hundred dollars away? The meeting, the hairdressers again, the bank, taking the money, giving it back to the hairdresser? Going to visit Rachel, the buckshot being removed, the relationship and her proposal? The helicopter, the derring-do, the landing, carrying Marianne, the motel? Trying to find the FBI agent, going back to the zoo, controlling the chase, the fights, the proposal, a future?

7. The FBI agent and his double dealing, the computer, getting the information from Paul, participating in the shootout? Sorenson and Diggs as his associates?

8. Rachel, friendship with Rick, tough, the animals, her equipment, the proposal, shooting and helping him get away?

9. Paul and his relationship with Marianne, concern, the phone call and the FBI agent?

10. The old FBI agent, his loss of memory, his sister, helping them to the zoo?

11. The camp comedy with the hairdressers and their reaction to Rick, campy style, the money and the destruction of the door?

12. In the tradition of the romantic chase films - and paying homage to such films as Hitchcock's Thirty-Nine? Steps, North By Northwest?