"Hard Ticket to Hawaii" Movie Review

    Once again, the good people over at Mill Creek Entertainment were generous enough to provide me with review copies for the two Andy Sidaris films they are releasing on Blu-ray later this month.  The first film I chose to watch and review was “Hard Ticket to Hawaii”.

    To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t aware of this film before last year.  I happened to watch an old episode of Red Letter Media’s Best of the Worst YouTube video and “Hard Ticket to Hawaii” was one of the movies featured on that video.

    The film stars former Playboy Playmates Dona Speir and Hope Marie Carlton as roommates Donna and Taryn.  Donna and Taryn work for a secret agency when they accidentally stumble in the middle of a drug deal while transporting a deadly snake that happens to escape.

    I did some research on this film after watching it and a lot of film buffs rank this as one of the best and most iconic B movies of all time.  It is easy to see why, the movie is so bizarre and over the top that it is often ridiculous.  One problem with films like this is that they are best watched in a group where you and your friends can roast the movie as you watch it, when I review movies, I typically watch them by myself or with my girlfriend.  It’s not the same experience.

    Director Andy Sidaris was famous for his explotation films and “Hard Ticket to Hawaii” is perhaps one of his most famous (and shameless) pieces of work.  How do I describe how over the top this movie is?  Well there is a scene where the two female leads discuss their work topless and in a jacuzzi.  I mean, who doesn’t do detective work topless in a jacuzzi?

    There is also a scene in which the two lead actresses plug Sidaris’ other films including “Seven” and “Malibu Express” by discussing their movie posters.  Even in the 80s, who collected Andy Sidaris movie posters?  It’s one thing to reference your other work in Easter eggs or fun little nods, but this was on a whole other level.

    Should we even discuss the snake?  Well, the snake isn’t just any snake, it’s a mutant snake and basically only shows up when it is convenient to the plot.  The snake also looks hilariously fake.

    The film feels more like something out of a tv show of the era like “The A-Team” or “Miami Vice” than an actual feature film.  I think this may be in part due to the film’s over reliance on establishing shots.  The funny thing is some of those shots are actually very beautiful which is in contrast to the low budget nature of the rest of the film.

    How do I even rate this movie?  It is an iconic B movie and there is something to get out of it from it’s sheer corniness.  How do you rate something considered so bad it’s good knowing it is still bad yet you get entertainment from it?  I keep going around in circles on this movie and the rating I should give it.  So I decided to adjust my grading scale a little because it’s my blog and I can cheat like that.

Grade: D

(Although in a group of film buffs who enjoy B movies, I would grade this film a solid B which seems fitting for this B movie gem).

Buy “Hard Ticket to Hawaii” on Blu-ray Here!!!!

”The A-Team” Movie Review

    “The A-Team” was a film based on one of my favorite television shows as a kid.  It was a fun show and it clicked with audiences in the 1980s.  I remember having A-Team toys and Mr. T seemed like he was everywhere, he was even on cereal boxes!  The cultural impact of “The A-Team” can’t be ignored.

    The basic story of the movie tells the origins of The A-Team which was narrated over the opening credits of the television show.  A small group of soldiers were ordered to do an illegal mission, the mission backfired and then they were convicted of a crime they didn’t commit.  The soldiers promptly escaped and set out on a mission to clear their name.

    The cast is led by Liam Neeson who takes over the role of Hannibal, the leader of the team.  He looks the role and has a natural command over the audience so you believe he could be a Colonel.  Bradley Cooper portrays Lieutenant“Faceman” Peck.  For such a skilled actor, Cooper doesn’t do much to make the character feel layered.  “District 9” breakout Sharlto Copley gives the film’s most faithful performance as “Howling Mad” Murdock.  His unstable performance seems lifted straight out of the show.  As for B.A. Baracus, UFC fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson took over the role from Mr. T.  The problem with the character of B.A. Baracus is that Mr. T was so closely associated with the role that it’s hard to separate the actor from the character.  Jackson doesn’t have the screen presence Mr. T had.  Jackson also isn’t the best actor for a lead role.

  The modern setting is part of the problem with the movie in my opinion.  In a post Vietnam world of the 1980s, potentially living under the radar was more feasible. It was unrealistic that a group of ex-soldiers could survive as “soldiers of fortune” in the underground even back then. It is practically impossible nowadays.  The Vietnam War setting was also important because it acted as a sort of allegory to how all the veterans of that war felt.  They came home and felt out of place, accused of being criminals over a conflict they were forced to participate in.  Now, veterans are considered heroes, there is no draft, and generally speaking, there are a lot of good programs out there to help veterans out.  We live in a different world today partly because of Vietnam.

    The television show wisely skipped over the part depicting the team’s “crimes” because that isn’t, for the most part, what the show wanted to focus on.  It was a show about a group of misfits who help the helpless.  The movie should have followed suit.

Grade: C