Money Plane

Ambition is important in film making and it is always reassuring to see film-makers pushing as hard as they can against their budgets to produce something creative and dynamic. Unfortunately those behind Money Plane found themselves somewhat defeated by lack of funds. Their name actors including Kelsey Grammar, Denise Richards and Thomas Jane all look like they did a single day’s filming at individual locations. Like a number of Bruce Willis’ recent films the leads have their scenes spread across the movie but over relatively few scenes and single locations to make their involvement appear more extensive than it actually was. I would be very surprised if Denise Richards shot her role in more than a few hours. An art gallery exterior is clearly some kind of poorly maintained transport depot and its interior (and several others in the film) are standard rooms dressed up with a few drapes to obscure unwanted details. Much of the plot takes place inside a plane interior set which looks like one of those frequently rented interiors seen in many Hollywood lensed films and TV series of recent decades. That said the plot mechanics are reasonably well executed and there are some effective action sequences involving close-up fights in confined areas that bring to mind the editing style and effectiveness of the train compartment fight in From Russia With Love (1963). A strain of very dark humour also runs through the film, with the outcome of a Russian roulette game, a graphic description of one of the things the gamblers can bet on and a misunderstanding between villain and henchman as to intent being especially smile-inducing. Much of the acting is adequate if not exceptional and Kelsey Grammar in particular devolves into a shouting, self-declamatory approach when it is not really needed. Katrina Norman is especially good as one of the crew assembled to take down the Money Plane and is an actor I will look out for in the future. With a brisk running time of 82 minutes this mostly overcomes its budget limitations to be a fun and darkly comic action adventure. As an ambitious B-grade film I found it mostly very satisfying.

I actually quite liked the premiss here. "Reese" (Adam Copeland) is $40 million in the hole to Kelsey Grammer's "Grouch". To settle up he must plan and execute a daring robbery 35,000 feet up in the air. Their target? Well that is an aeroplane that is used as a luxury casino/brothel where those on board, beyond the reach of the law, can indulge themselves at will. Along with his pals "Isabella" (Katrina Norman) and "Paterson/McGullicuddy" (Patrick Lamont Jr.) they infiltrate this elite gang of thugs and hoodlums (and bad actors) and attempt to beam all of their funds to their pal "Iggy" (Andrew Lawrence) waiting on the ground with an upturned dustbin lid pointing at the plane. Regrettably, I just couldn't quite place the "Concierge" - and that occupied my brain far more than any of the banal dialogue, repetitive and pretty preposterous fight scenes and the shockingly poor performance from the always massively over-rated Grammer - about as intimidating as yesterday's milk. Then it hit me - "Melissa & Joey" - that is were I had seen him! One of those daytime, wallpaper, "comedy" series. Phew, I was out of my misery - and just as director Andrew Lawrence decided to do the same for everyone else. If only the ending had happened nearer the start of this derivative and poorly constructed affair. I wouldn't bother if I were you...