HOT SHOTS
A film review by Ken Johnson
Copyright 1991 Ken Johnson
[The names on the From:- and by-lines are correct; this is by a family member of the account owner. -Moderator]
90 min, PG-13, Comedy, 1991 Director: Jim Abrahams Cast: Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, Jon Cryer, Lloyd Bridges, Kristy Swanson, Bruce A. Young
Synopsis: Hot-shot Sheen was kicked out of the Air Force when he endangered another recruit. The Air Force goes to the Indian reservation he is now living at to ask him to come back. On his way back to the Air Force base he sees Golino. He falls in love with her but she is currently seeing another man in the Air Force. Sheen makes it to the Air Force base where personnel are being briefed on the next assignment. Some of the men want Sheen taken off the mission because he is a hot shot. An evil organization wants to keep Sheen on the mission to make the Air Force look bad. Sheen tries to win over Golino in his spare time.
The film is rated PG-13 for explicit language, adult situations, violence, and adult humor.
Sorry it took so long to get this film review out. I saw HOT SHOTS on its opening night and I have not had time since then to do the review on it. I recommend running out to the theater to see it, while it is still there, if you liked THE NAKED GUN 2-1/2 as it is much in the same style. This was written by Jim Abrahams and Pat Proft (who wrote for the "Police Squad!" television series). The director, Abrahams, has also done the slapstick films AIRPLANE! and TOP SECRET!. If you liked either of these films I recommend seeing this film. This is unlike Abrahams' more recent comedies like WELCOME HOME ROXY CARMICHAEL and BIG BUSINESS. I give this film a four on a zero to five scale.
In short, go see the film in the theater, or if you miss it in the theater be sure not to miss it on video.
Most of the scenes shown in the advertisements for the movie happen during the credits (e.g., the man roasting his hot dog in the jet's after-burner). In the next ninety minutes the jokes come one after another. Lloyd Bridges (who was also in AIRPLANE! and the not as good sequel AIRPLANE 2: THE SEQUEL) plays the commander of the mission. As we find out by the end of the film (and had probably guessed earlier) Bridges has had most of his body replaced with metal, from accidents in the war, which leads to 1/3 of the jokes. Some of these may start to wear on you though. Half of the comedy in the film is based on Charlie Sheen and Cary Elwes both fighting over Valeria Golino. Sheen and Golino have what may be the most interesting sex scene in movie history, the two of them and an array of vegetables.
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