Snakes on a Plane (2006) Review

 "I have had it with these motherfuckin' snakes on this motherfuckin' plane!"

-Neville Flynn


Sean Jones (Nathan Phillips) witnesses a brutal murder and is put on a plane from Hawaii to Los Angeles to testify against the crime lord responsible.  Unfortunately, the crime lord puts a bunch of venomous snakes on the plane to kill Sean and anyone else who gets in the way.  It's up to FBI Agent Neville Flynn (Samuel L. Jackson) to save Sean and everyone else on board.


What Works:

I have to start with the title and premise for this movie.  It's brilliant.  It's exactly what it promises to be.  This is a B-movie plot with an A-movie budget and I'm here for it.  This is an incredibly fun and ridiculous film that knows exactly what it is.

One thing I really appreciate about the film is how competent the characters are.  As soon as they realize there are snakes on the plane, nearly the entire cast works together to make smart and proactive decisions to deal with the threat.  I love it.  Competent characters in survival movies are very important to me and it makes the movie even more fun to watch.

Samuel L. Jackson is great here and is easily the best part of the film.  I know he got a lot of flack for being in this movie, but he said he signed on because this is the type of movie he liked when he was a kid.  That's awesome!  I love that attitude and it seems like he's having a blast throughout the film.

The massive snake attack on the cabin was awesome.  I really wasn't expecting the movie to go so hard, so fast.  We get a large body count pretty quickly.  It's an intense sequence and really makes you feel like no one is safe.

Finally, I love how they have to rely on Kenan Thompson to fly the plane in the 3rd act.  That's just hilarious and Thompson is great in the spotlight.  He was the last person I expected to be the hero and that makes this movie all the better.


What Sucks:

The CGI is bad.  And I mean real bad.  It's embarrassing at points.  It would have been cool to have more practical effects.

Finally, some of the humor hasn't aged well.  There are some sexist jokes and gay jokes that definitely let you know this movie was made in 2006, which isn't exactly a bright spot in terms of comedy.


Verdict:

Snakes on a Plane is a blast from beginning to end.  It has great pacing, a lot of fun moments, and an excellent performance from Samuel L. Jackson.  Some of the jokes and CGI haven't aged well, but this is a movie that knows exactly what it is and owns it.  Without a doubt, it has definitely got it going on.

 8/10: Really Good 

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