But still a fun watch. "Stealth" is, in spite of its completely predictable plot and below average performances, a fun watch whose special effects and fast paced airborne sequences keep your attention. Granted, it takes awhile for those to get going, but once they do
wow is it something to see. Not in "Top Gun" territory, but plenty to please the eye.
Plot line is this, given the rapid fire changes involved in the war on terror, the US Navy begins a top secret program involving new fighter jets and the 3 best pilots (Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx) available. After their last successful training mission, they and their superplanes are sent to a carrier assignment for extra training with their new wingman. This wingman is a computer controlled fighter plane known as EDI. Able to learn from watching human actions, EDI becomes self-aware after a lightning strike and makes the next mission a nightmare when he disobeys orders and completes a risky mission. Then, he studies his files and goes on a mission that could start World War III. Of course, naturally, there's a sleazy officer looking to cover his own tail and it's up to our three heroes to recover the renegade drone.
Hadn't heard of Josh Lucas prior to this, but if this is indicative of his work, I haven't missed much. His Lt. Ben Gannon is way too arrogant for his own good, and in all truths, his actions would get him grounded and likely court-martialed in the real life US Navy. I'm really tired of the pretty boy, two days growth of beard, follow the orders I want to follow US Navy pilots we see in films of this nature. I realize that it makes a more interesting story, and Navy pilots are among the most arrogant in society, but I'd kill to see a realistic portrayal of our Navy fliers. Jamie Foxx isn't any better, following up a masterstroke performance in "Ray" with a pilot character that makes Gannon seem downright tame. Jessica Biel, while an amazingly beautiful woman and a reasonably talented actress, mails this one in as well ..Lt. Kara Wade just never engrosses me and she's given a lame romantic subplot to deal with. Not that there's any subtlety in that plot, as you see it plainly as soon as they try to introduce it.
Other performances include a pretty decent turn by Sam Shepard as Capt. George Cummings, designer of the squadron and planes, he's got a lot riding on it's success and will do anything to ensure it happens. Joe Morton chimes in as Capt. Dick Marshfield, the commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72..shown correctly at first, but in a later bow shot, magically becomes the USS Carl Vinson, CVN 70) who has to deal with the ramifications caused by these planes. Shepard has the best character in this one, and handles it well.
"Stealth" is a fun way to kill two hours, the aerial sequences are great and the special effects are outstanding. You never care too much about the characters, story or events in spite of the lame and obvious plot twist that leads into the last third of the film, and that's before the second lame and obvious plot twist that leads into the close, but as long as you don't look too deep below the surface, and know what you're walking into, "Stealth" is a fun diversion.
2 ½ out of 5
Plot line is this, given the rapid fire changes involved in the war on terror, the US Navy begins a top secret program involving new fighter jets and the 3 best pilots (Josh Lucas, Jessica Biel and Jamie Foxx) available. After their last successful training mission, they and their superplanes are sent to a carrier assignment for extra training with their new wingman. This wingman is a computer controlled fighter plane known as EDI. Able to learn from watching human actions, EDI becomes self-aware after a lightning strike and makes the next mission a nightmare when he disobeys orders and completes a risky mission. Then, he studies his files and goes on a mission that could start World War III. Of course, naturally, there's a sleazy officer looking to cover his own tail and it's up to our three heroes to recover the renegade drone.
Hadn't heard of Josh Lucas prior to this, but if this is indicative of his work, I haven't missed much. His Lt. Ben Gannon is way too arrogant for his own good, and in all truths, his actions would get him grounded and likely court-martialed in the real life US Navy. I'm really tired of the pretty boy, two days growth of beard, follow the orders I want to follow US Navy pilots we see in films of this nature. I realize that it makes a more interesting story, and Navy pilots are among the most arrogant in society, but I'd kill to see a realistic portrayal of our Navy fliers. Jamie Foxx isn't any better, following up a masterstroke performance in "Ray" with a pilot character that makes Gannon seem downright tame. Jessica Biel, while an amazingly beautiful woman and a reasonably talented actress, mails this one in as well ..Lt. Kara Wade just never engrosses me and she's given a lame romantic subplot to deal with. Not that there's any subtlety in that plot, as you see it plainly as soon as they try to introduce it.
Other performances include a pretty decent turn by Sam Shepard as Capt. George Cummings, designer of the squadron and planes, he's got a lot riding on it's success and will do anything to ensure it happens. Joe Morton chimes in as Capt. Dick Marshfield, the commanding officer of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72..shown correctly at first, but in a later bow shot, magically becomes the USS Carl Vinson, CVN 70) who has to deal with the ramifications caused by these planes. Shepard has the best character in this one, and handles it well.
"Stealth" is a fun way to kill two hours, the aerial sequences are great and the special effects are outstanding. You never care too much about the characters, story or events in spite of the lame and obvious plot twist that leads into the last third of the film, and that's before the second lame and obvious plot twist that leads into the close, but as long as you don't look too deep below the surface, and know what you're walking into, "Stealth" is a fun diversion.
2 ½ out of 5