“Escape
from L.A.” has to be joke. Whether it’s on or with the audience, I
cannot say for sure. John Carpenter’s sequel to the 1981 cult hit “Escape
from New York” marks the riotously silly return of monosyllabic, one-eyed, not
very bright, but ass-kicker king Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell, who also co-wrote
the film) as he’s again dropped into a future hellhole American city with another
do-or-die mission. The special effects range from mildly ugly to unfit for a
film school entry and the music score is torture. Carpenter and Russell,
though, take grinning digs at Los Angeles life, plastic surgeries as “House of
Wax” horror, and –- best of all -- create a political satire more relevant even
now. This America is in 2013, with a Jesus freak Virginian as president bent on exiling
all “sinners,” with the White House in Lynchburg, home of the wrongly named Liberty
University. Ken Cuccinelli could be this prez, if he’s ever given the chance. Don’t
fret, righties. Lefties get the pole with a Che Guevara knock-off. Both
sides, screwed raw in the back. Nice. The action is knowingly laughable, with
Pam Grier as a *man* who can fly. Sort of. B-
Monday, August 5, 2013
Escape from L.A. (1996)
Labels:
1996,
2013,
action,
Che Guevara,
comedy,
Escape from L.A.,
John Carpenter,
Ken Cuccinelli,
Kurt Russell,
Los Angeles,
Pam Grier,
political,
satire,
sequel,
Snake Plissken
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