movie reviews for plane

“Plane” is the case of an action movie in which the dumb title—the most memorable thing about it—isn’t an artistic statement, it’s an alibi. If it can convince you that it’s so simple, suddenly all of its laziness with character development, plotting, action sequences, etc., seems quaint, if not knowing. Add the pitch of Gerard Butler on a self-rescue mission, saving his flight passengers and crew from angry Filipino militants after a crash landing, and the expectations lower themselves.

This rickety vehicle is produced by Butler, who seems to make these movies to avoid wearing superhero spandex or having to hurl himself off a cliff like Tom Cruise . He’s fared better as a last action hero of a certain type of movie, and the biggest problem with “Plane” throughout is that it isn’t wilder; it does not revel appropriately enough in its open dumbness. For its junky concept that eventually embraces ’80s action storytelling firmer than a handshake in “ Predator ,” there are so many missed moments in which director Jean-François Richet attempts to get a free genre pass isn’t so much as coasting but rushing to get itself over with.

Things are looking up for “Plane” when it’s gearing up for a big crash. Our main hero—Plane—is struck by lightning in a large spat of brutal weather, knocking out its power and dooming it to an unforeseen landing. With more of an air of “I can’t believe this bad service,” the 14 passengers on board start to freak out progressively; things become even direr when someone thinks they can outwit seatbelts. The sequence is cut with a punchy, glad-you-aren’t-there intensity, and a couple of illustrative stunts—nasty things involving heads and neck trauma—make a firm point not to test gravity. Butler’s pilot Brodie Torrance, who kicked off the flight with some Southwest Airlines-grade jokes over the intercom, executes some macho maneuvering and has his co-pilot Samuel ( Yoson An ) clock the ten minutes they have before they eventually crash land on a remote island in the Philippines.

During this tumultuous descent, it’s mighty strange when “Plane” shows a closeup of a drafted text message but not long enough for us to read whatever it says. But that’s more of a hint that no characters have any important point to this story, aside, maybe, from a captured fugitive named Louis Gaspare ( Mike Colter ), who is handcuffed to an officer at the back of the plane. His history of committing homicide comes later in handy when the flight lands in progressively hostile territory. Brodie, with his history in the RAF and a gun secretly in his pants, brings him along the mysterious terrain to find help. Butler and Colter proceed to fend off plainly bad guys, with little chemistry between them in the process.

Everything shifts for them when, after making a communications breakthrough at a shady warehouse (bullets on the floor, not a great sign), a bad guy sneaks up from behind and tries to kill Brodie. The scuffle that ensues is impressive, with the camera mostly holding on Butler’s face as he wrestles with this bigger dude in tight quarters. But nothing is as exciting or long-lasting from here on out, even when Richet tries to heighten the danger with merciless militia men who roll up and kidnap Brodie’s passengers and crew. “Plane” rushes through its emotional and explosive beats so that it can get to the next crisis without having to fill out the previous one, and it wildly skims on the good stuff in the process. Hostage situations are quickly fixed, dull gunfire exchanges are executed as if they were shot on different days, and even Colter’s stiff, quiet killer only has his silence to make his stiffness remotely interesting as he doesn’t get much of an arc despite the ominous promise at the beginning. It’s just a bunch of action filmmaking gruel, presenting the jungle terrain with a color tint that matches the dank sweat on Butler’s t-shirt.

The biggest scene-stealer, really, is Gun, a quite large rifle brought by some airline-hired American black ops dudes who later appear, and which can fire bullets that rocket through car doors and exploding rib cages. Gun has a sounder dramatic arc than any other heroes in this assortment of action figurines and scowling cardboard cutouts and at least provides gory over-the-top violence like “Rambo” (2008), given the film’s sleazy evolution. (My preview audience audibly adored Gun more than everything and everyone else in “Plane.”) Everyone else on-screen, from Butler’s simply exhausted pilot to Colter’s fugitive-maybe-looking for redemption to the super-scowling Filipino militia leader named Junmar ( Evan Dane Taylor ), is treated with such little sincerity by the script that you almost start to feel bad for them.

Meanwhile, at Trailblazer Air headquarters back in New York City, the film props up its message that airline companies, not just their pilots, are ready to go to war for you. A group of people sits around a U-shape table with ominous lighting. The airline’s CEO, Hampton ( Paul Ben-Victor ), uses his list of contacts trying to locate and then protect the passengers, including those American guys who come with their own equipment. A no-BS PR hotshot named Scarsdale, played by Tony Goldwyn , has all the answers and plenty of ‘tude, too, like when he barks, “If you have New Year’s Eve Plans, I just canceled them.” It’s telling how these scenes are filmed with the same feeling of a board room in one of Butler’s “ Olympus Has Fallen ” movies. Like the other bits of wonky heroism in the disappointing vacation that is “Plane,” it makes for an exaggerated joke with no punchline.

Now playing in theaters .

Nick Allen is the former Senior Editor at RogerEbert.com and a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

Gerard Butler as Brodie Torrance
Mike Colter as Louis Gaspare
Yoson An as Dele
Tony Goldwyn as Scarsdale
Daniella Pineda as Bonnie
Paul Ben-Victor as Hampton
Remi Adeleke as Shellback
Joey Slotnick as Sinclair
Evan Dane Taylor as Junmar
Claro de los Reyes as Hajan
Haleigh Hekking as Daniela Torrance

Cinematographer

Brendan Galvin

Writer (story by)

Charles Cumming
David Rosenbloom
Jean-François Richet
Marco Beltrami
Marcus Trumpp

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Plane Reviews

But those who are willing to overlook these missteps in favour of the themes on redemption and perseverance, as well as the confident filmmaking on display, will find themselves greatly rewarded by the film.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 16, 2024

It’s just a solid throwback action thriller that feels like a relic from a bygone era, for all its flaws.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jul 12, 2024

"Plane" doesn't look like much in its trailers, but the film manages to be a decent popcorn thriller.

Full Review | Jul 25, 2023

Butler + Plane = Awesome

Plane is a straightforward movie with very few twists to offer, but the trick to making it engaging lies in its execution. Richet hasn’t made a ton of features, but he’s been in the game long enough to carry out a firm-handed and well-paced effort.

Nobody’s going to declare Plane a classic, but between Richet’s visual acumen and Butler doing admirable diligence to a character who’s in over his head... it’s an enjoyable, fast-paced and surprisingly engaging diversion.

Full Review | Jul 12, 2023

Plane is predictable, and its production values are serviceable, but Gerard Butler is comfortably entertaining from beginning to end.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Jun 5, 2023

Plane offers a sometimes breathless, white-knuckle ride that should particularly appeal to those raised on mid-’90s actioners like Con Air, Air Force One and Sudden Death.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | May 24, 2023

This is pure popcorn entertainment that delivers on nasty-minded action and heroic temperaments that won’t insult your brain cells when you opt to cheer on the unfolding physicality.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 18, 2023

A big part of the fun of Plane - and Plane is a lot of fun - is the way it rapidly cycles through genres fast enough to touch on all the good stuff without ever making it too obvious that we've seen it all before.

Full Review | May 17, 2023

The plot is hardly innovative -- and some of its more outlandish elements really stretch credibility -- but this is still a gripping enough thriller, boosted by the entertaining lead performances.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 18, 2023

Overlook the forced sentimentality and Plane manages to be a taut thriller with a balance of action, blood, shooting, and heroics that seem plausible. You won’t feel silly cheering or cringing and the popcorn will sit satisfied in your belly.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Mar 18, 2023

Solid and enjoyable filmmaking that knows its limits. No overflowing passenger lists, no shoehorned subplots, it does exactly what it says on the tin, and then some. Truly, "redemption can be found in the most unusual places."

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 18, 2023

…Plane is a straight-up, no-nonsense, gritty action flick that delivers plentiful thrills and spills…

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 13, 2023

Gerard Butler has that Nicolas Cage thing of not phoning in a performance, he's so magnetic in these movies.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Feb 24, 2023

If you like well-made action flicks that don’t need a sequel setup, it’s money well spent. Butler knows what he's doing, and Colter excels in a role with a few layers.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Feb 19, 2023

It's a dumb but entertaining film.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Feb 14, 2023

A film that will be remembered as "that plane movie with Gerard Butler". [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Feb 14, 2023

Plane does not reinvent the wheel but does land an action-movie punch.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 13, 2023

Plane is a film that is an experience to behold in cinemas, and an entertaining one at that.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Feb 10, 2023

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‘Plane’ Review: A High-Flying Action Movie as Sturdy as Its Star, Gerard Butler

He plays a pilot forced to make an emergency landing, at which point the trouble really starts.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

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PLANE, from left: Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, 2023. ph: Kenneth Rexach / Lionsgate / courtesy Everett Collection

Ever since the ’80s, action films have been overwhelmingly basic in concept, execution, and title. So when you hear that the new Gerard Butler film is called “Plane,” you’d be forgiven for thinking that you can run the entire movie through your head in the blink of an eye. Gerard Butler on a plane (check). He’s probably the pilot (check). There’s probably a criminal onboard (check). The film will be a low-flying, B-grade “Air Force One,” with Butler’s windpipe-smashing grizzled lug saving the day in the same way that Harrison Ford’s heroically resourceful chief executive did.

Actually, no.

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But wouldn’t you know it, he spots land. An island of jungle terrain with a road snaking right through the middle of it. How convenient! Putting on his Sully Sullenberger cap, Brodie is able to make an emergency landing, using the road as a makeshift runway and stranding the shorted-out plane and its 14 passengers on what turns out to be Jolo, a remote island in the Philippines controlled by a ragtag militia of separatist renegades.

Butler is 53 now, and his hardass Scottish valor is aging like fine wine — or, at least, pretty good ale. He has a warm and fuzzy side, which comes out in Brodie’s phone chats with his collegiate daughter, Daniela (Haleigh Hekking), who he was supposed to rendezvous with after the flight. He makes contact with her again in one of the film’s best scenes, set in an abandoned communications hut in the middle of the jungle, where Brodie, in just a few minutes, is able to rewire the phone line, so that he can place a call to Trailblazer Airlines. A war room of corporate troubleshooters, led by a former Special Forces officer played by Tony Goldwyn (who’s like Ryan Seacrest’s sinewy sibling), is standing by, trying to pinpoint the vanished plane’s location. But Brodie, in a distressingly funny scene, gets hooked up to an annoying 21st-century company operator who won’t cooperate with him. (She thinks he’s a prank caller.) So he’s forced to call Daniela.

Even when the Trailblazer folks figure out where the plane is, they can’t just swoop in for the rescue. The Philippines government won’t cooperate; only mercenaries will go in there. Which means that Brodie essentially has to fight the rebels by himself, though he does deputize a partner: Louis, the killer in handcuffs, played by the charismatic Mike Colter, who makes this bruiser a wronged man who nevertheless keeps you guessing. The rest of the passengers cower and bicker — or, in the case of the arrogant businessman Sinclair (Joey Slotnick), bark out orders until the rebels, led by Dele (Yoson An), the short-fused commander who’s like a penny-ante Che Guevara, reduce him to wimpy subservience. They need ransom money to fund their war, a plan that Brodie undercuts with fists, machine guns, surgical espionage timing and extreme piloting skills. “Plane” is fodder, but the picture brazens through its own implausibilities, carried along — and occasionally aloft — by Gerard Butler’s squinty dynamo resolve.

Reviewed at the Park Avenue Screening Room, Jan. 6, 2023. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 107 MIN.

Production: A Lionsgate release of a MadRiver Pictures, Olive Hill Media, Di Bonaventura Pictures, G-BASE Film Productions production. Producers: Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Mark Vahradian, Marc Butan, Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel, Jason Constantine, Eda Kowan, Luillo Ruiz. Executive producers: Alastair Burlingham, Michael Cho, J.P. Davis, Vicki Dee Rock, Edward Fee, Tim Lee, Osita O, Gary Raskin.
Crew: Director: Jean-François Richet. Screenplay: Charles Cumming, J.P. Davis. Camera: Brendan Galvin. Editor: David Rosenbloom. Music: Marco Beltrami, Marcus Trumpp.
With: Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Yoson An, Evan Dane Taylor, Tony Goldwyn, Daniella Pineda, Paul Ben-Victor, Joey Slotnik.

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Plane (2023)

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‘Plane’ Review: Flight, Camera, Action

In this thriller, Gerard Butler and Mike Colter have to avoid a hostage situation and deliver a plane full of passengers to safety.

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Two men hold guns and crouch low to the ground.

By Glenn Kenny

Jesters on social media have already begun chortling about this movie’s minimalist title. Where did the snakes go ?

The movie’s basic designation is not without precedent. Some of you may remember “Airport” and its several sequels. Most of those movies spent the majority of their time in the air rather than in the terminal, so maybe it figures that most of the action in this thriller, directed by Jean-François Richet and starring Gerard Butler and Mike Colter (“Luke Cage”), is set on the ground.

The twist is that this ground is unsafe in a way that a boarding gate rarely is. Butler plays Brodie, a pilot whose Singapore-to-Tokyo flight — after which he is to reunite with his beloved daughter, because of course — is downed by violent weather. With his co-pilot and fellow family man Dele (Yoson An), Brodie manages a landing on an unidentified island run by “separatists and militias,” whose leader, Junmar (Evan Dane Taylor), has the nasty habit of ransoming, and sometimes killing, hostages. Brodie, determined to deliver his passengers to safety, powers through the jungle in search of a way to communicate with home.

If you guessed that the handcuffed convict who’s part of the flight’s manifest is actually a not-wholly-bad guy looking for a shot at redemption, go to the head of the class. Playing that part, Colter makes a good match with the stalwart Butler. Half a world away, Tony Goldwyn clenches his jaw in a kitted-out corporate conference room as the only honest crisis manager in the airline biz.

This is a pacey item that can be recommended on the grounds that it’s a January release that’s not even close to awful. “Plane” sinks (or rises, depending on your perspective) to “hell yeah” ridiculousness only at the end, delivering a punchline that lands at the right time.

Plane Rated R for bloody violence and language. Running time: 1 hour 47 minutes. In theaters.

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‘plane’ review: gerard butler genre pic gets the job done.

Mike Colter co-stars in this action thriller about an airline pilot desperately trying to protect his passengers from violent militants after a crash landing.

By Frank Scheck

Frank Scheck

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It’s a wonder that Gerard Butler is able to purchase any insurance. After all, bad things seem to happen to him, or at least his screen persona, all the time. Whether he’s playing a Secret Service agent or an Everyman, Butler can’t seem to avoid getting in more tight spots than anyone since Bruce Willis’ John McClane. In his newest film, Plane , Butler plays an airline pilot, so you can rest assured that his flight is not going to go smoothly.

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Plane nails three things: planes, kicking ass, and planes

Gerard Butler’s still got it, baby

by Joshua Rivera

Mike Colter and Gerard Butler crouch in the jungle with assault rifles at the ready in the movie Plane

The folks involved with the new action movie Plane , starring Gerard Butler and Mike Colter , are very proud of the plane. Butler claimed in a recent interview that he fought to keep the title — which, in the handful of times I’ve seen the trailer in theaters, universally elicits laughter — and even called the titular transport “the star of the film.”

Naturally, that sounds ridiculous. Watch the movie, though, and one might start to believe him: The first 20 minutes are full of plane minutiae, like preflight checks, flight attendant rituals, crew small talk, annoying passengers, and lots of accurate-sounding radio chatter. It’s the Chef’s Table of plane movies, until it turns into the Rio Bravo of plane movies.

Like an actual commercial aircraft, Plane does not look like much, but it’s also wildly efficient. Butler plays Brodie Torrance, a longtime pilot for the fictional Trailblazer Airways, knocking out one last New Year’s Eve flight before making his way to see his daughter for an overdue visit. Unfortunately, his lightly attended flight encounters two complications: Louis Gaspare ( Evil ’s Colter ), an accused murderer being extradited by the FBI, and a severe storm that forces Brodie to crash-land on a remote island near the Philippines run by a ruthless warlord. When said warlord discovers the plane, he takes the passengers hostage, missing only Brodie and Louis. The movie unfolds from there with a simple mission: Get the passengers out, get them back on the plane, and figure out a way to get it back in the air and to safety again.

Gerard Butler stands with his hands on his hips in his pilot’s uniform with a bloodied collar, with flight crew on each side in the movie Plane.

Once Plane reaches cruising altitude (not sorry), the most surprising thing about it is its straight-faced execution. Neither overly serious nor entirely humorless, Plane is a movie that adores competence, where the heroes are consummate professionals and the people who get in their way are either terrorists or idiots, or worse, government idiots. This is beautifully summed up in a subplot where Trailblazer executives go into crisis mode in order to address the missing aircraft, a meeting that is effectively overtaken by corporate fixer Scarsdale (Tony Goldwyn). The third hero of Plane , Scarsdale does not have patience for governments or corporate face-saving, giving the film much of both its humor and its action — the former by steamrolling the suits in the room, the latter by hiring a crew of private military operatives to help extract the passengers.

None of this detracts from Butler and Colter as the brawny action heroes upon whose shoulders Plane rests. Both actors are deft enough to make their characters feel like vulnerable flesh and blood — Butler as the world-weary and desperate idealist, and Colter as the wrongfully accused and highly skilled pragmatist. Their dynamic is fun without being funny, as Brodie is forced to trust Louis out of necessity, and Louis has every reason to ditch Brodie but recognizes that their odds of survival are better together. Mirroring the real-life actors portraying them, the two feel like underappreciated pros paired together by chance, neither waiting for nor expecting recognition yet committed to the art of ass-kicking. Director Jean-François Richet brings confidence to the cockpit (OK, sorry), guiding Plane with a steady hand. The movie’s drama efficiently ratchets up the tension for its action to hit hard and move on. Again: Like an actual plane, it’s a marvel of craftsmanship so unobtrusive that it’s easily mistaken for mundanity.

I would watch Brodie Torrance and Louis Gaspare save a new vehicle together every year, especially if it’s a movie that has a final-act shootout as good as Plane ’s, where they’re covered by a video game-ass sniper laying waste to generic terrorists with a fucking huge gun. If Plane was this good, sign me up for Boat .

Plane is now playing in theaters.

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Review: In ‘Plane,’ action star Gerard Butler once again sticks the landing

Two men holding weapons and squatting in the movie "Plane."

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The villains of the 2022 holiday season were the airlines, so it’s an apt moment for the Gerard Butler action vehicle “Plane” to take flight. The film’s inciting incident involves a cost-cutting safety checker at Trailblazer Airlines insisting that Captain Brodie Torrance (Butler) pilot through a storm instead of around it in order to save fuel during a New Year’s flight from Singapore to Tokyo. Of course, since this is a Gerard Butler action film, the passengers on Trailblazer Flight 119 don’t end up stranded for days in an airport but rather fighting for their lives on a remote island in the Philippines ruled by a separatist militia whose primary source of income is hostages.

Not to worry though, because Butler’s Brodie isn’t your average airline pilot — he’s an airline pilot who can kill bad guys with his bare hands. Plus, he has backup in the form of Mike Colter, and the two actors make a fine, fun and appealingly masculine pair in “Plane.”

Consider this meet-cute: Brodie Torrance is a widowed former Royal Air Force pilot stuck flying long-haul budget flights thanks to a viral video in which he put down an unruly passenger with a chokehold (his signature move, as we’ll come to find out). Louis Gaspare (Colter) is a convicted murderer who has been on the lam for 15 years, now being extradited from Bali to the United States. When Louis ends up on Brodie’s flight, sparks fly (from machine gun fire) as they battle the aforementioned separatist militia to save the passengers and get Brodie back to his daughter (Haleigh Hekking) in Hawaii.

Jean-François Richet’s “Plane” is as efficient, economical and effective as its title, which is a good one, actually — clear, descriptive, communicates what the film is about. The characterization in the screenplay by Charles Cumming and J.P. Davis is lean to the point of scanty, but we’re given just enough to suffice, and any more would be overkill.

Much like the aircraft itself for the majority of “Plane,” this taut thriller remains grounded and gritty, and once we’re on land, Puerto Rico — subbing for the Philippines — offers a sense of texture and realism to the humid setting. Richet methodically strings the tension, alternating with bursts of chaotic violence, showing us that Brodie is capable of both method and madness. Sometimes it’s a carefully orchestrated and silent extraction of hostages; sometimes it’s a brutal, bruising brawl as Brodie wrestles an assailant into submission, captured in a single handheld take. Butler’s fighting style is similar to the film’s: brawny, unshowy, effectual and explosive only when necessary.

Far away from the steamy Filipino jungles, we see the inner workings of the Trailblazer war room, headed up by Tony Goldwyn in full hambone mode as crisis manager David Scarsdale, bossing around the top exec (Paul Ben-Victor) and calling in the mercenaries. With Butler’s stoic heroism, plus the behind-the-scenes corporate jockeying, “Plane” feels like the action-thriller version of “Sully” with a nod toward Tobias Lindholm’s “A Hijacking,” but without the bleak condemnation of a corporate culture that negotiates the price of human lives.

The villains on the ground are a group of bloodthirsty rebels with great hair, and the leader, Junmar (Evan Dane Taylor), is so cool you almost want to root for him (considering they crashed onto his island), but there is, of course, the murdering of innocent hostages. However, don’t expect any political nuance or social commentary out of “Plane.” If you go into it expecting nothing more than to enjoy watching a sweaty Butler manhandle some bad guys while Colter manhandles him, you’ll be more than satisfied with the ride “Plane” offers — a well-executed hunk of pulpy entertainment.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

Rated: R, for violence and language Running time: 1 hour, 47 minutes Playing: Starts Jan. 13 in general release

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‘Plane’ Review: A Fun, Sturdy, and Violent Gerard Butler Vehicle

David ehrlich.

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As sturdy, weathered, and no-frills as the Reagan-era passenger jet that lends this January-ass film its poetically blunt title, Jean-François Richet’s “ Plane ” becomes the most airworthy Gerard Butler vehicle this side of “Greenland” by answering a question that Clint Eastwood didn’t even have the courage to ask: What if, instead of ditching US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River like a total loser, Capt. Sully Sullenberger had been man enough to land that baby in the middle of a steroidal ’80s action movie? You know the kind! The sort where vaguely racist man-vs.-army spectacle that finds a couple of jacked-up English-speaking everymen forced to kill their way out of a sweltering foreign jungle full of indigenous militants, and climaxes with the bad guys loading the shoulder-mounted rocket-launchers that Southeast Asian henchmen always keep on hand in case Sylvester Stallone ever decides to reboot “Rambo” again.

No disrespect to Sully, but he probably wouldn’t have been able to save any of his passengers from Philippines’ lawless Jolo island cluster, a wretched hive of scum and villainy that the national army has forfeited to ISIS and its ilk. Luckily enough for the motley crew of hot people and character actors aboard Trailblazer Airlines’ ill-fated New Years Eve flight from Singapore to Tokyo, a swarthy widowed Scotsman by the name of Brodie Torrance (Butler, duh) is in the cockpit tonight, and nothing on Earth will stop him from getting back home to his beloved daughter, whatever her name is.

Nothing!! Not the lightning storm that he’s forced to fly through because his corporate overlords value profits above human lives, or the ultra-violent separatists who control the sweaty jungle where he’s forced to crash land the plane, or even the Luke Cage-sized prisoner ( Mike Colter as Louis Gaspare, exuding screen presence for days) who Brodie was transporting on the plane and refuses to let out of handcuffs…even though it’s hard to be a flight-risk without a functioning aircraft, and the guy hasn’t committed any crimes since killing someone 16 years ago.

Needless to say, Brodie — who got stuck flying shit routes after punching a passenger on camera, presumably while in a grief-related tailspin — may not be the only beefcake who finds a shot at redemption on the Jolo islands. Not that it matters. This may come as a shock to you, but this story isn’t particularly concerned with the pathos of its characters. After all, the movie about Sully was called “Sully,” while the movie about Brodie Torrance is called “Plane.” And even so, we still never get to find out what kind of plane it is!

Which isn’t to suggest that Richet’s film is uninterested in how to fly it. Co-written by airport novelist Charles Cumming (who originally envisioned it as a book), “Plane” is dad cinema par avion and par excellence , geared significantly more towards middle-aged crowds hungry for raw meat than it is toward anyone hoping for a goofy cheese-fest. Where other movies like it might be over-eager to get to the action, it’s endearing how patiently this threadbare, 107-minute romp sinks into the cockpit and lets Brodie go over his little checklists like he’s a real pilot. It’s here that Richet proves himself a worthy substitute for Butler’s usual go-to Ric Roman Waugh, and the rhythm of these early scenes helps set the tone for a film that feels plenty grounded long before it’s knocked out of the sky, and remains so well after the killing starts.

Butler knows his strengths like the back of a bad guy’s broken neck, and he’s seldom flexed them better than he does here; he’s become one of 21st century Hollywood’s few bonafide movie stars by embracing the fact that he was so obviously born to be a late 20th century movie star , and it’s endearing to watch him inspire competent schlock that’s willing to match his sincerity punch-for-punch. “Plane” is tense when it’s supposed to be tense, gratuitously violent when it needs to deliver the gore (it’s been a minute since you’ve seen a bad guy’s body get emulsified by heavy artillery like it does here), and the CGI is just strong enough to cling on for dear life during a third act that can afford some dodgy-looking effects.

The supporting cast also adds to the project’s general air of credibility. “Cowboy Bebop” actress Daniella Pineda adds some winsome flair to her thankless role as a flight attendant, “Mulan” breakout Yoson An makes for a sweetly devoted co-pilot, the ever-recognizable Joey Slotnick does fine work as the token “most annoying passenger in the world,” while Tony Goldwyn and Paul Ben-Victor anchor the airline’s crisis response with immaculate cruelty during the scenes they share in a New York board room.

Half-Filipino stuntman and fight coordinator Evan Dane Taylor probably won’t inspire any glowing odes to Southeast Asian representation for his performance as the murderous pirate leader whose livelihood depends on kidnapping white foreigners for ransom money, but the guy looks great on screen, and exudes the clenched sort of villainy that’s needed to sell a movie like this.

That the Puerto Rico-shot “Plane” generally makes the Philippines look like a third-world hellscape whose government won’t lift a finger to save people in a crisis is only somewhat softened by the film’s similarly damning take on American capitalism; it’s a cruel world, and the only real heroes we have are a few sweaty men who are willing to go commando — or at least go “Commando” — when people threaten to kill them with machine guns. “Plane” may not take you anywhere you’ve never gone before, but if you’re buying a ticket to a movie called “Plane,” odds are it will get you exactly where you want to go.

Lionsgate will release “Plane” in theaters on Friday, January 13.

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Plane review: butler & colter star in mindless, entertaining action thriller.

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Scottish action star Gerard Butler plays the brave and determined pilot, Brodie Torrance, in Jean-François Richet’s action thriller, Plane . Forced to preemptively land his commercial aircraft after it suffers mechanical issues during a lightning storm, Torrance pulls out all the stops to keep his passengers safe. Written by Charles Cumming and J.P. Davis, the film combines the best of early action filmmaking with gritty storytelling in a way that will compel viewers to flock to theaters. The film is funny at times and violent in others, but most importantly, it lives up to the standard entertainment factor, yielding the first pleasant surprise of 2023.

The story follows Brodie as he makes a risky landing on a war-torn island in the Sulu Archipelago, resulting in his surviving passengers being taken hostage by threatening rebels. His only hope to save them is Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), an accused murderer with a history of military training. Louis also happens to be in transport by the FBI as he is considered dangerous, which proves to be useful in the long run. Together, they traverse through the jungle and unknown threats to retrieve the passengers as they await rescue from an unlikely resource.

Related: Gerard Butler & Mike Colter Interview: Plane

Gerard Butler and Mike Colter as the pilot and fugitive working together in Plane

Set mostly on an aircraft or island, Plane is a result of anxiety-inducing action sequences and fun banter among the film’s two leads. As a whole, Davis and Cumming’s story has a great deal going for it. The script is easy to follow, the stakes are high, and there’s non-stop action to keep viewers entertained. But underneath this adrenaline-powered film lies a story about a regular guy trying to do the right thing with the little resources available to him. And as is, this element makes it easy to cheer for the leads and enjoy some great surprises along the way.

As the film progresses, more limitations become apparent with respect to character depth. For example, it is revealed early on that Butler’s Brodie is trying to get to home to spend New Year’s Eve with his daughter Daniela (Haleigh Hekking). Comments like “I’m glad we’re doing this” from his daughter indicate a reconnection that they’re trying to build. Yet, there aren’t many moments in which the relationship between the pair becomes central to Brodie’s characterization. Incorporating such human elements would have strengthened the script even further — even if used in simple dialogue. It’s a missed opportunity to say the least.

As a result of some characterization shortcomings, the film tends to lag in its second act. Moments that would have been perfect to understand who Brodie and Louis are as individuals (outside their current circumstances) rarely happen. This introduces some pacing issues that are too obvious to ignore. Still, plenty of compelling moments follow, with brutal scenes to showcase just how dangerous their situation is. Given these various shifts in pacing and flaws within how certain characters are written, the viewing experience for Plane isn’t entirely balanced. Yet, it’s satisfying enough to be a pleasant surprise for audiences.

The latest white-knuckle action thriller from Lionsgate brings a certain rush. From the thrilling plane sequences and combat scenes to the subtle humor throughout, Plane is the kind of mindless entertainment that viewers will welcome to start their new year. There are plenty of stakes throughout this simple story to justify a viewing in theaters thanks to fun surprises within. Additionally, early promises of keeping viewers on the edge of their seat are thoroughly fulfilled from beginning to end. And though it runs out of steam during its second act, Butler and company do everything they can to keep the energy going, closing out the film with a well-earned bang.

More: The Old Way Review: Donowho’s Standard American Western Has Heart & Humor

Plane releases in theaters on January 13. The film is 107 minutes long and rated R for violence and language.

Plane is a 2023 action thriller starring Gerard Butler. Butler plays Brodie Torrance, a renowned pilot whose plane crashes into a war zone after getting stuck in a terrible storm. Mike Colter also stars in the film, whose character, Louis Gaspare, helps Brodie rescue the plane's passengers from the ongoing war.

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January is generally seen as a fallow time of year for film fans. Most studios are more focused on pumping out awards season contenders — artful films with complicated views of the human condition. If you're in the mood for something more straightforward, may I point you to the uncomplicated pleasures of Plane.

That's right. Plane.

Sure they could have called it "Terror at 30,000 Feet," "Turbulence" or "Runway of Death."

But Plane says what needs to be said. (The working title was The Plane. For real.)

It's a movie about a plane. A plane that falls out of the sky after a lightning strike, leading to a crash landing on a dangerous island south of the Philippines.

Now a movie such as Plane requires a hero. But who? It's a peculiar time for action stars. Bruce Willis's a cting days are behind him . There's only so many kidnapping victims Liam Neeson can save, while Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is more focused on feuding with DC.

The 'Old Navy' of action heroes

Enter Gerard Butler. The Old Navy store of action heroes. Like that old hoodie you find yourself coming back to, there's a worn-in quality to Butler that improves with age. The Scottish actor has come a long way since he and his abs aplenty bellowed "This is Sparta" in Frank Miller's 300 . At 53 years old, there's a rumpled and rugged presence to Butler that suits the put-upon characters he plays.

Through the years he's serviced a whole spectrum of spectacular schlock from the unstoppable secret service agent Mike Banning of the Olympus has Fallen franchise to the killer of Law Abiding Citizen.

Like Harrison Ford, Butler is at his best when things are at their worst. The jingoistic charms of bulletproof Mike Banning are fine, but Butler is better as an average Joe, such as the dad from the 2020's disaster film Greenland .

Plane finds him firmly in John McClane mode, playing a pilot trying to get home in time for New Years for a long overdue reunion with his daughter.

Gerard Butler through the years. Left, secret service agent Mike Banning from the Olympus Has Fallen franchise. Center, Cap. Brodie Torrence from Plane, On the right, King Leonidas from 300.

When the aforementioned lightning strike derails those plans, the film pivots into survival mode. On the film's manifest is the requisite collection of thinly-sketched characters/passengers; the annoying business guy, the hothead European, the selfie-happy millennials. But at the back of the plane in handcuffs sits Louis Gaspare, a convicted murderer who is being extradited. Mike Colter plays Gaspare with a simmering stare. You may remember him from the Luke Cage Marvel series or recently on the show Evil .

After the crash landing the passengers and crew face a new threat. The Jolo Island is home to a well-armed group of pirates who fund their operations by hunting for hostages. Short on options, Captain Torrance (a former member of the RAF) soon joins forces with Gaspare, who just happens to have spent time with the French Legion (!) to save the day.

Mike Colter (right) plays a criminal being extradited in a scene from the film Plane.

Not a bromance

Plane is not an overly ambitious film. Like the title, it knows what it wants to do and gets the job done. It would be overselling things to describe what Butler and Colter have as a bromance. Instead there's a begrudging atmosphere of practicality. The jungle is filled with bad guys. Someone has taken the civilians. Let's find them and kill them.

Director Jean-Francois Richet smoothly ratchets up the tension as the film cuts back home to airline headquarters where Tony Goldwyn plays the fast-talking corporate troubleshooter who begins deploying resources, adding a team of mercenaries into the mix. Soon the body count and the tempo of Plane increases.

While it would be a stretch to call Plane gritty, it takes its time establishing the bona fides of the flight crew getting certain details right that will inevitably pay off later. The camera doesn't linger over the dire consequences of the crash, instead moving quickly to the tale of the captain versus the captors. With a brisk 107 minutes runtime, there's a sense of momentum that's refreshing in an age of bloated three-hour blockbusters.

In the end, Plane delivers exactly what it promises. There is a plane and a pilot. Plenty of predicaments and a satisfying thrill ride that arrives with time to spare.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Senior entertainment reporter

Eli Glasner is the senior entertainment reporter and screentime columnist for CBC News. Covering culture has taken him from the northern tip of Moosonee Ontario to the Oscars and beyond. You can reach him at [email protected].

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‘Plane' Review: Gerard Butler and Mike Colter Are Stranded in Action-Thriller That Is Short on Both

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There are about fifteen minutes of fun buried deep in Jean-François Richet ’s Plane , but the journey to get there is one that requires wading through a narrative slog that is largely devoid of any prevailing spark. Even though Gerard Butler and Mike Colter make for a solid duo who really try to give this film some life, almost everything else is working against them. All of their charisma and charm can’t overcome a story that, while boilerplate in the way an action film ought to get away with, only gets really bonkers just before the end. It is a climax that is straining to redeem much of what preceded it, but still ends up falling far short. If you are looking for a film that is willing to get big and loud, then you’ll best want to look elsewhere , as this one is one that is mostly spoken in an oddly restrained whisper. It all gets far too caught up in setup without letting loose for long enough to make a proper payoff.

Plane begins with pilot Brodie Torrance (Butler), who is running through an airport, late for his flight that he needs to get on to make it home to his daughter ( Haleigh Hekking ) in Hawaii. It is a New Year’s flight from Singapore to Tokyo that he observes with his copilot Dele ( Yoson An ) will take them right through a storm. The holiday timing invites comparisons to Die Hard , but this film will never gain the iconic status that work has. When Brodie suggests they take a route that is longer but safer, he is informed by a callous representative for the fictional airline Trailblazer that this will cost too much in additional fuel on a flight with so few passengers.

Begrudgingly, Torrance agrees that they will go on the predetermined route. Before all the passengers are then loaded onto the plane, we are introduced to Louis Gaspare (Colter), who is brought on in handcuffs as he is being extradited for a crime he committed. Again, Torrance is less than thrilled about this but just goes along with it in the hopes that the flight will be a smooth one. When they do take off, the plane is soon struck by lightning. They are forced to crash-land on an island in the Philippines that, wouldn’t you know it, has armed goons who kidnap the passengers. This leaves Brodie and Louis with no choice but to take up arms to rescue them while the airline tries to get them off the island.

Gerard Butler in a pilot uniform in Plane

RELATED: New ‘Plane’ Clip Shows Gerard Butler Fighting for Survival in a Hostile Territory [Exclusive]

Such a premise is just sturdy enough that it is hard to dismiss Plane entirely. Many truly great action films have been built around far less and managed to make the most of it. Indeed, there are flashes of this potential when Louis picks up a hammer while on a stealth mission to the concluding shootout that embraces a macabre absurdity. While this makes for proper action fun, the road that it takes to get there puts a damper on the entire affair. For much of the film, it didn’t feel like we were watching an action spectacle as much as we were watching a television pilot.

Plane goes through all the motions, briefly introducing us to the stock characters of the crew and the passengers that are serviceable yet slight, just without any momentum to it. Everything feels like it is dragging its feet in laying all the cards on the table, playing out without any sense of urgency or energy as if it has all the time in the world. There is no emotional undercurrent or sense of stakes to anything that we are seeing unfold. It continually dangles the promise of something actually exciting happening, but the delivery on this is utterly scattered to the point of being fleeting. Save for the explosive ending, there is no scene that will stick out in the memory for any longer than a moment after the credits finally roll.

Mike Colter on a plane in handcuffs in Plane

Take when Brodie first encounters one of the kidnappers while trying to send a message back to the airline. The fight is meant to be intentionally awkward and grounded with the men rolling around in an abandoned building. Yet, as the two struggle in a battle to the death, this starts to shift into being oddly tedious and stilted in how it is constructed. Both in terms of its stunts and how it is shot, it is all aggressively simplistic and banal. When Louis then walks in shortly thereafter, now armed to the teeth, it is meant to be a joke in how smooth he is by comparison. Mostly, this just draws attention to how something more exciting was apparently happening just off-screen that we didn’t get to see.

While action films can deftly withhold some of the spectacle to ensure the moments where it goes off packs more of a punch, Plane continually feels like it is holding back. Scenes meant to be tense or thrilling end up feeling hollow when there is nothing substantive to any of the actual filmmaking. Cutaways to a stuffy boardroom of Trailblazer suits trying to deal with the crisis drag everything down further.

Though it was never going to be a masterpiece in terms of its story, there is a genuinely disappointing and surprising lack of joy to be had in the experience of everything else. For all the ways critics can grade on a curve for a film like this, excuses can’t be given to works that fail to capitalize on even the basics. If there is any saving grace to the experience, there is occasionally some fun to be had in the back-and-forth between the two leads. Both Butler and Colter, while playing characters who are only barely a step above cardboard cutouts, still give it their all. Neither are phoning it in, but this only leaves a desire that they were in a better overall film. For all the ways it takes flight towards the end, Plane is an action flick that is mostly plain, the greatest sin for any film that should and could have gotten wilder.

Plane comes to theaters on January 13.

Movie Reviews
Gerard Butler
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‘Plane’ Is the Frontier Airlines of Action Movies

By David Fear

Our flight time is a not particularly lean, not exactly mean 107 minutes, though there are moments when it may feel a lot longer. We’re told that we may be flying through an electrical storm that seems hairy but harmless, at least until the plot needs it to send a flight attendant careening up to the ceiling before crippling the plane. Should we need to make an emergency landing, your seats can be used as a flotation device and your predictions that you will end up fighting for your lives against heavily-accented terrorists — who run the gamut from mildly racist to Dear God It’s 2023 Does Anyone Still Think This Sort of Character Isn’t Seriously Cringeworthy? — are likely to come true. Even with an action star like Gerard Butler in the cockpit, one whose track record speaks for itself re: making otherwise unwatchable he-man heroics a bit more bearable, trust us: It most assuredly will be bumpy.

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Plane movie poster: Wearing a pilot's uniform, Gerard Butler stands in front of Mike Colter, who's holding a gun

Common Sense Says
Parents Say 2 Reviews
Kids Say 4 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Action film has violence, language, iffy representation.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Scenes with violence and blood, death, and peril, including a plane crash, kidna

Language includes "f---ing," "hell," "f--k," "s--t," "goddamn."

Dell Technologies ad is seen on a flight departure board.

Any Positive Content?

Amid the violence and peril are messages about the importance of using courage a

Captain Brodie Torrance and Louis Gaspare, a convicted felon, work together to s

The cast includes prominent Asian characters, but the Philippines is portrayed a

Violence & Scariness

Scenes with violence and blood, death, and peril, including a plane crash, kidnapping, and torture. Guns are shown/used, sometimes fatally. Another character is killed via choking/neck breaking.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Positive messages.

Amid the violence and peril are messages about the importance of using courage and teamwork to save innocent lives.

Positive Role Models

Captain Brodie Torrance and Louis Gaspare, a convicted felon, work together to save the passengers of the ill-fated plane. They and the rest of the passengers show courage in the face of fear.

Diverse Representations

The cast includes prominent Asian characters, but the Philippines is portrayed as crime-ridden and rife with ineffectual law enforcement. And colorism is also in play, signaling which characters are "good" and "evil": Criminal characters are darker-skinned, while heroic Asian characters are lighter-skinned and present as more East Asian than Southeast Asian. The criminals' leader, Junmar (Evan Dane Taylor, who's Filipino American, African American and Native American), is one of the darkest of the Asian characters in the film. Meanwhile, many of the "good" East Asian characters still suffer, including those amid the stranded passengers who are sacrificed to garner sympathy for the others. And the main East Asian character, co-pilot Dele (Yoson An), is competent and capable, but is presented as a sidekick of sorts to the White Captain Torrance (Gerard Butler). Black characters are also below the White hero on the importance scale, and while Louis (Mike Colter) is heroic, he's also associated with violence, as is the leader (Remi Adeleke) of the mercenaries who help the passengers escape. Other racially diverse characters are present, including chief flight attendant Bonnie (Daniella Pineda, a Mexican American actress). But the majority of these characters have few to no lines. Bonnie does speak, but her characterization is limited to being calm under pressure and efficient despite serious pressure.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that Plane is an action film with strong violence, language, and problematic depictions of diverse communities. Gerard Butler plays pilot Brodie Torrance, who teams up with a convicted felon with a military past, Louis Gaspare ( Mike Colter ), to save a plane's passengers from dangerous separatists in the Philippines. Expect many intense scenes with violence and blood, death, and peril, including a plane crash, kidnapping, torture, and weapons (guns are used to kill people). Language is strong, too, with use of "f--k," "s--t," "goddamn," and more. While characters demonstrate courage and teamwork, there are troubling aspects to how the film's non-White characters are represented. Darker-skinned, Southeast Asian-presenting actors are cast as criminals, while lighter, more East Asian-presenting actors are cast as "good guys." And Black characters are coded as heroic but violent. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Parent and Kid Reviews

Parents say (2)
Kids say (4)

Based on 2 parent reviews

Good action film for teens+

A disappointing action-flick may be entertaining, but it's too weak to even get past the drudgery plot., what's the story.

PLANE follows Captain Brodie Torrance ( Gerard Butler ) as the plane he's flying with co-pilot Dele (Yoson An) crash lands. They wind up on an island in the Philippines that's run by separatists who are led by Junmar (Evan Dane Taylor). Torrance and one of the passengers on the plane, convicted felon Louis Gaspare ( Mike Colter ), must work together to take on the separatists, save the passengers, and get off the island alive.

Is It Any Good?

Aside from its problematic representation elements (see below), this movie hits all the major beats you'd expect from both an action film and, specifically, a Butler-led action film. He plays a "average guy" who wants to get home to his family, finds himself in peril, and must fight his way out of it. It's formulaic, but it works. But when you factor in the film's colorism, Plane immediately becomes less fun. Unfortunately, goodness feels directly related to skin tone here. The villains -- led by Junmar, who's played by the African American/Native American/Filipino American Taylor -- are distinctly darker-skinned than the movie's other Asian characters, including co-pilot Dele and some passengers. And Blackness feels associated with violence: Even though characters like Louis and Shellback (Remi Adeleke) are among the "good guys," it's because they have useful -- and violent -- military skills. Of course, their violence is the "good" kind, in contrast to the violence of the separatists, which is used to dehumanize them (we never find out exactly why they're separatists, which could have provided some context, nuance, and humanization to their actions). Overall, Plane says nothing new and reinforces painful cliches, making it feel more like a film from the 1980s or '90s than 2023.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the quality of the diverse representations in Plane . Where does it fall short? What could it have done better? How does colorism come into play?

How do the characters demonstrate courage and teamwork ? Why are those important character strengths?

Talk about the movie's violence . How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

Do you consider a Captain Torrance a hero? Why, or why not?

Movie Details

In theaters : January 13, 2023
On DVD or streaming : February 2, 2023
Cast : Gerard Butler , Mike Colter , Yoson An , Evan Duane Taylor
Director : Jean-Francois Richet
Inclusion Information : Black actors, Asian actors
Studio : Lionsgate
Genre : Action/Adventure
Run time : 107 minutes
MPAA rating : R
MPAA explanation : violence and language
Last updated : October 6, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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Plane Review

27 Jan 2023

First things first: Plane is quite a funny name for a film, isn’t it? The monosyllabic bluntness of it is oddly, unintentionally hilarious — like a toddler blurting out a newly learned word while pointing at something. Plane . What’s perhaps funnier still is that this B-movie-adjacent action-movie only spends 30 minutes of the runtime on an actual plane, abandoning the dunderheaded promise of that title before the first act is even over.

Plane is the latest in a subgenre you might call ‘ Gerard Butler Saves The World’, a cheap-and-cheerful corner of cinema that has seen the Scottish hard man take on world-ending comets ( Greenland ), world-ending weather ( Geostorm ), and a series of increasingly ludicrous world-ending terrorists (the Has Fallen series). Plane , however, initially finds Butler not in action-hero mode, but everyman mode.

He plays airline pilot Brodie Torrance (a classic Gerard Butler character name, to sit proudly alongside ‘Mike Banning’ and ‘Big Nick O’Brien’), an ordinary bloke who loves his daughter, loves his job, and has been known to get into a scrap. When we first meet him, he’s captaining a near-empty flight to Tokyo on New Year’s Eve, making jokes over the Tannoy and offering famous last words (“There won’t be any delays!”).

There could have been a lean, minimalist thriller shaped simply around that opening half-hour, so it’s a shame that the film then immediately switches gears.

A bad omen comes with the arrival of Louis ( Mike Colter — just as in his Luke Cage days, an Absolute Unit), a murderer being transported in handcuffs for extradition; the lightning storm they fly through is a worse omen still. Director Jean-François Richet wastes no time in crafting a genuinely tense emergency landing sequence — destined to be edited out of future inflight versions — which sees the plane’s power killed, forced to land in complete darkness.

There could have been a lean, minimalist thriller shaped simply around that opening half-hour, so it’s a shame that the film then immediately switches gears; what starts in a comfortable disaster-movie mould quickly handbrake-turns into a generic, by-the-numbers action thriller, serving up a stale platter of fist fights, gun battles and hostage-taking. More troublingly, the filmmakers show some insensitivity bordering on xenophobia towards the real Filipino island of Jolo, where the film is set, depicted here as a lawless hellhole run by psychopath gangster terrorists. The half-a-million people who actually live on Jolo might take issue with being characterised as blood-lusting murderers who, unprovoked, freely behead the first Westerners they come across.

All credulity falls apart in the final act, when the modern equivalent of the cavalry riding in to save the day — an ex-Special Forces mercenary unit — bravely gun down the evil terrorists, and the clichés flood through, thick and fast. But Butler is still decent company for this sort of thoughtless silliness, bringing some dad-who-had-a-bad-day charm and hard-as-nails muscularity to the kind of role that has become his speciality. We’re left only to wonder: what will he save the world from next?

Movies | 13 02 2023

Plane Review: Gerard Butler Rules the Sky in Tense Thriller

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Gerard Butler rules the sky in a tense and unrelenting action-thriller. Plane takes off into a storm but experiences far worse consequences from land-based threats. French director Jean-François Richet keeps a firm grip on the throttle. He establishes a straightforward premise before plunging his characters into non-stop mortal peril. It's an out-of-the-frying-pan and into-the-fire scenario. The initial relief of escaping a harrowing crash landing evaporates when another crisis presents itself. Ruthless baddies show no mercy to innocents. Their butt-kicking pilot makes sure a seemingly cursed flight arrives alive.

Captain Brodie Torrance (Butler) races to the gate in Singapore. He's eager to reunite with his teenage daughter (Haleigh Hekking) in Hawaii. A pair of events unnerve Torrance as the passengers board. Bad weather looms on the flight path to Tokyo. He's given permission to fly above the storm despite misgivings. Also, law enforcement has captured a murderer on the run for fifteen years. Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter) is handcuffed in the back row for extradition to the United States.

The first officer (Claro de los Reyes) has faith in Torrance's skill. That's immediately tested as turbulence rocks the plane. Passengers whimper as Torrance raises altitude. Calm turns to terror when lightning strikes. Bonnie (Daniella Pineda), the head flight attendant, screams for everyone to remain seated. The foolish ignore her order.

Brace for Impact

The aircraft loses power. All electronic instruments have failed. The plane begins a rapid descent over a vast ocean. They have ten minutes before plummeting to certain death. Torrance yells for the passengers to prepare for a water landing. A patch of green with a winding road miraculously appears through the blinding rain. Everyone braces for impact. But the remote island of Jolo isn't a safe haven. An anti-government militia watches as a fresh batch of western hostages crashes in the jungle.

Related: Exclusive: Latest Plane Image Showcases Gerard Butler in a War-Torn Jungle

Plane is guaranteed to never be a part of your inflight entertainment. The opening scene will scare the bejesus out of anyone nervous about flying. My pulse raced as oxygen masks dropped and the unbelted hit the ceiling like cracked eggs. Slick visual effects, editing, and the characters' abject fear sell the precipitous decline. Richet ( Assault on Precinct 13 , Blood Father ) cuts back and forth between the cockpit and cabin calamity. The sense of doom reaches a fever pitch. This sets the stage for the bullet-riddled remaining acts.

Revolting terrorists seize a golden opportunity. The passengers are worth a fortune in ransom money. Torrance finds himself in a desperate situation. No one knows where they are. He has to get help without getting captured. That's no easy feat with bloodthirsty militants swarming. Gaspare becomes another point of concern. Is the murderer friend or foe?

A Trusted Action Commodity

Butler gives Torrance believability in every circumstance. He's fantastic flying the plane, calming the frightened passengers, and then strapping on an assault rifle to take care of business. He has an emotional range with gravitas and a dominating physical presence. Important elements that accompany wicked gunplay to overall success. Butler continues to be a trusted action commodity.

Plane is a production of MadRiver Pictures, Olive Hill Media, Di Bonaventura Pictures, and G-BASE. It will be released theatrically on January 13th from Lionsgate .

Movie and TV Reviews
Plane (2023)

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Plane review: This Gerard Butler thriller desperately needed to be more stupid

A jungle thriller with the star of ‘olympus has fallen’ should be a lot more fun than this, article bookmarked.

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Plane isn’t stupid enough. The title of this Gerard Butler action thriller, which should only be said with the monosyllabic matter-of-factness of a toddler at an airport, is so boneheaded that it craves chaotic genius in return. But Plane is stifled by just how ordinary it is, and how closely it hews to the standard tropes of action films with longer, more descriptive – yet less ridiculous – titles.

Here, Butler is parachuted into the exact kind of cheap, vaguely racist action flick that dominated the Eighties and Nineties. He plays Brodie Torrance, a commercial pilot heading up a New Year’s Eve flight from Singapore to Tokyo. It’s a budget airline. There are only 14 passengers onboard – plus, of course, a convicted criminal named Louis Gaspare ( Mike Colter ), who’s being transferred between prisons. The plane (just a normal plane, remember) is caught up in a violent storm that Brodie is ordered to fly through. A single lightning strike later, and Brodie is guiding the aircraft back down to Earth for an impromptu landing on what turns out to be a lawless island run by separatists and criminals.

The film’s by-the-numbers, macho mentality can be neatly summed up by the fact that when Brodie evacuates from the plane, director Jean-François Richet pointedly cuts away from his hero. You can’t risk emasculating your leading man by capturing him slipping down one of those big, inflatable slides now, can you? Louis is supposedly the more experienced and ruthless of the two men – he’s at one point caught by Brodie near-skipping out of the jungle after executing a captured separatist, and the guilty look he returns is somewhat close to that of a dog who’s just been found with his nose in the cookie jar. The ever-dependable Butler, one of the least self-conscious of today’s crop of action stars, gives Brodie just a touch of panicked witlessness in contrast.

But Brodie and Louis are conveniently both military veterans, so it doesn’t make all that much difference. Plane , in fact, sees such little separation between their characters that it only bothers to offer a proper conclusion to one of their storylines. What’s important is that they are men, with sweat-soaked shirts and suppressed trauma. There’s also one woman onboard, with Daniella Pineda’s stoic cabin crew member Bonnie being the character third-closest to having any discernible personality.

Beyond a cross-cut series of shots between a guy in a plane and a guy in a jeep caught in a vehicular Mexican standoff, there’s not much that’s genuinely fun about Plane . It exists in that tiresome world of just-about-believability, with none of the gung-ho spirit that stops you questioning how any of this would work. Maybe Butler should make something like “Truck” next time – see if he has better luck there.

You People review: Netflix’s star-studded culture clash romcom is a disjointed mess

Dir: Jean-François Richet. Starring: Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Tony Goldwyn, Daniella Pineda, Paul Ben-Victor, Remi Adeleke. 15, 107 minutes.

‘Plane’ is in cinemas from 27 January

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DVD & Streaming
Action/Adventure , Drama

Content Caution

In Theaters

January 13, 2023
Gerard Butler as Brodie Torrance; Mike Colter as Louis Gaspare; Daniella Pineda as Bonnie; Yoson An as Dele; Tony Goldwyn as Scarsdale; Paul Ben-Victor as Hampton; Evan Dane Taylor as Junmar

Home Release Date

February 3, 2023
Jean-François Richet

Distributor

Movie Review

Capt. Brodie Torrance may look like any average, nice-guy pilot as he welcomes his passengers onboard. He may even sound like your typical dad-joke spewing dude while chuckling over the plane’s intercom system.

But he’s more than that.

Truth is, Brodie is pretty no-nonsense when it comes to the safety of his plane, his crew and his passengers. If some drunken idiot gets too loud and starts throwing punches during a flight, Brodie has the experience and wherewithal to handle the situation in whatever way is necessary. He knows his stuff, even when it doesn’t follow the exact letter of the airline’s policy-book law.

And in this case, that’s a very good thing. While piloting his Trailblazer Airlines flight from Singapore to Japan, his plane gets struck by lightning. That devastating electrical hit fries the plane’s avionics. It sends passengers cartwheeling through the cabin, two of them in deadly ways. And it causes the crippled plane to necessarily swoop toward the ocean below, with only 10 minutes of direct battery power keeping it aloft.

It’s Brodie’s skill alone that spots a fog-shrouded little patch of land in the Jolo Island cluster and miraculously sets the huge aircraft down relatively intact.

This, however, is only the tip of Capt. Brodie Torrance’s challenge. Because now he has a plane-full of passengers to care for on an island run by separatist’s and thugs—an island so dangerous that the Filipino government won’t even dare to send its army there anymore.

Trailblazer Airlines flight 119 doesn’t have an army, however. It doesn’t have an armory of weapons. It doesn’t even have any sharp eating utensils. All flight 119 has is Captain Brodie Torrance. And that will have to be enough.

Positive Elements

We meet one other person on the plane with military experience, a guy named Louis Gaspare. The problem is that Gaspare is a fugitive being transported back to the states for a murder he committed 15 years ago. (His police escort is killed in the lightning strike on the plane.) Despite that, Brodie decides to uncuff the man in hopes that his experience will help them all stay alive.

Gaspare and Brodie work together (risking their own lives) to fight off the aggressive killers on the island and save the plane’s passengers. Several other female crewmember risk themselves to help the passengers as well. Both Brodie and his co-pilot are motivated by pictures of family members they love.

Spiritual Elements

A small group of people state that they are missionaries.

Sexual & Romantic Content

A flight attendant hides the flight manifest inside her shirt, keeping it from the separatists.

Violent Content

When lightning first hits Brodie’s plane, we see people cartwheeling around the plane cabin. Two passengers seemingly break their necks when striking hard surfaces. Brodie gets slammed into an overhead bin and cuts his brow, it bleeds freely.

All in all, though, the majority of injuries and deaths are caused by gunfire after the plane lands on the island. (That combat occurs between the island separatists, Brodie and Gaspare, and a well-equipped rescue team of hired mercenaries.) We see people bloodied, wounded and killed on a regular basis by men brandishing pistols and rifles. In fact, one large gunfight results in scores of people being shot. Several are killed with rifle shots to the head, causing large blood spatters. A large-caliber, high-powered rifle is used to stop vehicles and then to blast open people standing behind the vehicles.

Some characters fight hand to hand, battering and strangling each other. Gaspare and Brodie stab foes and slit their throats. Gaspare slams two guys with a sledgehammer, leaving them unconscious and bloodied (and possibly dead). Brodie gives himself up at one point to aid the group of passengers and he’s beaten by thugs. He’s also shot twice.

Passengers are murdered by the separatists for moving after they were told not to. A man is possibly decapitated with a sharp blade (offscreen) in one such case. We see a room covered in bullet holes and blood smears—indicating torture and murder—and watch a film showing missionaries that were held in that room.

There are several tense, perilous scenes where the large airliner veers about dangerously, nearly crashing. One of the fuel tanks doesn’t empty during one landing, making the plane a potential “firebomb.” One man gets crushed by the front landing gear of the speeding airliner.

Crude or Profane Language

Some 20 f-words spatter the dialogue, along with a dozen or so s-words and one use of “h—.” God’s and Jesus’ names are both misused once each (with the former being combined with “d–n.”)

Drug & Alcohol Content

As the flight begins, we see passengers drinking beer and glasses of champagne.

Other Noteworthy Elements

It’s implied that the separatists regularly hold innocent people for ransom and then either kill them or enslave them.

Some movies invite introspection, thoughtful discussion and maybe even spirited arguments over the deeper themes in play.

Plane is not one of those movies.

No, Plane is as straight flying and no-nonsense as its title suggests. This pic doesn’t mess about with character development, sub-plots or twisty story turns. It’s simply a tight, intense actioner. Granted, it sticks its landing with knotted muscles, gritted teeth and a grunting sigh.

But all the profane language and bloody mess tucked in its overhead bin still spills out on your head.

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

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Plane. In the white-knuckle action movie PLANE, pilot Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) saves his passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island -- only to find ...
Plane movie review & film summary (2023)
5 min read. "Plane" is the case of an action movie in which the dumb title—the most memorable thing about it—isn't an artistic statement, it's an alibi. If it can convince you that it's so simple, suddenly all of its laziness with character development, plotting, action sequences, etc., seems quaint, if not knowing.
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Full Review | Jul 25, 2023. Akos Peterbencze The Screen. Plane is a straightforward movie with very few twists to offer, but the trick to making it engaging lies in its execution. Richet hasn't ...
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Plane: Directed by Jean-François Richet. With Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Tony Goldwyn, Yoson An. A pilot finds himself caught in a war zone after he's forced to land his commercial aircraft during a terrible storm.
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7/10. Search and Rescue. demonblade-37792 13 January 2023. Plane is a good action film filled with intense acting, gunshots, fights, and story. The story goes along with Captain Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) flying his crew and passengers on an airplane with an dangerous criminal, Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter) on board.
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Screenwriters: Charles Cumming, J.P. Davis. Rated R, 1 hour 47 minutes. The film dispenses with backstory, save for a brief introductory phone conversation between pilot Brodie Torrance (Butler ...
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Pilot Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) saves his passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island - only to find that surviving the landing was just the beginning. When most of the passengers are taken hostage by dangerous rebels, the only person Torrance can count on for help is Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), an accused murderer who was being transported by the FBI.
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Plane, the new action movie starring 300's Gerard Butler and Mike Colter (Marvel's Luke Cage) is a surprisingly deft thriller that cares a lot about planes, and also really good action. Plane ...
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By David Ehrlich. January 11, 2023 9:00 am. "Plane". ©Lions Gate/Courtesy Everett Collection. As sturdy, weathered, and no-frills as the Reagan-era passenger jet that lends this January-ass film ...
Plane Review: Butler & Colter Star In Mindless, Entertaining Action
The film is 107 minutes long and rated R for violence and language. Plane is a 2023 action thriller starring Gerard Butler. Butler plays Brodie Torrance, a renowned pilot whose plane crashes into a war zone after getting stuck in a terrible storm. Mike Colter also stars in the film, whose character, Louis Gaspare, helps Brodie rescue the plane ...
Plane. Movie. Review. Good.
Plane is not an overly ambitious film. Like the title, it knows what it wants to do and gets the job done. It would be overselling things to describe what Butler and Colter have as a bromance ...
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For all the ways it takes flight towards the end, Plane is an action flick that is mostly plain, the greatest sin for any film that should and could have gotten wilder. Rating: C-. Plane comes to ...
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Plane is a 2023 American action thriller film directed by Jean-François Richet from a screenplay by Charles Cumming and J. P. Davis. [4] The film stars Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Yoson An, and Tony Goldwyn.The plot centers on a pilot (Butler) allying with a prisoner to save his passengers from a hostile territory in which they make an emergency landing.
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Verdict. A surprisingly grounded action-thriller, Plane is a competently executed Gerard Butler vehicle about a pilot trying to rescue his crew from unnamed militants with the help of a dangerous ...
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Good action film for teens+. Plane was a good action film in the traditional Hollywood style. Storytelling, flow, action sequences and message of perseverance. Confused by "diversity" warning as that is absolutely not the case, and people of various backgrounds represented in positive ways. Good for 15+.
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Plane Review. Captain Brodie Torrance (Butler) pilots a passenger plane with a convicted murderer (Colter) on board. When lightning strikes the jet, it crash-lands on a remote island in the ...
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In the white-knuckle action movie PLANE, pilot Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) saves his passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island -- only to find that surviving the landing was just the beginning. ... Plane (2023) Fan Reviews and Ratings Powered by Rotten Tomatoes Rate Movie. Close Popcornmeter ...
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Plane is a production of MadRiver Pictures, Olive Hill Media, Di Bonaventura Pictures, and G-BASE. It will be released theatrically on January 13th from Lionsgate . Movie and TV Reviews
Plane movie review: This Gerard Butler thriller desperately needed to
Plane review: This Gerard Butler thriller desperately needed to be more stupid A jungle thriller with the star of 'Olympus Has Fallen' should be a lot more fun than this Clarisse Loughrey
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Gaspare and Brodie work together (risking their own lives) to fight off the aggressive killers on the island and save the plane's passengers. Several other female crewmember risk themselves to help the passengers as well. Both Brodie and his co-pilot are motivated by pictures of family members they love.

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