Bullet Points: Hijack’d
I can understand why people are afraid to fly. There are a multitude of issues that could go wrong when you step on an airplane. I don’t think we need to discuss the possible tragedies with the gruesome outcomes, but even though I have never been frighten’d to get in the air, the one calamity that I don’t want to be part of is a hijacking (or skyjacking if you are Scorpion.) I blame action movies with their A-Number-1 heroes that save the day. The chances of Steve Woods, Bill Marks or President James Marshall being on your flight is exactly 0%. One such action movie that ups the ante, and fear, by adding the ol’ automat’d plane (on its maiden voyage no less) with a pilot who doesn’t need to do anything element is the 2002 film Hijack’d. I can already tell that you are excit’d so hopefully you have your tickets purchas’d and bags pack’d as we take flight to Hijack’d.
- Corbett Aviation is at the forefront of unmann’d commercial aviation. Corbett is led by CEO and founder Ty Corbett (Winston Rekert, The Art of War II: Betrayal) and his crack team of real pilots and computer experts. During a test flight of the new Genisys I flight system there is malfunction and the plane goes down killing the two test pilots. Corbett blames programmer Gabriel Wingfield (John Pyper-Ferguson from both 1997’s Drive and 2011’s Drive) and immediately has him sack’d and basically ruins his career. And if at this point you think that Wingfield is going to become the main antagonist you are smarter than most of the characters in Hijack’d.
- Jump forward six months and Corbett is ready to test Genisys II, but this time he is going to be on board with his pregnant daughter (the stakes just got higher,) his son-in-law and Corbett’s high ranking Senator friend that also is the son-in-law’s father (the stakes are now sky-high.) Who is going to be sitting in the pilot seat in this sky-high stakes affair? Reece Robbins (Rachel Hayward, 12 Rounds 2: Reload’d Reloaded) has the honors, and although she is a qualifi’d pilot Reece loses points in my book for driving a convertible with the top down but the windows up. (Besides looking terrible, what’s the point?) We soon learn about Reece’s ex-husband, Pete ‘Bird Dog’ Dewmont. First of all, sweet nickname, second of all Bird Dog is play’d by personal favorite Craig Sheffer (Berserker: Hell’s Warrior.) When we first meet Bird Dog he looks like he is having way too much fun drinking beers and hitting on women at a bar. If you think it took too long to find out Craig Sheffer was in the movie, I feel the same way when I watch the movie. Although divorc’d, Bird Dog and Reece still have a connection and before her big flight she relents to the power of Bird Dog’s leather flight jacket… if you know what I mean.
- After takeoff Genisys II, Wingfield takes over control with plans to kill everyone on board. A frantic rush to stop Genisys II from crashing and finding Wingfield begins. Bird Dog is right in the middle of the action after Ned (Michael Kopsa, 3000 Miles to Graceland) the head of security at Corbett Aviation and former Air Force buddy gives him a call. There is also a side story about how the pair are both recovering alcoholics which raises the stakes of the story line a few more notches. Speaking of story lines, there is a pretty important plot point involving Wingfield, a little neighbor girl and an Australian spider. The scenes with Wingfield and the girl come off creepy and were distracting. Speaking of distracting, how can a movie have Françoise Yip (Rumble in the Bronx) in the cast, but only have her sit behind a desk without any cool action scenes? Anyhow, Bird Dog does what his nickname implies and tracks down Wingfield and Reece uses her pilot skills to save the plane and passengers. Everyone has a happy ending… except for the little neighbor girl (what a sad and touching way to end the film.)
Hijack’d doesn’t have a unique story or the big budget effects, but it is an enjoyable action film that clocks in at a suitable 93 minutes. The actors are what really make Hijack’d stick out with special recognition going to Craig Sheffer and John Pyper-Ferguson. The pair look like they are having a good time and not just going through the motions. When the actors look like they are having a good time it is much easier for the audience to have a good time. The flaws I find in Hijack’d are such minor peccadilloes compar’d to the very game cast that I hope you give in a watch to make your own decision. In fact, the next time someone wants to watch a movie I suggest you hijack their choice and put on Hijack’d. Time to hijack this Bullet Points with some Bonus Bullet Points!
- Hijack’d Title – Cabin Pressure was the initial title for the film but it got hijack’d during home video release and renam’d Hijack’d. While Cabin Pressure makes sense, it always makes me think of the delightful BBC Radio series Cabin Pressure. Our UK friends might recognize Hijacked as the title to the 2017 Dolph Lundgren film Altitude. I can’t forget the 2012 Randy Couture Hijacked which has too many letters in the title for me.
- Hijack’d Premise – Craig Sheffer is no stranger to air disaster films after starring in two of the Turbulence sequels, Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying and Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal.Flying Virus aka Killer Buzz has some major cool Craig Sheffer action scenes on a plane and also has killer bees, but although not an action film I can’t forget one of the best and most historical IMAX films of all time, Wings of Courage.
- Hijack’d Quote to Upset the FAA – Bird Dog is currently without a license to fly because the FAA was not fan of him saying that he flies “straighter drunk than sober.”
- Hijack’d Cursing – For a movie that features female nudity, Hijack’d really pussyfoots around any harsh language. Be on the lookout for such niceties as “poop hitting the propeller,” “dickhead,” and “ass over tea kettle.”
- Hijack’d Name – Hijack’d miss’d a golden opportunity to have a character with the name Jack D. and then have someone say Hi to him. (Seriously going to end this Bullet Points with that? )
