Nicolas Cage is a great actor. If you want to see him in a great film, see National Treasure (2004) or National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007). If you want to be disappointed, see Drive Angry 3D (2011). The movie’s website describes Cage’s character Milton as, “A hardened felon who has broken out of Hell.” After sitting through this movie it felt like a similar escape to leave the theater.
The story is part trailer trash drama and part religious cult tale. Amber Heard plays the part of Piper. Piper is very attractive, in a 21st century “Daisy Duke” type character. The trailer trash aspect comes into play because Piper’s boss is molesting her and her boy friend is a violent, abusive man. She wants to escape all that and decides to help Milton as she makes her way out of town.
Milton escaped from Hell because his daughter was killed by the leader of a cult, who also kidnapped his granddaughter. Milton is seeking what he sees as justice or revenge. Milton is pursued by The Accountant, played by William Fichtner. The Accountant is charged by the Devil with bringing Milton back to Hell by whatever means necessary. The Accountant is dapperly dressed in a suit and apparently keeps track of people, not money.
The sadistic leader of the cult is Jonah King, played by Billy Burke. Jonah is convinced that sacrificing Milton’s granddaughter on the night of the full moon will bring him great power. Milton must find Jonah and rescue his granddaughter before it is too late.
Drive Angry 3D is shot in RealD 3D. The effect makes the movie look like it is more real. As with all 3D technology, your eyes may be different and personal results may vary. The fact that the movie looked more realistic did not help it much.
The virtuousness of saving a baby from a gruesome death is a thin veneer on the ugliness of the numerous murders committed in the name of the mission at hand. The plot moves from one blood bath to another, interrupted briefly by exposition designed to advance the story to the next scene of explosions and carnage. This movie has little intellectual or artistic merit. It may be an escape for some, but not for the squeamish. This movie has no redeeming value and thrills seem to be the primary motive of its design.
Drive Angry 3D is amoral, and is yet another example of how Hollywood has sold-out with an ample supply of violence, sex and vulgar language. Part of the real anger that the movie inspired was anger over the almost two hours which were wasted seeing it.
Drive Angry 3D is rated R for strong brutal violence throughout, grisly images, some graphic sexual content, nudity and pervasive language. This rating speaks for itself.
If you are religious and/or a moral person this movie will probably make you cringe on more than one occasion. Our world is so desensitized to violence, sex, and vulgar language that many people just do not see or hear it consciously anymore. As a result of seeing The Mechanic (2011) and Drive Angry 3D you will have to turn to The Globe’s other reviewers for criticism of movies of this ultra-violent type. Nicolas Cage can act well – he should have waited for something more meaningful than Drive Angry 3D.
