Air America 4K UHD Review | Road Rash Reviews

4 star restoration of a nineties classic action film.

Air America is a 1990 American action comedy war film, based on the best selling 1978 non-fiction book by Christopher Robbins, and directed by Roger Spottiswoode (The 6th Day, Tomorrow Never dies).

It has enjoyed a 4K UHD Restoration courtesy of STUDIOCANAL and is available to own in the UK on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD from 7th October 2024.

“Gene, listen, hey! Hey, Gene, we’re not here right now…Yeah, so if we’re not actually here then, of course, this didn’t happen.”

It’s 1969 and the Vietnam War is in full swing. There is consternation, as the North Vietnamese pour into Laos and the US government are quick to deny that they have any military presence in the area. Meanwhile, Billy (Robert Downey Jr. – Weird Science, Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes) is a young hot shot eye-in-the-sky pilot for KLCA Radio. However, after an incident involving an angry truck driver he is grounded. He is soon headhunted by the head of a company called Air America. They are a civilian outfit, flying humanitarian missions in Laos.

Billy snaps up the offer, but when he arrives, the reality of the situation is rather different. On his first flight, he is taken out by fellow pilots Gene (Mel Gibson -Machete Kills, Lethal Weapon, Mad Max) and Jack (Art LaFleur – Field of Dreams, Cobra), during which he learns that Gene is organising his retirement fund by running an illegal gun trade.

It soon also becomes apparent that it is not the civilian outfit that he was led to believe, it is a covert CIA operation. Even the city they are based in was built by the Americans and doesn’t appear on any maps. They are moving drugs for the opium trade, under the watchful eye of General Soong (Burt Kwouk – The Sandwich Man). When US Senator Davenport (Lane Smith – Red Dawn, My Cousin Vinny) arrives on a fact finding mission, Major Lemond (Ken Jenkins – The Sum of All Fears, Courage Under Fire) and his subordinate Rob (David Marshall Grant – The Devil Wears Prada) are desperate to keep their secrets. The pilots soon realise that they are likely to be the scapegoats. Can they stay ahead of this crazy game?

“Rob, I wish you wouldn’t use the words American Intelligence to describe what it is that you do.”

Air America is a brilliant film. Although billed as a comedy, it has plenty of serious undertones and lots of commentary on war and the approach that governments take to it. While it doesn’t immediately sound like the subject material should work as a comedy, it has been done before (think M.A.S.H.) and what makes it work is the brilliant acting, provided here by Mel Gibson at the height of his rough and ready cheeky chappy powers and the very young but incredibly talented Robert Downey Jr.

This is an excellent restoration, the details are fantastic and the picture is fresh and crisp, looking as if it could have been made yesterday (except of course for some of the jokes which you would most certainly not get away with nowadays). The practical effects are nothing short of stunning, with epic explosions aplenty. The soundtrack is also great, featuring music of the times.

Fans of the film will love this new release, and with lots of special features too this one is well worth adding to your collection.

“Our outfit’s called Air America. Strictly civilian American pilots, like yourself. Wild men, if I may say so Billy, flying cargo and refugees in the Wild Wild East.”

Air America is available to own now on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD.

Special Features: