Today’s quick review: The Rocketeer. In 1939, Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell), an up-and-coming pilot, and Peevy (Alan Arkin), his mechanic and friend, end up in a world of trouble when they chance upon an experimental jetpack stolen on behalf of actor Neville Sinclair (Timothy Dalton). As Cliff tries to master a new kind of flight, Neville sets his sights on Cliff’s girlfriend Jenny (Jennifer Connelly) to find out where he is keeping the jetpack.
The Rocketeer is a family action adventure movie and a throwback to the adventure stories of the first half of the 20th century. The movie revolves around an advanced jetpack pursued by the FBI, a gang of criminals, a Hollywood star with ulterior motives, and the device’s inventor, aviation magnate Howard Hughes (Terry O’Quinn). The Rocketeer features a simple premise and refreshingly honest fun, but won’t have enough flair to appeal to everyone.
The Rocketeer’s best asset is its sincerity. The characters are clearly drawn and easy to like, even if they’re not especially deep. The action is tame by modern standards, but high-flying jetpack stunts and fights with Sinclair’s goons keep the film light and energetic. The writing isn’t brilliant, but it satisfies the needs of the story and includes a couple of clever Easter eggs. The Rocketeer has just what it needs and little more.
But the film’s workmanlike execution is a double-edged sword. The Rocketeer will appeal to fans of early 20th-century adventures by virtue of having a jetpack and being true to the era. But the film takes few risks and doesn’t go the extra mile with its characters, action, or science fiction. There are no surprises, no extensions of the core concept, and no attempts at stylization beyond being a period piece. The Rocketeer plays it too safe.
The Rocketeer will appeal to a particular kind of viewer, one who is drawn to straightforward adventure and honest tales of derring-do. But viewers who are looking for something more innovative, more exhilarating, or more ambitious won’t get much from the film. They would do better with a modern superhero movie or a more stylized tribute to the same era of adventure, such as Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow or Dick Tracy.
6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for modest but pleasant adventure.