Today’s quick review: Speed. After Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves), an effective but reckless Los Angeles cop, foils a bomber’s (Dennis Hopper) plan to kill an elevator full of hostages, the bomber strikes back by rigging a city bus to explode if it drops below 50 miles per hour. With the help of Annie (Sandra Bullock), a passenger on the bus, Jack must find a way to defuse the situation while keeping the bus moving at dangerous speeds.
Speed is an action thriller set primarily on a runaway bus. Speed delivers Hollywood action in its purest form, with an over-the-top premise, high stakes, and an endless string of new threats to contend with. The film keeps the tension high and the action pumping throughout, making it a good choice if you are in the mood for some adrenaline. However, its contrived scenario and action-oriented plot make it a popcorn movie through and through.
Speed gets a lot of mileage out of its premise. Unlike most minimalistic thrillers, Speed has enough plot to fill out close to two hours. Jack and Annie encounter almost every obstacle imaginable in their efforts to keep the bus moving, and the film does a good job of staying interesting. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock make for strong protagonists, the right blend of competent and flawed, while Dennis Hopper’s performance comes off as suitably unhinged.
Watch Speed when you are in the mood for a well-executed thriller with a memorable premise. Speed is the quintessential action movie in every respect except for gunplay and hand-to-hand combat. If you are a fan of the genre, it is woth checking out. Skip it if you are looking for a cerebral plot or realistic scenarios. For other competent thrillers with similar elements, check out Air Force One, The Taking of Pelham 123, or The Fugitive.
7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a fruitful premise and non-stop action.