Blu-Ray Review: Gory, Gratuitous ‘Drive Angry’ Delivers What it Promises

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CHICAGO – One goes into a 3D film called “Drive Angry” with Nicolas Cage with different expectations. Just as you don’t judge “Piranha 3D” on the same scale as “The King’s Speech,” “Drive Angry” should be judged on what it sets out to do — offer ridiculous, over-the-top, B-movie entertainment. On that level, it works.

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0
Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0

“Drive Angry” is a movie about violence, vengeance, and really fast cars. Cage gives a relatively lackluster performance (he’s actually the worst thing about the movie), but the chaos that swirls around him is entertaining enough to get the movie across the finish line in style. Cage plays Milton, a maniac who escapes from Hell and becomes undead vengeance when a cult leader named Jonah King kills his daughter and kidnaps his granddaughter. A lovely waitress (Amber Heard) gets caught up in the mess and, of course, Hell sends someone (a movie-stealing William Fichtner) to get Milton back. It’s all an excuse for B-movie action that could only come from the man who directed “My Bloody Valentine 3D.”

Drive Angry was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 31, 2011
Drive Angry was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 31, 2011
Photo credit: Summit Home Video

Patrick Lussier’s film is cheesy, apocalyptic fun. Cage is typically morose, Fichtner is typically awesome, and Heard is typically hot. The movie starts stronger than it finishes — the first half hour or so is B-movie greatness — but, once again, enjoyment of a film like “Drive Angry” comes down to expectation. Naturally, you have to leave your expectations of realism at the door when the movie opens with a man driving out of Hell. And what works about the movie is how much Lussier and his team keep their tongue in their B-movie-loving cheeks. Great B-movies show you crazy things you’ve never seen before (for example, like a scene where Milton kills several attackers while still banging a local waitress). It may not be high art, but “Drive Angry” delivers the B-movie goods.

Synopsis:
In the high-octane, action-adventure Drive Angry, Nicolas Cage stars as Milton, an undead felon who breaks out of hell to avenge his murdered daughter and rescue her kidnapped baby from a band of cult-worshipping savages. Joined by tough-as-nails Piper (Amber Heard), the two set off on a rampage of redemption, all while being pursued by an enigmatic killer (William Fichtner) who has been sent by the Devil to retrieve Milton and deliver him back to hell.

Special Features:
o Access: Drive Angry - Get the ultimate insider’s look at Drive Angry
o Audio Commentary with Filmmakers Patrick Lussier and Todd Farmer
o Deleted Scenes with Filmmaker Commentary

“Drive Angry” stars Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, William Fichtner, and David Morse. It was directed by Patrick Lussier and was released on Blu-ray and DVD on May 31st, 2011.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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