Movie Reviews

‘Bird On A Wire’ Blu-Ray Review – Goldie Hawn And Mel Gibson Charm In Explosive Action Comedy

By Dillon Gonzales
August 20, 2021
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Hollywood has always believed that an easy way to achieve box office success is to put two beautiful people together and surround them with some capably shot action set pieces. For the most part, they are not wrong as the formula once yielded incredible financial gains. This was true of the 1990 action comedy Bird On A Wire from John Badham, the acclaimed director of Saturday Night Fever. Star Mel Gibson was already firmly a box office superstar with a franchise such as Lethal Weapon behind him. Goldie Hawn was no slouch herself with successful turns in Private Benjamin and Overboard. Through their combined chemistry the two tackled this sprawling action comedy in a way that weathered low critical support while connecting with a broader audience that made the film a huge success. It makes sense why critics did not support this one, but those who go into this one understanding that it does not reinvent the genre should still have as much fun with this one as audiences did back in 1990.

Hawn plays Marianne “Muffie” Graves, a former free spirit who has grown up to be a highly successful lawyer. When Marianne takes a business trip to Detroit to broker a major deal, she gets an unexpected blast from the past that completely shakes up her world. When she stops at a gas station outside the city, she comes across a man who looks strikingly like her hippie ex-fiancé, Rick Jarmin (Mel Gibson), who disappeared in a plane crash 15 years ago and was suspected to be dead. Yet, this attendant sports a southern accent and evades all personal questions that might confirm her suspicion. While initially satisfied that this man could not be her Rick since he claims to have served in the war, we come to learn that this is indeed Rick and he has been living in protective custody after testifying against drug-smuggling DEA agent named Eugene Sorenson (David Carradine, Kill Bill), who was conveniently just released from prison. Unfortunately for the curious Marianne, she is about to be roped into an unexpected adventure that could mean death for her and Rick.

The crazy journey that these two former-lovebirds embark upon is not the most original concept in the book, but it proves to be entertaining thanks to the chemistry of the two leads. After surviving a shootout that leaves a man dead, the two set out on a journey to find the one man who can clear up Rick’s situation while evading Sorenson and his partner Albert “Diggs” Diggins (Bill Duke), as well as the police who believe they were responsible for the death. Much of the fun comes from these two reconnecting after all of these years and figuring out what happened in the intervening years and what that means for their feelings for one another. Marianne has difficulty reconciling being “left at the altar” by Rick, but there is of course more to the story than she knows. Each stop along their perilous journey reveals a little more about what Rick has been up to and what kind of person he has become. Gibson is a problematic figure these days, but at this point in his career his charm was fuel for a box office fire. Marianne is not always given the depth that a similar character might have these days, but Hawn does the most with what she is given.

As an action film, Bird On A Wire mostly delivers. Everything is fairly lighthearted throughout, but shootouts and motorcycle chases are well choreographed by Badham. The finale which takes place at a zoo is the perfect amount of ridiculous as the stars are able to maneuver around the premises while gaining some assistance from the critters. This goes toward upping the comedic quotient of the project, which both stars handle with glee. You never truly get invested in the romance between Rick and Marianne – you know what type of film this is and how it is going to turn out – but the interpersonal moments are pleasant enough to make you happy when you see the pair together in the end. The plot goes through the typical motions, but it offers a fun time while doing so. If you like the two stars and want a lighthearted action film, this should hit the spot. Just do not expect a game-changing experience with this one.

Video Quality

This new Blu-Ray from Kino Classics gives Bird On A Wire an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1 derived from a newly-commissioned 2K scan. The cinematography from Robert Primes is reproduced in a lovely manner on this disc. Colors pop off the screen nicely in the various settings, as well as some of the vibrant outfits worn by Marianne. Skin tones look natural, with an excellent amount of facial detail present in close up. Black levels hold up pretty well with no signs of crush or compression artifacts. The film has a pretty solid grain structure that preserves the filmic look of the picture, showcasing subtle details in the locale. There are a few instances where the grain field becomes a bit loose, but these moments are few and far between. This presentation is mostly free of print damage, but there is a moment around the 5:00 mark where there is a shadowy lattice effect that lasts across a couple of shots that seems to be a product of the source material. Other than this anomaly the print seemed quite clear. Kino Classics has lovingly given this film a new life on Blu-Ray which allows it to look the best it ever has.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that opens up this sprawling tale in a pretty grand way sonically. The sounds of the kinetic set pieces radiate through the channel to provide some excellent ambient details. All of the various sounds in the mix seem appropriately balanced so that nothing ever feels off. The scene in which Rick and Marianne go to the zoo offers up a real sense of place with the environmental sounds coming through the mix. The sound of the dialogue itself comes through crystal clear without being crushed by the sound effects or score. The soundtrack offers a solid experience, especially with the recurring titular tune, which sounds quite powerful in this presentation. Kino Classics has provided an audio track that is equal to the excellence of the video quality.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director John Badham, Producer/Second Unit Director Rob Cohen and Film Historian/Filmmaker Daniel Kremer deliver a very entertaining and informative commentary track in which discuss the music in the film, the natural effervescence of Goldie Hawn, the improvisation of Mel Gibson, the cutting back on flashbacks within the film, the tone of the film and more.

Trailers: The two-and-a-half-minute trailer for Bird On A Wire is provided here. There are also trailers provided for The Hard Way, Running Scared, Code of Silence, Wanted Dead or Alive, Taffin, Mad Max, The Bounty, The River, and Deceived.

Final Thoughts

Bird On A Wire is an enjoyable, comedic adventure thanks to the traits of the two leads. The action is well executed and occasionally thrilling, even if you have seen such things countless times before. The ensemble cast provides a solid support system for these stars to bounce off of in a fun way. Kino Classics has released a Blu-Ray with a really impressive A/V presentation and an entertaining new commentary track. If you are a fan of a mindless action film and the talent involved, you should have a good time with this one. Recommended

Bird On A Wire will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on September 21, 2021.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.