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Treasure hunters are looking for an American submarine in the African desert. But they get much more than they bargained for. | score D+ |
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| Cast Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, Penelope Cruz, William H. Macey Director Breck Eisner Screenwriter Thomas Dean Donnelly Country USA Rating / Running Time MA / 127 minutes Australian Release April 2005 Official Site (c) moviereview
2005
ABN 72 775 390 361 |
Sahara
opens with great promise. After a pre-credit sequence that alludes to
misadventure during the American Civil War, the action jumps forward
two centuries where well-heeled treasure hunters are claiming another
victory. And while they’re in Africa, they take an opportunity to
follow legend which says an American proto-submarine and its glittering
cargo is buried in the nearby desert. There’s a hint that this
could, after a very long wait, mark a new Indiana Jones
- swashbuckling adventure and gung ho action in exotic locations. But
Matthew McConaughey is no Harrison Ford, and director Breck Eisner is
no Steven Spielberg. Sahara quickly reveals its rather preposterous
hand with the arrival of Dr Eva Rojas (Penelope Cruz) who links a
vicious disease with their sub, the nuclear goings-on of a French
corporation and a despotic war-lording dictator. However, we’re
told that there’s nothing to fear now McConaughey is on the case
aided by his jokey sidekick, Steve Zahn. They’re American after
all and good will prevail. I’m reminded of Richard
Chamberlain’s shabby Allan Quatermain series fused with the worst
of Roger Moore’s James Bond.
There are some distractions found in the ubiquitous stunt chases and a
flustering William H Macey aboard Treasure Hunt HQ, but for the most
part, the strained plot from four credited writers takes its toll on Sahara.
Worse, their expectation that we should feel safe knowing that cultural
raiders will do the right thing thanks to good ol’ American
spirit is obnoxious, to say the least. But worst of all, Sahara forfeits its promise to create a clichéd and rather dull experience, which is no way to spend two hours at the movies.
// COLIN FRASER |