Plotless. Pointless. Silly. Goofy. Stupid. All words that could be used to accurately describe this movie. If you watch it and try to follow the plot, you will be sorely disappointed, but then, if you are going to see Snakes on a Plane for a plot, you may have bigger problems. The title really tells you all that you need to know. Well, that and the fact that Samuel L. Jackson stars in it.
If you must know what the story is about, it follows a young guy who witnesses a murder being committed by a ruthless gangster. The guy now jumps to the top of the list of witnesses who could put him away for life. This translates as "kill the kid." It is now up to agent Neville Flynn to keep the kid alive so he will be able to testify. What should have been a simple plane ride turns into a battle for survival as the bad guys set in motion a plot to take down the en route flight by way of snakes ... on the plane. Everything that is done in this movie is a build up to that central reptile battle, anything else, plot included, is extraneous fluff best kept to a minimum.
The hype for this movie was a huge grass roots movement. As soon as the title got out, it was off to the races. Only knowing title and star, a series of fan sites were spawned preparing for the release of the snakes upon the theaters of America. How much this groundswell of interest had in the making of the film, I have no idea. I do believe that the name was intended just as a working title while it was being put together, but once it caught on, why change it?
This is a great example of a B movie that embraces its roots. It has a low budget feel, it exists solely to serve the high concept, and sets out to provide just goofy entertainment. I have to say the energy and atmosphere evoked by everything around this movie is infectious. It brings a sense of playful fun back to the screen. The first trailer played back in May, in front of X-Men: Last Stand, and half the audience got up and applauded. It was quite a sight to see this kind of excitement about a movie, in a theater.
The movie itself is a blast. At the start, I tried to wrap my mind around the jumpiness of what plot there was, but quickly decided not to bother and just get wrapped up in the rollercoaster aspect of the film. It doesn't take long until we are on the plane and the snakes are loose. There is the build up of who will be the first victim, the suspense builds until that moment happens, then there is the necessary thinning of the herd, so to speak. We need to get the victims down to a nominal level where they can get some screen time.
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