If you, like myself, get all teary eyed when “One Headlight” starts playing while watching Excess Baggage, then this is a movie that may be worth your time. It came out in the summer of 97 just as the 90’s pop culture was really starting to pick up steam. So those, such as myself, who get nostalgic over Fruit by the Foot and the Spice Girls will find this a welcome trip down memory lane. The movie boasts a hit 90’s soundtrack, Christopher Walken doing what Christopher Walken does, and two young leads representing the angst of growing up in the 90’s.
Excess Baggage is a movie directed by Marco Brambilla and written by Max D. Adams, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. It tells the story of a young woman named Emily (Alicia Silverstone) who, in a desperate ploy to gain some kind of emotional reaction from her Dad, stages her own kidnapping. As she waits in the trunk of her car to be “rescued” her car is stolen by Vincent (Benicio Del Toro) setting off a chain reaction of events that will forever change both their lives.
Outside of nostalgia this movie offers little else that draws you in. The chemistry between the two main leads feels forced. The performances from the entire cast is mediocre and the plot is fairly predictable. For a flick that claims to be an action/comedy there are few action sequences and the laughs are pretty sparse. This film could have been interesting had it been given a little more room to breathe. But instead it feels rushed. You get the sense the entire narrative is just trying to get us from one check point to another and tow the characters along to where they need to be. It’s not a bad movie per se. It’s just not an especially good one either.
Although I wanted to love this more for the nostalgia I couldn’t justify watching it outside of that reason. So if you are feeling misty eyed for the good old 90’s decade this should satisfy you. But if you are looking for a good comedy or action story this film will leave you feeling a little let down.
RORSCHACH RATING:
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Victims and Villains is written and produced by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey. Music by Yuriy Bespalov & Beggars. Excess Baggage is property of Mill Creek Entertainment & Columbia Pictures . We do not own nor claim any rights. Pick up your copy today from Mill Creek Entertainment, simply click here.
