Bird on a Wire (1990)

My Review

Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn star in an action-adventure-comedy film called “Bird on a Wire.” It tells the story of a man in the witness protection program who runs into his old girl friend, and, with his cover blown, both must then go on the run after being discovered by the drug dealer he testified against years earlier. Director John Badham (“Short Circuit” 1986) did not put together the best movie ever made, as it has questionable production values with a mediocre script by Louis Venosta and David Seltzer.

The film solely relies on the charisma and personas of stars Goldie Hawn and Mel Gibson for its appeal to audiences and its ultimate success . The picture also has a capable supporting cast that includes David Carradine, Bill Duke, Stephen Tobolowsky, Joan Severance, and Jeff Corey. It is also aided by a quality musical score by Hans Zimmer.

The very watchable “Bird on a Wire” is fun escapist programming that was despised by critics but nonetheless a box office sensation for Interscope Communications, The Badham/Cohen Group, and Universal Pictures.