[5]

Bird on a Wire is a big, goofy Hollywood action spectacular with two likeable stars at its center. Mel Gibson plays an FBI informant in witness protection and Goldie Hawn plays an old flame he left at the altar when the feds reassigned him a new identity. Now they’re reunited and on the lam from a dirty fed and his hit men. This is one of the biggest, most over-bloated action spectaculars of its time, complete with a car chase, motorcycle chase, airplane chase, several foot chases, a highwire act, and a climax that takes place in an enclosed zoo full of wild animals. It’s so big and so much, you have to roll your eyes a few times, but if you like Goldie and Mel, Bird on a Wire won’t disappoint you too badly. The film is at its best when the two are given room to breathe. After a protracted car chase, Goldie starts laughing and you have to wonder if it was an improvised moment. Some of that freshness comes back into play when the two sleep together at a run-down motel Goldie battles a cockroach and Mel puts his ever-so smooth moves on her. Added plus: Mel takes all his clothes off several times. Big minus: This has the worst score of Hans Zimmer’s entire career. With David Carradine, Bill Duke, and Stephen Tobolowsky.