Snakes On A Plane

Halfway between Men In Black and Final Destination, the fright-humour of Snakes On A Plane makes little attempt at a realistic storyline but does deliver as party spirit, night-out entertainment. FBI man Samuel L. Jackson is the all-action, wise-cracking FBI agent conducting a vital witness by plane to Los Angeles. The bad guys have filled the plane's hold with snakes and timed things so the snakes get to the passengers mid-flight. The first half is straight humour, and the rest, tongue-in-cheek terror of the so-bad-it's-good variety. Pneumatic babes and male-bonding jokes, with soft-touch additions of puppy dogs and babies, make Snakes On A Plane one for the lads but one the girlfriends will enjoy too.

The opening scenes of curvaceous chicks, Hawaii beaches and a fast bike ride (as well as self-conscious product placement) are interrupted by a grisly gang execution to show it's not too lightweight; once airborne, we have useful flight information such as how to disable a fire alarm and have mile-high sex, or make a flamethrower from household ingredients. It runs almost like an X-rated edition of Blue Peter, including an ending that shows you the Best Way To Get Snakes Off A Plane and a new take on How To Land A Jumbo Jet.

The snakes look delightfully home-made, come in many different varieties, and are even occasionally scary. Samuel L Jackson carries the film but is aided and abetted by a reasonable supporting cast. The gags include pre-release parodies sent in by fans - before the end you may even find yourself thinking, "Wouldn't it be funny if . . . ," and then find they've included what you had in mind.

The final music video (over the first part of the credits) sends everyone out in a feelgood orgy of (relatively) bad taste. If you have low expectations of this film, you may find them fulfilled more enjoyably than you imagined. It drags slightly in the middle (how many variations of being bitten by a snake are there, for goodness sake?) but picks up again for a raucous conclusion. Snakes On A Plane is pure rubbish, but don't let that put you off...