Released: June 1991
Director: Joe Johnston
Rated PG
Run Time: 108 Minutes
Distributor: Disney
Genre: Action/Adventure
Cast:
Bill Campbell: Cliff Secord
Jennifer Connelly: Jenny
Timothy Dalton: Neville Sinclair
Terry O’Quinn: Howard Hughes
Alan Arkin: Peevy
Paul Sorvino: Eddie Valentine
Jon Polito: Bigelow
Nostalgia is a powerful emotional force. When you yearn for something that no longer exists or the way certain things used to be, the memories of those times can be overwhelming. Nostalgia is not a bad thing. By remembering the way things used to be can sometimes help you prepare for what’s coming next. For movies, nostalgia is really important, as older movies are a window into a world that has since passed into memory, for better or worse. These movies allow you to relive those moments that you cherish so very much. Nostalgia is not going to be the same for everybody. For people who were born in 50s, 60s, or 70s, looking back at these times can remind people of their formative years. Even kids who were born in the 90s and the early 2000s are going to have THEIR idea of what nostalgia means. I was an 80s/90s kid, so movies from those decades have a lot of meaning for me, especially the early 90s. 1991 was a banner year for film, regardless of what generation you grew up in. 1991 had some of the biggest films ever released: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, Hot Shots!, The Addams Family, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day just to name a few. But there was one movie that never got the attention that it deserved, and it was one of the best movie experiences of my life: The Rocketeer.
The Rocketeer follows pilot Cliff Secord and his mechanic, Peevy as they prepare for a national aero-plane competition. When Cliff spots some runaway gangsters, he’s shot down, ruining any chances of competing. The gangsters had stolen an experimental rocket pack, designed by the legendary Howard Hughes, and hidden it in Cliff’s hanger. This rocket pack is sought after not just by the feds and Huges, but also gangster Eddie Valentine and movie star Neville Sinclair, who holds a secret of his own. With Peevy, Cliff tries to save his girlfriend, Jenny and the world from Hitler’s finest. If that sounds cheesy, that’s because it kind of is. It’s a comic book movie, so there’s an inherent amount of cheese involved. But the story is very B-movie material that, like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars, is a throwback to the serials and Errol Flynn-style adventure films of the 30s and 40s. It’s a perfectly decent story that keeps moving that moment it takes off(pun slightly intended)and doesn’t stop. As a kid, this movie sent my imagination into the stratosphere. How could it not? You’re strapping a rocket pack to your back and blasting off without needing wings or a plane. It’s literally a high-flying adventure that reminds me of the best kinds of movies that I loved as a kid. Seeing it again 30 years later brings back memories. The good kind. As goofy as it is, I can’t fault The Rocketeer for its over-the-top story.
The Rocketeer has an outstanding cast. Bill Campbell plays Cliff, the down-on-his-luck pilot. Campbell never got the big break that he should have, because he’s fantastic as the lead actor here. Alan Arkin is brilliant as Peevy. Jennifer Connelly plays Cliff’s love interest, Jenny. I’ve got to admit, I’ve always had a bit of crush on Ms. Connelly when I was younger. She was(and still is)stunning, but she’s also a talented actress in her own right. While her character is the stereotypical damsel in distress, she does get her moments where she holds her own. Terry O’Quinn absolutely nails it as Howard Hughes. But the real standout performance here is Timothy Dalton as actor Neville Sinclair. I always loved Dalton as James Bond, even though he had only two movies as 007, but he was excellent. He brings the same level of charm and sophistication to Sinclair, except the Sinclair happens to be a Nazi spy, so Dalton’s playing an evil version of James Bond, so to speak, but he does it so well. He also doesn’t go over the top the way that most actors would in a role like this. No, he keeps it simmering just below the surface. You like him, but when he turns, you really want to punch him in the face. Timothy Dalton is one of the greats, and he steals the show.
The Rocketeer is an old-school action-adventure in every aspect, from the visual effects to the stunt-work. While James Cameron was pushing visual effects forward with CGI, The Rocketeer takes its cue from the old action movies of the early 80s and 70s. If there was any CGI, I didn’t see it. There’s a lot of practical effects going on the gun-fights, car chases, big explosions. It all looks real because it was. There are a couple shots here and there that don’t hold up as well, specifically the matte shots where it is obvious that the actors are in front or above a blue screen. Oddly enough, however, that actually adds to the charm of this film. It’s not perfect, and it shouldn’t be. This was Industrial Light and Magic at the top of their game pre-CGI. The use of miniatures and actual locations was brilliant. The film also offers an explanation for why the Hollywood sign no longer has “land” in it, even the truth is far less entertaining. My favorite sequence, though, is when Cliff tries to rescue former pilot Malcolm as he takes Cliff’s place in a show without Cliff knowing about it. It’s edge-of-your-seat exciting and incredibly spectacular.
Special mention has to be made for the late James Horner’s masterful score for The Rocketeer. It’s a very classical kind of musical score that reminds me of Indiana Jones. It’s very memorable. From the moment the film starts, the music itself takes you on an adventure. It’s a high-spirited score that makes your soul soar into the heavens. James Horner has always been one of the best composers in film history. He earns his place among the greats like John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith. In fact, I daresay that Horner has almost as many iconic soundtracks to his name as Williams does. It really broke my heart when I learned that James Horner had passed away in a tragic accident, yet his legacy and his music tell the story of his life and his career over the decades and continues to inspire. I can’t imagine The Rocketeer without James Horner’s music. That’s how powerful and amazing it truly is. The best music and best scores can hold up decades after their release, and The Rocketeer‘s soundtrack ranks as one of the best and most recognizable scores in movie history.
The Rocketeer was Joe Johnston’s second film as a director, and it’s incredible that it turned out as well as it did. It’s one of the reasons why Marvel picked him to helm Captain America: The First Avenger. He has a real great eye for classic adventure story-telling that few directors have. He also directed movies like Hidalgo, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids(his first movie), Jumanji, and The Wolfman remake(I liked it, sue me). While The Rocketeer isn’t a perfect movie, it is an outstanding film that hearkens back to the old adventure films that defined the industry in its early days. Sadly, the film barely made back it’s 40 million dollar budget at the box-office, so Disney’s attempt to make a franchise out of it crumbled, although, there’s been talk of a sequel over the past decade, but there’s nothing to show for it. Apparently there IS an animated series, but it’s not being well-received at all, especially by fans of the original movie, but I digress. The Rocketeer is a feel-good movie that stands the test of time with great performances, interesting characters, and a musical score that is epic. It’s mostly family friendly, so I would actually recommend this movie to ANYBODY who loves adventure movies. When it comes to nostalgic movies, The Rocketeer soars.