Review: Drive Angry

Grade: A-

Milton has just escaped from hell, literally, and he’s on a mission. The leader of a satanic cult has killed Milton’s daughter and kidnapped his granddaughter, whom he plans to sacrifice in a satanic ritual in order to raise Hell on Earth. While hunting down the people who have taken his granddaughter, he encounters a down-on-her-luck girl who decides to join him on his quest. A mysterious man who simply calls himself “The Accountant” is pursuing Milton for his own reasons as well. With the odds seemingly stacked against him, Milton chases after the cult and dodges the authorities in order to save his granddaughter.

Drive Angry is absolutely everything I was hoping for out of this movie and so much more. It was completely ridiculous, over the top, loaded with violence and absolutely hilarious. Every once in a while I enjoy watching movies like this, movies where you can just sit back and be entertained. The characters in the movie are all very enjoyable and have just the right amount of ridiculousness to them. I can absolutely admit that this movie has no substance to it, but sometimes that is ok. From the opening scene of Milton driving out of hell to the climactic scene with tons of gratuitous violence and action, Drive Angry completely delivers on what it is. For instance, there is a scene where “The Accountant” drives a hydrogen truck into a police roadblock, manages to lock the truck to a police car, puts the truck into a spin, then just steps out of the truck on to the hood of the police car as the truck starts to roll as if it were nothing, the coolest and most entertaining thing I have seen in a movie in a long time.

Nicolas Cage (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Kick-Ass) plays the lead role of Milton. I like Cage and Drive Angry totally makes up for the total crap-fest that was Season of the Witch. He is extremely entertaining in this movie and is absolutely perfect for the role. Amber Heard (The Stepfather, The Jonses) plays the role of Piper, a new friend that Milton makes along the way. She is pretty good and entertaining in her role and she kicks complete ass to. William Fichtner (Date Night, The Amateurs) plays the role of “The Accountant”. Every role I have seen this guy play has been very enjoyable and he really makes them his own, none more so than his role in Drive Angry. He is great in this movie and has some of the funniest parts of the movie. He really helped make this movie what it is. The movie also features Billy Burke, David Morse, Jack McGee, Katy Mixon and others.

If you are looking for substance and good writing, Drive Angry isn’t for you. However, if you are looking for a crazy and over-the-top action movie, then this movie is absolutely for you. If you have seen and liked the movie Shoot Em’ Up with Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti, this is a lot like that in many ways so you will probably enjoy Drive Angry as well. I really love crazy, insane movies like this every once in a while, I believe this movie might be bound for cult status once it hits DVD.

Great quote: “Why does everybody want to hurt me today?”