Review of Terminal Velocity (1994) by Ron D — 08 Oct 2011

Clever, entertaining action/comedy with a pre-drug-addled Charlie Sheen as a reckless, over-grown frat boy (stretch!) skydiving instructor who's latest student (Nastassja Kinski) seemingly plummets to her death after jumping from his plane prematurely.

With his career and and freedom on the line, Sheen begins to investigate the circumstances of her death, witch entangles him in a twisty cat and mouse game involving the KGB and the Russian mob. Though the particulars of the plot are extremely overwrought, and none of it would hold up to much scrutiny, if you accept "Terminal Velocity" for what it is, it works.

The plot twists and their reveals work surprisingly well, and the cast is solid all around. Only some of the comedic elements and one-liners land with a thud (no pun intended). However, given the far-fetchedness of the plot, it would have been a mistake to make the film as a dead-serious thriller.

Don't look for anything resembling logic or plausibility, but it doesn't completely insult the audiences intelligence either by taking itself too seriously. The action sequences are well executed and the skydiving scenes are well shot.

Solid entertainment all the way around.