Top of the World

This film is like the proverbial curate's egg: good in parts. The three leading actors are superb, and there is plenty of (admittedly sometimes violent) action throughout. But the plot is so generic and you spend the whole movie wondering if this is it, will it get any better. Sadly, It doesn't. The Hoover Dam sequence is exciting, though. Definitely worth it for the leading actors, especially Tia Carrere, and the stunts!

Yes, it looks like a big bloated bomb. The production values aren't exactly top-notch. The camera angles are often far off, the acting can be very misguided (maldirected), some areas of bad sound, and David Alan Grier is in it. All are signs of a bomb to watch out for.

But surprisingly, this is one to watch. It has a unique story which is beefed up with actually funny jokes and genuinely offbeat characters. The action scenes are very well done, too. It has many old-school action sequences with no CGI's and great stunts. Its got nicely done shootouts and an excellent car chase, but somehow it doesn't feel structured around and for the action. It keeps its focus on the story, which I'll get to...now.

A uniquely fun Peter Weller plays an ex-cop, ex-con who gets out of jail on parole. The first thing on his agenda is to knock off his ex-wife's new husband (Dennis Hopper in one of his most generic performances to date) by swindling a way to win the jackpot at his casino. Or is his (HOT) wife Tia Carerra (at her most hot) in on it too? This one is, out of a lot of reasons, unnoticed because a bigger-budget but sub-par movie called "Ocean's Eleven" happened to be released four years later. "Top of the World" is much better, because the action is better and it doesn't need cutesy and lame humor to seek a wide audience's approval. Plus, I'd pick Peter Weller over George Clooney any day of the week...not to mention Julia Roberts isn't even 1/1,000,000 of Tia Carerra.

Unquestionably the worst movie of furie's career the film fails to hit the mark. This film boasts a good cast like hopper, weller and carrere. However the weak script and OTT special effects ruin the film and make the actors look bad. The major screw up in this film is the helicopter scene. When the copter starts to go out of control it is pitch black. However when the camera focuses out from inside its about ten o clock in the bloody morning. The bad guys cant seem to escape AND SPEND ABOUT 20 MINS ON ONE STAIR CASE! The main bad guy( dont know his name) is the worst performer in the film a major flop

In TOP OF THE WORLD, ex-con, Ray (Peter Weller) and his soon-to-be ex-wife, Rebecca (Tia Carrere), head to Las Vegas for one final blast before their impending divorce. After winning big at the casino, everything seems great, until a gang of criminals moves in to poop on the party! Now, Ray must rise to the occasion.

Sound familiar? Well, that's no surprise, since this movie follows the same formula as every other post-DIE HARD, action movie of the 1980's-90's! Be it located in a high-rise, a train, a ship at sea, or a casino, it's always about the same. Endless gunfire, explosions, and impossible, unbelievable action sequences all go off like so many firecrackers.

The hero must overcome unfathomable odds to take on the bad guys, a group that is always outfitted like a small army, and usually led by an odious thug.

Unfortunately, such a film requires a Bruce Willis, a Stallone, or, of course, an Arnold to pull it off! In a pinch, perhaps Chuck Norris or Steven Segal. Weller just doesn't have the moxie! Make no mistake, he was fantastic in ROBOCOP! This just isn't his forte.

Without that uber-charismatic, or ultra-manly hero, it all crumbles into blandness, no matter how many lives are lost...

This is a production from the Nu Image/Millennium Pictures movie company, and if you have seen any of their other movies, you probably know that on a technical level the movie will succeed. Indeed, "Top Of The World" is a very good-looking movie. The cinematography is great, there are some great locations that will make you wonder how the filmmakers got permission to run amuck on, and there are some good action sequences.

Unfortunately, some key parts of the movie are definitely lacking. The characters could have been better written - as it is, there is no real character that interests you and makes you hope he or she will prevail. These poorly written characters may be why the acting is not always very enthusiastic by the once-in-a-lifetime cast. Also, the various plot twists and character backstabbings become confusing after a while.

Not a terrible movie, but it's kind of lacking. I would only recommend you watch it if nothing else better is playing on TV.