IMDb RATING
6.0/10
50K
YOUR RATING
An old flame discovers her ex-boyfriend from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.An old flame discovers her ex-boyfriend from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.An old flame discovers her ex-boyfriend from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.
Ken Camroux-Taylor
- Neff
- (as Ken Camroux)
Featured reviews
Back to the eighties. This movie was burned down to the ground by all the critics who despised it. It is flat out silly and cheap, but the masses loved it anyway. Why?
The good nr 1 Terrific actor's chemistry between Goldy Hawn and Mel Gibson. Fireworks are going off. Yes, it's over the top, in your face, silly acting, but there is always a joke around the corner and there is always a great budding romantic attraction that lifts up this movie.
The good nr 2 Ladies, you get to see Mel Gibson's (hairy) b*tt. In close up. With a needle sticking in it and two ladies having a catfight over Mel when he has a needle in his b*tt.
The good nr 3 It's big Hollywood mindless entertainment and it's really good at that.
Any bad? If you dont like big cliche Hollywood comedy blockbusters, then better pass this one by.
But I say let's celebrate the eighties! Have a popcorn and a coke, watch it with family and friends and have a good time!
The good nr 1 Terrific actor's chemistry between Goldy Hawn and Mel Gibson. Fireworks are going off. Yes, it's over the top, in your face, silly acting, but there is always a joke around the corner and there is always a great budding romantic attraction that lifts up this movie.
The good nr 2 Ladies, you get to see Mel Gibson's (hairy) b*tt. In close up. With a needle sticking in it and two ladies having a catfight over Mel when he has a needle in his b*tt.
The good nr 3 It's big Hollywood mindless entertainment and it's really good at that.
Any bad? If you dont like big cliche Hollywood comedy blockbusters, then better pass this one by.
But I say let's celebrate the eighties! Have a popcorn and a coke, watch it with family and friends and have a good time!
Rick Jarmin, who in the FBI witness protection program, is working in a Detroit gas station under an assumed name. Things are going well until old flame Marianne Graves pulls up and recognises him. He calls the FBI to get relocated but learns his handler has retired. The replacement promises to help but quickly shows himself to be corrupt as he passes Rick's details to two corrupt ex-DEA agents; one who is still wanted the other who has just finished a fifteen year jail sentence thanks to Rick's testimony. The two men quickly turn up and Rick's boss is killed in the shoot-up; after that Rick ends up on the run with Marianne. There are a series of chases till the fleeing duo confront their chasers in a zoo.
This is a fun action comedy. The story is fairly simply but serves to provide a series of enjoyably chases and action sequences. This includes chases in cars, on motorbikes and in aircraft and action that features shooting, explosions and an impressive final confrontation in a zoo, complete with dangerous animals. The laughs come from amusing situations rather than forced gags for the most part... an early gag where Rick tricks his boss may be a little forced but it is also very funny. Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn have a good chemistry as Rick and Marianne. The villains played by Bill Duke, David Carradine and Stephen Tobolowsky are solid enough but get less screen time than one might expect. Overall this might not be a must see film but it provides sufficient laughs and action to make it worth watching if you want decent, not too extreme, action with plenty of amusing moments.
This is a fun action comedy. The story is fairly simply but serves to provide a series of enjoyably chases and action sequences. This includes chases in cars, on motorbikes and in aircraft and action that features shooting, explosions and an impressive final confrontation in a zoo, complete with dangerous animals. The laughs come from amusing situations rather than forced gags for the most part... an early gag where Rick tricks his boss may be a little forced but it is also very funny. Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn have a good chemistry as Rick and Marianne. The villains played by Bill Duke, David Carradine and Stephen Tobolowsky are solid enough but get less screen time than one might expect. Overall this might not be a must see film but it provides sufficient laughs and action to make it worth watching if you want decent, not too extreme, action with plenty of amusing moments.
The star power of Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn help this 1990 action film, which is about a witness protection program refugee who reconnects by accident with his old girlfriend. The two then run to avoid the people after him. And run and run and run.
There are so many chase scenes in this movie, I lost count, but they lead to a very effective finale in the zoo. I enjoyed this movie because of its two stars. I thought they had great chemistry and repartee.
The movie is short on plot and character development, you know, things that one would occasionally enjoy seeing in a film, and long on action, charm, Mel's rear, Goldie's figure, and fashion. On this basis, I found it enjoyable.
There are so many chase scenes in this movie, I lost count, but they lead to a very effective finale in the zoo. I enjoyed this movie because of its two stars. I thought they had great chemistry and repartee.
The movie is short on plot and character development, you know, things that one would occasionally enjoy seeing in a film, and long on action, charm, Mel's rear, Goldie's figure, and fashion. On this basis, I found it enjoyable.
Bird On A Wire has lawyer Goldie Hawn accidentally discovering the man who left her at the altar working as a garage mechanic in a Detroit garage where Mel has adopted a really cheesy southern accent. Of course she wants an explanation.
What Goldie isn't ready to swallow is that Mel has been in witness protection after infiltrating and then giving testimony against drug kingpin David Carradine. Carradine is out after 15 years and looking for payback. He's got a nasty associate in Bill Duke and a corrupt FBI agent Stephen Tobolowsky helping.
Mel and Goldie work well together in this chase film bearing some resemblance to The 39 Steps. I'm surprised she did not do this with Kurt Russell, seems like a natural for Hollywood's most famous unmarried couple. Some resemblance to the Clint Eastwood classic The Gauntlet will be apparent as well.
The climax takes place in a zoo which was another of Gibson's witness protection jobs. The animals are of great help to our fleeing couple.
A must for fans of the two stars.
What Goldie isn't ready to swallow is that Mel has been in witness protection after infiltrating and then giving testimony against drug kingpin David Carradine. Carradine is out after 15 years and looking for payback. He's got a nasty associate in Bill Duke and a corrupt FBI agent Stephen Tobolowsky helping.
Mel and Goldie work well together in this chase film bearing some resemblance to The 39 Steps. I'm surprised she did not do this with Kurt Russell, seems like a natural for Hollywood's most famous unmarried couple. Some resemblance to the Clint Eastwood classic The Gauntlet will be apparent as well.
The climax takes place in a zoo which was another of Gibson's witness protection jobs. The animals are of great help to our fleeing couple.
A must for fans of the two stars.
I don't think this movie is as bad as some comments say, it is not a hit, but it is just the kind of movie I like very much and that IMHO are not being made anymore. It's a classical 90's easy-going action/comedy that won't disappoint anybody, who is not looking for a complicated plot and surprising end :)
I really enjoyed watching this movie, especially thanks to a beautiful couple made by Mel Gibson and Golide Hawn. It's just one of those movies you can watch over and over again and it sill keeps you entertained (well, the final scene seems a little boring to me...).
If you are looking for a nice action/comedy, check this one out, you won't be disappointed.
I really enjoyed watching this movie, especially thanks to a beautiful couple made by Mel Gibson and Golide Hawn. It's just one of those movies you can watch over and over again and it sill keeps you entertained (well, the final scene seems a little boring to me...).
If you are looking for a nice action/comedy, check this one out, you won't be disappointed.
Did you know
- TriviaGoldie Hawn did most of her own stunts, after being convinced by Mel Gibson to do so. She was originally reluctant to perform them, fearing the harsh and overwhelming nature of the tasks. She was eventually so pleased with her stunt performances that she kept her stuntman's jacket after filming resumed, and as of 2017 still exhibits it next to her Oscar statuette.
- GoofsWhen Rick and Marianne are escaping across the top of the hotel room, it is only minutes after her early breakfast was delivered at 10 to 7. As they crawl across the framework on the hotel roof, a clock in the background is showing around 07:30. When Rick falls and clambers back up, less than a minute later the clock is showing nearer 08:00
- Quotes
Rick Jarmin: I haven't had a girlfriend for 5 years.
Marianne Graves: Really?
Rick: Yeah - Mr. Wiggly's been on bread and water for 5 long years.
- Crazy creditsCredits scroll down instead of up
- ConnectionsFeatured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: You Blew It! (1990)
- SoundtracksBird On A Wire
Written by Leonard Cohen
Produced and Arranged by David A. Stewart
Performed by The The Neville Brothers
Courtesy of A&M Records
- How long is Bird on a Wire?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $20,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $70,978,012
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $15,338,160
- May 20, 1990
- Gross worldwide
- $138,697,012
- Runtime1 hour 50 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Comme un oiseau sur la branche (1990) officially released in India in English?
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