Picture taken from Sean Astin Land
In short, this is not one of Sean Astin's better movies. In fact, I don't think it's one of anybody's better movies.
Does this seem harsh? Well, get this: the plot revolves around a group of terrorists trying to blow up a mountain. This is already a red flag considering the times we live in, but September 11 was still a few years off when this movie was made, so it can hardly be penalized for that. Anyway, the terrorists are trying to blow up the mountain because...and here's where I get lost. I know it has something to do with a plane wreck and a bunch of plutonium but why they were so intent on blowing up this plutonium when, in the beginning of the movie, they seem to want it so badly, is a mystery. The truth is, I don't think they were terribly sure themselves. I know one of them told a story having to do with a birthday and a book which I'm sure was meant to explain everything but only succeeded in meaning nothing. I guess the importance of an explanation was overshadowed a little bit by the excitement of the once in lifetime chance to blow up a mountain. Yeah baby!
Oh yeah, there's a protagonist. I think his name is Matt, but he's more commonly known as the "ski bum" because, in the eyes of his rich girlfriend's rich father, his job at the ski resort (which is on the mountain about to be blown up), makes him a bad, irresponsible person undeserving of his daughter's hand in marriage. And how do you suppose he goes about proving himself to this man? By saving everyone from the evil terrorists, of course...I think. It's really kind of irrelevant most of the time anyway unless one of the terrorists is pointing a gun at his girlfriend. The guy is hardly in the movie and when he is, you're so ashamed of his stupidity that he hardly seems to deserve any honor assigned him for his apparently heroic deeds. I mean, I kept expecting him to get better, but the character never developed. He never got a chance to. Darn shame. This movie could have been salvaged a lot easier had this character been treated with more dignity.
Other characters that populate this movie are hardly worth mentioning. Each and every one of them is so cartoonish that it's hard to figure out if we're supposed to be taking them seriously or not. Bad, bad, bad.
Needless to say, I don't recommend Icebreaker. Not even as a mindless escape like the movies it was modeled after can provide at times. In fact, I recommend you walk past this movie as fast as you can. Do not pass Go. Do not collect two hundred dollars. Do not be drawn in by the tasty dessert.
Icebreaker
starring: Sean Astin (Matt), Bruce Campbell (Carl Greig), Stacy Keach (Bill Foster), Suzanne Turner (Meg Turner)
Eye Candy Factor: 2 (out of possible 10); normally Sean Astin would score higher but I was far too busy covering my eyes at the utter stupidity of his character to really enjoy his good looks on this one.
The Yeah Right! Factor: Painful.
Chick Flick or Dick Flick?: I think it was meant as a guy thing with some added romance to attract the ladies, but I personally pity anyone who watches this movie, man or woman.
Ewan McGregor Connections: No direct ones that I could see, but Sean Astin was in the infinitely better Lord of the Rings with Ian Holm, who was in A Life Less Ordinary with Ewan McGregor (see how this is like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon?).
Sense and Sensibility: Don't even ask.
The Coolness Factor: Okay, so there was one stunt that was kind of cool and the explosions were fun. 3 (out of possible 10)
To Sum it All Up: If I could assign negative numbers, I would.
Care to challenge my opinion? Come on down!
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