Rough Trade Friday: The Rocketeer

It's always a little difficult describing the Fouth of July to my friends who live in other countries; not because they don't understand embracing one's national heritage, but because they just don't get why we're willing to dress and behave so weirdly while out in public. My usual analogy is that it's kind of like Halloween with a theme, and it takes place during the daylight hours instead of after dark. Ultimately, I think that's the best way to describe why we act the way we do for the 4th and the days surrounding it: we know it's silly on the surface, but we love doing so because this is one of the few days of the year when just about everyone in this country makes an effort to enjoy the ideals this country represents. Oh, yeah, and we all love watching fireworks, too. Forgot about that for a minute. Sorry.

In light of my reignited and temporary patriotism, I submit this weekend's viewing suggestion to you, Dear Readers: The Rocketeer, based on the various comics published by Pacific, Eclipse Comics, Comico Comics and Dark Horse Comics. Disney's action-adventure from the early 90s fits right in around the upcoming holiday of barbecues, firecrackers, and public alcohol consumption, and it's damn hard not to like the film as a result. In case you're too young to remember The Rocketeer's theatrical debut (and if you are, shut the hell up or me and Boy Blunder will brain you with a film tin), the movie follows the adventures of ace pilot Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell) after he finds a personal jet-pack in his hanger. With the help of his friend and trusty mechanic, Peabody (Alan Arkin), Cliff is soon juggling the glamorous life of a pulp hero, dating Jennifer Connelly, proving the Spruce Goose will actually fly, and fighting off hordes of damn dirty Nazis and mobsters so he can save America from Hitler's goose-stepping ambitions. Is it a little cheesy? Sure, but it's a fun script that never really takes itself too seriously and the cast does a great job of balancing pulp-era drama with some tongue-in-cheek humor and wry sarcasm. This is not meant to be taken as more recent movie adaptations of comic books are, filled with brooding heroes and internal struggles about right and wrong. No, here is a film that is a throwback to another age, when heroes always did what was right because they knew no other choice and there is never any real doubt that they could save the day in the end.

The movie was directed by Joe Johnston, whose directing portfolio is littered with ground-breaking and lame titles to for a diverse (though very short) list. Fortunately, The Rocketeer lands closer to the former category. Perhaps the only thing one could criticize, these days, is the quality of several special effects sequences. By today's standards, they're far from amazing, but they were considered pretty elaborate and impressive when they first appeared on theatrical screens. Still, the movie has a lot going for it and manages to get just about everything else right: from Arkin's goofy inventor to Timothy Dalton's send up to Errol Flynn to the final battle on top of the flaming zeppelin, it all works because... well, it just does.

Ultimately, this is one of those movies which embraces truth, justice, and the ideal that someone can have adventures while following their dreams. It isn't particularly deep, and it may be just a little bit silly, but it makes for some great Fourth of July viewing because it's got a nice little patriotic candy shell and it's almost impossible to resist its goofy charm. Oh, yeah, and it goes great with barbecued meat and beer.