The performance of Harley Cross as a kid kidnapped by the mob will either amuse the viewer for its precociousness and sly intelligence or make them roll the eyes for the manipulations of the script. It's a very violent film, the story of two hitmen (Roy Scheider and Adam Baldwin) who have been sent to kill Cross and his entire family and end up taking him on a journey to Houston to the head mobsters to be questioned. Poor Cross witnesses his parents being killed (or so he thinks) and in spite of his grief manipulates the two mobsters against each other. It's obvious that they don't like each other anyway so that's not a difficult thing to do, but there's an ironic bit of dark comedy as Cross plots his efforts to survive.
In many ways, the two hit men are a more glamorous version of the Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare characters from "Fargo", not as stereotypically stupid but certainly unwise in seeing what Cross is up to. Scheider is definitely the wiser of the two as he thinks before he shoots while Baldwin is anxious to shoot without ever having to think. It's an easy mark for Cross to plot against the true, quickly figuring them both out in spite of his youth.
While the scenes of violence are engaged very disturbing (as is the plot in general), the pacing of the film is fast and surprisingly amusing in spite of the many unpleasant circumstances that occur. There are still many cliches and ridiculous twists, but a few are surprisingly intelligent, although one twist that comes from one of the better twists is rather dumb. I would have to say that Cross is the one who ends up stealing the film, not just because you're rooting for him but because there's a slyness in the way he maneuvers his way to being rescued. The scene of the police blockade has its flaws but is also rather intelligent in a way you haven't seen before. Overall a film that is predictable but one that you can still enjoy because there are some great surprises along the way.
In many ways, the two hit men are a more glamorous version of the Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare characters from "Fargo", not as stereotypically stupid but certainly unwise in seeing what Cross is up to. Scheider is definitely the wiser of the two as he thinks before he shoots while Baldwin is anxious to shoot without ever having to think. It's an easy mark for Cross to plot against the true, quickly figuring them both out in spite of his youth.
While the scenes of violence are engaged very disturbing (as is the plot in general), the pacing of the film is fast and surprisingly amusing in spite of the many unpleasant circumstances that occur. There are still many cliches and ridiculous twists, but a few are surprisingly intelligent, although one twist that comes from one of the better twists is rather dumb. I would have to say that Cross is the one who ends up stealing the film, not just because you're rooting for him but because there's a slyness in the way he maneuvers his way to being rescued. The scene of the police blockade has its flaws but is also rather intelligent in a way you haven't seen before. Overall a film that is predictable but one that you can still enjoy because there are some great surprises along the way.