Review: Too Much Pacing Dulls ‘Executive Decision’s’ Third Act

Is it really ‘Man Movie May’ if there’s not at least one thriller set on an airplane? One of my favourite kinds of thrillers—actioners set on airplanes, so think “Flightplan,” “Red Eye” and the stupidly fun “Snakes on a Plane”—always gets my blood going, and for the most part, Stuart Baird’s 1996 actioner “Executive Decision” is a solid film. 

Terrorists take over an airplane from Athens bound for Washington D.C., in order to have their leader released from prison. An intelligence analyst, David Grant (Kurt Russell) suspects that they’re planning something much bigger and doesn’t want to allow them into U.S. airspace. 

The cool aspect of this film is how it happens—Grant accompanies a commando unit on a special plane designed for mid-air crew transfers, where they attach themselves to the huge 747 and board the plane. From there, they have to defuse the bomb onboard and stop the terrorists before they enter American airspace.

“Executive Decision” could have just been a stupid action film, but it has more going for it than that. Importantly it has smarts as the film’s focus is about tension building and patience as the commando unit—including characters played by John Leguizamo, BD Wong, Joe Morton, Oliver Platt (who’s not really in the unit), and of course Russell himself—hangs out in bottom of the plane biding their time as Platt and Morton try to disarm the bomb. These bomb disarming moments hold some of the film’s strongest tension and direction. The initial takeover of the plane is also very thrilling. 

However, clocking in at 134 minutes, I couldn’t help but find this boring for stretches. I can be patient, but I became antsy as they stayed unseen on the lower deck of the plane for the majority of the film once they transfer onto it. It’s fine as the screenplay builds and builds, gathering all necessary information by trying to disarm the bomb and picking the exact time to strike. In a situation like this, that’s necessary and that’s why “Executive Decision” feels so measured. 

As far as the planning goes, I thought the situation where Russell became acquainted with flight attendant Jean (Halle Berry) to be solid. I liked how they roped her into the film, though I never thought they gave her that many chances to shine; only good little moments throughout. As for others in the cast, Steven Seagal is also underutilized; but I’ve also heard his acting is rough (this is somehow the first film I’ve seen featuring Seagal), so perhaps we’re spared in that respect by his anticlimactic exit. 

Still, about the patience exercised in “Executive Decision,” which really feels like it should be called “Executive Planning.” Whenever it seemed like they were about to strike and take on them baddies, I got excited. Then, instead, they just went back down to their hole. I’m generally patient but I can only handle so much foreplay before they get to the big event. This film feels like too much talk and no action for most of the film, but when they finally get on top and the action starts, the third act is incredibly fun and full-throttle. It’s also well-directed by Stuart Baird. 

I just feel like this film would be more effective at a tighter 95 to 105 minutes instead of 134 minutes. I’ll remember this for its third act and the great action in those moments, but I found the pacing too slow for much of the film. I’m a simple man, I like these plane thrillers to have balls-to-the-wall action or at least keep me intrigued throughout, and “Executive Decision” struggled on both fronts. Even the Liam Neeson thriller “Non-Stop” had me more invested. When I’m playing video games, I’m that guy who wants to go in guns blazing, never mind the casualties. “Executive Decision” is about the stealthy mission, concocting a perfect plan, vital that every soul on board is saved in this situation. Sure, that’s the smart way, but it’s also the boring approach, ain’t it?

I think this is a fine action film for people with the patience for the big moments. I just didn’t really have it with this story, and a film that I think is fine, just nothing special.