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| Directed by Chris Roberts; Starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Matthew Lillard, Saffron Burrows, Jürgen Prochnow, Tchéky Karyo, David Warner, David Suchet, and Ginny Holder |
Wing Commander is based on a computer game that I am now proud to say I never played, and that basis shows. The film goes to just as much trouble about having a plot as Pong did. What’s worse yet is that it is directed and co-written by the guy that invented the game, so he should at least know the material.
Idiot of the moment Freddie Prinze Jr. sets out on some intergalactic fighting as a wing commander that must save his force from evil aliens that look remarkably like cats. Along the way is this tough higher-ranked female (do I see formula coming) that does not hit it off with him from the start. Also he has some friend (Lillard) that is just there for some really unfunny comic relief. There is some sub-plot between Lillard and his new found love (Holder). And then there is some fighting. And then, thank heavens, there is the end.
What hurts the most about Wing Commander is that some big names are in it. David Suchet plays co-something-or-another on the main vessel and this is the guy who plays Hercule Poirot for Masterpiece Theatre. Jürgen Prochnow is the other half of that co-something-or-another and his last film was Best Picture Winner The English Patient, not to mention the star of the unbelievable 1982 German film Das Boot. But the one that seems most out of place is David Warner. When he is on screen, it looks like he is just reading off the lines to get money for his next London stageplay.
The film is bad, really bad, but still a step up from the tepid Super Mario Bros.
