Yes this is was flashback, to the late 1990s. And also to the 1960s. And there’s even a scene about LSD. But let’s get this out of the way right off the bat. I am sorely tempted to put Dennis Hopper on my top ten list of the biggest hams of all time after this performance. Good Lord was it hammy. Almost every line of his dialogue, every mannerism and every facial expression during the first three quarters of this movie was ridiculously over-the-top. Thankfully, he finally toned it down at the end – and that is the only thing that kept him out of top ten hams of all time. But what in the hail was that silly Irish jig he did whist wrapped in Christmas lights as he proceeded onto the bridge for the exchange with Kiefer Sutherland’s character? And then, after emerging from the river (and still absurdly wrapped in Christmas lights), his endless, hyperventilating gasping like a fish out of water – Jiminy Christmas, that was cringe-worthy.
Anywho, so what was this movie about? It was about a 1960s radical (Huey Walker) who was on the lam for disconnecting Spiro Agnew’s train and charged with endangering the Vice President. He was finally captured, and FBI agent John Buckner was assigned to escort him back to Spokane Washington for trial. In one of the many nonsensical plot elements – they took a train to Spokane. On the train, Walker convinced Buckner that he spiked his water with LSD, after which he promptly started to freak out. Like an FBI agent would fall for that? Come on, man!
With Buckner incapacitated with alcohol, which he drank excessively to ameliorate the effects of LSD, Walker took Buckner’s identity and turned him into the local sheriff Hightower (played by Cliff De Young). In another inexplicable scenario, instead of just immediately taking off, Walker stuck around town, going to a bar where he met Michael McKean as Hal and Richard Masur as Barry, two local attorneys. Hey, they were drinking Rolling Rock beer! We quickly realize that McKean has taken on the challenge to out-ham Dennis Hammer, I mean Hopper. Of course it was a losing proposition, but he gave it a go. In a third silly scenario, these two clowns were fans of Walker (but inexplicably did not recognize him posing as an FBI agent), and proceeded to kidnap him in a hair-brained plot to get who they think is Walker released from the local jail.
Now if you think this idiotic plot couldn’t possibly get more ludicrous, you’d be wrong. While in jail, Buckner was roughed up by Hightower, until he realized he had made a mistake and jailed the real FBI agent. When Buckner informed him he would not forgive the poor treatment, Hightower, realizing this would destroy his chances of getting elected as representative, took the obvious next step of declaring both Buckner and Walker fugitives. And then gave his deputies the order: “shoot to kill”! COME ON, MAN!!
After the previously described river scene, Buckner in fact decided to help Walker escape, then led him to the commune where he grew up. Here we met the final main character, Maggie, played by Carol “Simka” Kane. The only remaining hippie, she revealed to Walker that Buckner was born as the name “Free”. This provided an unexpected twist and some rationale to Buckner’s seemingly improbable change of heart. As a side note, Kane smiled and laughed far too much during her dialogue. It was distracting, but not as bad as Hopper’s hamfest.
The ending was as predictable as it was impossible, but provided some resolution. Worth a watch if you want to laugh at Hopper’s ham. If you aren’t a fan of ham, pass. Four slices of boiled ham out of ten.