Guilty Pleasures: Drive Angry 3D
By Samuel Hoelker
March 9, 2011
BoxOfficeProphets.com

Oh, I would drive her so angry.
There are many, many people in the world who dislike Nicolas Cage (and it seems that most of them write for BOP). For every good movie he makes, there’s at least six that are deemed terrible. I’ve not seen every Cage movie (while I may not ever see Ghost Rider, I am excited that the Crank geniuses Neveldine/Taylor are directing him in the sequel), but I’m sure most of them are, in fact, crap. I like Nicolas Cage more than most, but I won’t see a movie I don’t want to see. People just assume, however, that any Nicolas Cage movie now must be awful. They are truly missing out. Maybe they don’t deserve to see Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans anyway.

Before reading about some box office prognostications, I had assumptions that Drive Angry: Shot in 3D would be at least a minor hit. When the results came in, though, I realized that not everyone has as awesome of tastes as I do. The story of a man named after Paradise Lost’s John Milton (Cage) (I’ve not read it; I’m assuming that Hell is the only connection?), who escapes Hell to save the life of his granddaughter that’s been taken away by a Satan-worshipping cult? And then “The Accountant” starts chasing him all throughout Louisiana? In eye-popping 3D? In the right hands, how could this go wrong?

And thankfully, the right hands were on it. Way back in the early days of the 3D “revolution”, My Bloody Valentine was praised for its effective use of 3D. It made the film go (slightly) ahead of the clichés and made it into something new-ish and exciting. While the plot of Drive Angry: Shot in 3D alone should make anyone immediately want to go out and see it, the implementation of actual, quality 3D should be a draw as well. Too often we get terrible/non-existent 3D like The Green Hornet where its only real effect is making everything darker and more expensive. Drive Angry: Shot in 3D, which was shot in 3D, should have appealed to everyone and their parents (well, cool parents at least). Not only does the 3D work in the gimmicky context (which, despite what many people like to say, is the best part of 3D), but also in the depth of field context. It succeeds in every way 3D should. What’s also great is that the gimmicky 3D isn’t just for 3D’s sake (like Brendan Fraser accidentally shooting a tape measure out at the audience in Journey to the Center of the Earth – which looks hilariously terrible in 2D) – its plot-incorporated. Things that make this much sense in 3D rarely occur. This may be a bold statement (since I also have Step Up 3D on my mind), but Drive Angry: Shot in 3D may have the best 3D yet. And yes, I didn’t mention Avatar.

Drive Angry: Shot in 3D’s success mostly hinges on the tone it has. In a way, it reminded me of Kick-Ass (and not just because of Nicolas Cage). Both films take place in worlds with absolutely no regard to property, life, or humanity. Chaos reigns. The way it was handled in Kick-Ass certainly brought about many detractors; I think that DA: Si3D handles it better. Instead of a pseudo-real world with wanton destruction and profane young people, Hell literally walks the earth. It’s a silly subject done with just about the right amount of seriousness. It’s never meant to be gritty (or comically gritty even); it’s just supposed to be “awesome,” which requires a deft touch. The movie has to make us excited when Nicolas Cage is shooting people while having sex as well as actually interested at the cult’s human sacrifice, all within the confines of people being able to escape Hell and disintegrate souls. The tone’s perfect.

This brings us to Nicolas Cage. Whether you think he always sleepwalks through roles or you’re Roger Ebert and consider him the most daring actor in film today (I’m about 80% on Ebert’s side), he is a consistently working actor, often genre-hopping. In the 2000s, I’m sure one-third of the world thinks of him in National Treasure, one-third Ghost Rider, and one-third The Weather Man, all three being incredibly different. Whether or not they’re good is moot. For me, Nicolas Cage was the main drawing point for me. For looking like an average man (outside of haircuts), he has the ability to turn any line or action into something memorable without breaking character or going more over-the-top than what the movie calls for. Few actors would be able to pull off drinking beer from a man’s skull without it being mean-spirited or distasteful; Nicolas Cage can.

Do you hold a grudge against Nicolas Cage? Have you not yet forgiven him for The Family Man or for “remaking” the “classic” Bad Lieutenant? You should give him another chance. In the right vehicle, I think he can reclaim some of his former fans and prestige, and I think Drive Angry: Shot in 3D is one of those. If only people didn’t write him off immediately.

I’m proud to love Drive Angry: Shot in 3D and I’ll be mad at you if you don’t.