Air America isn’t a great war-drama-comedy especially compared with the classics, but I still found it mildly entertaining and both Gibson and Downey Jr. acquit themselves fairly well.
Air America
(1990)
Genre(s): Action, War, Comedy
Lionsgate | R – 112 min. – $34.99 | June 10, 2025
Date Published: 08/11/2025 | Author: The Movieman
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Lionsgate provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
The opinions I share are my own.
THE MOVIE — 3/5 |
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Plot Synopsis: Despite having just had his Los Angeles pilot’s license revoked, Billy Covington (ROBERT DOWNEY JR.) is hired by Air America, a clandestine airline operating out of Laos run by the CIA. He soon discovers that his mission is to covertly transport illicit goods in and out of Southeast Asia and that his copilot will be the wild-flying Gene Ryack (MEL GIBSON). But when Covington begins expressing doubt about the dubious morality of their operation, the two hotheaded pilots become at odds. Quick Hit Review: Air America is one of the more forgotten war movies and one I had heard of (probably in passing) but never bothered or thought to watch. Having now seen it, it’s easy to see why. The movie tries to ride the line of a serious war-drama-actioner with comedy elements (probably akin to Gibson’s Lethal Weapon) but neither one meshes terribly well with one another. The film is at least partially based on true events and could’ve made for an eye-opening look at another off-shoot of Vietnam and a war that was unknown to the American public. But then there’s the comedy elements that could’ve gone down the path of a movie like Lord of War but doesn’t lean into that darkly satirical aspects. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2¼/5 |
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This Steelbook release comes with a clear slip cover and includes a Digital HD copy code. Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Co-Producer John Eskow Return Flight: Revisiting Air America (20:03) is an archival featurette with interviews by members of the cast and crew though Gibson and Downey Jr. are missing. Short Inteviews with Cast and Crew (2:12) including Gibson, Downey Jr., etc from 1989. Very short. Pre-Flight: The Storyboards of Air America (5:18) looking at the storyboards used to outline the action scenes. Flight Log (3:53) is just a promotional featurette. Making Of Featurette (5:36) is pretty much the same as “Flight Log” just a tad longer. Last up is the Theatrical Trailer (1:25) and a Trailer (1:01) from 2024. |
4K VIDEO – 4½/5, BLU-RAY VIDEO – 3¾/5 |
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Air America flies onto 4K Ultra HD through Lionsgate and is presented here in its original 2.35 widescreen aspect ratio and a 2160p high-definition transfer. The picture quality is quite good with sharp detail and colors appear to be well balanced and very much of the era (ie late 80s/early 90s), despite taking place in the late 60s. Even so, there were no major blemishes and the natural film grain has been retained. |
AUDIO – 4½/5 |
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The disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track that has some great depth and dynamic with the action-centric scenes in the air as I could hear the choppers and planes flying from one side of the screen to the other. In addition, dialogue comes across with good clarity. |
OVERALL — 3½/5 |
| Air America isn’t a great war-drama-comedy especially compared with the classics, but I still found it mildly entertaining and both Gibson and Downey Jr. acquit themselves fairly well. This 4K Ultra HD release does have respectable video and picture but the features have much to be desired. |