Surprise Surprise

I didn’t think it was possible, but somehow John Wayne and Howard Hawks combined to make a dull movie. I like the Duke and Hawks, but Hatari was one long snooze fest.

You can count on a Hawks’ movie to feature two, if not three of the following elements: a loosely structured plot; a close-knit group of folks performing a task or task under trying circumstances; and a man and woman engaging in a courtship that vaguely resembles a cease-fire negotiation. Rio Bravo and To Have and Have Not contain all three of the above elements.

So does Hatari. Unfortunately. The plot of a Hawk’s movie usually contains a simple proposition, such as ‘Will the Resistance Leader escape?’ that keeps the scenes loosely connected and the story moving forward.. In Hatari, when not bantering with one another, the characters chase animals in jeeps to no over-all discernable purpose. Outside of Wayne, the group of close-knit comrades is either serviceable but boring (Hardy Kruger and some French guy) or wince-inducing (Red Buttons). The romantic plot line – well actually the two romantic plot lines – lack any sort of spark at all.

Hatari is a film to avoid. Even Rio Lobo was better, and with so many great Hawks films available, there’s no reason to ever subject yourself to this one.