--- title: "Con Air: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/con-air/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/con-air" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Con Air (1997): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 10 reviews: 6 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics find Con Air an entertaining action film whose absurdity is a large part of its appeal. Praise centres on the cast’s wholehearted commitment, with Nicolas Cage’s charisma and John Malkovich’s amused villainy drawing particular approval. The action sequences, sharp dialogue and jokes also win support. The favourable reviews tend to accept the macho silliness rather than excuse it: the performances give critics enough to enjoy even when the plotting strains belief. Reservations cluster around excess, uneven storytelling and a finale that several critics find overextended. There is also disagreement over how well the ensemble is served: Total Film finds that most of the cast has little to play with. The spread runs from enthusiastic approval to one sharp dissent. The Los Angeles Times acknowledges Malkovich and some good lines but finds the noise and silliness numbing rather than exhilarating. ## Empire — Caroline Westbrook Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Westbrook finds the film a hugely entertaining, exhilarating action ride despite its silliness. She especially praises its escalating set pieces and the cast’s relish, while noting a misplaced cop performance and a soggy ending. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/con-air-review/) ## Radio Times — Jason Caro Rating 4/5. Caro considers it a top-notch action thriller that cemented Nicolas Cage as an unlikely action hero. He praises Cage’s macho performance and John Malkovich’s tongue-in-cheek villain turn. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-i6csw8/con-air/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 6 June 1997. The review calls the film a silly, loud, entertaining action movie, despite a weak opening and an overdone finale. It praises the energetic action sequences and jokes, while noting that most of the cast has little to play with. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/con-air-review/) ## The Guardian — Graeme Virtue Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 2017. Virtue finds that Con Air has grown even more absurd with age, yet remains a thrillingly over-the-top action movie. He singles out the cast’s wholehearted commitment to its macho ridiculousness as especially infectious. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2017/jun/06/con-air-weirder-with-age-nicolas-cage-john-malkovich) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 1997. Maslin finds Con Air a slick, well-cast action lark whose thrills are softened by sardonic detachment. She particularly praises Nicolas Cage’s charismatic performance and the entertaining quirks of the ensemble cast. [Read the review](https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/con-air-film-review.html) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 June 1997. The critic finds the film an exciting, commercially assured actioner whose strengths outweigh its shortcomings. He praises the cast and sharp dialogue, but says the overlong Vegas climax undermines the film’s momentum. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/con-air-1117341384/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Duane Byrge Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 1997. The review sees Con Air as an entertaining, commercially potent action film, though it faults the story’s turbulence and technical excess. It praises the witty screenplay and especially the well-chosen cast, singling out the performances of Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich and Steve Buscemi. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/con-air-review-1997-movie-1010665/) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page identifies this as a review, but the critic’s verdict is not visible. No specific praise or complaint is available in the accessible text. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/con-air-1) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2.5/4. 6 June 1997. Ebert’s review finds the film entertaining despite its over-the-top action and implausibility. Its outsized, action-packed spectacle is a central part of its appeal. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/con-air-1997) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 6 June 1997. Turan finds the film numbing and ultimately more dispiriting than exhilarating, despite its ability to keep viewers entertained. He praises John Malkovich’s gleeful performance and notes some good lines, but faults the overwhelming noise and silly moments. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-06-ca-461-story.html) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/con-air.md