Most critics find Plane an entertaining, predictable action thriller that succeeds with modest ambitions. Praise centres on Gerard Butler’s committed performance, with several reviews finding warmth and vulnerability beneath the familiar action-hero role. His pairing with Mike Colter is another consistent strength, giving the film an appealing double act. The cockpit tension, emergency landing and straightforward physical action draw much of the remaining praise, though enthusiasm for the staging is not universal.
The spread runs from confident recommendations to firm dismissals, with disagreement over whether the familiar formula provides enough entertainment. Reservations cluster around implausibility, thin supporting characters and repetitive gunfire; even favourable reviews concede some of these weaknesses. The Guardian finds the pacing weak and the suspense lacking, despite Colter’s presence. Empire shares the appreciation for the leads and emergency landing but objects more strongly to the portrayal of Jolo and the reliance on clichés.
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Little White Lies
26 January 2023 · 3/4/3 · Rafa Sales Ross
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The critic finds the thriller an entertaining, confidently executed example of its genre, despite its predictability. They praise the storm sequence and Gerard Butler’s appealing performance.
Walsh finds the film satisfying as lean, pulpy action entertainment, though it offers little political nuance. She praises the appealing, masculine pairing of Gerard Butler and Mike Colter and the film’s taut, gritty action.
Ebiri finds the film an enjoyable, unpretentious action movie that delivers on its promise of cheap thrills. He singles out its visceral violence and the compelling pairing of Gerard Butler and Mike Colter.
Ehrlich finds Plane a sturdy, entertaining action vehicle that delivers on its straightforward promise. He praises its patient cockpit sequences and Butler’s well-suited, sincere performance.
Hoffman finds the film entertaining if plainly conventional, recommending it with moderate expectations. He singles out the tense, well-edited plane-crash sequence for praise.
The critic finds Plane a routine but effective action thriller that delivers on its genre promises. He praises Jean-François Richet’s clearly staged action, especially a sustained hand-to-hand fight filmed in one take.
Steele finds the film silly and implausible but ultimately entertaining, an easy popcorn watch. She praises Gerard Butler’s watchable, committed performance, while noting the weak plot and poorly choreographed shoot-outs.
Gleiberman finds the film an entertaining, sturdy action picture whose shifting genres work to its advantage. He especially praises Gerard Butler’s charismatic, resolute performance, which helps carry the film through its implausibilities.
The critic finds the action film suspenseful but generic. They praise the engaging dynamic between Gerard Butler and Mike Colter’s mismatched characters.
The review calls the film dumb but fun, with brisk, bruising action. It singles out Gerard Butler and Mike Colter for delivering entertaining in-flight thrills.
Lee finds the thriller only just diverting, with weak pacing and suspense that never properly arrives. He praises Mike Colter’s movie-star presence, while criticizing the repetitive shooting and shaky plane scenes.
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Nugent finds the film a mostly generic and insensitive action thriller, though Gerard Butler keeps it watchable. He praises the tense emergency landing and Butler and Mike Colter’s action-star appeal, while faulting the film’s portrayal of Jolo and its clichéd finale.
Scott finds the film a satisfying, effective throwback that delivers the straightforward thrills it promises. He especially praises the chemistry and charm of Gerard Butler and Mike Colter as an unlikely action duo.
Hassenger finds Plane a likable, steady January action thriller that stays pleasantly between a streaming programmer and a theatrical movie. He praises Gerard Butler’s warmer performance and the film’s refusal to force canned character arcs.
Harrison finds Plane a satisfying, enjoyable example of the three-star action movie, despite a lull in the middle. He praises Gerard Butler’s emotionally grounded performance and Richet’s handling of the opening and closing set-pieces.
Hammond finds the film predictable but entertaining, and says it succeeds within its modest ambitions. He particularly praises Gerard Butler’s command of the action-hero role, while noting the supporting characters lack depth.
Nayman finds Plane a likable, predictable action movie that benefits from Gerard Butler’s familiar strengths. He singles out Butler’s quiet dignity in the closing moments as giving the film a final shot worthy of its star.
The critic finds Plane an enjoyable, solid throwback despite its familiar clichés and limited thrills. They praise its brisk direction and unfussy action scenes, especially when Butler and Colter are fighting rather than thinking.
The critic finds the film functional but pedestrian, with familiar action-movie conventions limiting its impact. They praise the construction of the circumstances that bring the characters together, while faulting the thickly drawn villains and lack of satisfying substance.
The critic finds the film overstuffed, undercooked, and too formulaic to be engaging. They praise Gerard Butler’s humane, visibly shaken action hero, while faulting the thinly established characters.
Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate
