Plot: What’s it about?
“Lightning” Jack Kane (Paul Hogan) is the most dangerous outlaw in the territories, but no one else seems to know that, aside from himself. Kane is an Australian gunfighter who came to America to become a bank robber and outlaw, but hasn’t had much success in gaining fame and fortune. He has the elements he needs, such as a keen eye and a quick draw, but perhaps his reading glasses (which he only needs to read close up) spoil his tough image. But he pushes ahead and figures that sometime, he is bound to have the biggest reward placed on his head. Kane has worked alone up until now, but his potential future wife, Lana (Beverly D’Angelo) is about to walk out on his personal life also, unless he marries her soon. And in a recent bank robbery, he ended up with a new partner, Ben Doyle (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) and he wants to stick right by Jack’s side. Can Jack ever reach that level of wanted status, or should he just give up and walk the straight & narrow? With the help of his frustrated girlfriend and his mute partner, he just might be a wanted man after all.
This movie didn’t garner much attention when it hit the theaters and on home video, still wasn’t able to find a solid audience. I have no idea why this is, as it is a terrific film in a genre that doesn’t see many entries, western comedies. At best we’ve seen a handful of these films in the last decade, but still Lightning Jack gets overlooked at almost every turn. I hope this review can entice some readers to check out this film though, as it is funny and more than worth a look. This movie has all the needed elements for a good western, such as outlaws, a prostitute with a heart of gold, gunfights, bank heists, and more, but it also has a high level of comedic flair. Until this review, I was unaware that star Paul Hogan wrote this screenplay, but he created some very good characters and a wonderful storyline in the end. The film is filled with small touches and character traits, such as Jack’s poor eye sight and his quest for some level of fame. If you like comedies with a distinct western feel, then Lighting Jack is a perfect choice. First time viewers should rent, but fans of the film will want to add this disc to their collections right away.
We all know Paul Hogan from the terrific Crocodile Dundee movies, but few people know much about his work beyond those two films. Of course, he’s only been in a handful of other movies, but I think his skills warrant a look in those others. I think Lightning Jack is a lost gem amid the mass of films out there, as it is overlooked time and again, but I can’t understand why that is. Hogan works as both the lead actor and writer of the film and in my opinion, delivers the goods from both sides. He shows the same charm from Crocodile Dundee, but doesn’t recycle mannerisms or traits, which is good. As a writer, Hogan has a decent skill level and much like he did in the Crocodile Dundee flicks, is able to bring characters to life very well. If you want to see more of Hogan’s work I recommend Crocodile Dundee (both films), Almost An Angel, Flipper, and Floating Away. Also in fine form here are Beverly D’Angelo (American History X, Vacation) and Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Jerry Maguire, Gladiator), both of whom turn in superb supporting performances. The director of Lightning Jack is Simon Wincer, who also helmed such films as The Phantom, Free Willy, D.A.R.Y.L., Quigley Down Under, and Lonesome Dove.
Video: How does it look?
Lightning Jack is presented in a 2.35:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. I think this is the best this film has ever looked on home video, but the lack of an anamorphic transfer causes a few problems. The flaws are frequent instances of edge enhancement and while these are never distracting, a simple anamorphic transfer would have cleaned them up. Aside from those issues, this is a good transfer and in the end, it is much better than I expected. The colors look bold, with no smears and flesh tones appear normal & free from distortion. No problems with the contrast either, as black levels are sharp & well balanced and there is no visible detail loss. This should have been a new anamorphic transfer, but in the end this is an above average image.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included 2.0 surround track is more than adequate, though it won’t put your system into a state of overload. I think the musical score is very cool in this film and as such, I am pleased it sounds so good here in this mix. Aside from some scant gunshots and such though, the music is the most powerful element, which isn’t a bad thing in the least. The film is reliant on dialogue, so the lack of dynamic audio doesn’t hinder the audio experience. The vocals sound clear and sharp, no troubles in the least here. This disc also contains subtitles in English, Spanish, and French. The case lists a Spanish language track too, but I was unable to find it on the disc.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc houses some talent files, the film’s theatrical trailer, two television spots, and a six minute behind the scenes featurette.
