Sahara (2005)

2 out of 4

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, Penelope Cruz, Lambert Wilson, William H Macy, Delroy Lindo

Director: Breck Eisner

Time: 124 mins

Viewed: in home theatre

Laughable action adventure adapted from a Clive Cussler novel. McConaughey is Dirk Pitt, former Navy Seal turned treasure hunter with his best bud, Al (Zahn), who is on the trail of a Civil War ironclad (ship) that supposedly got lost in the African desert. He inadvertently gets involved with WHO doctor Cruz, who is trying to find the source of a plague-like disease. Naturally, nefarious dudes are out to get them. One immediately knows from the intro credits sequence that this film is not to be taken too seriously, but it's still surprising how tedious the adventure is, with only about three mediocre action sequences amidst the drama and the torpid romance (McConaughey with Cruz). Zahn provides a stream of one-liners, but it would have been better to just have the treasure hunt rather the associated disease subplot. Then it might have actually been fun. Director Breck Eisner is ex-Disney honcho Michael Eisner's son.

(c) Joe Wong (10 September 2005)