Sahara

SAHARA

by Jane Louise Boursaw

Rated PG-13 for action-related violence. 127 minutes. Directed by Breck Eisner (Michael’s son). Based on the novel by Clive Cussler. Released in theaters April 8, 2005.

Ok, it’s official. Matthew McConaughey is rapidly edging out Viggo Mortensen from the number one slot on my “Actors I’m in Love With” list.

In “Sahara,” McConaughey plays Dirk Pitt, a carefree, suntanned, scruffy adventurer with a wisecracking sidekick named Al (Steve Zahn, a smaller, smarter version of SNL’s Chris Farley). Together, they embark on a treasure hunt through West Africa in search of what locals call the Ship of Death, a lost Civil War battleship rumored to house a valuable cargo.

So why is the ship in Africa, you might ask. Because evidence shows that it may have ventured there 150 years ago, when the region was a bit damper. Here’s our first clue that we’ll need to take a break from reality while watching this movie.

Dirk and Al work for NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency) but, of course, they never play by the rules (our favorite types of heroes!). Fortunately, they have an understanding boss (William H. Macy), who seems to take their capers in stride. It’s amazing how Dirk manages to stay suave while hanging off the back of a speeding boat dodging bullets, all the while trying to leap onto another speeding boat. No sweat.

In Africa, their paths intersect with the beautiful Eva Rojas (Penelope Cruz), a doctor with the World Health Organization who’s investigating some mysterious deaths in the same area (and oh yeah, she’s also getting shot at by mysterious assassins). We later learn that the ship and the deaths are linked together by the dastardly schemes of ruthless African leaders.

THE WRAP-UP: “Sahara” is a fun, Indiana Jones-meets-James Bond movie. Lots of non-stop action, suspense, intrigue, wild stunts, buddy-banter, exotic locales, beautiful characters with dazzling white teeth, and cool music that blends middle eastern sitars with Grand Funk (and I’m not saying that just because I know the bass player for Grand Funk either - just a little name-dropping there). Blockbusters don’t get any better than this, and the Great Jane-zini foresees more Dirk Pitt/Matthew McConaughey movies in her crystal ball.

SCORE: 3.5 out of 4 Reels.