"Ground Control"

Well faithful readers, it looks like the ‘ol Phantom here guessed wrong, because Channel 7 finally decided to reveal what tomorrow night’s movie is going to be… and it’s NOT the same movie their sister station is running (“One Hell of a Guy (MAYBE…)”)

Instead, we get this 1998 thriller called “Ground Control” (alternate title “Jet”). Unlike most “Late Nite Landfill” fare, this one is actually loaded to the gills with actors that most folks know. It seems to be loaded with some bad special effects, bad supporting performances and bad clichés, too.

But you never know, it could be a passable time waster.

Some descriptions I found:

“A disgraced former air traffic controller is called back into service when the airport's traffic control system malfunctions;” and “An air-traffic controller endures an especially tense night of bad weather and electrical failures during New Year's Eve.”

That cast I mentioned includes Kiefer Sutherland (playing a different “Jack” from the most famous role he plays on “24”), Kelly McGillis, Robert Sean Leonard, Margaret Cho, Michael Gross and Kristy Swanson. As often happens in movies like these, a couple parts seem cast out of “left field” – in other words, featuring folks not known for starring in action films. Namely Charles “Roger Rabbit” Fleischer and Henry “The Fonz” Winkler.

Having grown up watching and mocking the “Airport” series, I’ve pretty much seen all the planes in peril movies that are worth seeing. I really don’t think they ever improved on the formula beyond the classic “The High & the Mighty” anyway; and the first “Airplane” movie spoof was pretty much the last word on the genre for me.

I will admit one intriguing element in the trailer that’s nagging at me. What, oh what is Henry Winkler doing with those wires?!?!?! I’m dying to find out, but not enough to actually watch this movie. Unless I wake up by accident just as Fonzie gets all tangled up!

View the trailer here:



Or watch the entire movie on WABC-TV Channel 7 on Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 11:35 PM (instead of “One Hell of a Guy”)… if you dare!