Hot Shots (1991)
A Pilot’s Ego, a Top-Secret Mission, and One Really Silly Aircraft Comedy
Topper Harley (Charlie Sheen) is an ace pilot with more courage than common sense, still haunted by the accident that killed his father’s co-pilot. When the military needs him once again for a covert mission, Topper reluctantly returns to active duty despite protests from his psychiatrist, Ramada (Valeria Golino). Soon he’s caught up in mid-air disasters, awkward flirtations, and a conspiracy so absurd it could only happen in a movie designed to parody every action flick cliché in the book. With echoes of Top Gun, Superman, 9½ Weeks, and more, Hot Shots! spoofs the high-altitude heroics and emotional melodrama of 80s and 90s blockbusters while delivering nonstop sight gags, sharp one‐liners, and ridiculous flight sequences.
Directed by Jim Abrahams, the movie leans into broad humor and visual absurdity, not taking itself seriously for a second and that’s the whole point. Sheen’s exaggerated seriousness, the over-the-top military types, and every outrageous scenario you can think of build toward a parody that’s equal parts affectionate and mocking. If you’re in the mood for an action comedy that’s more about laughs than logic, Hot Shots! delivers.
Buy it Now
Genre: Comedy
Director: Jim Abrahams
Rated: PG-13
