MOVIE REVIEW : A Dignified Gossett Pilots Ludicrous ‘Iron Eagle III’

There’s a fine line between jingoism and camp, travesty and tongue-in-cheek, action and inanity, between the amusingly ludicrous and the ludicrous pure-and-simple. “Aces: Iron Eagle III” (citywide) never finds it.

It’s the third go-round for Louis Gossett Jr. as Col. Chappie Sinclair, a crusty ex-Air Force fighter pilot who’s made a movie specialty of illegal, unacknowledged, free-lance bombing raids in unfriendly territory. And the third time isn’t the charm. Neither were the first and second high-grossing no-brain techno-thrillers of 1986 and ‘88, both directed by Sidney J. Furie.

Gossett’s previous “missions” were in the Mideast. This one involves a Peruvian cocaine factory, attacked by Gossett and three fellow fliers: Britisher Palmer (Christopher Cazenove), German Leichman (Horst Buchholz) and Japanese Horikoshi (martial-arts star Sonny Chiba). Once again, the motives are personal: Fellow pilot Morales has crashed with a load of cocaine, and his sister Anna (Rachel McLish), an escapee from the drug czar’s lair, arrives on Chappie’s doorstep, pursued by thugs.

Chappie’s fellow aces are surprisingly spry--they supposedly have World War II credentials, which would make them at least 65--and he has further aid from the ferocious Anna and assorted rustic peasants, llamas and burros, who, perhaps incensed at the cocaine and the movie, rise up in revolt.

Furie has bailed out for this episode, replaced by James Bond specialist John Glen, who keeps the action popping and the dialogue plopping. The movie itself suffers from an identity crisis. Is it “Top Gun”? Is it “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines”? At one point, Palmer hangs from an upside-down cockpit; at another, a villain gets clonked by the bell from the church he’s just blown up.

Is it “House Party 3”? A homeboy from the ‘hood--Phill Lewis, as Tee Vee, stows away to Peru, wearing a Rambo outfit. Is it “Wonder Woman”? McLish’s Anna breaks chains with her muscle tone but can’t muster a Latino accent. Is it “An Officer and a Gentleman”? Gossett retains his dignity--which, in these surroundings, is a real feat.

One thing is sure: “Aces: Iron Eagle III” (rated R for language, violence, sensuality) isn’t aces. As Tee Vee might rap to the local llamas, its ba-a - a-ad.

‘Aces: Iron Eagle III’

Louis Gossett Jr.: Col. “Chappie” Sinclair

Rachel McLish: Anna Morales

A New Line Cinema presentation of an Aces Eagles/Ron Samuels Entertainment/Carolco Pictures production. Director John Glen. Producer Ron Samuels. Screenplay Kevin Elders. Cinematographer Alec Mills. Editor Bernard Gribble. Production design Robb Wilson King. Running time: 1 hour, 34 minutes.

MPAA-rated R (for language, violence, sensuality).