The mother of all movies.|Jul. 31, 1991|United States|84 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Action;Comedy;War
Description: The movie “Hot Shots!” from 1991 is a comedic take on aviation and military life. The story starts at Flemner Air Base, set 20 years earlier. Pilot Leland “Buzz” Harley loses control of his aircraft and ejects, leaving his co-pilot, Dominic “Mailman” Farnham, to crash. Despite surviving, Mailman is mistaken for a deer due to branches stuck to his helmet and is accidentally shot by a hunter.
The plot then shifts to Topper Harley, who wakes from a nightmare about the incident. He is approached by Lt. Commander Block, who urges him to rejoin active duty in the U.S. Navy for a classified mission named Operation Sleepy Weasel. The mission is overseen by Admiral Benson, who is elderly and prone to mishaps. Topper struggles with severe psychological issues, particularly when his father is mentioned. His therapist, Ramada, tries to prevent him from flying but eventually gives in and begins to develop feelings for him.
Meanwhile, Topper becomes embroiled in a rivalry with Kent Gregory, another pilot who is Mailman’s son and Ramada’s ex-boyfriend. Kent blames Buzz Harley for his father’s death and views Topper as a threat. Behind the scenes, Block collaborates with Mr. Wilson, an airplane tycoon who has designed a “Super Fighter” to enhance American air superiority. Block’s plan is to sabotage Sleepy Weasel to discredit the Navy’s aircraft, pushing for their replacement with Wilson’s planes.
A tragic training accident occurs, resulting in the death of pilot Pete “Dead Meat” Thompson and the demotion of Jim “Wash-Out” Pfaffenbach. Block sees this as evidence to support his case, but Wilson dismisses it as a minor setback, insisting that the planes must fail in combat to prove his point. The film combines humor and satire in its portrayal of military life and aviation mishaps.
Cast director: Jim Abrahams
Cast actor: Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, Lloyd Bridges, Kevin Dunn, Jon Cryer, William O’Leary, Kristy Swanson, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bill Irwin
Original name: Hot Shots!