The heavily orchestrated title song, courtesy opening as John Denver flies into Alaska, sounds like something that was recorded at a concert and that's when I expected to hear audience reaction. Don't think that this is the last time that you'll see hear the medley of the song in the film because it is heard over the background several times throughout. There's an even an "I Love Alaska" type song that the ensemble sings out of the blue with John Denver leading them. While the orchestration is supposed to make you emotionally feel all warm and fuzzy, all I could think was, to quote John Denver's film debut, 'Oh. God!"
Certainly the irony of seeing John Denver flying is it enough to stir up emotions, but unfortunately, the film is emotionally manipulating even if it does have an exciting, intense story. You know who the bad guys are so it is not a mystery. It surrounds the sudden murder (about half an hour into the film) of Denver's best pal Martin Kove who accidentally becomes involved in a delivery of illegal goods ("bootlegging") and is found shot to death in the local river. His widow (Meg Wittner) and son (Brandon Marsh) turn to Denver for support, joining him at a local diner for a good ole moose burger.
John Rhys Davies is the uncooperative local law and Richard Masur is the head of the bootlegging racket. The corny performance of the actor playing the greasy spoon proprietor is a bit too much, like Leslie Jordan after a 24 hour coffee drinking binge. Allegedly a pilot for a TV series, I can see why it was not picked up because there's nothing really to dramatize beyond this. Denver was a singer who has left an extremely large legacy, but acting was not one of them. The only thing he offers in his performance is sincerity, not necessarily a bad thing, but a little bit goes a long way. After a while, it's inappropriately gooey, and even a little bit laughable.
Certainly the irony of seeing John Denver flying is it enough to stir up emotions, but unfortunately, the film is emotionally manipulating even if it does have an exciting, intense story. You know who the bad guys are so it is not a mystery. It surrounds the sudden murder (about half an hour into the film) of Denver's best pal Martin Kove who accidentally becomes involved in a delivery of illegal goods ("bootlegging") and is found shot to death in the local river. His widow (Meg Wittner) and son (Brandon Marsh) turn to Denver for support, joining him at a local diner for a good ole moose burger.
John Rhys Davies is the uncooperative local law and Richard Masur is the head of the bootlegging racket. The corny performance of the actor playing the greasy spoon proprietor is a bit too much, like Leslie Jordan after a 24 hour coffee drinking binge. Allegedly a pilot for a TV series, I can see why it was not picked up because there's nothing really to dramatize beyond this. Denver was a singer who has left an extremely large legacy, but acting was not one of them. The only thing he offers in his performance is sincerity, not necessarily a bad thing, but a little bit goes a long way. After a while, it's inappropriately gooey, and even a little bit laughable.