Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
An FBI informant has kept his new identity secret for 15 years. Now an old flame has recognised him, and the bad guys are back for revenge.
Bird on a Wire is a serviceable but formulaic 1990 action-comedy road movie. The plot is a fairly standard 'witness protection identity blown' premise with predictable beats and thin characterization. Gibson and Goldie Hawn have genuine chemistry that elevates the material somewhat, keeping the acting above average, but the script doesn't give them much to work with. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable for the era. The film offers little novelty — it recycles familiar chase-comedy conventions without a distinctive voice or memorable set-pieces. The ending resolves tidily but without surprise or resonance, typical of the genre's formulaic wrap-ups.