Sahara

It's getting hot out heeere ... or is it just Matthew McConaughey?

Sahara, I would have to say, isn't that bad of a movie. It starts off exciting. Then, is a bit slow at the beginning, and then picks up again around the last half of the movie. It has the basic elements of action and adventure, not a lot of drama. And a few comedy bits here and there thanks to the funny buddy charm Steve Zahn adds to the movie.

Sahara basically features Matthew McConaughey as Dirk and Steve Zahn as his buddy that venture on a treasure hunt to find a lost Civil War submarine that is rumored to have traveled to Africa 150 years ago, containing a large amount of Confederate gold coins. On their way to find the submarine, they meet Penelope Cruz who plays a doctor trying to find out the source of a mysterious disease afflicting many of Africa's citizens. However, the doctor and the treasure hunters get attacked by African army terrorists, and have to fight their way to escape. This leads to an adventure that leads our heroes to the source of the disease as well as the mysterious cave drawings that appear to depict a confederate submarine. Will the doctor destroy the disease before it affects the rest of the world? Will the treasure hunters find their gold? You'll have to watch the movie to find out, but I think you know the answer to this one.

What I like about this movie is how it breaks the "buddy" stereotype in most movies. In most action movies, the "buddy" is there for the comic relief. He does some of the work, but the main hero is the one who does the punching, fighting, puzzle-solving, etc.. etc.. and gets the girl in the end. In this movie, Zahn is the one who knows how to operate the boat, the power plant in the middle of the desert, the machine guns, etc... etc... He's the useful buddy that is just as capable as our main "hero" McConaughey and needs McConaughey just as much as McConaughey needs him. AND he's funny, so I applaud Sahara's take on making Zahn more than just a sidekick, but an actual player on the team.

Overall, Sahara's an enjoyable movie. It's no Indiana Jones, but is just enough fun to watch.