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Errol Flynn is best remembered as a swashbuckling star from Hollywood’s early days—the dashing hero of 1938’s The Adventures of Robin Hood. But there’s much more to the classic action hero’s story than just his work in front of the camera—and the biopic In Like Flynn takes a look at the days before he began his film career.
In Like Flynn follows the young Australian adventurer (Thomas Cocquerel) on a wild journey to New Guinea. Hired by a couple of Hollywood filmmakers to help them explore the deadly jungles to get the best footage, Flynn realizes that there’s a fortune in gold hidden there. So he returns home to Sydney to enlist a couple of willing friends and to procure a boat by any means possible. They’re joined by a suicidal seaman on an ill-advised quest that leads to one mishap after another while dealing with clashing personalities, mechanical issues, and scorned women along the way.
Based on Flynn’s 1937 autobiography, Beam Ends, In Like Flynn attempts to paint the Hollywood legend as a well-meaning scamp—a lovable troublemaker who manages to lie, steal, fight, or charm his way through all kinds of challenging situations. But the character generally seems more irresponsible than endearing. He doesn’t really give much thought to his actions, which leads him to set off on a poorly-planned voyage with an inexperienced and unstable crew. And their bickering and power struggles—along with their weaknesses for both whiskey and women—lead to a series of dilemmas.
The four men who join in the journey are all very different characters with different personalities and different reasons for taking part in Flynn’s scheme. And their long days (and nights) at sea occasionally lead to some deeper exploration of the characters and their personalities. For the most part, though, the story sticks to the action—and the pacing rarely drags, thanks to a series bar fights, shootouts, and close encounters with sharks and pirates.
All of these adventures are certainly entertaining—and they add an interesting twist to Errol Flynn’s legend (one that came to a fittingly troubled end, as portrayed in 2014’s The Last of Robin Hood). But despite the film’s real-life Indiana Jones potential, the minimal development makes for an action-packed but not entirely satisfying biography.
If you enjoy the stories and the stars of old Hollywood, you’ll be intrigued by this audacious origins story. While it offers plenty of action and adventure, though, the lack of personality generally makes it feel like another brainless action movie.
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