Bird on a Wire

1990
PG-13
1h 50m

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

49K

YOUR RATING

Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn in Bird on a Wire (1990)

Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment

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68 Photos

Action Comedy Crime

An old flame discovers her ex-boyfriend from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.An old flame discovers her ex-boyfriend from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.An old flame discovers her ex-boyfriend from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

49K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Goldie Hawn did most of her own stunts, after being convinced by Mel Gibson to do so. She was originally reluctant to perform them, fearing the harsh and overwhelming nature of the tasks. She was eventually so pleased with her stunt performances that she kept her stuntman's jacket after filming resumed, and as of 2017 still exhibits it next to her Oscar statuette.

Goofs
When they are running from the police (after trying to get his black book back from the hairdresser), he hotwires a motorcycle to get the ignition on and start it. A few minutes later (after dodging the police), he appears to be turning on the ignition switch (key needed) before re-starting the motorcycle.

Quotes
Rick Jarmin: I haven't had a girlfriend for 5 years.
Marianne Graves: Really?
Rick: Yeah - Mr. Wiggly's been on bread and water for 5 long years.

Crazy credits
Credits scroll down instead of up

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: You Blew It! (1990)

Soundtracks
Bird On A Wire
Written by Leonard Cohen
Produced and Arranged by David A. Stewart
Performed by The The Neville Brothers
Courtesy of A&M Records

User reviews93

Review

Featured review

6/10

Mel and Goldie on the run

Bird On A Wire has lawyer Goldie Hawn accidentally discovering the man who left her at the altar working as a garage mechanic in a Detroit garage where Mel has adopted a really cheesy southern accent. Of course she wants an explanation.

What Goldie isn't ready to swallow is that Mel has been in witness protection after infiltrating and then giving testimony against drug kingpin David Carradine. Carradine is out after 15 years and looking for payback. He's got a nasty associate in Bill Duke and a corrupt FBI agent Stephen Tobolowsky helping.

Mel and Goldie work well together in this chase film bearing some resemblance to The 39 Steps. I'm surprised she did not do this with Kurt Russell, seems like a natural for Hollywood's most famous unmarried couple. Some resemblance to the Clint Eastwood classic The Gauntlet will be apparent as well.

The climax takes place in a zoo which was another of Gibson's witness protection jobs. The animals are of great help to our fleeing couple.

A must for fans of the two stars.