I usually enjoy the married team of Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland together, regardless of the story, the importance of her character or where it takes place. But Ireland's dumbbell moll schtick gets old really fast. Her character would be the type to grab on the legs of two people, causing three people to die, if they were on a capsized boat. Agent Bronson has been assigned to bring her in as evidence in a court case after her mobster lover is murdered, and in order to do so orders her to remove her hideous wig and excessive make-up, but you can't disguise an airhead when they can still talk. Characters like this are funny in support (Lesley Ann Warren in "Victor/Victoria", Jennifer Tilly in "Bullets Over Broadway") or in parody or minor roles. Harlow and Monroe this character is not, just annoyingly cliched.
Basically, Bronson is once again playing Bronson, and by the late 70's, that's all audiences could expect of him. On the opposite side of the spectrum is Rod Steiger as the head man, a vile tempered mob king without the panache of Brando, violently turning over a buffet table covered in exotic food. All he does is scream, and he's immediately tiresome as much as Ireland is. The film does however take place in some gorgeous settings, so it's a free 90 minute trip around the world without leaving your living room. When Ireland all of a sudden tries to add dimension to the character, it just seems really desperate. Twists throughout end up pointless as well with how everything unfolds.
Basically, Bronson is once again playing Bronson, and by the late 70's, that's all audiences could expect of him. On the opposite side of the spectrum is Rod Steiger as the head man, a vile tempered mob king without the panache of Brando, violently turning over a buffet table covered in exotic food. All he does is scream, and he's immediately tiresome as much as Ireland is. The film does however take place in some gorgeous settings, so it's a free 90 minute trip around the world without leaving your living room. When Ireland all of a sudden tries to add dimension to the character, it just seems really desperate. Twists throughout end up pointless as well with how everything unfolds.