Give Air Force One a modicum of thought, however, and you realize that the essential plot of this film is even more basic than it might at first appear. Indeed, its just a basic western: like the 1939 film Stagecoach, starring John Wayne. Typical of Westerns of the era, Stagecoach is more than a western, its a morality tale. The journey of the Stagecoach symbolizes another journey, this one by the country as a whole--a journey from hard times to good.
A new style of the western genre appeared during the Reagan administration. Many of the films produced in Reagan's era conveyed his political aim to return hope to the country that bad times were over, and that only good times were to follow. Cinemas were choked with "feel-good" films featuring journeys wherein heroes rose to the top amid all manner of insurmountable obstacles.
Thus if we consider Air Force One as a little more serious than another inane and glib adventure flick, it becomes interesting to replace the subtitle "Boys with Toys" with "The Ideal President" or "Clinton's Fantasy."
The plot is simple. A youthful president accompanied by his wife and 12 year old daughter are aboard Air Force One when it is hijacked by terrorists who wish to trade the first family for the release of their leader. Single-handedly the President saves the day, while his wife and daughter tremble uselessly in a corner. Glenn Close plays the Vice President--a gesture that might seem at first forward-thinking--but don't be fooled. Close is there only as a desperate attempt to include more female cast members, and her role is a pathetic mixture of weeping and retreating, combined with insubordination from her staff and insults from the foe.
The film, then, is the ultimate fantasy for its United States audience. Not only does it reinforce the notion that America always wears the white hat, and rules the world, but it also represents the ideal America would like to see: A glamorous young president who can truly be a hero, not clouded by Whitewater, or the taint of a sex scandal. Of course, said heroic president would be accompanied by a simpering wife who can do nothing but watch wide-eyed as her husband saves not only the country but also the world.
In conclusion, Air Force One is mildly good entertainment even though its plot formulaic and the nail-biting moments are highly predictable. More interesting than the story is the imbedded wish that the fantasy might become reality.