Wings Over Africa: A Dusty, Forgettable Treasure Hunt

Is it worth the watch?

If you love dusty, old-school adventure movies where everyone is wearing too many layers for the climate, you might enjoy this. But if you hate movies where the plot moves like a turtle in mud, stay far away.

Honestly, you probably have better things to do than watch Wings Over Africa, but it’s harmless enough. It’s got that weird, stiff energy found in stuff like The Unveiling Hand.

The vibe

The whole thing feels like it was filmed in a backyard with a few palm trees and a very dusty rug. The map discovery scene is just... well, it’s a map. They stare at it like it’s the holy grail, even though it looks like something I drew on a napkin at lunch.

There’s this moment where one of the prospectors dies, and the music swells like we’re supposed to be sobbing in the aisles. I barely remembered his name. It felt like the film was trying to convince me this moment mattered, but I was mostly just checking my watch.

Odd bits and pieces

• The villains are so cartoonishly evil they might as well be twirling mustaches.
• The airplanes look like they might fall apart if you sneezed on them.
• There is a distinct lack of actual Africa in this "Africa" movie.

It’s funny, the movie gets noticeably better once it stops trying to be a serious thriller and just leans into the silliness of the chase. You can almost see the actors realizing the script is a bit of a mess, too.

Final thoughts

It’s not as tightly paced as Late Extra, that’s for sure. The middle section drags on about 20 minutes too long, and the dialogue starts to feel like a chore rather than a conversation.

One reaction shot of the lead aviator lingers for so long it becomes genuinely funny. You start to wonder if he just forgot his lines or if the editor fell asleep at the desk. 😴

Anyway, it’s a weird little relic. Not great, but not a total disaster either. Just a movie that exists, which is more than you can say for some things.