Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man: More Than Meets the Eye? Hear Me Out...

Okay, so I know Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man isn't, like, Citizen Kane. It's cheesy 90s action with a side of leather and cigarette smoke. BUT, I weirdly think there's something almost... satirical going on beneath the surface? Hear me out. It's not an accident that they’re called HARLEY DAVIDSON and MARLBORO MAN! They're living, breathing brands – and they fight against a REALLY obvious stand-in for corporate greed. Remember that line, "It's better to be dead and cool than alive and uncool." Okay, maybe it means nothing, but maybe, just maybe, it's a sly dig at selling your soul?! Think about Alexander, Chance Wilder's boss. He's not just evil; he's a cartoon! He’s practically dripping with corporate slime, and his plan to peddle drug money as 'future bonds' is so on-the-nose it's almost a joke. And the whole thing with the bulletproof Marlboro jacket? It's so ridiculous, but I think it's PURPOSEFULLY ridiculous! Like, are we supposed to take this movie SERIOUSLY seriously, or are we supposed to be laughing at how over-the-top consumerist it all is? I'm not saying it's a BRILLIANT satire, but I think there's a layer of commentary there that most people miss. Plus, you gotta admit, Don Johnson and Mickey Rourke have killer chemistry. Their banter is classic buddy-cop stuff, even if the plot is kinda bonkers. I feel like their friendship, despite the surface-level tough guy stuff, is what anchors the movie. It shows the only thing that lasts is friendship, not future bonds or corporate logos. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Maybe it's just a fun action flick with a killer soundtrack. But next time you watch it, try to see it as a commentary on the marketing of the future? Tell me if I'm crazy! "They say that the only winner in a street fight is the street." Maybe the street smarts of these two is knowing the system is rigged.