My apologies for the M-word. Consider the reference to you finished.
It seems we're not really all that far apart on this one. I did view it as an action comedy. For much of the movie, my sole laugh rang out through the theater (scarcely populated as it was). There were definitely flaws in it -- I don't put this in the ranks of Kill Bill or even Grindhouse -- such as the factory scene (perhaps in my immediate viewing my appreciation of that scene was colored by my appreciation for the whole), but I chalk that ludicrousness to the comedic aspect. Similarly, with the carousel, I wondered why he didn't just shoot Giamatti instead, which he soon after has no hesitation in doing.
My appreciation in Giamatti is just that, for him, not the character so much. This may seem like a contradiction, but, as you note, he wasn't really given much to work with. But Giamatti does play the role with a zeal (one-dimensional as it may be) that is entertaining for a while (the end, in retrospect, could have come about 15 minutes sooner).
As for the plot, I saw just enough linearity of logic to justify it, with a generous portion of suspension of disbelief. The continuing chase is explained by Hertz, even if simply --- there are 3 people who remain as evidence: Smith, Quintanna, and baby Oliver. Remove them, and you remove any chance of exposure. Otherwise, Smith could still always (in theory) go to the authorities or press with the news. [Note from John: didn't he already go to the news?-- remember when he says he hates it in action movies when they only call one person who inevitably betrays them?]
You're right, the henchmen were weasels; to this point, even the Secret Service guy fails. with his eternal polishing of his barrel.
I had no expectations for the flick (this is not a film, it's clearly a flick, and in the 70's a reel would have even been loaded upside-down by accident), and therein lies my pleasure, guilty as it may be. Not a buy, and probably better as a matinee or a midnight show, but I don't regret the viewing. [You're right, I don't regret the viewing either -- a movie has to be pretty bad for that. :)]
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