An airplane is a vehicle for transporting passengers, but for Hollywood, it’s a conduit for a good story. There’s something about setting a movie 30,000 feet in the air that facilitates action.

Right now the killer doll movie “M3GAN” is enjoying a critical reception a little above its quality grade, and I’m here to do the same for “Plane.” It’s the junky, janky midwinter Liam ...