Hit and Run

HIT AND RUN

This is one accident you want to get into

2012: Open Road Films

 

2012, Action/Comedy, Rated R

Distributed by Open Road Films

 

          Hit and Run stars Dax Shepard (from TV's Punk'd) and a dreadlocked Bradley Cooper as criminals in a hysterical cat-and-mouse road trip movie. It's not at all the movie you expect it to be. At first, when my initial expectations (the trailers advertise just another R-rated raunchy comedy) were not reached, I was bracing myself for a bad time at the theater. But then the shift of tone settled in nicely and the film was a great ride from then on. You'll soon learn that it has a very strong and romantic love story and the goofy Dax Shepard can pull this one off.

          The film, co-directed and written by Shepard, is about a couple, played by Shepard and Kristen Bell, who are deeply in love. This is expressed in the opening scene. It's essentially pillow talk between them and Dax Shepard does so well. At first I thought I could only take him in a comedic light but he is a real actor through and through and proves it here. Kristen Bell is great as well; their chemistry was perfect. The movie is hard to explain from there, but that's what I like about it. There is so much back-story that is revealed to the audience slowly and very naturally and it paints the whole picture in the end. There were many comedic scenes that strayed from the plot because of lengthy improv rants from all the actors, but it was always hilarious. Tom Arnold does an especially great job going head to head with these young funny actors. He plays an accident-prone U.S. Marshall meant to monitor Shepard because he is in Witness Protection. 

          The reason he needs protection should not be explained here, you have to let the film unfold its story for you. The pacing is perfect and I was never bored. From each romantic scene to every last chase scene I was glued. Bradley Cooper is probably my favorite in the film, though. As expected, his character is whacked-out but hilarious. There are no good guys or bad guys...I'm stumbling here because it's nearly impossible to describe. There are so many hilarious actors and characters that fill the story, you shouldn't lose interest.

          The action is spectacular as well. It's not CGI robots or anything but the cars were fast and the rubber was hot. Dax Shepard's character was a getaway driver before he met his girlfriend so he always escapes somehow in suped-up cars of various high-end makes and models. There are a few scenes of violence that embrace the R rating but I would say overall this is a comedy. The way each character talked felt very real, so I liked how much swearing I heard. The plot, editing, and pacing were all particularly impressive because it's not a traditional type of story. This is pretty much a great, fun film with tons of likable actors, a funny script, and in a copy-cat world, it's actually original.

 

          Side note: I didn't want to give away the story so I couldn't mention other characters and actors. Here are some noteworthy performances: Michael Rosenbaum as Gil, Kristen Bell's character's pathetic but persistent jealous ex-boyfriend, Christen Chenoweth as Bell's pill-popping boss, Jess Rowland as a desperate homosexual police officer, David Coechner as a redneck thief, and Beau Bridges as Shepard's father. Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes have cameos...need I continue?