Mutant Reviewers from Hell do
"You kidnapped me with a candy bar?"

1994 PG-13 / Action Comedy Directed by: Adam Rifkin Starring: Charlie Sheen, Kristy Swanson, Cary Elwes

Tagline

Getting there is twice the fun.

Summary Capsule

Fugitive nabs rich hottie and burns rubber

Mutant Meter

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Amazon.com: DVD

Justin's Rating: Platoon meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Justin's Review: I really like how this film begins: no buildup, no explanation of what's going on exactly... just like Star Wars, we're in the thick of things right off bat. In the thick of Charlie Sheen, to be exact, and a forced hostage situation in which he takes Natalie (Kirsty Swanson) hostage in her new BMW and tries to make a run for the Mexican border. Jack (Sheen) is related to Dr. Richard Kimble, wrongly convicted for a crime he didn't commit. I shan't say the crime or the circumstances that caused him to be arrested, since that's all part of the fun.

"My roommate at college had a friend who watched this film on a daily basis, probably hoping it would cure his herpes or whatnot."

The Chase takes place 90% on the road, as nice criminal Jack and bratty Natalie run from the law. Swanson turns out to be the daughter of a Really Rich Guy, and the media turns on this chase like sharks at Amity Beach feeding time. Granted, it's a pretty lame premise, but there's some breed of comedic madman behind this film. Instead of making a film an outright lampoon, the filmmakers have taken a worn action platform and chosen to subvert it from within. When you get to the point early on in the film where medical cadavers are pouring onto the freeway and being run over by police cars, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Charlie Sheen gets a lot of comedic license to be serious-funny man and give empassioned speeches about clowns and media. It wears well on him; if you liked his narrative voice-overs from the Hot Shots! flicks, you'll like him here. Speaking of media (two sentences back), there's a lot of media satire, from a Cops-style parody (the leading police car has a TV crew interviewing them during the case) to all of the local news stations and their attempt to make the story seem horrific as possible.

There's just enough great quotes, bizarre scenes, and genuine personality to make a good balance for a re-watchable movie. My roommate at college had a friend who watched this film on a daily basis, probably hoping it would cure his herpes or whatnot. Hey, it's a cool flick, and Kirsty Swanson is at the top of my hot lists. I'd even go as far as saying this is a good pick for a group of friends that just can't decide on what to rent.

Of course, this film brings up an ethical question in my mind. If you were on the run from the law, would you pick either Mexico or Canada to escape to? Mexico has tequila and hot weather, Canada has a few people speaking English and frigid fields of grain. I'd be torn myself, honestly. Maybe I'd give it a go and see if I could just drive to Japan. They do get the PlayStation games early over there.

This is not, repeat not, safe sex "Honey... I'm trying to drive here!"

Didja Notice? [some sources: IMDb]

• Cops are watching a classic scene from Planet of the Apes
• It is broad daylight when Jack and Natalie pass a sign indicating that it's 10 miles to Tijuana. They are traveling at between 90 and 100mph, which would bring them to the border in less than seven minutes, yet it is dark before they get there.

Is It Worth Staying Through End Credits?

The Clown doing an Apocalypse Now speech during the end credits

Intermission! [some sources: IMDb]

A majority of the freeway scenes were filmed on the Sam Houston Tollway and the Hardy Toll Road in the Houston area. The scene where the BMW enters the I-5 main lanes is the northbound lanes of the Beltway 8 service lanes. The particular location where this scene is filmed was reconstructed in 2003 to become part of the Westpark Tollway's westbound exit lanes to northbound Beltway 8.

Groovy Quotes

Cop: We're standard issue street soldiers.
Director: "Standard Issue Street Soldiers", I like that.
Cop: Thanks. I came up with that myself.

Jack: Chew some gum! Your breath smells like my grandmother's feet.

Natalie: You kidnapped me with a candy bar?
Jack: It makes a handy weapon in a pinch.

Jack Hammond: That's the question on the minds of all your viewers? Whether I run out of gas or not? Tell you what, Jer. You let your viewers know that I hope Miss Voss' fear and my desperation are entertainment enough for them. After all, that is what this is all about, isn't it? The story. As it breaks. Live. Coming to you from the bad guy himself. I mean we wouldn't want your viewers to CHANGE THE F***ING CHANNEL, NOW WOULD WE?

If you liked this movie, try these:

• Hot Shots!
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Road Trip