Review of Hit & Run (2012) by Nathan C — 25 Jan 2013

This may not be anything unique or new about this, but it is still enjoyable, lightweight fare nonetheless. Not a bad directorial debut for Dax Shepard.

Shepard plays a guy who agrees to take his girlfriend on a road trip from a small town to Los Angeles, where she can start her new job. The only problem is that he can't exactly leave town, which turns it into one giant chase movie, involving a dangerous criminal, an incompetent federal marshal, and a few other interesting misadventures.

This film gets on the gas and never lets up in terms of pace and entertainment. There are many humorous moments, with much of the comedy supplied by Tom Arnold, who's hysterical here, as well as some outrageous gags. The acting is well-done and laced with a wee bit of charm, resulting in fun characters and believable chemistry. The good action scenes are a throwback to older chase movies, and this captures the feel of one too. Kudos to the really neat cars and nice scenery.

However, there's not much to it other than what it brings. There is disappointment felt, considering that it had a lot of ideas of what it wanted to be, but never really chose which direction to go. It instead wavers back and forth between three different types of movies. This is fairly mindless stuff, and many elements have been used to play in better movies. But I will say that it is one of the more unconventional romantic comedies as of late, which is a bonus in my book.

"Hit and Run" may be a hit-and-miss comedy, but, for the most part, it hits its target and emerges to be one satisfying ride.