Hit & Run

This raunchy car chase caper comedy tells the story of Charlie Bronson, aka Yul Perkins (comedian Dax Shepard), a former getaway driver who impulsively breaks out of the government's Witness Protection Program to transport his sociology professor fiancée, Annie Bean (Kristen Bell), from the tiny northern California town of Milton Valley to Los Angeles so she can interview for a dream job as head of an anger-management program. The pair are pursued by bumbling, accident-prone United States Marshal Randy Anderson (Tom Arnold), while also trying to elude vengeance-seeking Alex Demitri (Bradley Cooper), the ex-con bank robber whom Yul double-crossed by turning state's evidence and testifying against him. A confessed car fanatic-and-collector, writer-director Shepard says he and co-director David Palmer were inspired by Burt Reynolds' Smokey and the Bandit, placing Charlie and Annie in a souped-up, black 1967 Lincoln Continental. Real-life partners Shepard and Bell have an affectionate, romantic chemistry, and there is much profanity-laden repartee among the eccentric, easygoing ensemble that includes Kristin Chenoweth, Beau Bridges, and Joy Bryant. But ultimately this is a silly, sputtering comedy with laughs that are more miss than hit. Optional, at best. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes (14 min.), three behind-the-scenes featurettes (6 min. total), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the BD-Live function, along with bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a so-so extras package for a largely forgettable film.] (S. Granger)