Today’s quick review: Hit and Run. When Annie (Kristen Bell) gets offered her dream job, her boyfriend Charlie (Dax Shepard), an ex-criminal in Witness Protection, decides to leave the safety of their small town and go with her to Los Angeles. But before they can get there, Annie’s ex-boyfriend Gil (Michael Rosenbaum) figures out Charlie’s real name and uses it to get in touch with Alexander Dmitri (Bradley Cooper), the man Charlie put behind bars.
Hit and Run is a romantic crime comedy about a reformed criminal whose past catches up with him at the worst possible time. Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell star as Charlie and Annie, an idyllic couple on a road trip to start a new life. The only things standing in their way are Charlie’s secrets, Alex and his gang, and a bumbling U.S. Marshal (Tom Arnold) who wants them to stay. The film’s chaotic plot and decent stunts are offset by its hit-or-miss humor.
Hit and Run has two main features going for it: Charlie and Annie’s relationship, and its stunt driving. Charlie and Annie are fine characters on their own, but their relationship is what holds the movie together. Even at their worst, the couple are easy to root for and genuinely seem to make each other happy. Hit and Run also gets good mileage out of its car chases, which are an excuse to show off some impressive vehicles performing in tricky situations.
But Hit and Run misplays its hand when it comes to comedy. The script goes off on odd tangents every few minutes, following its characters down weird conversational rabbit holes that are sometimes charming and sometimes just uncomfortable. The jokes are cruder than they need to be yet lack the punch of good shock humor. To top it all off, the movie tries to juggle the moral high ground between its characters in a way that feels forced.
None of this takes away from a cute relationship and a fairly interesting plot, but it does keep Hit and Run from reaching its full potential. Those who are willing to put up with a few rough patches may want to take a chance on the movie. Though not a standout, Hit and Run does bring something to the table. But viewers who are sensitive to crude humor or simply want something with a tighter script will want to look elsewhere.
For a crime drama about a criminal whose past catches up with him, try A History of Violence. For a budget action movie about a man in Witness Protection, try Fire with Fire. For a crime comedy with sharper writing and an even more chaotic plot, try Burn After Reading. For a more twisted comedy with similar story elements, try 68 Kill.
6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a fine setup held back by a patchy script.