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Hit & Run

6/10

Stars: Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, Tom Arnold, Bradley Cooper, Kristin Chenoweth, Michael Rosenbaum, Jess Rowland, Beau Bridges, Carly Hatter, Joy Bryant

Director: David Palmer, Dax Shepard

Virtually a one-man project by actor-comedian Shepard, who co-wrote, co-directed, edited and stars as Charlie Bronson, living in a small town in witness protection programme, but now in love with Annie, a teacher (Bell, who co-produced). Though this might seem a labour of love from these credentials, it is in fact a perfectly-OK, sort-of-chase film that you're likely to totally forget a fortnight after you've seen it.

The catalyst to the action is Annie's opportunity to work in far-off LA as the head of her own project. Rather than lose her, Charlie, whose real name turns out to be Yul Perrkins, decides to go with her, even though he's not supposed to leave the town. But Charlie knows where bank loot is buried, and is soon pursued by the local marshal (Arnold), country cops, a couple of nasties and Charlie's ex-confederate (an almost unrecognisable Cooper) in bank robberies.

The film tries to be quirky - elderly nudists keep cropping up, the bad guys steal someone's dog - but hasn't quite the knowhow to carry it through. And there's an artificial shoot-out showdown after the villains quite unreasonably decide to take Annie with them after getting their loot back. Performances are polished and, like I said, this is perfectly OK if you've 90 minutes or so to kill. It's a bit like a drive-in movie from the 1970s.

David Quinlan

USA 2012. UK Distributor: Momentum. Colour by deluxe.
99 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 1, Swearing 2.

Review date: 08 Oct 2012