Hit & Run (2012)

If you look at the credits for Hit & Run, you'll notice a certain name that keeps popping up. Under director, producer, writer, star, editor, and stunt driver, you'll see the same thing: Dax Shepard. Shepard is a name you're probably not familiar with, but who has a face you'd probably recognize. He has appeared in a couple dozen movies and TV shows and somehow manages to always escape any real attention. This is his first effort at actually making a movie, and he will be remembered for it one way or another. He stars as a man who has been placed in the witness protection program for witnessing a bank robbery and homicide. He picks the name Charlie Bronson. When his girlfriend, played by Shepard's real-life girlfriend Kristen Bell, is offered a great job in the very area he's supposed to avoid, he takes the risk to get her there. Unfortunately, her crazy ex-boyfriend is determined to ruin everything, even to the point of friending the criminal Charlie witnessed (Bradley Cooper) on Facebook and informing him of their whereabouts.

Nothing could have prepared me for how good this movie is. The title and poster suggest low-budget action. The trailer seemed determined to make it look as normal as possible. The movie itself is much more special than any of that. It cannot be classified as one particular genre, unless romantic action comedy is a real thing. It juggles all sorts of material without dropping anything, and never fails to amuse for its entire duration. There are moments that are genuinely funny, others that are surprisingly touching, and still others that are strangely thrilling. There is a wide range of characters that run in and out of the plot that should get lost in the shuffle or become annoying, but never do. All of the actors in this movie, most of whom apparently agreed to appear without compensation, are truly genuine and seem to be having a great time. Shepard was obviously very attached to the project and creates something that is refreshingly fun for its own sake. This is one movie that was not specifically shaped and formed to make money. I feel that even if it closes after a week, its creators would still be pleased. That's what I call real devotion to the medium.

I loved this movie. It has a bizarre charm. I say bizarre because it includes literally hundreds of obscenities, a vivid discussion of prison rape, and a random close-up of an old man's genitals. Yet it does all this without being abrasive or offending, but I'm speaking for myself here. Those who expect a chase movie will be disgusted by how sweet it is, and those expecting a sweet movie will be horrified by its vulgarity. So, it isn't for everyone, and I somehow doubt it will ever find a big audience. I think that's just another one of its good qualities. It stands alone, just being itself, and doesn't really care what you think about it.

9/10