Hot Pursuit : Movie Review


Hot Pursuit (2015) - Movie PosterWithin the comedy genre, there are countless subtypes: the socially conscious and politically charged; the observational and character-driven; the broad and physical, and the self-aware and referential. Pairing a southern-drawled Reese Witherspoon (2014's "Wild") with the ever-sultry Sofia Vergara (2014's "Chef"), "Hot Pursuit" falls squarely into another group still—that of the screwball and situational, an action-comedy that, were it not for all the cell phones in use, would be right at home in the 1980s. Cheerfully inconsequential yet undeniably entertaining throughout its no-nonsense, just-right 87 minutes, the film doesn't consistently hit the bullseye on all of its gags and spitfire barbs, but gains mileage via two disparate but copacetic lead actresses clearly having a ball. Watching them let loose together does a lot to smooth over the picture's rockier patches.

All her life, rigid, rule-following Texas police officer Rose Cooper (Reese Witherspoon) has dreamed of following in her law enforcement father's footsteps, but she's been saddled with desk duty ever since a misfortunate tasing snafu set one innocent bystander aflame. For Cooper's first assignment back in the field, she and Detective Jackson (Richard T. Jones) are tasked with transporting Felipe Riva (Vincent Laresca) and spicy wife Daniella (Sofia Vergara) to Dallas where he is to be a federal witness in the trial of mob boss Vicente Cortez (Joaquin Cosio). When two sets of gunmen invade the Rivas' mansion and Felipe and Jackson are gunned down, Cooper and Daniella go on the run. With bad guys and crooked cops closing in and the news media incorrectly fingering them as suspects in the murderous ambush, these two total opposites must evade capture as they figure out a way to clear their names.

See Dustin Putman, TheFilmFile.com. for full review

Author : Dustin Putman, TheFilmFile.com.