Hot Pursuit
Directed by Anne Fletcher
- action
- comedy
The story
Straight-arrow policewoman Cooper is excited and thrilled about her next assignment. Her task is to escort Daniella Riva, a wisecracking Colombian beauty, from San Antonio to Dallas so both she and her husband can testify against a drug lord. Plans go awry when Mr. Riva gets ambushed, leaving Daniella a widow. Cooper and her witness must now use their wits to escape from crooked cops and murderous gunmen, while not killing each other in the process.
What it’s like
Bright, sun-bleached Texas daylight drives most of this comedy: highways shimmering in heat, motel rooms lit by flat fluorescent tubes, and a lot of brightly saturated costume colour set against dusty beige landscapes. Anne Fletcher shoots in a clean, conventional studio style, with plenty of medium two-shots and quick reaction cuts that keep the two leads in the frame together. The score is upbeat and loose, with bouncy pop cues and the occasional lilt of Latin rhythm, and the sound of car interiors, diner clatter and ringing phones feels ordinary and close. The vibe is breezy, mildly chaotic road-trip fun, the kind of easy watch for a lazy weekend afternoon or a long-haul flight. Pacing is brisk and jokey, the arc a stiff, rule-bound officer slowly loosening up beside a sharp-tongued, grieving partner, with a warm turn toward friendship. Violence is present but cartoonish: shootouts and chases with plenty of gunfire, some blood-free peril, and no gore; crude, mildly sexual humour and a couple of profanities. For people who want a light, funny buddy movie with a bit of action and nothing harrowing.
More films like Hot Pursuit
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Hot Pursuit and we’ll explain which ones fit you.
