Hit and Run MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -4

Dax Shepard, Kristen Bell, Bradley Cooper, Tom Arnold, Kristin Chenoweth. Comedy. Written, produced and directed by Dax Shepard (NBC’s Parenthood).

FILM SYNOPSIS: Hit and Run is the story of Charlie Bronson (Shepard), a former getaway driver who busts out of the Witness Protection Program to drive his girlfriend (Kristen Bell) to Los Angeles so she can land her dream job. Their road trip grows awkwardly complicated, when they are chased by the feds (led by Tom Arnold), and increasingly dangerous, when Charlie’s former gang of criminals (led by Bradley Cooper) enter the fray.

PREVIEW REVIEW: For me, this is a dark-toned comedy that misses far more than it hits. Everyone develops an interesting character, and the car chases are audience-satisfying, but it’s difficult for me to enjoy a film that is so profane, so irreverent and so excessively crude. (Check out the content section.)

I was also saddened to hear Kristin Chenoweth come across as the crudest of the characters, uttering many coarse sexual terms and downright obscenities. Ms. Chenoweth has in the past professed to be a Christian, yet doesn’t seem to apply any biblical standards when selecting movie or TV roles. It’s bad enough that every non-believer in Hollywood assaults the film-going public with obscenity and profanity, but even more disheartening when it spews forth from someone who calls herself a Christian.

In her defense, if she wants to work in Hollywood, she pretty much has to take those roles. But, that’s not really much of a defense, is it?

I found the following ironic. In one scene the male lead uses the word, “Fag,” which causes his politically correct girlfriend to chastise him for the affront. And I agree, we should never use a word or term that in some way belittles or shows disrespect for another person. It’s not biblical, and it’s not practical. What does it serve to call someone a noxious name?

That may be the only moral the film teaches. Now, for the ironic part. There is no such chastisement for the several profane and irreverent uses of God’s name or Christ’s. In other words, we must show respect for everyone except God or those who believe in Him.

I’ll say no more about the abusive language in the film other than to add that there are 120 uses of the f-word, alone. If you are searching for a comedy, yet still find crudity and profanity obnoxious, you may want to pass on this one – or, just about any comedy now playing.

DVD Alternative: What’s Up Doc? Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal star in this always-funny screwball comedy. Several car chases, lots of laughter, but no offensive language. I guarantee you, you won’t miss it.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Open Road Films