The Chase (1994)

Jackson "Jack" Hammond is sentenced to 25 years in prison for armed robbery, although he claims to be innocent, but manages to escape on the way to Mexico. To get away from the police while at a convenience store, he takes a girl as hostage California heiress Natalie, and drives off in her car. She happens to be the daughter of billionaire Dalton Voss, one of the richest men in the state. In a while the car chase is quickly being broadcast live on every TV-channel, covering the event from helicopters, the backseat of a police car, the pavement of the highway etc.....Back in the early nineties, before he went off the rails, and changed his name to Charles, Sheen made some very strange, but inspired movies.This was one of the last of those movies, and it's fun, but when you watch it, you understand why this is one of those movies that rarely pops up on TV, and never really mentioned in movie talk.It's almost like the nice little sister to Natural Born Killers, the media coverage is ride here, and thus turning the whole proceedings way over the top. And I guarantee when you see this movie you will think of the O.J Simpson facade that was all over TV.With great support from Swanson, Rollins, and a couple of the Chillis, The Chase is basically a parody that works, but was cruelly overlooked when released back in 1994.Well worth seeking out though.

Charlie Sheen at the peak of his career with Kristy Swanson (who should be hot but is not)... in a car... promoting Butterfinger candy bars... being chased by Henry Rollins in a cop car and the Red Hot Chili Peppers in a monster truck. Throw in some cadavers, Cary Elwes and Ron Jeremy... you have "The Chase".Stylistically, the film is not great. It probably never won any awards and should not have. But it is enjoyable, and for a film that takes place almost entirely in a little BMW, it has a plot that goes quickly and is fun to watch. What could make this film better? Maybe fewer police sirens. But that is all I can think of. Just plain classic from beginning to end.

The way I see it, Adam Rifkin was able to write a very interesting script for some kind of action comedy and media satire, but, when it came to it, wasn't able to direct it properly. (Be aware that 1994 was the year of 'Nature Born Killers' as well as 'Pulp Fiction'... - And money, I suppose, was not the problem.) Charlie Sheen, both executive producer and main actor, must either not have understood the script at all, or been having way too much faith in Mr. Rifkin's directing skills. Interesting script gone wrong. Crap, with a few car chase / crash scenes that are well done and IMHO entertaining but can not really make up for it, and nor can Henry Rollins or anything/anybody else. Don't waste your time.

Making a big deal out of it, blowing it out of proportion, perverting the truth, etc. That's what the media love doing to the world. "The Chase" is a high octane movie of a robbery, hence kidnapping gone way out of line. Charlie Sheen is Jack Hammond, a wrongly jailed man who believes no one would see him as an innocent man. He was jailed for a robbery he didn't commit. Kristy Swanson plays Natali Voss, daughter of a millionaire who gets caught up with Hammond in the robbery. Unknowningly she was held up with a Butterfinger Bar, she would act like any other hostage victim, scared of of their wits. When they talk throughout the police chase, he talks to her about his innocence. He thinks he's the only one who believes his innocence, his lawyer is the other, and the third one is Natalie(Swanson), herself. With all the support, he got the chance for romance. Even though, he's in the car, romancing and driving is way more risky than drinking and driving. When the media twists the truth, and blow the story out of proportion, a media circus is what you always hear. Talk about total pandemonium! The best thing to do is know the real facts, and not the fluff, "The Chase" is a lot of fun, and fairly entertaining. 2 out of 5 stars!