Stretch

Director Joe Carnahan returns to the big screen after a long stint away, showing he's still got a great sense of gritty action, and dirty storytelling.

I was really impressed with this film about L.A limousine driver, who after a life of making bad luck and even worse decisions, ends up on the receiving end of Fate after an absolutely insane night of depravity, criminal actions, and violence. All for the better mind you. I didn't know what to expect (and didn't expect much), but man was I ever surprised.

Patrick Wilson (Fargo) is joined by a whole barrage of famous cameos from around the Hollywood scene. Norman Reedus (The Boondock Saints) as... well himself, Ed Helms (The Hangover) adds his flavor as the ever present critic, and possibly the greatest moment of David Hasselhoff's (The Hoff) acting career. I was laughing the whole way through, and not a single scene detracts from the overall insanity of the events that unfold. If anything they simply snowball and and more flavor to this wild run. It's like watching a plane crash or a car accident; you just can't peel your eyes away from it. Oh and Chris Pine... actually not bad in this movie. He has possibly one of the best entries in a scene that has ever been filmed. Very Hunter S. Thompson but with more hair.

Anyway, if you have seen "Smoking Aces", or "The A-Team", then you know the director's style, but this is possibly my favorite work of his.

6/10

I was not expecting an overly good movie, but what I got in turn was an rollicking thrill ride. The Movie "Stretch" Takes place over the course of one night, and is about a man whom is a Limo Driver that owes six grand by the end of the night.

At times this movie reminded be a bit of "eyes wide shut" and "Hanna," with similar colouring and locations to the movie "cosmopolis," but with a much more light hearted and humorous tone. I did not view the credits beforehand, but was surprised with several cameos, and quite a few recognizable faces throughout the movie.

Some parts are a little mediocre, but as a whole the movie is a fun ride, and offers some good entertainment while contemplating on things like fate and taking action.

It was beginning to feel like Chris Pine was becoming a bit type cast, but in this movie he effectively breaks those bonds, portraying a wild, unpredictable man with a sense of mystery and insanity.

At first appearance, it looks like it will be another run of the gun, 'wild night' movie, but instead "Stretch" offers some truly unique aspects, with plenty of creative and funny scenes throughout.

Definitely a good movie to watch if your looking for some fun entertainment that doesn't take itself too seriously. Probably one of the directors best movies, if not the best. If you like wild adventure movies with comedy and action, then don't miss out on this one!

I registered just to review this underrated film. Another reviewer summed this film up so perfectly I have to restate it: the film begins exactly as it should, and continues exactly the way you want it to right to the end. It is the sort of movie that would have been at home in 1985--down on his luck protagonist has an increasingly awful night that turns into a rampage through LA. It is funny without ever being stupid or gross, which probably explains its ranking. In a time when big name stars are putting out such comedic, big screen "gems" as the bizarrely unfunny toilet-humored "A Million Ways to Die in the West," it is a flashback to films that were funny without being dumb.

This is definitely very much in line with the 21 Jump Street films, if only because they're the last two real comedies I've seen from this year. This one's definitely crazier, reminding me a bit of Filth. Patrick Wilson is having a blast here, allowing to be all kinds of fun and energetic in a way he never really is. Chris Pine is the best in show though, really playing with his character in such tremendously amusing ways. I always loved him in the Star Trek films and he's one to watch out for. Overall, this isn't wildly original but it plays on a scene-to-scene basis and in that respect it works tremendously, even if slight. Definitely fun.

There are so many freaky stuffs here as though they jammed an entire game of Grand Theft Auto or even a compilation of surveillance cameras from an asylum called Hollywood. It's nothing short of glorious. Stretch is unapologetically full of sharp sarcasm, witty quips and a lot of profanities. Once it gets any momentum, Stretch leaves a trail of involuntary gasp reactions, otherwise known as "WTF" remarks, with its broken down mutilated-by-fate limousine.

Story follows the titular Stretch (Patrick Wilson), a limo driver with a serious identity crisis and a bit of mental disorder. He's about to embark on an overnight journey worth of Hangover, Collateral and Transporter combined. It's amazing how the usual haunted man from Insidious and The Conjuring delivers so many chuckles, although he is still technically haunted in here.

The cast are nice, each character has very different wacky personality, borderline over-the-top. Still, these characters that seem like they escape video game realm are ridiculously fascinating. Some of them don drug dealer or angry cop personas, while others portray themselves as the elites of Hollywood. Most importantly, they appear to be enjoying themselves in this strange escapade.

Script is thoroughly and amazingly witty. They exchange banter with insult jab and hefty amount of laughable internal as well as external screams. It's the stuffs you hear behind the closed door of therapy session or rich men orgy. Wilson delivers his inner thought monologues with the despair of broken man and he is sullenly convincing.

The pace is fast, but it does need some time to rev the engine. Its crude nature might not be for everyone either, it has little to none restraint, so as they say, viewer discretion is advised. However, these are minor issues and can easily be overlooked since the film is just incredibly fun. Stretch delivers more than enough laughs, partially bitter laughs, in expense of himself and everyone in the film.