Run

OK, it isn't Lawrence of Arabia, but this film is a fun chase movie that pits a college kid against the combined might of a small community crime figure and many of his paid-off local cops. The ways Patrick Dempsey, the hero, succeeds is a far cry from the super-competent methods of previous and more formulaic eras. There is just the right mixture of humor and suspense that makes one enjoy this film in spite of knowing that it isn't exactly high-brow entertainment.

I would consider Run in comparison to an Anthony Michael Hall movie called Out of Bounds and make the recommendation for the former if this is the kind of movie that you're in the mood for.

Out of Bounds, which I think came out in 1986, stars Hall as an Iowan kid who goes to visit his brother in Los Angeles. Through a case of mistaken identity, he suddenly finds himself in a world of trouble, running from drug lords and cops, because (insert forced gasp here) he picks up the same gym as another person who was smuggling dope. Well, not to give away to much of the story, he finds this quirky girl to help him out.

Out of Bounds is very similar to Run in that, through mistaken assumptions, a kid is on the run from both the mob and crooked cops. A girl helps this kid out in his desperate struggle to escape a whole slew of maniacs. Run and Out of Time are both basically films about kids spending a whole movie trying to figure out how they're going to avoid their doom.

Run, however, makes for a much better movie than Out of Time, despite people's inclination for early Anthony Michael Hall movies. In Out of Time, he hardly acted like he wanted to be in the movie. Other than the girl that helps him out, it is a whole lot of nothing and rather predictable "coincidences."

Though only a B movie, it Run is much more exciting with efforts in acting as well as action scenes (such as the police car falling off of the mall parking garage and the man dangling over the edge from his pants leg). If you like Patrick Dempsey and Kelly Preston, you're probably certain to enjoy this film. It's actually a good lazy day kind of film.

Read a couple of user reviews about this movie, and they say it was forgettable pap. I disagree. Granted, it will not win any awards, but it's an enjoyable movie.

Patrick Dempsey puts in a credible performance as a kid on the run. Some complain that it's just one big chase scene. News flash! The name of the movie is "Run"! You get what you expect to see.

Besides, if it's so forgettable, why are we talking about it 12 years later?



-Dave

its one of those films that you discover when you cant sleep and then switch on the telly at 3am , its really quite gripping , i love the two crooked cops who try to make a few bob out of it then end up crashing off the top of the car park , Dempsey once again excels at playing the clueless geek and ken Pogue is the ultimate bad guy . The slightly eerie small town Connecticut atmosphere is created really well in this , i wouldn't say its a Hitchcock although i would defo buy the DVD if it came out , some films just get a little cult following and this is one ! I'm with all those who like this one !

The other reviews explain the plot so I won't repeat it. What really struck me about this movie was the many unique chase and fight scenes. For example, when was the last time you saw a foot chase through bowling alley pins and the machinery that sets them up? Or a car chase through a carnival lot? The scene on top of the building with our hero and the thugs reminded me of a 3 stooges routine. There's also one of the most unique ways of killing someone you'll ever see! I stumbled upon this movie without knowing anything about it and was thoroughly entertained. 3 out of 4!