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What do you get when you bring together two actresses whose careers developed almost completely opposite of each other? Well, if they're Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara, you get "Hot Pursuit" (PG-13, 1:27). Vergara's early acting gigs included several dramatic roles, but she's had her greatest successes in comedies. Witherspoon's career worked out the other way around. Known in recent years primarily for dramatic films, such as her Oscar-nominated role in "Wild" (2014) and her Oscar-winning turn in "Walk the Line" (2005), her early career was dominated by comedies. Before she got all serious on us, Witherspoon starred in the "Legally Blonde" movies (2001 and 2003), "Sweet Home Alabama" (2002) and "Election" (1999) – with two of those movies earning her Golden Globe nominations. Sofia Vergara doesn't have as many films under her bustier as Witherspoon, but she's definitely made her mark on screens big and small. Earlier in her career she found herself in deadly serious fare like "The 24th Day" (2004), "Four Brothers" (2005) and TV's "Dirty Sexy Money" (2007), but she really hit her stride in comedies. Her appearance in "Machete Kills" (2013) was an over-the-top hoot and, of course, she has been honing her craft on TV's "Modern Family" since 2009. Regardless of their previous roles, having two talented and beautiful actresses in the same film is bound to make it hot… but is it worth pursuing?

Witherspoon's character, Rose Cooper, literally grew up in her dad's San Antonio police cruiser and she wanted to be just like him. She did become a cop, but her overzealous nature alienated her from other officers and led to one big mistake that landed her evidence room duty in her police precinct. Vergara's character, Daniella Riva, is the wife of a drug cartel lieutenant who has agreed to testify against his boss, drug kingpin Vicente Cortez (Joaquin Cosio). Naturally, this arrangement puts a huge target on the backs of the Rivas. Cooper's police captain (John Carroll Lynch) gives her a chance to redeem her once promising career when he assigns her to help escort Mr. and Mrs. Riva to Dallas, where they are to testify. One thing leads to another and cop Cooper and diva Riva end up on the run from the cartel and crooked cops, as the pair are forced to depend on each other if they're going to get to Dallas safely.

The odd-couple pairing of Cooper and Riva is played for a lot of laughs – and a bit of drama. There are running jokes about Cooper's lack of height and overabundance of neurotic behaviors, as well as Riva's sex appeal and tough, but aloof attitude. The characters' many differences give writers David Feeney and John Quaintance and director Anne Fletcher plenty of options for comedy and they seem to explore them all. The director and her stars give us some great sight gags and physical comedy, the writers give us a lot of funny lines and situations, and the plot throws us a couple curve balls that result in a third act that is equally dramatic and humorous. Witherspoon's performance is reminiscent of Sandra Bullock's characters in her cop comedies, but sweeter and funnier. Vergara is basically playing a close cousin of Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, but what works for her in her sitcom, works in this movie. "Hot Pursuit" may well be Witherspoon's best comedy to date and Vergara is nearly as funny in this film as she is on TV. These two actresses may have arrived at this comedy by way of very different roads, but I, for one, am glad they got there. The characterizations of Cooper and Riva are a little uneven and the plot is not terribly original, but the movie entertains. This may not be the hottest film in theaters this spring as it pursues the likes of the newest "Fast and Furious" and "Avengers" movies, but it is worth catching. "B+"

I saw some brief videos on Instagram of this movie on some movie pages I follow. It looked really good and comical. 30 minutes into watching it I turned it off. Nothing about this movie was funny or practical. The "police work" was so bad an unrealistic. Nothing about this movie was funny. All the actors and actresses did nothing but annoy me. How anyone could rate this higher than 3 is beyond me.

I honestly had high hopes going into watching this movie bc of both sofia and reese. but the jokes and dialogue were so bad. it was very unfunny movie.

Glad I rented this, instead of seeing it at a theater. I'm shocked Reese Witherspoon agreed to this film. A very poor, silly comedy. I did however, see a glimpse of good acting ability in Sofia, when she showed her evil, serious side. I believe she could portray a great criminal, but that glimpse was simply that, a 20-30 second glimpse. I must admit, my wife was laughing and giggling throughout the movie at some of the more female oriented jokes. She seemed to enjoy it much more than I did. I was shaking my head almost the entire film. There was just too much slap stick to suit me. If you are a Sofia fan, you need to rent this. I don't think they could have showed much more of her body than they did without going to a higher rating. She is nice to look at but that screaming she does gets a bit irritating after a while. The film was only around an hour and thirty minutes long, I don't think I could have lasted much longer.

There's something quite improbable about Hot Pursuit. Its leads simply don't add up. Aren't the days of patently broad comedy behind Reese Witherspoon, especially after her stunning, Oscar-nominated turn in Wild? And why would anybody even think to pair her in a crime caper with the remarkably sexy Sofia Vergara, whose thick Colombian accent is as much a delight as it is an ongoing plot point on TV's Modern Family? Whatever the case may be, the final result is a generally charming, if occasionally tired, buddy comedy that benefits from the charisma and unexpected chemistry of its co-stars.

Police officer Cooper (Witherspoon) is finding it hard to measure up to her legendary dad - rather than busting criminals on the streets, she's stuck bagging evidence in the basement. But everything changes for the earnest, awkward cop when she's assigned to the protective detail of Daniella Riva (Sofia Vergara), the apparently flighty and spoiled wife of a drug lord who's about to rat on his boss. When Daniella becomes a widow in a shootout that goes very badly indeed, the two women must go on the run - with cops and criminals in hot pursuit.

Strictly speaking, Hot Pursuit isn't a particularly good film. Its plot is mostly predictable: there's never any doubt that these two diametrically opposite women will bond despite their differences and, as a result, triumph over all the adversities and adversaries (including each other) they encounter on the road. There's nothing at all highbrow about the humour on display here, which ranges from the slapstick (Cooper and Daniella struggle to get out of a bathroom window) to the infantile (the pair desperately try to distract an angry man pointing a rifle at them). It's funny, sure, but it isn't always smart about it.

And yet, there's something about the film that's hard to resist. For all of its plot-related flaws, Hot Pursuit benefits from two lead characters who are sharply drawn and imbued with a richness that's frankly surprising in throwaway comedies of this sort. At least initially, both women appear to fit their stereotypes: Cooper is the quintessential if rather awkward girl-next-door, and Daniella a flighty, materialistic sexpot. But the film gives them the opportunity to get out of these boxes, as Cooper regains confidence in herself and Daniella demonstrates just how resourceful she can be.

The interplay between the duo is also delightful: fireworks fly and silliness abounds whenever Cooper tries to stick to the rules and regulations, which have clearly never bothered Daniella a day in her life. As the duo insult each other with merry abandon, an odd friendship springs up between them - and it works very well indeed, whether they're commandeering vehicles or posing as a woodland creature (yes, really).

This is due in no small part to the combined charm and chemistry of both Witherspoon and Vergara. They won't strike anybody as the most likely of cinematic pairings, but there's a goofy amiability to their relationship both on screen and off (as evidenced by the bloopers that accompany the credits). Flinging their dignity to the winds, both actresses play their occasionally undercooked roles with so much zest and joy that it's great fun just to watch them in action. Witherspoon, in particular, is so winning in her wholehearted embracing of the film's zany comedy that it's to be hoped she doesn't just stick to sombre Oscar-worthy dramas in future.

It's easy to expect the worst of Hot Pursuit - it looks like a by-the-numbers movie that its co-stars were under pain of death (or contractual obligation) to complete, an effort that they would rather forget before getting on with their careers. But looks can be deceiving: a message reinforced by the script's surprisingly warm and appealing treatment of its main characters. Forgive the film some of its unfunny business, and hang on for an unexpectedly enjoyable ride.