There was a limousine driver that goes by the name of Stretch. This sentence alone guarantees you that this is going to be a good movie. If you’ve seen any of the Crank or Transporter movies, you’ll know what to expect. Only instead of Jason Statham, we have surprisingly smooth Patrick Wilson. And there’s also a lot more humor here. Sarcasm, to be more precise. Powered by an intelligent and witty script, I was simply blown away by this little-known action-comedy. It offers a lot of fun and frantic, over-the-top action. Shootouts, chases, sex, and of course, cocaine are all necessary ingredients when you’re making this type of comedy/action extravaganza.
Most movies that try to create that cool, vibrant, and intense atmosphere fail because they take themselves too seriously, and then the whole thing falls apart. This is not the case with Stretch who’s easy as Sunday mornings and intense as Saturday nights (I’m gonna copyright this shit). Directed by Joe Carnahan (Narc, Smokin’ Aces, The A-Team) whose first movie was called Blood, Guts, Bullets, and Octane, Stretch is basically that. It also reminded me of Shoot ‘Em Up, another high-concept movie. What can I say, ever since I saw Dazed and Confused, I became in love with movies unfolding over the course of one night.
Stretch is many things, he’s a failed actor, failed gambler, and failed limo driver, but one thing he’s not, a loser. We find him a year later after an encounter with the women of his dreams, in a harsh world of limo driving. From there, things go haywire, not down or up, left or right, but just fucking haywire.
Stretch is a crazy thrill ride with great visuals and a nice story. However, beneath all the action, the main story is a bit clichéd and predictable. This is just a minor offense and perhaps a good thing because it leaves you free to contemplate your life and the consequences of your actions.
Patrick Wilson aced the role of a cool guy down on his luck proving once more that he’s a great actor. And the supporting cast was also phenomenal, led by magnetic Jessica Alba and Ed Helms. This leads us to Hangover, another “one wild night” movie. And I will leave the rest of the cast for you to discover.
So, if it’s now middle of the night, you’re fucked up and looking for something to keep you awake for ninety minutes, check out Stretch. Yes, some scenes may be just too much but at least they’re fun. If, however, you’re looking for something a bit different, I’ve got another movie recommendation just for you. Smokin’ Aces is an entertaining “hitmen trying to kill a snitch” action movie with an ensemble cast.
Director: Joe Carnahan
Writer: Jerry Corley, Rob Rose, Joe Carnahan
Cast: Patrick Wilson, Jessica Alba, Chris Pine, Randy Couture, Brooklyn Decker, James Badge Dale, Ray Liotta
Fun Facts: Universal executives wanted Chris Pine’s character to lose the beard. Fearing audiences wouldn’t recognize him or find him attractive. The director declined.
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IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2494280/
