24 March,2017 01:15 PM IST | | Johnson Thomas
This action-comedy reboot of the original Larry Wilcox/Erik Estrada TV series, basically mish-mashes buddy movie clichés to such an extent that they lose whatever little charm they may have had in the first place
'Chips'
A/Action-comedy
Director: Dax Shepard
Cast: Dax Shepard, Michael Peña, Adam Brody, Kristen Bell, Vincent D'Onofrio, Maya Rudolph
Rating:
This action-comedy reboot of the original Larry Wilcox/Erik Estrada TV series, basically mish-mashes buddy movie clichés to such an extent that they lose whatever little charm they may have had in the first place.
Written and directed by Dax Shepard, the movie has nothing much to recommend it other than the puckish presence of its lead actor. In 'Chips' Dax Shepard takes on the role of Jon Baker, a former competitive motorcycle rider who is beat so bad that he has to have opiates to keep the pain at bay. He also doesn't have any other skill up his sleeve other than riding a motorcycle. Baker has joined the CHP a.k.a California Highway Patrol, and he gets teamed with another new officer (an undercover FBI agent slumming it at CHP under an alias) Frank Poncherello (Michael Peña) to flush out a coterie of dirty cops who've stolen $14 million. It's obvious who they are (Vincent D'Onofrio and gang) and the narrative tries hard to play false by make it a serious play for ferreting out corruption in the force. Not a viable one I must affirm. The fun was expected to come from the bristly rub-off between the aching veteran and the so-called inexperienced rookie. But it doesn't come at all.
There's no suspense, the comedy is painful to watch and the action is downright embarrassing - violence and gore that becomes unattractive when there's an overdose. The plot is generic and has too much irritating banter shepherding it through a minefield of unattractive miasmas. This one is pathetic no doubt about that!
