Stretch (2014)

Director: Joe Carnahan

Writer: Joe Carnahan (Screenplay) Joe Carnahan, Rob Rose, Jerry Corley (Story)

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Ed Helms, James Badge Dale, Brooklyn Decker, Jessica Alba, Ray Liotta, David Hasselhoff, Randy Couture, Chris Pine

Plot: A hard-luck limo driver struggles to go straight and pay off a debt to his bookie. He takes on a job with a crazed passenger, whose sought-after ledger implicates some seriously dangerous criminals.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Action Fun Times

Story: Stretch starts by following Stretch (Wilson) as he is on drugs and drink before meeting Candace (Decker) cleaning up before getting dumped falling back into his drugs and drink problem. He is struggling to find his place in Hollywood tired of being a limo driver with no money.

Stretch’s latest day goes from bad to worse as his boss wants him to improve his work level, the people who he owes money to want it all in one day and he loses his first client to a rival company. Stretch gets a chance to make a big pay day when he gets to take billionaire Roger Karos (Pine) who ends giving him on the wildest ride he has ever been on.

Stretch doesn’t have the most important story because it focuses on trying to create the most bizarre characters. The events all take place over one night which helps make the action feel non stop. It all plays into the what is the worst that can happen. I feel this doesn’t need to worry about the overall story and is one that is just easy to enjoy.

Actor Review

Patrick Wilson: Stretch is a down on his luck limo driver who has a roller coaster couple of years but this day everything could come crashing down when he needs to pay off his gambling debts when one of the wildest clients he has ever had that could just help pay off his debts. Patrick takes the lead role and shows that he can bounce off a range of characters through the night.

Ed Helms: Karl is considered the best member of limo driving community who everyone turns to but when he has enough time of cleaning up people’s messes he kills himself. Stretch sees Karl who appears to him when as an advisor when needed. Ed offers up the comedy level but doesn’t have enough scenes when he is warning Stretch.

James Badge Dale: Laurent is a French man who is part of Karos’ plan but he isn’t everything he appears as we learn he is an undercover FBI agent trying to catch Karos. James does a give a good performance showing he can always be a good supporting character.

Chris Pine: Roger Karos is a billionaire with very eccentric style who could clear all the debts that Stretch has, but he is also putting Stretch for the wildest test to date. Chris steals the whole film and to think he does it by being uncredited and could easily be the star of the whole film.

Jessica Alba: Charlie is the dispatch girl who keeps trying to hook Stretch up with the right client to help him get the money he needs. She give him updates on how much trouble he ends up getting himself into. Jessica spends nearly the whole film on the phone to Stretch she doesn’t get enough real screen time.

Support Cast: Stretch has a great number of cameos which add to the laughs and all the different people coming after Stretch all work to help the entertainment level.

Director Review: Joe Carnahan – Joe brings us a pure entertainment action flick that doesn’t offer too much for story but is filled with action throughout.

Action: Stretch has action with the chase scenes which all work well between the comedy.

Comedy: Stretch leaves most of the comedy to the cameos or the Chris Pine character.

Thriller: Stretch keeps us guessing to what will happen next because we have plenty of twists along the way.

Settings: Stretch uses Hollywood as the setting which all works for the idea behind the characters.
Special Effects: Stretch has good effects when needed but doesn’t rely on them t happen.

Suggestion: Stretch is one for the action comedy fans to enjoy the wild ride. (Action Comedy Fans Watch)

Best Part: Norman Reedus cameo.

Worst Part: I didn’t like the final scene.

Action Scene Of The Film: Stealing the limo back.

Funniest Scene: Chris Pine in general.

Favourite Quote: Laurent ‘If I were you, next time I’m sitting in a limo, I’m in the back seat. ’

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

Tagline: Shift happens

Overall: Fun action comedy that is non stop.

Rating