“If one person enjoys this movie, then I’ve done my job’ is a cliché for spurned artists; there’s so little love around for Courtney Solomon’s car chase thriller than admirers may well feel that they’re in a minority of one. The public stayed away, the critics were savage, and yet Getaway is a real guilty pleasure.
The concept is simple; Ethan Hawke is ex-racing car driver called Brent Magna, trapped in a Die Hard-lite scenario; a mysterious voice (Jon Voight) gives him a series of automotive tasks to complete with the life of his kidnapped wife at stake. Magna ends up stealing a Shelby Super Snake Mustang complete with horrified owner (Selena Gomez), and together they attempt to wriggle out of the trap.
Shot in Bulgaria, Getaway avoids CGI in favour of practical race and chase stunts, and there’s plenty of bang for your buck. There’s slumming stars (including perfect B-movie support from Raiders of the Lost Ark’s Paul Freeman and the permanently fabulous Bruce Payne), jazzy, over-cranked action, a ninety-minute running time and a silly but pleasing story.
When the Fast and Furious films are getting increasingly bloated and less fun than they should be, Getaway offers cheap but undeniable thrills for the world’s carmageddon junkies. It’s a B movie, sure, and isn’t trying to change the world. But sometimes you just need a fast car, a guy and a girl, and a goodies vs baddies scenario that simplifies the world to something simple and satisfying.
Okay, so did I get the idea to watch this movie subconsciously implanted in my mind by seeing your review, or is it just a coincidence that I started watching this movie and found your review? oO
No great fan of Ethan Hawke, but the chase scenes compensated.
Be still my beating heart! You had me at Shelby Super Snake Mustang!
Oh, yes, that’s a cool car, so 90 minutes of that smashing into things is an authomatic winner in my book. You can be my Selena Gomez!
I’d want to be the driver.
Ok, you can drive…
Never in doubt.
You bring up Die Hard, but how does this compare to the first Transporter?
Erm….it’s comparable to the first Transporter. But I like both films to be honest.
Me too! The first Die Hard and the first Transporter were fun films. All the various sequels were just action movies. So depending on mood determines if I think they’re any good that time or not 😀
I can embrace most things from that genre, even Under Siege or Sudden Death. Or even Passenger 57. It’s a tired formula now, but sometimes, you just want a simple thrill ride.
Seems more like Fraggle’s thing. She’s the gearhead. I don’t really get the whole genre of movies about people driving cars. Baby Driver. Drive. All those F&F and Transporter movies. Was Hal Needham the guy who figured out you could have whole movies that were just cars racing around? Gotta blame someone.
Transporter movies were great!
You nailed me, but have to say the F&F franchise doesn’t do it for me and I haven’t bothered with any since the 1st. Transporters were cool because, well, because Statham. And also the French guy. My fave was Gone in 60 Seconds, Cage, Jolie, Duvall, Wotsisface and Wotsisface, but mostly ‘Eleanor’ the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 my dream machine. Swoon.
I’d say the Shelby is better used here than in Gone in 60 Seconds. Fact! The Greek Knight has spoken!
It’s on my TW list now.
I could watch cars driving around all day. Tried to hire Hal Needham once, but he was past the point of insuring.
For what?
An action film called Lincoln’s Liberty. Back in 1999.
Did it ever get made? Was this going to be your directorial debut?
No, didn’t even write the script, a couple of friends were shopping it around directors, but although the script was good, the project never got off the ground.
Shame. If you needed Hal Needham must have had some action.
I think that was what the insurers were worried about.