Hit & Run

Dax Shepard does an amazing job in this film. He directed, wrote, and starred in this film. It has a smart sense of humor with a story line. I was entertained by the story of having to rush off for Annie Bean (Kristine Bell) to make her job interview in LA. Although she has this momentous opportunity that is career and life changing, Charles Bronson (Dax Shepard) Annie boyfriend's past gets in the way of making this an easy trip. Alex Dmitri (Bradley Cooper), Neve (Joy Bryant) were Charles crime buddies, Alex went to jail and Neve used to be his fiance. They find out where Charles is thanks to Annie's ex boyfriend Gil (Michael Rosenbaum) who still believe that him and Annie belonged together. This doesn't end the crazy train, Charles witness protection officer Sanders (David Koechner).
This crazy train doesn't end here. First Sanders is introduced by him getting out of his car that's not parked, it heads down then road and he's chasing after it shooting his gun. The neighbor kids are playing in the front yard and his mini van almost runs them over. This just introduces you to the ridiculousness you're about to experience. If you liked Fast and Furious you would enjoy this. Combine that with Dukes of Hazard, well at least those are the only movie combinations that I could possibly think as a combination for this.
Writing, directing, and staring in this movie wasn't a terrible idea or job. The cast seemed like closet friend. Kristen Bell - fiance, Joy Bryant - co-stare and wife of show Parenthood, now where Michale, Dax, and David came from they could be other connections to being in the same industry. It's good to have friends that can help when it comes time to bringing a project to life.

Middle of Nowhere

The title gives this movie justice, Middle of Nowhere. The town is mentioned but you are not told what state this story is taking place. Grace Berry played by Eva Amurri Martino (Saved, That’s My Boy) is a local who lives with her sister Taylor Elizabeth Berry (played by Willa Holland appeared in Arrow, Gossip Girl) and Rhonda Berry (played by Susan Sarandon appeared in Cloud Atlas, That’s My Boy). Grace is trying to get loans to pay for college but thanks to her irresponsible mother and using her name to open up credit cards, Grace is screwed. She returns to her summer job of being a lifeguard at the local water park where she meets Dorian Spitz (Anton Yelchin, Charlie Bartlett, Star Trek) who is a rich kid who has been sent to his uncles to get his life on track.

The movie begins with a preview of Dorian Spitz life over lapping with Grace Berry. A rich boy whose given everything and doesn’t appreciate it, with a hard working girl whose trying to pay for school on her own but can’t due to her mom opening up credit cards in her name with a debt of $37,000. Both end up working at the local water park where Dorian works to befriend Grace for use of her car to buy drugs. Dorian offers this opportunity for her to get a piece of the profit to pay for school. Grace ends up in this business with Dorian which begins the family inner look to a family dysfunctional life losing a father to suicide, self absorbed mother, and a younger sister whose lost that’s held together by the stable Grace.

This films plays out like we are a friend coming along with these characters. Your not imposing on their life. Your asked to be there. If you’ve enjoyed movies like Charlie Bartlett, Saved, then Middle of Nowhere is up your alley. Life doesn’t go as you played and there is a fair line between right and wrong. It’s whether you choose to change from your path of doing wrong and do the right thing.