The Chase - Die Wahnsinnsjagd

The Chase, starring Charlie Sheen is an entertaining early 90's action comedy. Sheen ends up kidnapping the gorgeous Kristy Swanson (Natalie Voss) who is the daughter of rich guy Dalton Voss. This leads to a massive police chase and media frenzy. This movie does not take itself too seriously and is a satire of media, pop culture and American society at the time. Charlie Sheen is a talented, versatile actor who is good in all types of stuff and does well carrying this movie. He shared good chemistry with Kristy Swanson as well. Henry Rollins is pretty funny as a cop, or as he would put it..."standard issue street soldier". Also, the cameos from Anthony Kiedis and Flea from The Red Hot Chilli Peppers is not to missed. The Chase does come across as a little dated and time specific to the early 90's, but still holds up as good, fast paced lighthearted entertainment.

This actually was a pretty good farce really. I do agree that it was pretty cheezy full of stock characters and B-Movie acting, but c'mon! It was a send up of how the media blows everything up to something massive and how it sends everyone farther, feeding the media's fire in the process. What made this apt to me was that after seeing this movie, I watched O.J. take that mid-day drive down the highway with the LAPD right behind him. The movie got at least the media part right.

Also, it's fun to watch Henry Rollins play a cop (of all things) and Anthony Kiedis and Flea from The Red Hot Chilli Peppers as redneck hero wannabes. So long as you don't take this movie too seriously, it's pretty funny.

Also, watch right up to after the credits - Charlie's nod to his dad's role in "Apocalypse Now" is just hilarious.

Of course it's cheesy, it's supposed to be! It's parody, not an "action" flick! If you expected a Steven Seagal movie, you should have gone to one! Those of us who appreciate the nature of satire and parody can find it everywhere in this movie! Any one who has lived in California has seen several elements of this chase on their own televisions, LIVE!

The names of the characters are great, (Cary Elwes as Steve Horsegroovy, Ron Jeremy as a camera man, Bree Walker, an L.A. anchorwoman, playing an anchorwoman, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers playing a redneck moron named Will) and their roles are exaggerated, as they should be in a spoof. If you just don't get it, don't waste your time watching it! And please stop crying about it. Lighten up!

I don't know why this movie is so underrated. I never hear anything about it, as if it's a bad secret that no one wants to get out. I don't see why. This movie was fun to watch. I know, its kind of simple and not very "edgy" or anything like that, but who cares really. It's still good. Charlie Sheen gave a great performance as Jackson Hammond, an escaped convict who is the cause of the chase. Kirsty Swanson was also very well cast as the spoiled, kidnapped, rich daughter; Natalie Voss. Henry Rollins was also very well cast as the cocky Officer Dobbs, and Josh Mostel was good as Dobbs' partner, Officer Figus. Marshall Bell was actually not the type of person to play Ari Josephson, Hammond's lawyer. But he managed to pull it off well I see. Everyone else was well cast for the most part, no flawed performances to speak of. The story was kind of shallow but still enjoyable. There were twists and turns here and there but it all worked out. The soundtrack was GREAT. The Offspring, NOFX, Rancid, and Bad Religion are some of my favorite bands and I was surprised that their songs were played in this movie. I rate this an 8/10, see this movie, it is somehow very good.

You can really enjoy 'The Chase' as a simple movie if you don't take everything too seriously. Or may be not serious at all. There are some nice scenes, Charlie Sheen has a funny thing in this movie and Kristy Swanson is a beautiful lady. Just enjoy a simple movie like this.